A face lift refers to surgical measure for removal of wrinkles this process is medically known as rhytidectomy. It is a type of cosmetic surgery which is a very effective measure for achieving youthful appearance again. The face lift cosmetic surgery is intended to revitalize major clear wrinkles and drooping skin from the facial area. It is one of the most popular forms of cosmetic surgery which is opted by people world wide.

A thread facelift uses special “barbed” threads to literally pull up drooping skin. The technique is used to reduce sagging around the cheeks, jaw line, and neck. The results are typically noticeable right after the procedure, which usually takes about an hour.

Techniques differ slightly, but in a standard thread facelift the cosmetic surgeon makes tiny incisions in the targeted area, into which he or she inserts thin threads. The threads are barbed so that they attach to the skin tissue. They are then pulled back to smooth the face, knotted, and hidden within the skin itself. There should be no visible evidence that a thread lift has been performed. A variation on this technique is to insert the threads using needles, making no incisions in the skin.

Before facial surgery

Doctor evaluates your medical history in order to determine your overall health. Our objective is to create a natural appearance that is pleasing to you. Doctor discuss with you how your face can look and what you can expect from surgery. Before and after photographs will reveal what the surgery has accomplished.

Preoperative instructions

Avoid drugs that contain Aspirin several weeks prior to surgery. You will be prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection. You may be instructed to shampoo your hair the night before surgery. Shaving of head is not required.

Procedure

The procedure of face lift includes first a choice of intravenous sedation and general anesthesia the surgery mainly involves tapering of the facial and neck muscles also removal of any glut skin. The facial plastic surgery is helpful at removing the excess facial skin also tightening of underlying tissues if required. This procedure of face lift includes limited incision which often begins in the hairline at the temples, continues around the ear which ends in the lower scalp.

The face plastic surgery involves sculpted or redistribution of fat from the face, jowls and neck, also repositioning of underlying tissues. The face lift surgery also repositions the deeper layers of the face and lifting up the facial muscles for providing a more youthful appearance to the face. Thereafter the skin is draped again over the uplifted contours and the remaining excess skin is trimmed away. Post surgery the incision lines from a facelift are concealed within the hairline.

What’s great about a thread facelift is that the procedure is much less invasive than the more aggressive surgical facelift. You don’t have to go under general anaesthesia or have large incisions made in your face. The process takes only about an hour, produces almost immediate results, and your recovery time is quick unlike the severe bruising and swelling of a standard facelift. After the procedure, you should be scar-free with none of those tell-tale scars behind the ears. Plus, because you are usually awake during the procedure, you can actually approve the look of the thread lift while the surgeon is performing it.

The real drawback of a thread facelift is that it is meant to be only a minor intervention. It does not have the same result as a traditional facelift surgery. In fact, the procedure is generally recommended for women between the ages of 35 and 45 who are only beginning to experience the signs of anti-aging, but don’t have the loose or drooping skin of an older woman. For women with these more advanced signs of anti-aging, a traditional facelift will likely be recommended. As with any surgical facelift procedure, there are risks inherent in doing a thread facelift; though again, these are not as great as with a more aggressive facelift. Risks include infection, numbness, and occasionally, breakage of the thread or an uneven result. In the case of the latter, the procedure can be re-done to correct any imbalances or breakages.

But the main risk of a thread facelift is that it just may not work. Results vary greatly among patients, although the practice of thread facelifts has continued to improve since its inception.

Recovery from facelift surgery

Initially you will have a large dressing around your head. You may have surgical drains coming out from your neck. These will be removed in approximately 24 hours. Stitches around the ears will be loosened or removed in a few days. The scalp stitches will be removed in 7 - 10 days.

To minimize scarring, the doctor may remove the stitches in stages. Scarring fades quickly. Swelling and discoloration usually decrease within two weeks. Tightness in your face will be felt for several weeks.

We recommend that you avoid the Sun for several weeks after surgery. complications following facelift are rare. These include bleeding, facial nerve injury, infection, discoloration discoloration of the skin, asymmetry, numbness and scarring. Infection is rare due to the large blood supply to the face. As mentioned, the risk of bleeding is greater if you take Aspirin or blood thinners within 2 weeks of the surgery. The risk of complications increases in diabetics, persons with a history of radiation, autoimmune and collagen disease as well as in smokers.

In the initial weeks following surgery, the facial skin and area around the ear may be numb. There may also be some temporary discoloration as healing begins, which may take a few months to disappear. Occasionally, the facial nerve is bruised during surgery, resulting in temporary loss of function. However, permanent damage to the facial nerve is rare.

The healing process is gradual, so you will not notice final results for few weeks. A single procedure often achieves the desired results. Most patients who have had facelifts are pleased with their new, youthful looks.

Risks

A facelift is a surgical procedure and involves certain risks including the possibility of infection, bleeding, blood clots and adverse reactions to anesthesia. Please discuss these risks with your surgeon.

Frequently asked questions?

How effective is a face lift?

The positive effects of a face lift can last for years, but it's important to realize the limits of the procedure.

1. Face lifts address only the face. Other procedures may have to be done to achieve the desired effect.
2. Face lifts correct deep wrinkling and sagging of the tissues. Fine wrinkling, such as that around the lips, must be corrected by a skin resurfacing technique such as a chemical peel, liposuction, laser resurfacing or dermabrasion.
3. Face lifts do not stop the aging process. Over time, signs of aging may reappear.

How long a face lift last depends on?

• lifestyle choices such as alcohol and tobacco use
• environmental factors such as Sun exposure
• heredity

With a healthy lifestyle, the effects of a face lift may last for 10 years. In some cases, the improvements are permanent.

facelifts can truly transform an individual from looking old with sagging skin to a youthful and vibrant young person. Facelifts may take at least 10 years off of an individual's appearance and brighten their entire mood. Most individuals receive face-lifts to correct sagging at the neck, on the cheeks or at the jaw line. Most facelifts require an incision on each side of the face and at the back of the ear. As the skin is lifted, the excess skin is removed yielding a more youthful appearance.

Methodology of facelift surgery

1. A face lift involves the skillful removal of excess facial skin from the neck, chin and cheek areas under general anaesthetic.
2. Starting high in the temple area the hair at the incision courses down following the curves in front of the ear round the earlobe and up behind the ear before curving gently back into the hair again.
3. It may be necessary to add an incision under the chin which is also well hidden.
4. Using these incisions on both sides, the skin and deep tissues are remodelled and re-draped.
5. Stitches secure layers of tissue and incisions and metal clips may be used on the scalp.
6. The scars will be hidden around your ears or in your hairline and will usually fade over 3 to 6 months.
7. The procedure normally takes two to three hours and usually requires a 1-2 day hospital stay.

Recovery post facelift surgery

1. Following the operation, you may experience some bruising and swelling around the area and you may be asked to keep your head elevated for a couple of days to keep any swelling down.
2. Any drainage tube will normally be removed after a day or two and bandages are removed after 1-5 days.
3. Your stitches will be removed after 5 days and any metal clips in scalp are removed after 2 weeks.
4. You will have follow-up visits in the months after surgery to check on your progress.