Plastic Surgery: The Modern Day Fountian Of Youth
Posted on August 12, 2008 | Tagged with: anatomy, anesthesia, face lift, face lift procedure, fountain of youth, hematoma, medical conditions, medication, plastic surgery, surgical risks, techniques
The facelift as well as the facial rejuvenation procedures that are commonly performed alongside it such as eyelid surgery and brow lifts remain the only viable option to restore a youthful appearance to the lower face and neck. A facelift can tighten loose skin and muscle and remove or reposition excess fat to eliminate sagging. The most significant degree of improvement is usually seen in the jowls, lower face and neck. Reversal of facial aging is not achieved through surgical rearrangement of the deep tissues and skin excision alone. Facelift procedures are constantly changing and the actual concept of facial rejuvenation has evolved to encompass more of a remodeling, not just pulling skin more taut. Facial shaping by removing, repositioning or adding soft tissue, rather than by tightening the skin and muscles alone, is considered the key to achieving optimal results in facial rejuvenation.
Facelift surgery can be performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. Your hair will be held back with rubber bands during surgery, but the hair does not need to be shaved. Traditional facelift incisions generally start above the hairline at the temples and continue along a line in front of the ear or just inside the cartilage at the front of the ear, behind the earlobe and back into the scalp. Another small incision is often made under the chin to address the neck. We separate the skin from the underlying fat and muscle. The underlying muscle fascia is tightened along with the platysma muscle in the neck, and excess fat is removed. After the deep tissues are tightened, the excess skin is pulled up and back and then trimmed. The incisions are closed with stitches and/or staples on the scalp. A dressing is applied to protect the entire area. Most people can return home after the surgery or stay in the hospital for the first night.
The best candidate for a facelift is a man or woman whose face and neck have begun to sag, but whose skin still has some elasticity and whose bone structure is strong and well-defined. Most patients are in their forties to sixties, but facelifts can be done successfully on people in their seventies or eighties as well.
A facelift can make you look younger and fresher, and it may enhance your self- confidence in the process. But it can’t give you a totally different look, nor can it restore the health and vitality of your youth. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon.
All Surgery Carries Some Uncertainty and Risk
When a facelift is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Still, individuals vary greatly in their anatomy, their physical reactions, and their healing abilities, and the outcome is never completely predictable.
Complications that can occur include hematoma (a collection of blood under the skin that must be removed by the surgeon), injury to the nerves that control facial muscles (usually temporary), infection, and reactions to the anesthesia. Poor healing of the skin is most likely to affect smokers.
You can reduce your risks by closely following your surgeon’s advice both before and after surgery.
Planning your Surgery Facelifts are very individualized procedures. In your initial consultation the surgeon will evaluate your face, including the skin and underlying bone, and discuss your goals for the surgery.
Your surgeon should check for medical conditions that could cause problems during or after surgery, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood clotting problems, or the tendency to form excessive scars. Be sure to tell your surgeon if you smoke or are taking any drugs or medications, especially aspirin or other drugs that affect clotting.
If you decide to have a facelift, your surgeon will explain the techniques and anesthesia he or she will use, the type of facility where the surgery will be performed, and the risks and costs involved. Don’t hesitate to ask your doctor any questions you may have, especially those regarding your expectations and concerns about the results.
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