Until fairly recently, facelift (medically known as “rhytidectomy”) was considered controversial. That is, until certain well-known patrons announced that they had gone under the knife for purely aesthetic reasons.
Primarily, facelift restores beauty by eliminating those unwanted manifestations of aging: crow’s feet, fine lines and wrinkles among others. And it seems that with modernity came vanity; individuals are becoming more and more conscious about physical appearance and how to customize theirs to their liking and standards. Thus came the sudden stream of clinics specializing in cosmetic surgery, where patients can simply just walk in looking old and come out after a matter of hours comparatively younger than before.
Why go through a facelift?
People have a million reasons – or excuses, in many instances – to go under the knife:
- A lot of “plain Janes” are for some reason convinced that a facelift will give them the looks of some Helen of Troy or, in a more common setting, a Michelle Pfeiffer or Heidi Klum.
- Middle-aged or senior citizens wish to capture their lost years of youth in a more tangible, obvious way.
- For some, a facelift is also considered a socioeconomic status symbol and proof of wealth.
Click here for reasons and benefits of a having facelift.
Pre-qualifications
Facelifts are not for everyone, though. After all, rhytidectomy is still a surgical procedure, coming with a list of requirements for qualification. Many of these issues deal with a patient’s self-perception. Some individuals seek plastic surgery as a means to cope with stress stemming from painful (usually romantic) experiences that leave their self-esteem damaged.
Stemming from this, some patients are denied the operation for reasons that could be traced to them having emotional or psychological conditions that may result in the facelift leading to more negative than positive results.
Generally, patients scheduled to undergo the facelift procedure are advised to avoid the following for over three weeks prior to the procedure:
Of course, things like these are best discussed with a licensed cosmetic surgeon.
Click here for seven steps to a successful facelift.
The procedure
Usually, facelift procedures are done under local anesthesia wherein patients can opt to remain conscious and awake during the procedure. Other patients prefer general anesthesia which will help them sleep through the process and awaken after the surgery.
The Procedure
An incision is made in a not-so-exposed part of the face, usually near the ears, or from along the hair line to the back of the head near the nape.
- Fat and muscles are sculpted and relocated from the face and neck, thereby tightening the underlying tissues.
- The loose skin is pulled, and then draped over the contours of the face; excess skin is trimmed away.
- The incisions are then closed with sutures or skin adhesives. They are covertly positioned within the hairline and other contours of the face.
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Post-operative care
Aside from choosing the right kind of doctor, the optimal result of a facelift is best achieved if the patients stick to the established set of post-operative care guidelines.
- Only take antibiotics, ointments, and pain medication prescribed by the surgeon
- Make sure to sleep on ones back.
- Apply ice packs/cold compress to reduce swelling.
- Avoid heavy lifting and other stressful activities.
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What to expect from a facelift
Facelift patients expect the procedure to leave them looking much more pleasing to look at. However, doctors caution that a person’s face is determined not just by one’s skin or muscle contours, but also by skull shape, state of health, age, skin texture and care, facial hair, and personality.
At the minimum, a doctor can only promise a reduction in the amount of facial wrinkles, resulting in a rested appearance. Other benefits, such as the feeling of well-being and youthful vigor, may or may not be experienced by the patient depending on one’s psychological makeup.
In the same level as other surgeries, there are certain risks associated with a facelift. These include minimal bleeding, hair loss, numbness, swelling and skin discoloration, facial nerve injury, and scarring.
Again, before deciding to undergo a facelift, a patient must undergo comprehensive consultation with a qualified cosmetic surgeon who will explain the procedures, risks and results. A facelift can only do so much; one’s personality and outlook in life are significant contributors and determinants – more significant, in fact, than lack of wrinkles and other telltale signs of aging.
Click here for a list of plastic surgery clinics in the Philippines.
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