subject: If You are Bothered by Signs of aging in Your Face, Facelift Surgery may be Right for You [print this page] If You are Bothered by Signs of aging in Your Face, Facelift Surgery may be Right for You
If you are bothered by signs of aging in your face, facelift surgery may be right for you. Technically known as rhytidectomy, a facelift is a surgical procedure to improve visible signs of aging in the face and neck, such as:
Sagging in the mid-face
Deep creases below the lower eyelids
Deep creases along the nose extending to the corner of the mouth
Fat that has fallen or is displaced
Loss of muscle tone in the lower face may create jowls
Loose skin and excess fatty deposits under the chin and jaw can make even a person of normal weight appear to have a double chin
Rejuvenation procedures typically performed in conjunction with a facelift are brow lift, to correct a sagging or deeply furrowed brow, and eyelid surgery to rejuvenate aging eyes.
What facelifts won't do:
As a restorative surgery, a facelift does not change your fundamental appearance and cannot stop the aging process.
Is it right for me?
A facelift can only be performed surgically; non-surgical rejuvenation treatments cannot achieve the same results, but may help delay the time at which a facelift becomes appropriate and complement the results of surgery. Facelift surgery is a highly individualized procedure and you should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else's desires to try to fit any sort of ideal image.
Facelift surgery is a good option for you if:
You are physically healthy
You do not smoke
You have a positive outlook and specific, but realistic goals in mind for the improvement of your appearance
My facelift recovery
When your procedure is completed, a bandage could gently be placed around your face to minimize post facelift swelling and bruising. A thin tube may be present to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect under the skin.
You will be given specific instructions that may include: how to care for the surgical site, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in overall health, and when to follow up with your plastic surgeon.
Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon specific questions about what you can expect during your individual recovery period.
After your surgery is complete you will be taken to the recovery suite.
You will be prescribed antibiotics and medication for pain.
You will have dressings and bandages.
You may resume normal activity and exercise two to three weeks post surgery depending on how you heal.
You will return for follow-up care the following day after surgery.
