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