Success in Face Lift Surgery
Face Lift Surgery is an operation that aims to bring back young appearance of the face naturally by lifting saggy face tissues and tightening them. It is usually said that a face lift works to “turn back time” and help patients think that they look like a younger version of themselves.
Face Lift Surgery
A face lift surgery can not only help the patient look younger, but also “better” by correcting the sagging, excess skin, deep folds and by lifting and tightening deep face tissues. Face lift is a surgical procedure that improves the visible signs of aging on the face and neck. These visible signs that cause sagging of face are loosening of the skin, deepening of fold lines between the nose and the corners of the mouth, and excess skin on the loose skin and neck area that can be called “double chin” or “turkey neck”.
Am I a good candidate for a face lift?
If the signs of ageing on your face cause you to appear tired or sad, face lift surgery may be applicable for you. Face lift can decrease visible signs of ageing on the face and the neck by correcting the excess skin on the neck. Some of these signs are:
Sagging
Sagging in the centre of the face is effectively eliminated.
Deep Wrinkles
Gives efficient results for deep wrinkles on the lower eyelids, the mouth and the nose.
Loose Skin
Face fat that sags or that lost its position on the chin or below the cheek that is excessively fatty.
What are the Options for Face Lift Surgery?
There are two types of face lift surgery; mini and standard. Patients who have mildly sagging skin are generally good candidates for a mini face lift. Standard or “traditional” face lift is aimed at the ageing in the middle of the face and around the neck in patients who are middle aged and older.
Standard face lift surgery is wider than mini face lift surgery and thus, requires more time for recovery.
How do I Pick a Surgeon
It is important to base your decision on the following to pick a surgeon that you can trust: The education-training certification of the surgeon, Experiences of the surgeon and Before and after photographs that show the aesthetic perspective of the surgeon.
Education and Experience
Patients that choose Reborn are under the guarantee of ISAPS (International Society of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery), which only 57 surgeons have in Turkey. The surgeons at Reborn have substantial experience in every procedure of post pregnancy plastic surgery, which is one of the areas our doctors specialise in.
Hospital Conditions
It is important that you ask where your operation will be performed. You should learn about the accreditation and sterility condition of the place and who will be with you during the operation. Every operation is performed in A* hospitals in European and Anatolian side who have JCI accreditation.
Before and After Photographs
Seeing before and after photographs will provide a reference of the results you will get before undergoing aesthetic surgery. The doctors that Reborn work with can provide photos of previous patients and you can learn about their experiences and ask your doctor about everything you have in mind.
Which Face Lift is Suitable for Me?
Face lift surgery changes according to the needs of every patient, and an aesthetic surgeon will shape his or her technique accordingly. There are two types of face lift surgery, mini and standard. Patients who have mild sagging on their skin are generally good candidates for a mini face lift. Standard or “traditional” face lift aims towards the ageing in the middle of the face and around the neck in patients that are middle aged or older.
Surgical Procedure
There are many types of face lift surgery. Every procedure is personalised for the specific needs of the patients. Face lift techniques vary from easy, minimally invasive approaches through cuts in front of ears, to wider face and neck lift procedures. Many modern face lift techniques do not only compress the skin, but also the soft tissue that is called SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system). There has been a lot of advancement in face lift techniques in the last ten years, and each of these are improved to give more natural results with minimal scratches and shorter recovery time.
Anaesthesia
Face lift surgery can be performed in a hospital or an independent surgical facility. When you are ready for the surgery, your surgeon and the medical team will implement the plan you agreed on. Local or general anesthesia may be performed depending on your surgeon’s suggestion and your individual needs. You will know what is expecting you because you will decide these before your procedure starts.
After the Operation
When your surgery is finished, you will be taken to a recovery unit where you will be closely monitored. Dressing can be applied on the cut areas and there may be one or two small tubes behind the ears. After your surgeon’s approval, you can go and get rest. Someone should be ready to take you home because of anaesthesia. It may be beneficial if someone is with you during the first 24 to 48 hours.
