Face Lift: Reclaiming Youthfulness

For those with sagging, creased facial skin, face lift surgery may provide the best solution. While the procedure does not remove wrinkles, it does lift sagging skin and smooth facial creases, creating more youthful appearance.

Women who have aging, sagging skin on their faces may think that the rise in popularity of injectable wrinkle fighting techniques has removed the market for face lift, or rhytidectomy, surgery. While injectable and facial peels work well for some signs of aging, such as wrinkles or age spots, those with severe creases and dropping skin find the most positive benefit from actual surgery, and new techniques make this surgery even more successful than it was in years past.

Benefits
Choosing surgery over injectable or other treatments carries several benefits. First, the results are more lasting. A rhytidectomy lasts for 10 or more years, whereas injectable treatments last only a few months.

It also treats severe signs of aging, such as loose, sagging skin, which injectables cannot treat. It also can eliminate deep creases along the nose, on the corner of the mouth, or under the eyelids. The surgery also lessens the appearance of jowls created by loss of muscle tone and sagging skin on the lower jaw. This operation does not reduce wrinkles, but rather lifts it to remove folds or creases caused by laxity. Sometimes doctors combine other treatments with the operation to completely revolutionize the look of the face.

The Procedure
Each rhytidectomy, procedure is quite different from the next, as skilled surgeons tailor it to each individual’s unique body physiology. Sometimes excess skin is removed, while other times it is simply re-contoured. Often the surgery also involves liposuction of the fatty deposits. For female patients, the incision typically falls near the hairline behind the ears, whereas it may be placed at the beard line for male patients.

Your physician will help you understand exactly what will be involved before it occurs. The operation is typically performed under general anesthetic and on an outpatient basis, although those with complex cases may need to stay in the hospital overnight.

Recovery
Face lift will cause some discomfort, which most patients are able to treat with traditional pain relievers. Patients should expect some bruising, which can be startling if it is not expected, but this fades soon after the procedure. Swelling may also occur, and this also fades within four to six weeks. Some patients prefer to stay around their homes during the first two weeks post the procedure to allow the majority of the swelling and bruising to heal before they resume their normal social activities.

Good Candidates
Not all patients are good candidates for this procedure. The first criterion is the condition of the facial skin. If it is loose or saggy, it may help. It also helps if the individual has a well-defined bone structure and strong jaw line. Most people are between the ages of 40 and 60 when they have this procedure, although older ones have had successful operations as well.

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