A facelift consists in raising of the face and neck skin by means of a complex volumetric correction of contours of the lower 2/3 of the face and skin and shifting the deeper-situated structures (SMAS lifting) in an appropriate direction, most often up and back. The skin covering the face is stretched and its excesses are removed. Application of the SMAS lifting produces a more natural, spectacular, and lasting effect. A surgical cut is made in the hairy area of the temples, moves down near the boundary of the conch and earlobe and is finally concealed behind the conch. A plastic surgeon makes fine stitches at the locations of incisions, so that traces of the surgery are nearly invisible.
Loss of youthful appearance, oval, and shape of the face may be caused by a number of factors beyond our control, to which we are exposed, such as gravity and ultraviolet radiation, as well as certain factors that depend on us, e.g. excessive stress, regular sunbathing or smoking. The tendency to quicker ageing of the integumentary system, including the face and the neck, may be hereditary as well. Face ageing is multidimensional and involves flabby skin, decay of fatty tissue, stretching of fascia or bone atrophy. These processes show as skin wrinkles, creases, changing contours of the whole face in the regions of the temples, forehead, cheeks, and jaw or neck slackening.
We needn’t lose too much sleep over consequences of ageing, though. Those within the face and the neck can be significantly reduced with a facelift – also called lifting of the face and neck – which produces an overall more youthful and relaxed appearance of the body region identified as a representation of our personality and attractiveness. The skin looks tenser as wrinkles are less manifested and shallower. The effect of this regeneration is natural and individual characteristics of a face are preserved while it gets even more attractive.
The classic face and neck lifting does not correct all areas of this body region of a Patient – as a standalone procedure, it does not cover upper and lower blehparoplasty and browpexy or forehead lift. When planning a spectacular face regeneration, therefore, it’s a good idea to think of an all-round regeneration. In other words, the facelift itself restores the beauty of the lower and middle parts of the face and the neck, and the scope of the procedure can be usually expanded to include correction of aesthetic imperfections around the eyes. A consultation with a plastic surgeon can focus on an overall plan of face treatment suited to a Patient’s individual needs, rather than being limited to facelifting alone. For a general positive effect, a face and neck lifting can be combined with a wide gamut of additional procedures, for instance, plastic surgery of upper or lower eyelids (blepharoplasty), fat transplant (lipofilling) or PRP (platelet-rich plasma).
A well-planned and carefully executed complex regeneration will comprehensively contribute to a recovery of the beauty and shine of a youthful face.
Preparation for your procedure:
Patients planning or expecting a surgery are requested to read ‘Guide for the Patient – preparation for your procedure’, available in the INFORMATION section.
Recommendations following a face and neck lifting:
- Stay at the clinic: following a surgery, a Patient will remain in the clinic for 1-2 days;
- Dressing and special clothing: wear pressure dressing until your follow-up visit;
- Reduced mobility: Limit your head movements and talking, don’t get up and walk, and keep your head slightly raised for the first 24 hours after your procedure; lead a sparing life, don’t bend down, lift things or practise sports for a minimum of 2-3 weeks after your surgery;
- Medication: a Patient must take medication consulted with their doctor, don’t use aspirin or other substances interfering with blood clotting;
- Other: a light diet free from products that are hard to chew; you mustn’t go to a solarium, sauna or sunbathe for 6 months; high UV filter creams are recommended;
- Follow-up visits: Patients must attend follow-up visits arranged with their doctor.
Patients will be informed in detail about any recommendations following their procedures at the clinic.
