A face lift, technically called a rhytidectomy, is a cosmetic surgery procedure that is capable of "setting the clock back" on your face and neck. As any person ages, the exposure to the sun, the effects of gravity, and the stresses of daily life can be seen within their face. Deep creases form between the nose and mouth, the jawline grows jowly and slack, and folds and fat deposits appear around the neck. A rhytidectomy is able to improve the most visible signs of aging successfully by re-draping the skin of your face and neck, removing excess fat, and tightening the underlying muscles.
A face lift procedure is very individualized. In your initial consultation with your plastic surgeon, he or she will evaluate your face. This will include the underlying bone and skin. Then your surgeon will discuss your goals for the surgery with you. He or she will then review your medical history and check you for any conditions that could possibly cause problems during or after the procedure. These conditions include uncontrolled high blood pressure, the tendency to form excessive scars, and blood clotting problems. You must be sure to inform your surgeon of all the vitamins, herbs, and medications that you are taking. If you are a smoker, your plastic surgeon will counsel you on the increased risks associated with healing and he or she will wait for you to have stopped smoking for at least two months before performing a procedure.
After you meet with your surgeon, you will likely have the opportunity to meet with the nurse. This is when you can discuss important aspects of before, during, and after surgery care. Also, you will meet with the secretary in order to schedule and discuss fees associated with your rhtyidectomy. Often times a before surgery photograph will be taken during this consultation. These are capable of assisting the cosmetic surgeon in planning your surgery and can also be used for computerized imaging that you will be able to view at a subsequent appointment.
Every plastic surgeon will approach the face lift procedure in his or her own way. Incisions will typically be made above the hairline at the temples. This incision will extend in a natural line in front of the ear (or sometimes just inside the cartilage at the front of your ear) and will continue behind the earlobe to the lower scalp. If your neck is in need of improvement, a tiny incision may also be made underneath the chin. The doctor will then separate the skin from the muscle and fat below. Fat may be trimmed in some cases to improve the neck and chin contour. The cosmetic surgeon will then tighten the underlying membrane and muscles, pulls the skin back, and will remove the excess. Stitches will secure the layers of tissue and will close the incisions. A plastic surgeon may also use metal clips.
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