Posted by Have you noticed laugh lines around your mouth or crow’s feet near your eyes? Perhaps you have a bit of droopiness in your cheeks or jowls. Or maybe you feel like you don’t look as young as you used to. If you have had these thoughts, how about going for a facelift?
A facelift, medically termed rhytidectomy, is a surgical process that refines noticeable aging signs in the face and neck. The surgery can be performed on men and women of any age, but patients most commonly request it between the age of 40 and 60.
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But before you go for a facelift, you must understand all there is to know about it.
Should You Get a Facelift?
The first step is asking yourself if you’re ready for a facelift. There are many reasons why someone might want a facelift. But the most common motivators are to look younger and to feel better about oneself.
Still, if you’re doing it under societal pressure or to please someone else, you may not be happy with the results. But as long as the reason is you and your satisfaction, it could be a great option.
What’s the Best Place to Get a Facelift?
Los Angeles is known as the “City of Angels,” and it’s also a mecca for cosmetic surgery. So, if you’re considering a facelift, there’s no better place to have it done than in LA.
There are many reasons why LA is the best place for a facelift:
- The city is home to some of the world’s best plastic surgeons
- The weather in LA is conducive to healing
- You’ll have access to the best post-operative care in LA
Look for the best face lift surgeon in Los Angeles, and go for your procedure there. You will surely be happy with your decision.
Are there Types of Facelifts?
Different facelift procedures can be performed depending on your specific needs and goals. However, a traditional facelift is the most common type of facelift. It involves making incisions along the hairline, in front of the ear and continues around behind it. This facelift will tighten the skin on your face and neck, remove excess fat, and reposition sagging muscles and tissue.
Another type of facelift is a mini facelift. This procedure is less invasive than a traditional facelift. Patients with less extensive signs of aging can opt for this. A mini facelift involves making smaller incisions. It mostly targets the lower third of the face.
What Happens During a Facelift Procedure?
The facelift procedure usually takes two to four hours, depending on the type of facelift you’re having. You will be sedated by general anesthesia or intravenous sedation before the surgery begins.
During the procedure:
- The skin is separated from the face fat and muscles.
- Excess fat is removed, and the remaining tissue is tightened with stitches.
- The skin is then re-donned over the new contours of your face, and excess skin is removed.
How to Prepare for a Facelift?
Your surgeon will give you instructions you’ll need to follow in the weeks leading up to your facelift. You must follow these carefully to ensure a successful surgery.
You’ll be asked to stop taking certain medications, such as blood thinners and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These can increase the likelihood of bleeding during surgery.
You’ll also need to avoid drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes before your facelift. Unfortunately, these habits can also increase your risk of bleeding during surgery.
Besides, some people report that lowering salt consumption in the days leading up to surgery can help reduce swelling after the procedure.
What are the Risks of a Facelift?
As with any surgery, certain risks are associated with a facelift too. These risks include bleeding, infection, nerve damage, and asymmetry.
You can help mitigate your risk of complications by choosing a board-certified facial plastic surgeon with experience performing facelifts.
The pragmatic way to find a qualified surgeon is to ask for referrals from friends, family, or your regular doctor. You can also track reviews and testimonials online. It’s a recommended safe practice to meet with several surgeons before choosing the one you want to perform your facelift.
What is Recovery Like After a Facelift?
Swelling and bruising are unavoidable effects of a facelift. However, they usually peak three to five days after surgery and gradually improve.
Most people feel well enough to return to work and other normal activities within two weeks. However, the swelling and bruising may take about six weeks to dissipate completely.
You will need to sleep with your head elevated for at least a week and avoid strenuous activity during your recovery. Your surgeon will give you specific guidelines on how to care for yourself. These may include:
- Wearing a compression garment or bandage around your face for a few days
- Limiting sun exposure and wearing sunscreen
- Avoiding alcohol, smoking, and strenuous activity
- Taking pain medication as needed
When Can You See the Results?
Results from a facelift are usually visible within two to three weeks after surgery. However, it can take up to six months for all the sensitivity, texture, and color changes in your skin to disappear.
You will continue to age naturally after a facelift, but the results of your surgery can last for years. Therefore, it’s important to practice sun safety and maintain a healthy lifestyle to help prolong your results.
How Many Times Can You Get a Facelift?
Most people only need one facelift in their lifetime. However, you may benefit from a second facelift if you have significant facial aging or your skin has lost elasticity.
Discuss with your surgeon your goals and what you can expect from a second facelift. Then, they can help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.
Conclusion:
Our appearances have a paramount impact on our self-confidence. As we age, it’s only natural that we want to maintain a youthful look. But this can be difficult with hormonal changes, sun damage, and several other factors.
Lucky for us, modern medicine has given us a way to turn back the hands of time with a facelift. So, whether you want the plumpness of your youth restored or the wrinkles around your eyes smoothed out, a facelift can help.
However, you must choose to undergo the process because you want to, not because you’re forced to. And before making your decision, you should also be aware of the risks, recovery process, and results.
We hope we’ve helped clear some things up for you.