You are looking in the mirror one day and you wonder when it happened, the jowls, the lines around the corners of your mouth and the loose skin on your neck.
Many women who come to me for a facelift express the frustration of wanting to look the way they feel. They are rested, happy and content with their lives but many say they look tired, angry or unhappy. Their big concern however, is that a facelift might make them look stretched and unnatural.
Take heart, today’s facelift is a sophisticated surgical procedure that will leave you looking 5-10 years younger and instead of looking lifted, you will look rested, healthy, and refreshed. These new surgical techniques not only leave you looking natural but facelifts now last longer than ever before.
The basic concept behind a facelift is to remove excess skin on the face and neck, and tighten the underlying tissues and muscles. This will smooth out the neck and return the clean contours to your face. This procedure takes 3 to 5 hours and is done under local or general anesthesia depending on the comfort level of the patient. Every effort is made to keep the scarring minimal. Incisions are placed along the hairline from the temple down around the ear lobe and are hidden behind the ear and in the hair. If fat needs to be removed in the neck a small incision is placed underneath the chin.
The skin is separated from the sagging tissues and muscles which are then tightened. The skin is pulled up and back and the excess is removed. Scars are unavoidable but are placed in natural skin lines and they do fade over time. The pain is easily controlled by medication and after one week no dressings are necessary. The bruising and swelling may last 2 to 3 weeks which is when you will see how much younger and refreshed you look.
FACE LIFT SURGERY IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO, MISSISSAUGA, AND SCARBOROUGH
A face lift, while it will create smoother, more pleasing contours to your face and neck, is intended to give a "refreshed" appearance.
FACE LIFT CONSULTATION
We will assess the thickness, texture and elasticity of your skin, and the severity of wrinkles and folds. Your hairline will be examined to determine where incisions can be made.
The structure of your face will be considered in order to tailor your cosmetic surgery in Toronto. If your hair is short, you may want to let it grow to cover your incisions during the healing process. If you are overweight and have a desire to lose more than 15 pounds, you may consult with us in regard to these concerns.
FACE LIFT PROCEDURE
An incision follows the contour of your ear; it then extends around the earlobe and back into the hairline. Incisions are made in areas which are most easily concealed; most of the time, they are completely inconspicuous. A small incision may also be hidden underneath your chin.
After the skin has been shifted back to a more youthful position, the excess skin is removed. In almost every case, deeper tissues are repositioned to restore a youthful tissue contour that is commonly found among younger people. A small incision beneath the chin may be used to aid in the removal of fatty tissue in that area and smoothing of the cord-like structures of the underlying muscle in the neck. Face lift incisions are most often inconspicuous although this cannot be entirely predicted due to individual unique healing patterns.
FACE LIFT RISKS AND RECOVERY
Hematoma (an accumulation of blood under the skin), infection and reactions to anesthesia are possible but very infrequent. Most people return to normal activities within less than two weeks. Since the healing process is gradual, you should expect to wait at least several weeks for an accurate picture of your appearance.
MID FACELIFT
Unlike a standard face lift which primarily addresses sagging in the lower face and neck, the mid-face lift is beneficial for those who have early signs of facial aging in the area of the cheek below the eyes. However, mid face-lifting can be performed as part of a conventional face lift.
Small incisions are made in the lower eyelid and the underlying tissue of the mid face is gently raised, about 90% vertically and 10% back. Any resulting excess skin is then removed. Another method of performing a mid-face lift involves making a small incision in the temple area. These small incisions are typical of those used for a brow lift. A mid facelift performed in this manner can be done together with a brow lift.
The mid face is re-positioned in the subperiosteal plane and the sagging cheek fat pad is lifted together with underlying muscles. This will help correct hollowing below the eyes and sagging around the mouth, and it will also improve the nasolabial folds.
FACE LIFT SIDE EFFECTS
Side effects can include temporary bruising, swelling, numbness and tenderness of skin, a tight feeling, and dry skin. For men, side effects can include a permanent need to shave behind ears, where beard-growing skin is repositioned. This can be eliminated by post operative laser hair removal.
FACE LIFT RISKS
Risks to the procedure include injury to the nerves that control facial muscles or feeling. This is usually temporary but may be permanent. Other risks include infection, bleeding, poor healing, excessive scarring, asymmetry or change in hairline.
FACE LIFT RECOVERY
Expect to wait at least several weeks until swelling subsides for an accurate picture of a final appearance. Bruising will disappear between 2 to 3 weeks. You should be back to work within 7 to 14 days.
More strenuous activity can be resumed within 2 weeks or more.
Sun exposure must be limited for several months. Results typically last 5 to 10 years.