Rejuvnate With A Face Lift / Rhytidectomy

By Author: Plastic surgery channel
Total Articles: 13
Comment this article

Aging is not kind to our faces. The combined effects of wind, weather, illness, and the stresses of life act to compromise its ability to retain its very shape. The cells themselves within our skin and flesh eventually fail, losing their stretch and give, imprinting upon our faces the tracks of time that we call wrinkles. These folds and flaws are acceptable to some; for others, however, they are a disfigurement, a distortion of their true face - something to be corrected.
And a way exists to correct them: a surgical technique called rhytidectomy - more commonly known as a facelift. This cosmetic surgical technique can firm and smooth the face by altering the skin and supporting tissue, improving its appearance. A facelift operation is usually performed under a local anesthetic on an outpatient basis, although hospital admission and a general anesthetic are used in some infrequent cases. During a typical procedure, the patient remains relaxed, awake, and aware, but feels no pain during the entire operation, which can last up to several hours.
The procedure itself is literally a lifting of the face. The surgeon cuts ...
... the facial skin free and lifts it away, revealing the tissue beneath. This is trimmed and tightened, and excess fat is removed if necessary along with extra skin. The skin of the eyelids and other associated areas may also be trimmed and tightened during the procedure. Once the underlying tissues are treated, the skin is tightened over the face and sutured into place.
As might be expected with such a complex surgical procedure, complications are common with facelifts, though these are usually manageable. Reaction to anesthesia is among the most serious of these, although this is a rare occurrence; damage to facial nerves and skin necrosis are similarly rare. More frequent complications include hematoma and secondary infections. Tobacco, aspirin and certain medications can increase the risk of bleeding, and patients may not use these during the recovery period.
Despite the undeniable risks involved, the rewards of facelift surgery can be more than worth the risk. The new lease on life that a person with severe facial damage can experience as the result of a facelift is often near-miraculous. In addition, the improvement in self-esteem that can come from getting a new look can create a complete psychological turnaround in a patient who has suffered from the negative effects of facial scarring due to age. Of course, any decision regarding facelift surgery must not be made lightly. Patients considering facelift surgery should only make such a decision in consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon.

Facelift surgery/ rhytidectomy can be an effective medical means of improving the appearance of facial skin. For up-to-date information on cosmetic procedures, visit The Plastic Surgery Channel.