As a person ages, the skin on his or her face and neck tends to loosen. Jowls can form around the jawline and crow's feet can appear at the corners of the eyes. In order to combat these signs of aging, many people turn to plastic surgeons for facelifts. If you are preparing to have a facelift, here is some information regarding what typically occurs during and after this type of procedure so that you can feel more comfortable.
In most cases, plastic surgeons that perform facelifts begin the incision near the portion of the hairline located in front and slightly above the ear. The incision will then continue under the earlobe and go behind the ear where it will blend into the hairline. Then, plastic surgeons typically lift the skin, tightening and repositioning the tissue and muscle located underneath. More than likely, excess skin and fat will be removed.
All incisions are made in a manner that they are within the skin's natural creases. This is necessary so that they are as inconspicuous as possible once the patient heals from the surgery. Once the excess skin is trimmed, most plastic surgeons will either use metal clips or fine sutures to close the incisions. This procedure usually takes anywhere from two to four hours depending on how much work needs to be done.
Some doctors prefer to place their patients under general anesthesia before facelifts, while others prefer using a combination of mild intravenous anesthesia, a local anesthetic, and mild sedatives. Your doctor will, of course, provide you a detailed picture of exactly what anesthetic he or she recommends, making sure that you are healthy enough to withstand either approach. After the facelift, the doctor will protect the area of the incisions with a dressing, which will probably be removed within a day or two.
Most plastic surgeons will want to prescribe pain medication to their patients to aid in their recovery. Typically, you can expect to experience bruising and swelling. To keep swelling to a minimum, your doctor may recommend the use of cold compresses. You will be instructed to keep your head above your shoulders when lying in bed and to avoid as much activity as you can in order to protect your incisions. Some doctors add drainage tubes in order to remove excess fluids. If you have one, you can expect it to be removed 5 to 10 days after your surgery.
You can expect it to take about three weeks to recover from your facelift, although you may be able to return to work within two weeks as long as your job is not physically strenuous. Once your scars have matured, they should be unnoticeable.