Facial Lift

Everything you need to know about facial lift

A Facial lift involves a series of surgical techniques that correct face and neck flaccidity by cuts and sutures, eliminating tissues in excess.

What does a face lift correct?

- Falling eyebrows with an expression of sadness.

-Deep wrinkles in forehead

- Eye wrinkles

- Skin Flaccidity in cheeks

- Skin flaccidity in the jawline.

- Lip-nose wrinkles

- Neck skin flaccidity.

- Fatty tissue under the chin.

- The face lift is an excellent resource to fight facial aging but it does not correct all the signs of aging. It is advisable to talk about the extent of this procedure with your doctor.

Pre-surgery:

Personal interview: The first appointment is vital to establish a good doctor-patient relationship. Everything the patient considers necessary should be asked and discuss.

Initial Physical exam: A detailed face exam is performed, evaluating skin features, flaccidity level, eyelids, nose, etc. According to this evaluation the surgeon will produce a proposal of treatment. According to the level of facial aging of the patient a surgical technique will be determined: Minilifting or manequein lift, classic lift, complete lift, frontal lift.

With the completion of complete blood and urine counts, ECG (of surgery risk) and if necessary for the professional a chest X-ray, the first appointment is over.

Pre-surgical indications: Each patient should observe her doctor’s indications, each person is different in terms of time and preparation.

As guidelines we propose the following indications:

The day previous to the surgery: To wash hair and dry it, avoiding exposing oneself with wet hair to cold temperatures. Wash the face with a neutral soap and remove all make-up. If you are on any medication you should ask your doctor if you should give it up. If the surgery is on the early morning, the previous night you should eat lightly and take no alcohol.

the day of the surgery: You should go to the institution where the procedure will take place at the appointed hour, without eating and if possible with an escort. Bring along a large hanckerchief and the medicines prescribed by the surgeon for the post-surgical period. You should have in hand written indications for the post-surgical period, with the certainty you have fully understood them in order to avoid confusions and/or doubts.

Surgery:

Anaesthesia: local with support

Type of surgery: ambulatory

Place of intervention: operating room.

Technical place: according to the level of facial aging and present marks, the extension of the lifting and the treatment of deep structures are decided upon. These are the concepts that originate the different types of face lifts already mentioned above.

Minilifting or Manequein lifting:

The incision goes from the inferior side of the ear up to 4 or 5 cm to the eye line. It is a minimal lifting with little resection of skin. It is indicated in inicial levels of facial aging.

Classic lifting:

Here the incision is wider and it goes from the forehead’s lateral side (inside hair) up to behind the ear at the level of hair growth. The level of dissection in this lifting involves face and neck. This classic lifting is indicated for advanced facial aging.

Complete lifting:

This lifting is indicated when the level of facial aging is really advanced with characteristics such as: lost jawline and lost muscular bands in the neck.

The technique involves similar procedures to the ones of the classic lifting and the specific treatment of the signs above mentioned.

Post-surgery indications:

Prescription: oral antibiotics, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs during one week.

To have a bland diet during the first three days after the surgery.

To sleep in a semi-seated position for the first days.

Bed rest for 48 hs.

On the fifth day you may wash, previous medical indication. It must be considered that this wash is done with the suture stitches on the face, therefore, this should be done by skilled staff. After hair wash the bandage is replaced with a protective headband that should be used for 2 or 3 months. It is usual to have a swollen face and without expression. Also some bruises may occur which is something normal. Each patient has a unique way of recovering and each professional will give the necessary explanations. The stitches are generally removed after one week.

Types of anaesthesia:

- Local (total recovery 2 to 8 hs)
- Local + sedation (neuroleptic)
- General (24 hs in clinic)