Aging is inevitable, and its first signs begin to appear on the face as early as our 30s. They become more pronounced with age and affect every tissue of the face. The facial bones thin out. The skin loses its elasticity and wrinkles. As the fat beneath the skin and the muscles diminish, gravity causes the soft tissues to sag. Gradually the skin becomes covered with wrinkles and laxity, and the face takes on a tired, older and hollow appearance. A facelift can correct these effects of aging.
A facelift does not stop aging. The surgery makes you look younger and more refreshed than your actual age, but the aging process continues. Anatomically, the face is divided into three regions, and each region is assessed separately when planning rejuvenation surgery. The upper face includes the temples, forehead and eyebrows; the procedure performed in this region is the FULL FACELIFT or MIDFACE LIFT.
The midface includes the cheeks; the procedure performed here is the midface or cheek lift. The lower face includes the area under the chin and the neck; the procedure performed here is the lower face or neck lift. Each region can be treated on its own or in combination with the others.
01How Is a Facelift Performed?
A facelift is performed under general anesthesia. Depending on the extent of the procedure, surgery takes 3–6 hours on average. In a facelift, the incision is made entirely within the hairline. In midface and lower face lifts, the incisions are placed along the natural borders in front of and behind the ear. Because the scars remain within the hairline and in natural skin folds, they are usually not noticeable.
02After Facelift Surgery
Swelling and bruising of the face after surgery are a normal part of recovery. Contrary to what many people expect, there is usually no severe pain. Simple oral pain relievers are enough for any discomfort in the first few days.
Applying ice to the area at intervals during the first 24–48 hours significantly reduces swelling. In addition, certain effective creams we recommend help reduce bruising and speed up its healing.
Since the drains are removed on the first day after surgery, a one-night hospital stay may be needed.
Most of the stitches are dissolvable and do not need to be removed. The few remaining stitches
are removed after 7–10 days.
You can return to work after 1 week.
A facelift cannot stop aging. The surgery makes you look younger than your actual age.
03Neck Lift
Alongside natural aging, the area under the chin and the neck is one of the places where the negative effects of gravity, weight fluctuations and genetics show most. Signs of aging in the neck can also result from other causes, such as reduced skin elasticity and fat accumulating under the chin (double chin). Neck lift is the general name for surgery that treats all of these causes.
A neck lift usually begins with an incision placed behind the ear. Because this scar sits just below the hairline, in an area with very good skin quality, it heals nicely in most patients. The same is true of the incision when it is extended in front of the ear. An important point here is that how a scar develops, and how visible it becomes, depends partly on patient-related factors.
While good scars can be achieved in most patients, everyone heals differently, so the degree of scarring will also differ. Factors that affect this include genetics, diet, regularly used medications and even smoking. Through the incision behind the ear, the skin of the neck is lifted from both sides up to the midline. Apart from the incisions behind the ears, this leaves no visible scar on the neck. However, if there is muscle laxity, a small incision a few centimeters long under the chin may also be needed to repair the area beneath the chin.
For the first few nights, sleeping in a slightly upright position on a high pillow is important to prevent swelling. Patients are discharged the day after surgery. Some facial puffiness and mild bruising for about two weeks is normal, and a special facial compression garment is worn during this time. At the end of two weeks, any remaining stitches that have not dissolved are removed. Patients may wash their face from the fifth day after surgery. As the swelling goes down, the positive results of the surgery begin to show. A successfully performed neck lift is highly satisfying for patients, and the results are long-lasting.
