subject: The Face Lift - A Look At This Cosmetic Wonder [print this page] Even though the face lift has been around in one form or another since almost everyone reading this article has been alive, it still seems like something out of the future. The ability to take years off a person's appearance with some simple surgical enhancements. It isn't out of the future, though-not by a long shot. In fact, the first operation of its kind was performed in 1901 in the city of Berlin, Germany. Today, they remain extremely popular in the world of cosmetic surgery. Statistics show that they lag only behind five other cosmetic procedures (including liposuction and breast augmentation) in popularity.
The face lift consists of removing excess skin in order to create a more youthful appearance in the patient, as young people are classically defined as having tight, wrinkle-free skin. In medical terminology it is called a rhytidectomy, though this term has not crossed over into layman speech the way the technical terms of other procedures has (such as the rhinoplasty). In most cases, the operation begins with the surgeon making a long incision from ear to ear, traveling in a smooth line up above the hairline. Once the incision has been made, the surgeon will separate the top layer of skin from the tissue underneath. This deeper tissue is then tightened and the skin can be placed back and any excess can be removed. Though it sounds simple enough, it takes a deft hand to prevent the procedure from giving the patient a pinched look that is highly undesirable among most patients.
There are a number of patients who can benefit greatly from a face lift, just as there are many who will not. If you're thinking about having one done for a particular reason, it's important to understand what the procedure can do and what it is not very good at doing. Loose skin in the cheek area and folds in the neck can usually be remedied through the operation with a high level of success. Folds around the nose and lines around the mouth are usually better treated with other procedures such as Botox, however.
Those worried about scarring after a procedure should understand that the incisions are made to be as inconspicuous as possible, usually disappearing into the hairline and hidden behind the ears. To complete the effect, it's not uncommon for the procedure to be done in conjunction with other forms of cosmetic surgery. These can include eyelid surgery and Botox. Discuss your options with a qualified plastic surgeon, as he can inform you of all your possibilities.
