A facelift is a surgical procedure to improve visible signs of aging in the face and neck. If you are bothered by signs of aging in your face, facelift surgery may be right for you.
Facelift is a surgical procedure to improve visible signs of aging in the face and neck, such as:
* Sagging in the midface
* Deep creases below the lower eyelids
* Deep creases along the nose extending to the corner of the mouth
* Fat that has fallen or is displaced
* Loss of muscle tone in the lower face may create jowls
* Loose skin and excess fatty deposits under the chin and jaw can make even a person of normal weight appear to have a double chin
Rejuvenation procedures typically performed in conjunction with a facelift are brow lift, to correct a sagging or deeply furrowed brow, and eyelid surgery to rejuvenate aging eyes.
As a restorative surgery, a facelift does not change your fundamental appearance and cannot stop the aging process.
The face usually portrays the first visible signs of aging. Both gravity and diminished volume result in the facial features of aging. Most patients requesting evaluation for facelift feel that their facial features do not reflect their youthful spirit and energy level. They are looking for ways to refresh and rejuvenate their appearance.
There are many different variations of the facelift procedure that smooth the skin of the face and neck, tighten the underlying tissues and muscle, and remove excess skin. Ultimately, the facelift will allow you to turn back the hands of time to better reflect your youthful spirit.
A facelift can only be performed surgically; non-surgical rejuvenation treatments cannot achieve the same results, but may help delay the time at which a facelift becomes appropriate and complement the results of surgery. Facelift surgery is a highly individualized procedure and you should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else’s desires to to try to fit any sort of ideal image.
Facelift surgery is a good option for you if:
* You are physically healthy
* You do not smoke
* You have a positive outlook and specific, but realistic goals in mind for the improvement of your appearance
During the pre-operative consultation, Dr. Hakan Gundogan will take your photographs and perform a history and physical examination. During your physical examination, your facial bone structure, underlying skin structure, skin thickness, texture, and elasticity as well as the extent of facial wrinkles and folds will be assessed. This information will be used to formulate a surgical plan and the goals of the procedure will be discussed. Generally, a facelift is a very versatile procedure, and Dr. Hakan Gundogan will explain the technique that he or she feels most comfortable with and that offers the lowest risk.
Dr. Hakan Gundogan will select the surgical technique that he or she feels will obtain the best outcome for you based on your discussions regarding the outcome you wish to achieve.
The facelift procedure continues to evolve. Over the years, the procedure has changed from simple skin lifting to more complex deeper plane lifting techniques. Today, many different techniques exist, with outcomes that are consistently reliable and durable. The facelift procedure usually involves incisions in front of and behind the ear. The incisions may extend into the scalp. Once the incisions are made, various degrees of undermining of the skin are performed, and the deeper layers of the face are ‘lifted’. Muscle tightening as well as liposuction of the neck and jowls may be performed, and excess skin is either removed or repositioned. The results are a reversal of the effects of gravity and tightening of soft tissues of the face to restore a more youthful contour to the face.
If you are a smoker, you will be asked to stop smoking well in advance of the surgery. Certain medications that increase the risk of bleeding such as Aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, and some vitamins/homeopathic regimens should be discontinued prior to surgery.
If your hair is short, you may want it to grow out enough to cover your incisions while they heal. Any chemical processing of your hair should be performed prior to surgery since you cannot have any of these procedures for a month of more after surgery.
If your facelift will be performed on an outpatient basis, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.
Dr. Hakan Gundogan will also discuss where your procedure will be performed. A facelift will be performed in a hospital.
Medications are administered for your comfort during the procedure. You and Dr. Hakan Gundogan will have decided in advance what type of anesthesia is to be used – either intravenous sedation (twilight) or general anesthesia. For your safety during and after the operation, various monitors are used to check your heart, blood pressure, pulse and the amount of oxygen circulating in your blood.
Medications are administered for your comfort during a facelift procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Dr. Hakan Gundogan will recommend the best choice for you.
A variety of other procedures can further enhance the outcome of a facelift. They include:
* Facial implants
* Soft tissue augmentation to recontour the facial structure
* Resurfacing techniques to improve the tone and texture of facial skin
* Wrinkle reduction by injection
Depending on the degree of change you’d like to see, your rhytidectomy surgery choices include a traditional facelift, limited incision facelift or a neck lift.
A traditional facelift incision often begins in the hairline at the temples, continues around the ear and ends in the lower scalp. Fat may be sculpted or redistributed from the face, jowls and neck. Underlying tissue is repositioned; commonly the deeper layers of the face and the muscles are also lifted.
Skin is redraped over the uplifted contours and excess skin is trimmed away. A second incision under the chin may be necessary to further improve an aging neck. Sutures or skin adhesives close the incisions.
An alternative to a traditional facelift uses shorter incisions at the temples, continuing around the ear and possibly within the lower eyelids or under the upper lip.
