Face lift Continued
The majority of Facelift procedures are done on an outpatient basis. You will be instructed before the surgery on how to prepare for the procedure. The Facelift can be done in the surgeon's office or in a hospital. Most often the surgery is performed under local anesthesia, but some patients may require a general anesthesia and even hospitalization after surgery.
Once the areas to be operated on have been anesthetized and/or the patient sedated, the surgeon will use a marker type pen to sketch out the path along which he/she will cut. A saline solution containing lidocaine and epinephrine will be injected to restrict bleeding. Next the surgeon will cut along the pre-drawn lines to separate the tissue from the skull. At this point the surgeon carefully removes excess skin and fat. When finished, the surgeon will lift the skin into place and apply sutures.
The procedure described above is basic in nature; there are many types of Facelifts and each surgeon performs the surgery to his/her own preferences. Facelifts like the Deep Pane Lift, S-Lift and Mini Lift are also popular. Be certain to discuss all your options with your surgeon.
Recovery
You will likely be released within a few hours of surgery. Any pain you experience will be controlled with medication prescribed by your physician. Your surgeon will direct you to keep your head still and elevated for as long as 14 days. Swelling generally peaks around the third day and then improvement will begin. You can expect bruising as well.
You may find yourself getting depressed. Remember the bruising and swelling are not permanent. It is advisable that you have someone who can take care of you for a while so that you can concentrate on healing. After 2 or 3 weeks, the swelling and bruising should go down and you will be able to return to work. Some scars will be visible and you can apply makeup to these if necessary.
Possible Complications
All surgery carries some risk. Even under the best of conditions it is possible for complications to arise during or after a Facelift. Some of the possible risks include:
- Hematoma: blood collecting under the skin
- Thrombosis: clotting
- Loss of sensitivity (common but usually temporary)
- Infection
- Negative reaction to anesthesia
- Hypertrophic scarring: painful widening of scars occurs if too much skin is removed
- Alopecia: hair loss near incision areas and sometimes eyebrows/eyelashes as a result of anesthesia, antibiotics, or pain relievers (generally temporary)
- Facial weakness or paralysis
Choosing a qualified surgeon and following pre op and post op instructions are your best defense against an undesirable outcome.
Results
A Facelift takes time to heal and you will notice some changes in skin sensation like tightness and tingling, the scars fade gradually and the skin around the incision areas may be dry and rough for a few months. You will begin to notice a more youthful self within 4 weeks and the final effects of the Facelift will last for many years.
By MS Kauffman
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