WHEN IS FACELIFT SURGERY NECESSARY?
Non-surgical procedures in aesthetics have become quite common. Devices working with Botox, fillers, radiofrequency and laser energy are at the service of people in many centers. With the success of these methods, it is possible to manage until the 50s. In some face types, we can even look younger by performing these procedures intermittently for a longer period of time. However, after the age of 50, sagging begins to occur on the face of most people that cannot be solved with other significant procedures. At this stage, facelift becomes essential. Especially the irregularities in the skin of the jaw line and neck area, the skin folds in front of the ears are quite disturbing.
WHAT DO WE DO IN FACELIFT SURGERY?
The face is a whole. This is like a slogan for me. I never evaluate a single area. When the whole face is harmonious together, it looks pleasing to the eye. If we simply describe the procedure we perform during facelift surgery; The sagging on the face is corrected by hanging the structure called Smass, which forms the muscle, fat and nerve tissue of our face, and the skin that forms abundance is removed to the appropriate extent. At the same time, signs of aging on the upper and lower eyelids can also be corrected. Skin is removed from this area and the displaced fats are moved to the appropriate place and the excess ones are removed. In addition, sagging occurs in the neck area after the 60s. Again, during facelift surgery, the neck muscle can be gathered as if wearing an inner corset. Sagging skin can be removed to the appropriate extent. Fat removal from the neck may also be required in patients with excess weight.
WHAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BEFORE FACELIFT SURGERY?
Aspirin, vitamin E-like drugs, herbal tea, which may increase bleeding before facelift surgery should be discontinued. Smoking delays wound healing especially in facelift surgery. Smoking should be stopped 3 weeks before surgery. Since the hair cannot be dyed for 1 month after surgery, it can be dyed 1 week in advance. Keeping the hair long is beneficial in terms of hiding the dressings used after surgery.
DETAILS OF FACELIFT SURGERY
The facial skin is lifted with a surgical incision starting from the scalp above the ear and extending down in front of the ear and continuing from behind the ear to the scalp behind the ear. The soft tissue containing the facial muscles that cause sagging on the face is suspended with special sutures. The excess skin is removed. Thus, the skin abundance in the temple, cheek and chin area is eliminated. The depth of the laugh lines at the corner of the mouth is reduced. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Eyelid aesthetics and neck lift can also be performed during facelift. Therefore, the duration of surgery can vary between 4 and 7 hours.
IS THERE A NOTICEABLE SCAR AFTER FACELIFT SURGERY?
The scars that will occur are minimized with the special suture and dressing materials generally used. The scar is invisible because the top and bottom of the scar is between the scalp. The scar around the ear is not very visible when it is on the ear-face junction line. If the complications described below (bleeding, infection, skin loss often seen in smokers) develop, the wound healing will be delayed and scars requiring treatment may remain.
WHAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AFTER FACELIFT SURGERY?
One day after the surgery, the drain placed behind the ear to prevent the collection of fluids in the area is removed. Postoperative ice application accelerates the healing process. The patient is discharged on the 2nd day of surgery. A pair of sunglasses can be brought to wear during discharge. In 1 week, the stitches on the face and eyelids are removed. On the 10th day, the metal stitches in the hair are removed. You can take a bath 2 days after the operation. It is normal to have a numbness on the face that improves in about a few weeks. Use gentle movements when applying make-up and combing your hair. Avoid heavy exercise such as sex and heavy housework for at least two weeks and avoid activities such as alcohol, steam baths and saunas for a few months. Sunscreen creams should be used regularly for up to 6 months. Swelling and bruises disappear in 3 weeks. You can usually return to work in the 2nd week.
WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FACELIFT SURGERY?
The gaze can be revitalized with Botox around the eyes and forehead.
Facial skin can be revitalized with 4-6 sessions of chemical peeling and facial mesotherapy starting 3 weeks after the surgery.
The lines around the mouth can be reduced with fillers around the mouth and lips.
WHAT IS A MINI FACELIFT?
If the surgical incision is made only in front of the ear and the lifting process is reduced, we call this mini facelift surgery. The advantage of this surgery is to reduce the scar and accelerate healing by performing a smaller surgery. This procedure is preferred in patients between the ages of 40 and 50 who do not have a lot of skin in the chin area. However, the need for this procedure has decreased with endoscopic mid-face surgeries.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF FACELIFT SURGERY?
Bleeding: Since we perform the surgery in a bleeding-free environment with special drugs that we inject into the area, we usually have a low risk of postoperative bleeding. In addition, the thin drain we place in this area also reduces this risk. However, in patients with hypertension, there is a slight risk of this risk. Blood accumulated under the skin can be easily removed. Subcutaneous bleeding can delay healing and cause bad scarring. For this reason, it is very important to control blood pressure and to stop aspirin-like drugs that increase bleeding 1 week in advance.
Infection The face is a very well-blooded area. Therefore, the risk of infection is very low. This risk is further minimized with the preventive antibiotherapy we apply before and after surgery. In rare cases, if infection develops, additional antibiotic treatment and dressing may be required.
Bad scarring: Scars may occur due to genetic characteristics, infection or skin loss, which is common in smokers. Additional treatments may be required for these scars.
Nerve damage: Motor and sensory nerves may be damaged during facelift operation. There may be weakness or loss of facial movements after facelift operation. Nerve damage can cause temporary or permanent loss of facial movements and sensation. This type of damage can heal over time. Damage to the sensory nerves of the face, neck and ear area can cause temporary or permanent numbness. A painful nerve is very rare.
Hair loss Hair loss may occur in the areas where the skin is pulled up during facelift aesthetics. It cannot be predicted whether this will happen or not.
6 Long-term effects: As a result of aging, weight gain or loss, sun exposure and some other conditions, the face may undergo subsequent changes. Facelift surgery does not stop aging, nor does it permanently tighten the face and neck. New surgeries and treatments may be required in the future to maintain the results of facelift surgery.
DO I NEED TO HAVE FACELIFT SURGERY AGAIN?
Facelift surgery does not stop aging. The tension created by the surgery is not permanent. Your facial skin will continue to age. After 5-10 years, you may want to have a facelift surgery again. But on the other hand, the effects of facelift surgery continue; years later, you will continue to look better than you did without facelift surgery.
