Face lift

Face-lift or (Rhytidectomy)

A face-lift is a cosmetic surgical procedure to lift up and pull back the skin to make a younger and tighter face. The procedure can reduce sagging skin. It can also help smooth folds of skin on the cheeks and jawline.

What does facelift involve?

A facelift is usually carried out under general anesthesia. There are many different kinds of facelift, but generally the surgeon will:

Make cuts (incisions) above the hairline at the temples that extend down in front of the patient ear, underneath the earlobe and behind the ear.
Make cuts under the chin if the jawline is also being lifted.
Remove the surplus facial skin.
Pull the remaining skin backwards and upwards before stitching it into its new position.
Sometimes redistribute facial fat and tissue or add to the face.
Bandage the face to minimize bruising and swelling.

Face lift surgery usually takes 2 to 3 hours. Most patient need to stay 1 to 2 overnights in the hospital.

Recovery

Face lift surgery usually takes 2 to 3 hours. Most patient need to stay 1 to 2 overnights in the hospital.

Bruising is visible for at least two weeks. It could take up to 6 to 9 months to see the full effect of facelift.

Patient will not be able to drive for a number of days after the operation. The patient will have to avoid showering and getting the bandages wet for the first two days. The patient will have to avoid strenuous activity, saunas and massages for at least 2 weeks.

After about a week, stitches are removed, unless in case of having dissolvable stitches.

After several weeks bruises, scars and redness should have faded. And after 6 to 9 months, the full effect of the face lift should be seen.

Side effects should be expected:

It is common to have: