What is facelift surgery?
Facelift surgery is a surgical method that removes sagging and wrinkles on the face due to genetics and aging by means of stretching and hanging. The main process is to replace the skin which is hanging downwards. The purpose of these surgeries is not only to stretch the face, but also to shape the face. The same procedure is applied to the neck, providing a tension towards the chin. Thus, it is ensured that facial features appear younger for a longer period of time.
Am I a good candidate for facelift surgery?
Facelift surgery Is applied to people whose face and neck skin has started to sag, but whose skin has not yet lost its elasticity, and who have no other health problems. Although it is often applied to women and men over the age of 40, anyone who is bothered by facial sagging and wrinkles can have facelift surgery.
What should I do before facelift surgery?
The most helpful preparation you can make is not to smoke before surgery. In addition, the use of supplements such as aspirin, blood thinners, painkillers, herbal teas, vitamin E and fish oil should be stopped 10 days before, and they should not be used for a while afterwards.
Step-by-step surgery process:
Anesthesia: General anesthesia is used for full facelift. For mini and mid-facelift, general anesthesia or sedation and local anesthesia may be performed
Surgical procedure: The surgical technique varies according to the type of classic facelift surgery to be applied.
• In mini facelift surgery, an incision is made in front of the ear. The sagging cheek area is lifted without going too far into the deep tissues. Loose tissue is removed from the front of the ear and the inner tissue is tightened.
• In the mid facelift surgery, the tissue of the sagging cheek area is moved up with the incision made from under the eye.
• In the full facelift surgery, the entire cheek area, jaw line and neck are stretched with an incision that starts from the scalp area of the temple, continues in front of the ear and ends behind the ear.
What should I expect after facelift surgery?
You will have bandages on your face when you leave the operating room. The bandages will be removed after 2-3 days.
In order to prevent the accumulation of blood in the tissue, silicone pipes called ‘drains’ can be placed. The drains are removed in a day or two.
With the recommendation of your physician, you can use a special face corset for 2 weeks after the surgery.
Facelift surgery is not a painful operation. As with any surgical procedure, mild pain is felt for 1-2 days. You will be relieved with the painkillers given after the surgery.
There may be general swelling and bruising on the face. Swelling and bruising would increase considerably in the first week and then slowly begin to regress. Applying cold pads to the cheeks allows swelling and bruising to regress earlier. Again, a neck collar should be worn in the first days to keep bruises and swellings to a minimum. After about 2 weeks, the swelling and bruises will disappear completely. Facial numbness, tension and pressure may be felt. These feelings go away completely in a few days.
Since the facial nerves may be mildly affected by anesthesia during the surgery, there may be mild asymmetries on the face. These go away on their own in 3-5 days.There may be stiffness and numbness in front of the ear. The numbness can last for 2-3 months.
What should I pay attention to after facelift surgery?
On the 3rd day after surgery, you can take a bath with warm water. You can wash your face after the surgical bands are removed.
Since dissolving type sutures are used frequently nowadays, they do not need to be removed. If non-dissolving stitches are used, the stitches in front of the ear are removed on the 5th day, and the stitches behind the ear and on the scalp are removed on the 7th day. Make-up can be applied after the stitches are removed.
You should protect your face from physical factors and clothes while dressing, and you should not move the stretched face too much during the recovery phase.
Activities that increase blood pressure should be avoided for a week.
You can start walking exercises 2 weeks after the surgery and start doing heavy sports after 6 weeks.
After the surgery, you should stay away from the sun for at least 2 months, if possible, until full recovery is achieved. If sun exposure is mandatory, high-efficiency sunscreens should be used.
You should not smoke for one month after the operation.
How long should I rest after facelift surgery?
Home rest is recommended for one week after surgery.
When can I return to work after facelift surgery?
You can return to work 7-10 days after the operation.
How long is the recovery period after facelift surgery?
Recovery is achieved 3-4 weeks after surgery.
What kind of results should I expect after facelift surgery?
The face heals completely within 2-3 months after the operation. The aim of face lift surgeries is to repair the sagging tissues that have been displaced and deformed over the years, to remove facial wrinkles and to achieve the ideal result that suits your face.
Will there be any scars after facelift surgery?
Facelift surgery is not scarless. However, these facial scars are mostly invisible and can be hidden. The scars are hidden in the scalp in the temple area, in front of and behind the ear. If fat is removed from under the chin, a 3-5 mm scar remains under the chin.
What are the risks of facelift surgery?
Conditions such as infection, bleeding, wound dehiscence, which are in question in every surgical operation, can be seen rarely.
How long does the effect of facelift surgery last?
The new youthful and dynamic appearance after facelift surgery can preserve itself for many years. Although this period depends on different factors, it can preserve a young and natural state of the face for more than 10 years without deterioration.
What are the advantages of facelift surgery?
It is an advantage that it is not obvious that you have a facelift surgery because the incisions are not noticed since they are located in the anatomical folds and hairline. Facelifts are very useful for increasing people’s self-confidence and self-love. Facelift surgery is a very positive tool for people who have wrinkles and sagging despite their young age to help them gain self-confidence.
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