| Facelift or Rhitydectomy is a popular | | | | unnatural appearance. In women the earlobe is |
| cosmetic surgery where the skin on the face | | | | pulled downwards. Facelifts are generally |
| and neck is pulled back to remove wrinkles, | | | | combined with other operations like eye |
| sags, jowls etc to give a firm and youthful | | | | surgery (blepharoplasty) and skin tissue |
| appearance to the face. As a person ages, | | | | resurfacing with lasers.Before undergoing |
| the skin on the face gets wrinkled, the jaw | | | | facelift operation, the patients are advised |
| line grows slack and jowly. This is due to | | | | to stop smoking and drinking at least a month |
| gravity, sunlight, wear and tear and stress | | | | in advance. Growing longer hair is better to |
| on the facial skin.In a facelift operation, a | | | | hide the incision scars. Recovery takes up |
| local anesthesia or a general anesthesia is | | | | to a month but most patients generally goes |
| given to the patient. Incision starts from | | | | back home within a day. Sometimes tubes are |
| the ear to behind the ear and ends near the | | | | attached under the skin to drain out excess |
| hairline behind the ear. After the incision, | | | | fluid for a day or two.There can be |
| undermining is done. Undermining is | | | | complications like bleeding, damage to facial |
| separating the facial skin from the | | | | nerve, necrosis (death of skin), hair loss |
| underlying tissue below the neck, chin and | | | | near the incision. The risk of post-operation |
| cheeks using scalpel and scissors.After | | | | complications is higher in case of patients |
| undermining the facial suspension system are | | | | with diabetes, hypertension, smokers etc. |
| tightened with stitches. Next the skin is | | | | However they are not common.Patients should |
| pulled backwards and upwards to the required | | | | not take aspirin or anticoagulants before |
| extent. Then the skin is tightened with | | | | surgery. Further patients should discuss all |
| stitches. The underlying excess tissue may | | | | their medical history and whether they are |
| or may not be removed. The excess skin is | | | | under any medication with the plastic |
| removed and the incisions are closed with | | | | surgeon.In the US it is desirable to be |
| sutures.Generally the incision is hidden | | | | treated by a surgeon who belongs to |
| around the ear and extends to the earlobes | | | | association of plastic surgeon (AAPS) or any |
| and into the hairline. Hence the incision | | | | other national association. However all |
| marks are inconspicuous. For a facelift | | | | qualified surgeons are authorized to make a |
| operation a thin skin and good bone structure | | | | facelift operation. Results vary from subtle |
| is ideal. After the facelift operation a | | | | to dramatic depending upon the appearance of |
| windswept look to the face is common. In men | | | | the patient before operation.Keith George |
| the side burns turn backwards giving an | | | | always writes about valuable news & reviews. |