The Process after a Face Lift
Swelling decreases in 60% in the first two weeks, but the process for the remaining swelling is slower, it takes longer. Avoiding salt and having the head lifted while sleeping helps the process. 80% of the swelling disappears by the end of 3 months. At the end of 6 months, an 85% to 90% decrease takes place. It may take up to 1 year before the last 10% swelling. This process continues at different pace for every patient. Following diets in which salt is decreased 2 weeks before the surgery helps the process.
2 Weeks
Swelling and bruising mostly disappears. You can go back to your normal life.
3 Months
Avoiding salt and having the head elevated while sleeping helps the process. 80% of the swelling disappears after 3 months.
6 Months
Your skin starts to properly set in your face. A 90% decrease takes place after 6 months.
1 Year
It may take up to a year before the last 10% of the swelling disappears. This process continues at different pace for every patient.
What Should I Expect?
Activity after operation: We suggest you to refrain from physical activity for two weeks to allow your tissues to recover properly. Apart from walking, strenuous activities are not allowed.
Swelling / bruising: Facial swelling is expected and it may be more apparent 24-72 hours after the operation compared to right after the operation. Having your head high and sitting straight for a few days after the operation helps minimise swelling. Swelling usually disappears slowly within 10 days.
Bleeding: Minimal leakage of blood and tissue fluid along the sewing lines for a few days after the operation. Severe bleeding and bleeding that does not stop for 10 minutes are rare. If that happens, you should notify your doctor about it.
Can Face Lift Surgery Be Applied on my Eyelids too?
It is not uncommon for you to hear the words “face lift” when mentioning face lift surgery. It is understandable that many people think a face lift surgery includes the whole face, that is, the eyes, brows, cheeks and chin. As a result, your eyes and forehead are parts of your face. However, what is really meant with a face lift include the face line, cheek and chin line. But why? This results from anatomical differences. The skin, muscles and other tissues encircle eyelids along the eyebrows, and the eyelids are very different. For each of these areas, techniques that are very different than those used during a face lift are required. Patients choose eyelid lifting, eyebrow lifting or neck contour operations to be performed at the same time with a face lift. However, in this case an aesthetic surgeon will perform two different procedures in one operation. Likewise, patients who want to have younger eyes and neck area can generally reach their goals with an eyelid lift or a neck lift.
How long are the results of a face lift?
A face lift surgery naturally ages with you although it looks natural now when performed by an experienced, board approved aesthetic surgeon. Nothing can stop the normal ageing process, but after a face lift you always look younger than you did before you had surgery. In addition, there are certain things you can do so that you keep your results in the best way. It is important to have a healthy stable weight, any changes in weight may cause the skin to stretch again. In addition, you should have a consistent, good quality skin care to keep your skin healthy and protect it against ageing. A face lift surgery is a safe procedure and a great way to vitalise your appearance when performed by an experienced aesthetic surgeon. The best way to decide whether a face lift operation is suitable for you is to consult a board certified aesthetic surgeon.
Is it suitable for me?
Deciding whether a face lift surgery is the right choice for you is a personal decision. A face lift surgery may be right for you if the following is true if you:
- have sagging skin on your face.
- have realistic expectations.
- are physically healthy and you will specially take care of your skin during recovery.
What are the possible side effects?
Swelling and bruising may be seen following a face lift surgery. Cuts are rarely important because they are hidden. It is inevitable that the face temporarily gets numb, but it goes back to normal in a few months. Occasionally, a hematoma drainage may be needed and it may require surgery.
What is the Best Age for a Face Lift?
Waiting for the skin’s ageing to get very severe will decrease your chance to get the best result. Starting the face rejuvenating process early is the best because of certain reasons: -For most people, changes in the face that are related to ageing start to become visible in the beginning of 30’s. While these changes advance in 40’s and 50’s, deep face lines that result from fat loss and face folds create permanent skin changes that are difficult to correct solely with a face lift. During your 40’s and 50’s, having an early procedure with fillings and a face lift will help prevent these permanent changes.- In general, people in their 40’s and 50’s are healthier than those who are over 60. Consequently they are better candidates for a surgical procedure and they recover easier. Today, the age to perform a face lift surgery is 50. The most important factor, in fact, is not only your age, it is whether you have skin changes that can be corrected with a face lift. Another factor is whether you are healthy enough to undergo the procedure. As a result, getting a face lift surgery is a very personal decision and you should always consult your aesthetic surgeon who is experienced. Today, there are many options that do not require a surgical operation, many changes in the skin that are related to ageing can be changed without the need for a face lift. Sagging of lower face and neck are still areas that require a surgical face lift and a neck lift, but these changes tend to appear, but these changes do not tend to appear after the ageing of the middle and upper parts of the face.
