Aging brings about radical changes in a person’s skin which is manifested as deep creases or wrinkles, heaviness of the jowls, sagging cheeks, dropping of the eyebrows, and loose skin in the neck. There are instances when these problems become severe enough not to respond to non-surgical or minimally invasive procedures and may warrant a surgical treatment such as facelift – turning back the hands of time and making one look more youthful.

What is a Facelift?

A Facelift is a surgical procedure that entails the tightening of underlying facial and neck muscles with concomitant removal of excess fat and subsequent nip and tuck of the overlying skin.

Who can undergo a Facelift?

Patients who have sagging skin with enough elasticity to play with are good candidates for the procedure. Patients who have facelifts are usually in their 40’s to 60’s but it is not uncommon to do it on older people.

What should you do prior to the procedure?

The patient is assessed by the surgeon pre-operatively for any medical condition that can cause problems during the surgery. The patient is asked to undergo several laboratory tests to ensure normal bleeding parameters, as well as chest x-ray and ECG. The patient is requested to discontinue smoking and the intake of medicines that can thin out the blood (aspirin, anti-clotting meds) around 2 weeks before the surgery. All these information will be relayed to you by your surgeon.

What should you expect after the surgery?

Post-treatment, the patient will look swollen and bruised and this may last 2 – 3 weeks; the patient may go back to work in 10 – 14 days. Minimal pain and discomfort are experienced and should be treated with intake of mild pain medications. Incisions are seen above the hairline in the temporal area extending downward in front of the ear all the way behind the earlobe to the lower part of the scalp. A thin tube may be placed under the skin behind the ear to drain the blood that may pool in that area and is usually removed after 2 – 3 days. The face is wrapped with bandage to provide some compression and minimize swelling and bruising – this may be used up to 5 days. The patient is requested to keep his/her head elevated for several days after the surgery to keep the swelling down – sutures are usually removed in 5 – 7 days. A feeling of tightness and numbness is common, with some restrictions on facial expressions.

How long does the procedure take?

The procedure takes around 4 – 5 hours and is usually done under sedation with local infiltration of Lidocaine. The patient is usually asked to stay overnight after the procedure for close monitoring.

Are there any restrictions after the procedure?

The patient is requested to stay away from strenuous activities for at least 2 weeks. To ensure roper healing, alcohol and the usage of saunas should be avoided for a couple of months.

Is it safe to undergo a Facelift? Are there any side effects?

A facelift is a simple and safe surgical procedure performed by a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon. Complications are infrequent and usually minor. These may include infection, hematoma and some nerve damage which is usually temporary.

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