Facelift Facelift is a surgery in which the most visible effects of ageing are reduced.   As people age, the effects of gravity, exposure to the sun, and the stresses of daily life can be seen in their faces. Deep creases form between the nose and mouth; the jawline grows slack and jowly; folds and fat deposits appear around the neck.   A facelift can't stop this ageing process. By removing excess fat, tightening underlying muscles, and redraping the skin of your face and neck, the most obvious effects are corrected. A facelift can be done alone, or in conjunction with other procedures such as a forehead lift, eyelid surgery, or nose reshaping.   The best candidates for a Facelift The best candidate for a facelift is a man or woman whose face and neck have begun to sag, but whose skin still has some elasticity and whose bone structure is strong and well-defined. Most patients are in their forties to sixties, but facelifts can be done successfully on people in their seventies or eighties as well.   A facelift can make you look younger and fresher, and it may enhance your self- confidence in the process. But it can't give you a totally different look, nor can it restore the health and vitality of your youth.   All surgery carries some uncertainty and risk When a facelift is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Still, individuals vary greatly in their anatomy, their physical reactions, and their healing abilities, and the outcome is never completely predictable. Complications that can occur include haematoma (a collection of blood under the skin that must be removed by the surgeon), injury to the nerves that control facial muscles (usually temporary), infection, and reactions to the anesthesia. Poor healing of the skin is most likely to affect smokers.   Facelifts are very individualized procedures. In the initial consultation, the surgeon will examine the patient's face, including the skin and underlying bone, and discuss the goals for the surgery.   All other medical problems are looked into and treated if possible. Smoking should be stopped to prevent untoward complications.   The patient is given specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. If your hair is very short, you might want to let it grow out before surgery, so that it's long enough to hide the scars while they heal.   A facelift is performed in a surgeon's clinic, on an inpatient basis, and one or two days of hospitalization is required.   Types of anaesthesia Most facelifts are performed under general anaesthesia. The patient sleeps throughout the operation.   The surgery A facelift usually takes several hours or somewhat longer if you're having more than one procedure done. For extensive procedures, some surgeons may schedule two separate sessions.   Every surgeon approaches the procedure in his or her own way. Some complete one side of the face at a time, and others move back and forth between the sides. The exact placement of incisions and the sequence of events depends on your facial structure and your surgeon's technique.   Incisions usually begin above the hairline at the temples, extend in a natural line in front of the ear (or just inside the cartilage at the front of the ear), and continue behind the earlobe to the lower scalp. If the neck needs work, a small incision may also be made under the chin.   In general, the surgeon separates the skin from the fat and muscle below. Fat may be trimmed or suctioned from around the neck and chin to improve the contour. The surgeon then tightens the underlying muscle and membrane, pulls the skin back, and removes the excess. Stitches secure the layers of tissue and close the incisions; metal clips may be used on the scalp.   Following surgery, a small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin behind your ear to drain any blood that might collect there. The head may be wrapped loosely in bandages to minimize bruising and swelling.   After your surgery There isn't usually significant discomfort after surgery; if there is, it can be lessened with the medication prescribed by your surgeon. (Severe or persistent pain or a sudden swelling of your face should be reported to your surgeon immediately.) Some numbness of the skin is quite normal; it will disappear in a few weeks or months.   The head may be kept elevated and as still as possible for a couple of days after surgery, to keep the swelling down.   The drainage tube will be removed one or two days after surgery. Bandages, when used, are usually removed after one to five days. Don't be surprised at the pale, bruised, and puffy face you see. Just keep in mind that in a few weeks you'll be looking normal.   Most of your stitches will be removed after about five days. Your scalp may take longer to heal, and the stitches or metal clips in your hairline could be left in a few days longer.   Getting back to normal The patient should be up and about in a day or two, but should plan on taking it easy for the first week after surgery. Be especially gentle with the face and hair, since the skin will be both tender and numb, and may not respond normally at first.   Avoid strenuous activity, including sex and heavy housework, for at least two weeks (walking and mild stretching are fine); avoid alcohol, steam baths, and saunas for several months. Plenty of rest is important and allows the body to spend its energy on healing.   At the beginning, the face may look and feel rather strange. Features may be distorted from the swelling, facial movements may be slightly stiff. Some bruising may persist for two or three weeks. It's not surprising that some patients are disappointed and depressed at first.   By the third week, the face looks and feels much better. Most patients are back at work about ten days to two weeks after surgery.   Having a facelift doesn't stop the clock. Your face will continue to age with time, and you may want to repeat the procedure one or more times, perhaps five or ten years down the line. But in another sense, the effects of even one facelift are lasting; years later, you'll continue to look better than if you'd never had a facelift at all.     Message All rights reserved 2007@ Dr. Shrirang Purohit