Face Lift: Information You Should Know

Even though we have more facial rejuvenation creams on the market than ever before, people are aware of the dangers of smoking and too much time in the sun, and good nutrition choices are all around us, the stress of modern life can lead to premature signs of aging. And this is as true now as it has ever been. Today, however, people have a choice. They can wear their age as a badge of honor or they can choose to have a face lift, taking away many of these signs of aging with a simple cosmetic procedure. If you fall into the latter category, here is some information you should know.

First, you need to find out if you are a good candidate for a face lift. While anyone can find a disreputable doctor to perform a procedure if they look hard enough, you don’t want to risk your health any more than is necessary. A good candidate will be a man or a woman who has facial skin that has begun to sag and grow wrinkled. The best candidates will have a strong bone structure underneath their skin and will be in good overall health. That’s not to say that this procedure is only for the young. Far from it. Many of the most common patients are in their 40s and beyond. With a good procedure, the person will still look like themselves in the mirror, except without the wrinkles and signs of aging.

As with any cosmetic procedure, there are risks involved in getting a face lift. By finding a qualified, experienced surgeon and following his directions to the letter, you can decrease the chances of running into any of these complications. Still, no matter how experienced the surgeon or how well you follow directions, things can go wrong. Hematoma C is one risk, which is where blood collects under the skin and must be drained by the surgeon in a follow-up procedure. There is also the risk of nerve damage and facial control muscular damage. Many times, this kind of complication is only temporary. Infection is another risk, as is having an allergic reaction to the anesthesia, which can be fatal. 

The procedure itself is typically done as an outpatient operation, though in some cases the surgeon may wish to have the patient admitted over night for observation purposes. The face lift will usually take a few hours to complete, depending on the doctor and the type of techniques used. In most cases, the operation involves making an incision across the temples, hidden in the hairline, and then bringing those incisions down behind the ears. The surgeon then peels back the skin and can make any adjustments necessary to the musculature below before pulling the skin back tight and removing any excess. Recovery time varies, though you should be feeling and looking better in about three weeks.