Facial lifting: what it is, when it is recommended and how it is done

Facial lifting, also called rhytidectomy, is an aesthetic procedure that can be performed with the aim of reducing wrinkles on the face and neck, as well as reducing sagging skin and removing excess fat from the face, giving a more youthful appearance. It’s beautiful.

This rejuvenation procedure is most commonly performed on women over 45 years of age and must be carried out by a plastic surgeon qualified for this procedure.

The facelift must be done under general anesthesia and requires hospitalization for about 3 days. In some cases, one may also choose to undergo other surgeries, such as blepharoplasty, to correct the eyelids, and rhinoplasty, to make changes to the nose.

When is indicated

Facial lifting may be indicated in the following situations:

• Combat deep wrinkles, folds and expression marks;
• Treat sagging and drooping skin over the eyes, cheeks or neck;
• Correct the accumulation of fat on the neck with sagging skin;
• Combat double chin and loose skin under the jaw.

Carrying out a face lift should be discussed with the dermatologist and plastic surgeon, as depending on what you want, other less invasive aesthetic procedures may be recommended.

Preparo do lifting facial

Before performing a facelift, it is necessary to carry out a general assessment of your health status, and a blood test and electrocardiogram are usually recommended. The doctor may also ask about the presence of illnesses, frequent medication use, cigarette smoking or allergies that could compromise recovery. Furthermore, the doctor generally recommends avoiding:

• Medicines such as AAS, Melhoral, Doril or Coristina;
• Cigarette at least 1 month before surgery;
• Facial creams in the 2 days before surgery.

It is also essential to fast for at least 8 to 10 hours before surgery or as advised by your doctor.

How is done

Facial lifting must be performed by a plastic surgeon, in an operating room, requiring general anesthesia or sedation. At the time of the procedure, it is recommended to tie the hair in several small strands to avoid contaminating the skin and making the surgery easier.

A facelift is performed by making cuts in strategic locations on the face to reduce the chance of seeing the scar, and a cut can be made behind the ear or following the hairline, for example. After cutting, the doctor must reposition the tissue to ensure the desired effect. Furthermore, in some cases, excess tissue and/or fat can also be removed.

The cut is then closed and a bandage is placed to protect the scar and prevent infections.

As it is a procedure that demands care and attention, a face lift can take 4 to 5 hours and the person may need to stay in the hospital or clinic for around 3 days.

What is recovery like?

Recovery from facial surgery is slow and causes some discomfort during the first week. During the postoperative period of surgery, it is necessary:

• Taking medicine to control painas Dipirona every 8 hours, being more intense in the first 2 days;
• Sleeping from belly to topsupporting the head with 2 pillows in the back region, leaving the head of the bed very high for about 1 week, to avoid swelling;
• Keep head and neck bandagedremaining for at least 7 days and not taking it off to sleep or bathe for the first 3;
• Perform lymphatic drainage after 3 days of surgery, on alternate days, around 10 sessions;
• Avoid using cosmetics in the first week after surgery;
• Avoid touching scars so as not to cause complications.

In some cases, your doctor recommends applying cold compresses to your face to reduce swelling for about 2 minutes in the first week. Furthermore, if you have visible spots on your face, these are removed approximately 15 days after surgery, and it is essential not to exert effort, dye your hair or expose yourself to the sun in the first 30 days.

Possible complications

A facelift typically causes purple spots on the skin, swelling and small bruises, which disappear during the first 3 weeks after surgery. However, other complications may arise, such as:

• Crooked, thick, wide or dark scar;
• Scar opening;
• Hardening below the skin;
• Decreased skin sensitivity;
• Paralysis of the face;
• Asymmetries in the face;
• Infection.

In these cases, it may be necessary to touch up the skin to improve the results of the surgery. Find out details about the risks of plastic surgery.

Does the surgery leave a scar?

Facial surgery always leaves scars, but they vary depending on the type of technique the doctor uses and, in most cases, they are barely visible because they are covered by the hair and around the ears. The scar changes color, initially being pink and later becoming similar to the color of the skin, a process that can take around 1 year.

Are the results of the surgery lasting for life?

The results of the surgery are only visible about 1 month after the surgery, however, in most cases, the surgery is not for the rest of your life and, therefore, the results change over the years, as the facial lift It does not stop the aging process, it just reduces the signs. Furthermore, the results of surgery may be affected by weight gain and prolonged exposure to the sun, for example.