What is
Rhytidectomy?
Face lift or Rhytidectomy, is
intended to restore a more younger-looking
appearance by smoothing out and tightening
major wrinkles and sagging skin of the face,
neck and jaw line. The muscles of the face
and neck are elevated and secured together
with the removal of any excess skin. This
helps in maintaining the improvement of the
contours of the face and neck. The goal of
Face Lift is to give you a natural
revitalized appearance instead of a look
that is overly tight and unnatural.
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Effects
of Rhytidectomy
A facelift can make you look younger and
fresher, and it may enhance your self-
confidence in the process. But it can't give
you a totally different look, nor can it
restore the health and vitality of your
youth.
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Candidates
for Rhytidectomy
The best candidate for a facelift is a man
or woman whose face and neck have begun to
sag, but whose skin still has some
elasticity and whose bone structure is
strong and well-defined. Most patients are
in their forties to sixties, but facelifts
can be done successfully on people in their
seventies or eighties as well.
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Your
Consultation
Your surgeon should check for medical
conditions that could cause problems during
or after surgery, such as uncontrolled high
blood pressure, blood clotting problems, or
the tendency to form excessive scars. Be
sure to tell your surgeon if you smoke or
are taking any drugs or medications,
especially aspirin or other drugs that
affect clotting.
If you decide to have a facelift, your
surgeon will explain the techniques and
anesthesia he or she will use, the type of
facility where the surgery will be
performed, and the risks and costs involved.
Don't hesitate to ask your doctor any
questions you may have, especially those
regarding your expectations and concerns
about the results.
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The Rhytidectomy
Procedure
A facelift may be performed in a surgeon's
office-based facility, an outpatient surgery
center, or a hospital. It's usually done on
an outpatient basis, but some surgeons may
hospitalize patients for a day when using
general anesthesia.
A facelift usually takes several hours-or
somewhat longer if you're having more than
one procedure done. For extensive
procedures, some surgeons may schedule two
separate sessions.
Incisions usually begin above the hairline
at the temples, extend in a natural line in
front of the ear (or just inside the
cartilage at the front of the ear), and
continue behind the earlobe to the lower
scalp. If the neck needs work, a small
incision may also be made under the chin.
In general, the surgeon separates the skin
from the fat and muscle below. Fat may be
trimmed or suctioned from around the neck
and chin to improve the contour. The surgeon
then tightens the underlying muscle and
membrane, pulls the skin back, and removes
the excess. Stitches secure the layers of
tissue and close the incisions; metal clips
may be used on the scalp.
Following surgery, a small, thin tube may be
temporarily placed under the skin behind
your ear to drain any blood that might
collect there. The surgeon may also wrap
your head loosely in bandages to minimize
bruising and swelling.
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Recovery
There isn't usually significant discomfort
after surgery; if there is, it can be
lessened with the pain medication prescribed
by your surgeon. (Severe or persistent pain
or a sudden swelling of your face should be
reported to your surgeon immediately.) Some
numbness of the skin is quite normal; it
will disappear in a few weeks or months.
Your doctor may tell you to keep your head
elevated and as still as possible for a
couple of days after surgery, to keep the
swelling down.
If you've had a drainage tube inserted, it
will be removed one or two days after
surgery. Bandages, when used, are usually
removed after one to five days. Don't be
surprised at the pale, bruised, and puffy
face you see. Just keep in mind that in a
few weeks you'll be looking normal.
Most of your stitches will be removed after
about five days. Your scalp may take longer
to heal, and the stitches or metal clips in
your hairline could be left in a few days
longer.
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Risks
When a facelift is performed by a qualified
plastic surgeon, complications are
infrequent and usually minor. Still,
individuals vary greatly in their anatomy,
their physical reactions, and their healing
abilities, and the outcome is never
completely predictable.
Complications that can occur include
hematoma (a collection of blood under the
skin that must be removed by the surgeon),
injury to the nerves that control facial
muscles (usually temporary), infection, and
reactions to the anesthesia. Poor healing of
the skin is most likely to affect smokers.
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Frequently Asked
Questions
Q: What is a Rhytidectomy?
A:
A facelift, technically known as a
rhytidectomy (literally, surgical removal
of wrinkles), is a procedure used in
plastic surgery to give a more youthful
appearance. It usually involves the removal
of excess facial skin, with or without the
tightening of underlying tissues, and the
redraping the
skin on the
patient's
face and
neck.
Q: What are the limitations of a
Rhytidectomy?
A:
The areas not well corrected by a facelift
include the nasolabial folds and marionette
lines. A facelift leaves long scars.
However, the portion of the scars in front
of the ear are usually inconspicuous. The
scar behind the ear is hidden from casual
view. Hair loss in the portions of the
incision within the hair-bearing scalp can
occasionally occur. In men, the sideburns
can be pulled backwards and upwards,
resulting in an unnatural appearance. In
women, one of the telltale signs of having
had a facelift is an earlobe which is pulled
downwards and/or distorted. If too much skin
is removed (as was common many years ago),
the face can assume a pulled-back,
"windswept" appearance.
Q: What are the benefits of a Rhytidectomy?
A:
A face-lift will remove excess skin and
tightens the soft tissues of your face, chin
and neck. It can improve the jawline,
sagging cheeks and loose neck skin. To get
an idea of the results you might have, place
your fingers on the center of your cheeks
and press the skin up and back. Skin folds
can be tightened and reduced, but not
eliminated. If you softly pinch the skin in
front of your ear, you'll see how much skin
be excised during the procedure.
Q: How is Rhytidectomy performed?
A:
Facelifts usually begin with an incision at
the temples just above the hairline. This
incision is extended downwards in front of
the ear, below the earlobe, and behind the
ear. Placement varies slightly between men
and women. The surgeon then separates the
skin of the face and the muscle from deeper
tissues. Depending on the person’s needs,
tissues are reshaped and/or excised.
Q: How effective if a
Rhytidectomy?
A: Most
patients are very happy with their results.
Patients can expect many wrinkles to be
reduced or eliminated, and to appear younger
than before surgery. Every single wrinkle
will not be eliminated, however, especially
more superficial ones.
It is not possible to say how long the
effects of a facelift will last, but some
degree of rejuvenation will be permanent. It
is important to understand that while
facelifts bring the skin back to an earlier
stage in the aging process, it can not stop
the aging process from occurring. Skin aging
and stretching will take place, and some
looseness of the neck may become apparent
within three months. Those with very loose
skin in the neck may require a second
operation to achieve optimal results.
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