As you age, skin elasticity will naturally decrease. Facial skin will relax, even appear sagging. This can affect one's confidence. Can a facelift improve this condition? Check out the following explanation.
One of the medical procedures that can overcome the above physical conditions is facelift plastic surgery or rhytidectomy. Previously, facelift was only done to tighten the skin, but now the facelift can simultaneously reposition muscles, skin, and fat.
Age factor
Facelift is generally done on people in the age range of 40-70 years, but it is also possible to do on those who are older. The best facelift results can be obtained on someone who still has skin elasticity, even though they are aging. This cosmetic surgery procedure involves cutting and removing flaky skin. Next, facial skin will be pulled to be repositioned.
The results of the facelift procedure can last around 5-10 years. Your appearance will look younger. Even so, it does not mean that the aging process stops altogether after undergoing a facelift.
Some other procedures that are often performed in conjunction with a facelift, include necklift for the neck, browlift for the forehead, and eyelid surgery. Facial implants, injections of fillers or fat can also be done as a series of additional procedures in facelift surgery.
Operations and Recovery Process
The duration of facelift procedures varies greatly, from 2 hours to 6 hours. Depending on the condition of each patient.
Before the operation begins, the patient will be given general anesthesia. Once anesthetized, the facelift procedure starts through an incision in the hair or upper hairline and front of the ear. The incision is then continued under the ear until it ends at the hairline behind the ear.
The skin and fat tissue on the face will then be removed, separated from the muscles and connective tissue. If necessary, the doctor can tighten the muscles and connective tissue by sewing it.
The skin is then pulled towards the back to the desired position. Excess skin will be removed. After completion, the incisions will be sewn together again and bandaged.
The doctor will open the bandage in a few days. In the first 2-3 weeks, the doctor will ask you to get checked again. Generally at that time, you still experience bruising and swelling. At the time of control to the doctor, stitches will be taken if the wound is closed after surgery. Keep in mind that the recovery process after the facelift can be different for each person.
Possible Risk of Complications
Before deciding to do a facelift plastic surgery procedure, consult your doctor about the benefits and risks of complications that may occur.
Some of the risks of a facelift that may occur can include bruising, bleeding, infection, widening or thickening of the scar after surgery, and a temporary decrease in muscle function.
In addition, the risk of facelift also includes hair loss around the incision site, asymmetry between the two sides of the face, and the occurrence of nerve tissue damage to the face.
Some symptoms that require you to get medical help after a facelift include:
- From the surgical wound, pus or blood came out.
- Fever.
- Sutures on the surgical wound come off prematurely.
- The area around the operation appears to be reddening, swelling, pain to the touch, or extreme pain.
Preparatory Steps
A facelift procedure is performed by a specialist plastic surgeon. Before carrying out these procedures, do the consultation first until you feel ready and confident.
Some things that can be discussed, such as goals and what changes you want to do. It is possible, the doctor will suggest lighter changes to achieve these goals. For example eyelid surgery alone compared to a facelift.
The doctor will also ask about your health condition, including the medications you are taking and the surgical procedures you performed before.
Then the doctor will further examine the condition of the facial skin, facial structure, and neck. In addition, the doctor will check whether there are scars, abnormal skin conditions, or asymmetries on the face.
You will be asked to stop taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, or herbal supplements because it can increase the risk of bleeding. The doctor will also give antibiotics before a facelift to reduce the risk of infection.
High Risk Group
Some people may be exposed to a higher risk due to facelift procedures, for example smokers who will be at higher risk of damaging skin tissue. That is why, your doctor will recommend that you stop smoking before and during the facelift recovery period. Those of you who take blood-thinning drugs, such as warfarin or clopidogrel, will have a higher risk of bleeding.
In addition, your doctor will likely reconsider the facelift procedure if you have a history of weight loss and weight gain that has occurred several times. This is because changes in body weight affect the stretching of the skin.
You are prohibited from undergoing a facelift if you have a history or a high likelihood of abnormal bleeding.
Alternative treatments
If you want to have facial skin that is tight and wrinkle free but don't want to undergo a facelift procedure, there are several alternative treatments that can be tried, namely:
Thread-lift
Botox injection
Thermage Basics
Non-ablative laser basics
Consider more about the benefits and risks of a facelift if you are interested in doing so. Consult with your doctor about facelift procedures at the hospital and also make sure you have sufficient costs, considering that health insurance in general does not cover the cost of cosmetic surgery.
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