Face Lift
ANESTHESIA
A facelift procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia. In less severe and extended surgeries (mini lift), it can be performed under local anesthesia with sedation.
HOSPITALIZATION
As a precaution, patients must stay in the hospital for one night after surgery. Any facial drainage tubes will be removed the day following surgery; the patient may gently shampoo his/her hair and leave the hospital without bandages. In less severe and extended surgeries (mini lift), the patient may return home the same day.
INCISIONS
Incisions are hidden behind the ears and are not visible.
BACK TO ACTIVITIES
Return to mild activities in 3-6 days
DURATION OF RESULTS
The patient looks younger, more relaxed and “rejuvenated” even after 10-15 years. However this question is quite difficult to answer since each of us has different skin and tissues’ quality as well as different habits (sun exposure, smoking). Unfortunately, our ‘age clock’ does not stop and the patient continues to age even after the surgery.
If the patient wishes so, a small correction (a little skin removal) can be performed after a decade.
A facelift should look natural, making the patient seem younger, more refreshed and rejuvenated, without altering his/her facial characteristics and without looking “strange” to the patient’s social environment or showing any sign that the face has “gone through surgery” (face lift look).
The facelift techniques are individualized according to the patient’s expectations, anatomy, age and habits (e.g. smoking, sun exposure).
For the relatively young patient (of about 40-45 years old) who wishes a quick recovery, we recommend the Macs-lift or some kind of preauricular lift (mini lift). But, normally a mini lift offers mini results and is of a minimum duration, and in most cases, the patient will need a full lift in combination with blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and/or forehead (brow) lifting (or browplasty) that provides longer or/and more intense results without altering the facial characteristics.
The incision starts below the hairline at the temples without removal of hair and continues in front of and behind the ears ending into the hairline again. In some cases, a small incision can be performed under the chin in order to suture the muscles in the midline.
The Patient will have Bandages only for the first 24 hours after surgery. Once the bandages are removed, the patient may gently shampoo his/her hair and lightly applies an antibiotic ointment to the incision lines once daily.