Why Should I Consider a Face Lift Surgery?
The skin starts losing its elasticity as it ages, and face tissues lose volume. In the end, this results in double chin in lower face area, deep wrinkles and loose skin on the neck. Even though this is a natural part of ageing, patients who are uncomfortable with these signs of ageing may consider a face lift so that it will be a better solution. Following a face lift surgery, it is usually seen that the self-confidence of individuals increased and they have a more energetic attitude that results from their healthy appearance.
How Does a Face Lift Operation Process Go On?
The technique used by an aesthetic surgeon during the face lift depends on a range of factors such as the anatomy of the patient and the patient’s personal goals, the degree of the face lift (mini or standard) and whether another procedure is performed simultaneously. A face lift is usually performed under general anaesthesia, but sedation and local anesthesia can be used in some of the less comprehensive procedures. After the first incision is made, the skin is separated from the underlying connective tissue and muscles. This allows the plastic surgeon to reposition the deeper face tissues, get rid of those that are afloat and form a much tighter base for the skin. The skin that remains after the excess skin is removed is gently laid over the rejuvenated face tissues and gives the face a smooth, younger looking contour without tightening the skin too much.
What Happens During the Day of Operation?
A face lift surgery can be performed in a hospital or in an independent surgical facility. When you are ready for the surgery, your surgeon and the medical team will implement the plan you agreed on. Local or general anaesthesia may be performed depending on your surgeon’s suggestion and your individual needs. You will know what is expecting you because you will decide these before your procedure starts.
When your surgery is finished, you will be taken to a recovery unit where you will be closely monitored. Dressing can be applied on the cut areas and there may be one or two small tubes behind the ears. After your surgeon’s approval, you can go and get rest. Someone should be ready to take you home because of anaesthesia. It may be beneficial if someone is with you during the first 24 to 48 hours.
What are the other Aesthetic Procedures that Can Be combined with a Face Lift?
It is very logical to fit the recovery periods of other procedures because a recovery period is already going to be had after a face lift. As a result, many patients have other aesthetic procedures done together with a face lift surgery. Neck lift and brow lift are procedures that are usually performed together with a face lift. These procedures help protect the balance of the face and they provide more apparent and dramatic results. In addition to this, patients should pick surgeons that are experienced in every area of face plastic surgery for safety and to have good results.
Is a Face Lift Procedure Safe?
Every surgical procedure has certain risks. The possible risks of a face lift surgery are the following: Negative scarring, Bleeding (haematoma), Infection, Poor scar recovery, Risks of anaesthesia, Improvable hair loss on the cut areas, Face nerve injury, Face asymmetry, Skin loss, Numbness or other changes in skin feeling, Fat necrosis, Fluid accumulation, Continuing pain, Skin contour irregularities, Skin colour change-sensitivity or swelling. The stitches may form a surface on the skin on its own, become visible and can cause irritation that requires them to be removed. Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications (rare), the opportunity for a revision surgery.
How should I prepare for a face lift surgery?
Your surgeon will give instructions prior to the procedure. He or she may want to learn about your medical history, and will do a physical examination to determine whether you are suitable for surgery. Preparations for the surgery starts after your surgeon examines you and discusses with you the details of the procedures. If your surgeon suggests you to stabilise your weight and follow other suggestions about lifestyle prior to the procedure, do your best to follow these suggestions in order to get the best results and minimise complications. Your surgeon will ask the following prior to the procedure: Quit smoking six weeks before the surgery in order to encourage recovery of scars and decrease scarring. Smoking increases your risk to have serious complications. Avoid aspirin, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s: Advil, Motrin, Aleve) and vitamins / homeopathic diets. These may increase bleeding. Drinking a lot of water before and after surgery is highly important for a safe recovery regardless of the type of procedure that will be performed.
