FACELIFT
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After
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A facelift (technically known as rhytidectomy)
can improve the most visible signs of aging by removing excess
fat, tightening underlying muscles, and redraping the skin of
your face and neck. A facelift can be done alone, or in conjunction
with other procedures such as a forehead lift, or eyelid surgery.
It will make you look younger, and fresher.
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 and eighties.
Facelifts are individualized procedures. In your initial consultation,
the surgeon will evaluate your face including the skin and underlying
bone, and discuss the goals for surgery. Most facelifts are
performed under local anesthesia, combined with an IV sedative
to make you drowsy. You will be relaxed and your face will be
insensitive to pain. However, you may feel some tugging. A facelift
usually takes several hours.
After surgery, there usually isn't significant discomfort. Pain
medicine will be prescribed and use as needed. Some numbness
of the skin is quite normal; it will disappear in a few weeks
or months. You will need to keep your head elevated and as still
as possible for a couple of days after surgery, to keep the
swelling down. Bandages are removed after 1-5 days. Don't be
surprised at the pale, bruised, puffy face you see. Just keep
in mind that a few weeks you'll be looking great!
You should be up and about in 2 days, but plan
on taking it easy for the first week after surgery. Get plenty
of rest and allow your body to spend its energy on healing.
Your face may look and feel strange in the beginning, it may
be swollen and some bruising will occur. By the third week,
you'll look and feel much better. Most patients are back to
work about 10 days to 2 weeks after surgery.
Please call the office (383-1499) for any questions
or arrange for your complimentary consultation.
