Face-Lift

What is Face-Lift?

A face-lift (rhytidectomy) is a cosmetic surgical procedure to create a younger appearance in your face. The procedure can reduce the sagging or folds of skin on the cheeks and jawline and other changes in the shape of your face that occur with age.

During a face-lift, a flap of skin on each side of the face is pulled back, and tissues below the skin are surgically altered to return the contour of the face to a more youthful shape. Before the flap is sutured closed, excess skin is removed.

A face-lift won’t decrease fine creases or wrinkles in your skin or damage from sun exposure. Other cosmetic procedures can address the appearance or quality of the skin itself.

A Neck-lift (platysmaplasty)

is often done as part of a face-lift to reduce fat deposits and sagging skin on the neck.

Risks

A face-lift surgery can cause complications. Some can be managed with appropriate care, medication or surgical correction. Long-term or permanent complications, while rare, can cause significant changes in appearance.

Like any other type of major surgery, a face-lift poses a risk of bleeding, infection and an adverse reaction to anesthesia. Certain medical conditions or lifestyle habits also can increase your risk of complications.

Procedure duration

A face-lift generally takes 3 hours and 4 hours if it includes neck-lift.

Anesthesia

A face-lift can be performed under general anesthesia,

How you prepare

Initially, you’ll talk to a plastic surgeon about a face-lift. The visit will likely include:

• Medical history and exam.
• Medication review.
• Expectations.

After the procedure

In the first few days after surgery:

• Rest with your head elevated
• Take pain medication as recommended by your doctor
• Apply cool packs to the face to ease pain and reduce swelling

Self-care at home during the first three weeks will help your recovery and minimize the risk of complications:

• Follow wound care instructions as directed by your surgeon.
• Do not pick at crusting scabs that develop on your wound.
• Follow instructions on when you can begin using shampoo and soaps and what kinds you can use.
• Wear clothes that fasten in the front (rather than clothes that are pulled over the head).
• Avoid excessive pressure or motion on and around the incisions.
• Avoid using makeup.
• Avoid vigorous or aerobic activity or sports.
• Avoid direct sun exposure to the incision for three weeks and use a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher thereafter.
• Avoid coloring, bleaching or perming hair for at least six weeks.

Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)

A procedure used to treat droopy eyelids. During this type of plastic surgery, a doctor removes skin, muscle, and sometimes fat that may be causing the area around your eyes to sag.

Risks

Possible risks of eyelid surgery include:

• Infection and bleeding
• Dry, irritated eyes
• Difficulty closing your eyes or other eyelid problems
• Noticeable scarring
• Skin discoloration
• The need for a follow-up surgery
• Temporarily blurred vision or, rarely,
• Risks associated with surgery in general, including reaction to anesthesia and blood clots

Procedure duration

An eye-lift usually takes from 1 to 2  two hours if both upper and lower eyelids are done together.

Anesthesia

The Blepharoplasty procedure  can be performed under local anaesthesia.

How you prepare

Before scheduling blepharoplasty, you will meet with a plastic surgeon and an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) or a plastic surgeon who specializes in eye surgeries (oculoplastic surgeon) to discuss:

• Your medical history.
• Your expectations.

And you’ll be asked to:

• Stop taking warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve, others), naproxen (Naprosyn), and any other medication or herbal supplement associated with increased bleeding. Ask your doctor how long before surgery you need to stop taking these medicines. Take only medications approved by your surgeon.
• Quit smoking several weeks before your surgery. Smoking can reduce your ability to heal after surgery.

After the procedure

Your doctor will likely suggest you take the following steps after surgery:

• Use ice packs on your eyes for 10 minutes every hour the night after surgery. The following day, use ice packs on your eyes four to five times throughout the day.
• Gently clean your eyelids and use prescribed eye-drops or ointments.
• Avoid straining, heavy lifting and swimming for a week.
• Avoid strenuous activities, such as aerobics and jogging, for a week.
• Avoid smoking.
• Avoid rubbing your eyes.
• If you use contact lenses, don’t put them in for about two weeks after surgery.
• Wear darkly tinted sunglasses to protect the skin of your eyelids from sun and wind.
• Sleep with your head raised higher than your chest for a few days.
• Apply cool compresses to reduce swelling.
• After a few days, return to the doctor’s office to have stitches removed, if needed.
• For about a week, avoid aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve, others), naproxen (Naprosyn), and other medications or herbal supplements that may increase bleeding. If needed, use acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) to control pain.

Rhinoplasty (Nose job)

is surgery that changes the shape of the nose. The motivation for rhinoplasty may be to change the appearance of the nose, improve breathing or both.

Risks

As with any major surgery, rhinoplasty carries risks such as:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• An adverse reaction to the anesthesia

Procedure duration

Rhinoplasty generally takes 2 hours.

Anesthesia

Rhinoplasty can be performed under general anesthesia.

How you prepare

Before scheduling rhinoplasty, you must meet with your surgeon to discuss important factors that determine whether the surgery is likely to work well for you. This meeting generally includes:

• Your medical history
• A physical exam
• Photographs
• A discussion of your expectations.

Before the procedure:

• Avoid medications containing aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) for two weeks before and after surgery. These medications may increase bleeding. Take only those medications approved or prescribed by your surgeon. Also avoid herbal remedies and over-the-counter supplements.
• If you smoke, stop smoking. Smoking slows the healing process after surgery and may make you more likely to get an infection.

After the procedure

To further lower the chances of bleeding and swelling, your doctor may ask that you follow precautions for several weeks after surgery. Your doctor may ask you to:

• Avoid strenuous activities such as aerobics and jogging.
• Take baths instead of showers while you have bandages on your nose.
• Not blow your nose.
• Eat high-fiber foods, such as fruits and vegetables, to avoid constipation. Constipation can cause you to strain, putting pressure on the surgery site.
• Avoid extreme facial expressions, such as smiling or laughing.
• Brush your teeth gently to limit movement of your upper lip.
• Wear clothes that fasten in the front. Don’t pull clothing, such as shirts or sweaters, over your head.
• In addition, don’t rest eyeglasses or sunglasses on your nose for at least four weeks after the surgery, to prevent pressure on your nose. You can use cheek rests, or tape the glasses to your forehead until your nose has healed.
• Use SPF 30 sunscreen when you’re outside, especially on your nose. Too much sun may cause permanent irregular discoloration in your nose’s skin.

Some temporary swelling or black-and-blue discoloration of your eyelids can occur for two to three weeks after nasal surgery. Swelling of the nose takes longer to resolve. Limiting your dietary sodium will help the swelling go away faster. Don’t put anything such as ice or cold packs on your nose after surgery.

Your nose changes throughout your life whether you have surgery or not. For this reason, it’s difficult to say when you have obtained your “final result.” However, most of the swelling is gone within a year.