Facelift Surgery

This information has been assembled to familiarize you with the facts regarding face lift surgery. You are requested to read the following information thoroughly and to discuss any questions which might arise with your surgeon before you proceed with the surgical procedure known as rhytidectomy.

Most people feel physically and mentally energetic long after their appearance has begun to deteriorate due to aging. Patients are often bothered by questions, "Do you feel okay?" or "Are you tired?" These questions confirm that their appearance is not accurately communicating how they feel inside. A facelift procedure is designed to provide a rejuvenated appearance. The degree of improvement depends upon the severity of the initial stages of aging of the patient.

A facelift is also called a rhytidectomy. "Rhytid" means wrinkle and "ectomy" means removal. However, a facelift is not really a wrinkle removal operation. Though deep lines and shadows are diminished, it is primarily an antigravity surgery for the lower face and neck. Essentially the face and neck soft tissues are a single unit separated by the mandible. Surgically they are treated as one. A facelift is very beneficial whenever you have too much sagging of the facial or neck skin. A facelift does not include lifting the forehead and doesn't completely raise the mid and central face. The browlift or forehead lift is the recommended procedure for treating a sagging brow or mid face.

The facelift is considered to be a major operative procedure. Contrary to popular belief and despite newspaper and magazine stories, this is not as simple as having your hair done or having a facial.

Your surgeon will remove as much skin as is safe to provide a natural result for you particular facial contour. The type of skin, the degree of preexisting sun damage, age and the aging rate of each patient are factors that help determine the final result.

A common question regarding a facelift is, "How long will it last?" This is impossible to state for a given individual, as there are many factors involved: the amount of skin removed, the age of the patient, the skin type, healing ability, changes in weight, smoking and drinking history and general health of the patient. Most patients have sufficient improvement following a facelift which keeps them looking younger than their peers forever. Occasionally, a patient will opt for a second lift several years after the initial procedure to help maintain their youthful appearance. Clinical studies prove that skin aging still continues after any operation, however, this surgical procedure actually turns back the "hands of time" and slows the aging process down. The underlying scar tissue works as an adhesive almost holding the tissue in place enabling the skin to remain taut longer than normal.