As you grow older, your skin can lose its elasticity. This might cause it to sag and develop wrinkles. Unfortunately, this could negatively affect your facial appearance and consequently hurt your self-confidence. The good news is that this is an issue that can be corrected through facelift surgery. The procedure is meant to tighten the skin and give patients a younger-looking facial appearance. If you are thinking of getting a facelift in Beverly Hills, here is everything you need to know about the procedure.
What Is Facelift Surgery?
Facelift surgery can be understood as a cosmetic surgical procedure that is done to give a patient a younger look in the face. In the medical world, facelift surgery is also known as rhytidectomy. A neck lift may also be done together with facelift surgery to remove excess fat and skin from the neck. However, it is important to note that a facelift will not correct skin imperfections caused by sun damage, and therefore, you may need to look for other cosmetic treatments to address the appearance of the skin itself.
How Facelift Surgery Is Done
There are several types of facelift procedures that vary depending on how the incisions are made. Your surgeon will help you determine the best one depending on what you want to correct and what you would like to achieve. The procedure will be done under general anesthesia or IV sedation.
Once the anesthesia medication has been administered, your surgeon will make the necessary incisions. The incision will allow the surgeon to lift the skin and manipulate the underlying tissue. For instance, the underlying fat may be removed or redistributed. The excess skin will then be removed and the incisions will be closed with sutures or skin adhesives.
After waking up from the anesthesia, you will rest for an hour or so in the recovery room. However, unless there are any complications, you will be allowed to go home the same day. Before you can go home, your surgeon will prescribe some pain medications and antibiotics to help you manage pain and surgical site infections. You will also be instructed on how you are going to take care of the surgical site.
The Ideal Candidate for Facelift Surgery
Unfortunately, not everyone qualifies for facelift surgery. In addition to having loose, sagging, or wrinkled facial skin, the ideal candidate for the procedure should:
- Have a positive outlook and realistic expectations
- Be in good physical health, free of conditions that could negatively affect the healing process.
- Be a non-smoker or willing to quit smoking since smoking can accelerate the aging process and cause poor healing.
Your surgeon will check your medical records and perform some tests to determine if the procedure is safe for you.
Risks of Facelift Surgery
Like any other surgical procedure, rhytidectomy is not without risks. Some of the risks associated with this cosmetic surgical procedure include:
- Excessive bleeding
- Surgical site infection
- Poor healing
- Suboptimal aesthetic results
- Unfavorable scarring
During your initial meeting with your surgeon, the risks will be discussed to help you make an informed decision.
FAQs About Facelift Surgery
How long does a facelift last?
A facelift will take between two to four hours. However, you might need more time at the surgeon’s office if there are other procedures to be performed. Besides, you might be required to rest for an hour or so after the procedure for you to recover from the anesthesia before you can be allowed to go home. Therefore, you shouldn’t be in a hurry when going for a facelift.
Is facelift surgery painful?
The procedure will be performed under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. Therefore, you will not feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure. However, in the early days of the recovery period, you may experience some discomfort that should go away with time. Your surgeon will prescribe some pain medication to help you manage pain.
When can I see the final results after a facelift?
Immediately after the procedure, your face will obviously look swollen and bruised. The results of the procedure will become apparent as the bruising and swelling subside. Although you will be able to go to the public after about a couple of weeks, it will take you three to four months to see the full results.
How long will facelift results last?
Although the results of facelift surgery are long-lasting, they are not permanent. This is because the procedure does not stop the natural process of aging. All in all, you can expect the result to last about a decade.
Will the procedure leave me with scars?
Like with any other surgical procedure, a facelift is quite likely to leave you with scars. However, you don’t have to worry about the issue of unfavorable scarring since your surgeon will make the incisions in such a way that the scars will be concealed by your hair.
