Rhytidectomy – Face Lift Surgery

This is a surgical procedure which is designed to repair wrinkled, sagging and/or drooping facial and neck skin. As you grow older, it is only natural for your skin to droop, sag, and wrinkle. However, heredity, obesity, smoking and diet can all have a direct effect on how fast your skin ages.

Face lift surgery is done in order to repair some of the damage caused by aging, and a person’s skin is restored, rejuvenated and given a more youthful appearance. This type of surgery can be done along with other cosmetic procedures such as a forehead lift and/or an eye lift.

The length of the procedure is 1 to 2 hours.

Most patients are released from the hospital within 1 day of having a face lift.

Although most patients are released within 1 day, it is recommended for a patient to stay in the country for 7 to 10 days before returning home.

The best thing to do is to plan for an extended stay after you have had face lift surgery so that you can receive proper post-op care. In the days following the surgery, your surgeon is going to recommend several follow-up visits to make sure that you are healing properly.

At Medical Travel International, we can help you find a hotel near the hospital so that you can have easy access to follow-up care.

Details of the Procedure:

Face lift surgery begins with general anesthesia, and the surgeon will make incisions directly above your hairline near your temples, behind your earlobes, and near your lower scalp. These incisions will be used by the surgeon to remove loose skin and any and all excess fat tissue. The incisions are then closed with sutures once all of the excess skin and fat tissue is removed.

Following the Procedure:

You will be taken to recovery directly following the procedure, and your vitals will be carefully monitored. Once you wake up and your vital signs are stable, you will go to your hospital room, or you may be released from care.

In order to minimize swelling and bruising, your head will be wrapped in gauze after surgery. There will also be a surgical drainage tube in place which will be removed 1 to 2 days after the procedure.

In order to keep swelling down as much as possible, you must keep your head raised the first few days following the procedure. This can be done by sleeping on two or more pillows rather than just one.

Your surgeon will remove the clips or sutures and your bandages within 5 days of  your face lift procedure. In the beginning, your face is going to be bruised and swollen, which is to be expected, but the bruising and swelling will disappear within four to six weeks after the procedure.

Face lift after care:

• You must no exercise for 2 to 3 weeks following the procedure.
• You can return to work 1 to 3 weeks after the face lift.
• You must wear sun block (SPF 15+) for the first six months after your face lift.
• You cannot smoke after your face lift.

Results:

In generally, patients have reported that they are pain-free around 2 weeks after they have had a face lift procedure. Surgical scars from the face lift should be completely hidden, and some will even fade away completely over time in most cases, and nearly all patients are satisfied with the results from this procedure.

Complications & Risks:

There are risks involved with face lift surgery, just as there are risks involved with any other type of surgery.  The most common complications and risks are as follows:

• Reaction to anesthesia or medication
• Breathing problems
• Bleeding problems
• Infection
• Heart problems
• Abnormal facial contour
• Attached earlobe
• Skin blistering
• Ear nerve damage
• Facial weakness or paralysis
• Facial nerve injury
• Heavy scarring
• Loss of sideburns
• Numbness
• Skin irregularity
• Tightness

You have to contact your physician immediately if any you have any of the following:

• Facial swelling
• Large bruises develop
• Face or lip becomes paralyzed or begins to sag on one side
• Incision is swollen, red, or warm to the touch
• Stitches come apart
• Fever above 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit, 38 degrees Celsius
• Chills
• Bandage is soaked with blood
• Breathing difficulty
• Chest pain
• Rash or any other signs of allergic reaction