Sagging jowls, loose neck skin and fat accumulation under the chin may be corrected with a neck lift. The neck lift incision often begins in front of the ear lobe and wraps around behind the ear ending in the lower scalp.
Once healed, the incision lines from a facelift are well concealed within the hairline and in the natural contours of the face and ear.
The visible improvements of a facelift appear as swelling and bruising subside. Your final result should not only restore a more youthful and rested appearance, but also help you feel more confident about yourself.
When surgery is completed, you will be taken into a recovery area. There will be no bandage wrapped around your face. Sometimes small tubes will be inserted beneath the skin to drain away fluid that might otherwise accumulate. There is surprisingly very little discomfort experienced after facelift surgery. However, any discomfort you may experience will be controlled with pain medication as needed.
You may be permitted to go home after a few hours, although most patients may stay overnight in a hospital or surgical facility.
It is important to realize that the amount of time it takes to recover from Facelift surgery varies greatly between individuals. Elevation of the head is extremely helpful in reducing the initial post-operative swelling. Dr. Hakan Gundogan may also advise you to use ice packs intermittently.
You should avoid Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications for the first few days after your surgery. Smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke should be avoided to prevent delays in the healing process.
Once the dressings and drains are removed, puffiness and discoloration may be more pronounced in some portions of the face than others. Do not be alarmed by any unevenness or temporary asymmetry – this is normal. Most swelling is usually noted in the first 24 to 48 hours, and most bruising resolves within 2 weeks. Concealing makeup is usually permitted after the first week. You may experience numbness to the face post-operatively, which usually resolves within several months
Some patients find that mild swelling persists for many weeks. Most stitches are removed within a week of the surgery.
Straining, bending, and lifting should be avoided during the early post-operative period as these activities may predispose you to bleeding.
Dr. Hakan Gundogan will give you specific instructions that may include caring for the dressings and incisions, directions for your analgesics and other medications, specific concerns to look for, and when to follow up in the office to monitor your healing process. It may take several months for the swelling to fully resolve, and up to 6 months for the incision scars to fully fade. Avoidance of factors that could reduce the benefits of the surgery, such as excessive unprotected sun exposure and cigarette use, is vital.
It is important to realize that the amount of time it takes for recovery varies greatly among individuals. Depending on the extent of your facelift surgery and your general physical condition, you may be able to return to non-strenuous work anywhere from one to three weeks after surgery. In many instances, you can resume most of your normal activities, including some form of mild exercise, after three weeks. You may continue to experience some mild, periodic discomfort and swelling during this time, but such feelings are normal. Severe pain should be reported to your doctor.
Any sexual activity should be avoided for a minimum of two weeks, and Dr. Hakan Gundogan may advise you to wait longer.
Life-long sun protection will help to maintain your rejuvenated appearance by minimizing photo-aging or sun damage. In addition, a healthy lifestyle will also help extend the results of your rejuvenated, more youthful appearance.
Results of Your Facelift
The results of your facelift may be subtle or dramatic, depending on your appearance prior to the surgery as well as the specific goals that you and Dr. Hakan Gundogan have established. Since the healing process is gradual, you should expect to wait several weeks for an accurate picture of your “new look”. Additional minor changes or settling may occur over several months following your Facelift surgery.
It may take several months for swelling to fully dissipate and up to 6 months for incision lines to mature.
Life-long sun protection will help to maintain your rejuvenated appearance by minimizing photo-aging or sun damage. In addition, a healthy lifestyle will also help extend the results of your rejuvenated, more youthful appearance.
Understanding Risks
The decision to have facelift surgery is extremely personal and you’ll have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential abdominoplasty complications are acceptable.
Fortunately, significant complications from facelifts are infrequent. Every year, thousands of people undergo successful facelift surgery and are pleased with the results. However, anyone considering surgery should be aware of both the benefits and risks. These are best discussed on a personal basis with Dr. Hakan Gundogan.
While plastic surgeons are trained in techniques for safely manipulating facial skin and tissues, injury to underlying structures is possible, though usually temporary. Facelift incisions are usually quite inconspicuous; however, this is not entirely predictable due to individual variations in healing. You can help minimize certain risks by following the advice and instructions given to you by Dr. Hakan Gundogan both before and after surgery.
The subject of risks and potential complications of surgery is best discussed on a personal basis between you and Dr. Hakan Gundogan.
You can help to lessen certain risks by following the advice and instructions of Dr. Hakan Gundogan, both before and after surgery.
You will return to your plastic surgeon Dr. Hakan Gundogan 's office for follow-up care at prescribed intervals, at which time your progress would be evaluated.
Please remember that the relationship with Dr. Hakan Gundogan does not end when you leave the operating room. If you have questions or concerns during your recovery, or need additional information at a later time, you should contact your plastic surgeon Dr. Hakan Gundogan.
