To give the face a more youthful appearance, a face-lift is a surgical cosmetic procedure. This treatment can lessen skin sagging. Additionally, it can aid in reducing skin creases along the jawline and cheeks. The term “rhytidectomy” also refers to a facelift.
During a face-lift, a flap of skin is pushed back from either side of the face. The tissues beneath the skin are altered, and extra skin is eliminated. As a result, the face is given a more youthful contour.
A face-lift frequently includes a neck lift. The neck’s fat and drooping skin are reduced.
Sun damage-related fine lines and wrinkles cannot be removed by a facelift. Additional cosmetic procedures may enhance the skin’s look or texture.
What is a facelift (rhytidectomy)?
A facelift is any surgical procedure that relocates or removes skin, fat, and/or muscle to minimize the signs of aging on your face and/or neck (also known as a rhytidectomy). With a facelift, the aging symptoms listed below can be lessened:
- Relaxed, sagging skin on your face.
- There are significant wrinkles or folds between the corners of your lips and your nose.
- facial fat that is missing or has decreased.
- Skin that is drooping across your jaw or cheeks (known as jowls).
- sagging skin and more fat in your neck that resembles a “double chin.”
What are the different kinds of facelifts?
There are many types of facelift operations depending on the face and neck areas that are being addressed. Types of facelift surgeries include:
- Traditional facelift: Incisions are made below the chin, around the hairline, and around the ears during a typical facelift. When a surgeon separates your skin from the underlying tissues, the muscles and other supporting tissues of your face and neck are tightened. The surgeon may also reduce the excess fat from your neck and jowls if necessary. The surgeon will then trim away any excess skin and realign your skin so that it covers your face naturally. In general, those who want to effectively reverse mild to significant facial aging are encouraged to have this surgery.
- SMAS facelift (SMAS rhytidectomy): The lower two-thirds of your face are the focus of a SMAS facelift (superficial musculoaponeurotic system, the muscle layer of your face). Your muscles will be tightened during this procedure, and the extra skin and/or fat in your cheeks and lower face will be removed. An alternative to a standard facelift is an SMAS facelift.
- Deep plane facelift: The SMAS (the facial muscle layer), fat, and skin are all lifted together during a deep plane facelift. Several parts of your face are often treated simultaneously by deep plane lifts.
- Mid-facelift: The cheek area of your face is treated during a mid-facelift procedure. A surgeon tightens the skin surrounding your cheek and repositions the fat in your face.
- Mini facelift: The lower face and neck are lifted during mini-facelift operations. It is a quicker and less invasive process as compared to other facelift procedures. Mini facelifts are typically advised by surgeons to patients who are younger and only exhibit a little facial drooping.
Cutaneous (skin) facelift: Cutaneous facelifts, which solely work on your skin, typically target your neck and lower face.
Why is it done?
With age, the face’s appearance and shape change. Skin becomes less elastic and less likely to quickly bounce back. Fat deposits are increasing in some areas of the face while decreasing in others.
A face-lift can address these age-related changes:
- Sagging appearance of the cheeks.
- Excess skin at the lower jawline.
- Deep skin folds go from the corners of the lips to the sides of the nose.
- Skin that is sagging and extra fat in the neck (if the procedure includes a neck lift).
Who gets facelifts?
You are generally a suitable candidate for a facelift if:
- You don’t have a medical condition that would prevent your body from healing, and you’re in good physical health.
- You don’t smoke.
- You have reasonable mental expectations about the outcomes of the facelift.
Patients with facial aging symptoms but some skin elasticity make the ideal candidates for facelift surgery. Patients in this category are often between the ages of 40 and 60, while candidates for surgery can occasionally be both younger and older.
How common are facelifts?
A facelift is among the most widely used cosmetic procedures. In the United States, more than 131,000 people undergo cosmetic surgery annually.
What happens at a facelift consultation?
Every facelift procedure is unique to the patient’s particular facial features and surgical goals, so it’s crucial to have a detailed conversation with your plastic surgeon before your procedure. at your consultation for a facelift, you and your surgeon will discuss the following topics:
- Your expectations for the facelift procedure.
- any allergies, illnesses, or medications you are currently taking.
- Your current usage of drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, vitamins, and supplements.
- Previous surgeries you may have had.
During the consultation, your surgeon will also:
- Evaluate your overall physical health.
- Evaluate your psychological and emotional health.
- Discuss facelift options.
- Your face and neck will be examined, measured, and clinical pictures will be taken (with your agreement) to aid in surgical planning.
- Recommend certain facelift procedures.
- Discuss the likely results of your facelift as well as any potential dangers or complications.
- Before surgery, talk about the type of anesthesia you’ll use.