The Facelift: A Look At This Remarkable Procedure

There are few procedures in the world of plastic surgery that can make as dramatic a difference in a person’s appearance as the facelift. It has been around in one form or another for hundreds of years, but it is not until recent years that it has become nearly perfect in its ability to turn back the years on a person’s face. Though far more popular with women, it is one of several plastic surgery procedures that are gaining ground with American men as well. In most cases, the surgeon will create incisions that are as hidden as possible in the hairline and behind the ears, keeping aesthetic improvement the focus of the surgery. Here is a deeper look at this remarkable procedure.

The operation itself is designed to remove lines and wrinkles from a person’s face. It can be used to reduce that sagging look that age often brings with it. The surgeon will remove the skin itself away from the tissue underneath. Given this window into the face, they will be able to trim away some of the fat and tissue, creating a younger look and tighter appearance. This is where experience and an eye for aesthetics come into play. A plastic surgeon is unlike any other medical professional in this respect. A Plastic Surgeons must be as much an artist as they are a doctor. Take too much tissue away and you can leave the patient looking gaunt and hollow. Take too little away and the surgery may have minimal results. There is a fine balance and those surgeons who can provide it rightfully charge a premium for their services.

After the facelift comes the recovery. On the part of the patient, this is the most important step in the process. To ensure a speedy and healthy recovery, it is advised that a patient refrain from smoking or ingesting any nicotine in this time. Nicotine hinders proper recovery by tightening blood vessels and preventing the incision sites from getting the blood they need to heal. The doctor will prescribe some form of pain medication for the patient to take in the days and weeks that follow. Some swelling and numbness is to be expected. The most important thing the patient can do is to listen to the doctor’s instructions and follow them to the letter. Swaying from those instructions for any reason can delay recovery and can even lead to disastrous results.

Will the facelift last forever? In the early days of the surgery, the patient could expect one or two good years before the skin began to slide back down into its original position. Today, if that happened, the patient would have a malpractice case on their hands. Things have come a long way, in other words. Still, it is unreasonable to expect that the procedure will freeze time. A person will continue to age as expected, yet their face will now be starting from an earlier point, meaning they should always look younger than their years. This, to many patients, is what it’s all about.