When considering face lift surgery, plastic surgeons may point you in a variety of directions. Read on for more information about facial surgeries and alternatives.
When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Are you feeling as if you don't recognize yourself? Do you think you look older than you feel? For many people as they age, they recognize certain changes in their appearance that make them feel uncomfortable. They lose confidence in themselves because of the changes that are taking place. Plastic surgeons see hundreds of thousands if not millions of men and women yearly concerned with the age of their faces and face lifts are one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures in the industry.
When you are thinking about a face lift for you, there are a couple of important things to consider. Plastic surgeons want their patients to be educated and aware of their options when it comes to surgery. They also want to make sure that prospective patients are aware that not everyone is a good candidate for surgery.
What causes the face to lose it's elasticity, youthfulness, and tone? Age is the biggest factor. As you age, your skin loses it's natural elasticity, your facial muscles lose their tone, and gravity weights down the skin and tissues in the face, around the eyes, and your neck. In some cases, profound weight loss, 100lbs or more, can affect the look of your face. When you lose a considerable amount of weight quickly, your have extra loose, sagging skin everywhere on your body, including your face.
The face lift procedure can be simple or extensive. Most procedures are performed under general anesthesia but in some cases plastic surgeons employ local anesthesia or sedation. Incisions are made along the hairline and around the ear. This gives your doctor the most access to your facial tissue and structures. If muscles need repair, they are sutured. Some patients opt for facial implants. Once tissue repair has been completed, the skin is pulled taut over the face, excess is removed, and your incisions are sutured up. Recovery times can vary, but most invasive surgeries take at least a week of rest and several more of low activity.
When you head into an initial consultation, be prepared to discuss your full range of options when it comes to facial rejuvenation. Not only will plastic surgeons suggest alternatives to surgery such as injectables, skin treatments, and dermal fillers, but they may even approach you about complimentary surgeries such as an eye lift of neck lift. The best way to approach your consultation is have an idea of what your goals are. From there, your surgeon can discuss ways of achieving your goals. If a face lift is not the answer, you will still have sound a solution to restore your face. If it is, you can discuss in further detail how to approach your surgery, your unique risks, and what results surgery will produce.
