The surgery of ptotic face, surgical removal of wrinkles (facelifting)
Introduction
Face is a very important part of whole personality and the first thing you notice when looking at someone. It allows us to express feelings and moods. During the ageing, part of the face becomes saggy and it looses its elasticity and compactness, facial muscles weaken and become loose. The appearance of the face is changing, the volume of the cheeks is decreased and they are dropping, deep wrinkles in the middle part of the face are accented at the same time and the excess of skin hangs over the jaws. Fat pockets which determine the soft and rounded face appearance are moving down and are reduced. The change in the face appearance can influence how do we feel and how do we perceive ourselves. As a result of these changes even a person full of energy can look tired or sad.
What is face lift (cosmetic surgery of the face)?
Facelift or the cosmetic surgery of ageing face helps to correct the ptotic skin and saggy facial muscles and deep facial wrinkles. With the help of the face-lift, the muscular layer is firmed up, the skin on the face and neck is tightened. During the surgery we can remove the fat excess in the area of double chin.
For what reasons is the cosmetic surgery of the face (face-lift) performed?
Face-lift helps to improve the facial tonicity, smooths out deeper wrinkles and provides more youthful and relaxed appearance. Face-lift is not going to stop the ageing process and the aim of the surgery is to improve the face changes which were formed by ageing.
Is it appropriate to combine face-lift with another surgeries?
Yes. Because the ageing process affects whole face, it is often appropriate to combine the face-lift with the cosmetic eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) and possibly with the brow-lift for overall rejuvenation of the face.
What are the ideal candidates for facial cosmetic surgery (facelift) like?
The ideal candidates are adult men or women, who feel that the face appearance does not correlate with the youth and vitality the feel physically and emotionally. Healthy individuals, without life-threatening illness, non-smokers, individuals with positive life attitude and certain realistic requirements for the appearance change are good candidates.
What age is the best for facial cosmetic surgery (face-lift)?
The surgery of the lower facial part ptosis is usually performed at the age about 45-55 years. The ideal age for the surgery is individual and it depends mostly on the extent of problems which ageing has caused.
What can you expect from the facial cosmetic surgery (face-lift)?
More relaxed and youthful appearance of the face, reduced „chipmunk cheeks“ and more tight skin on the cheeks and neck.
General anaesthesia or local anaesthesia?
The choice of the type of anaesthesia is made according to the extent of the surgical procedure and the overall health of the patient, in order to make the surgery comfortable and safe. The minor surgeries can be performed under local anaesthesia. The general anaesthesia is suitable for major surgeries.
What is the procedure of the surgery like?
Lower face-lift (ptosis of the lower part of the face)
Surgical incisions are made around the external ear (in the front and at the back). They can differ according to the patient´s needs. Through the surgical incision, the skin is separated from underlying tissues of the face. Then the skin is lifted and the underlying tissues are tightened with internal sutures. The skin excess is removed to the required extent. The skin is sutured again by the fine sutures or by staples in the hairy part of the head which can be removed easier after the wound is healed.
Mid-face lift (ptosis of the middle part of the face)
During this surgery the deep underlying tissues are reinforced and the fat pockets which determine the shape of the face are lifted upwards, in order to achieve full cheeks in the middle part of the face. This surgery is not able to correct the changes in the neck area along the edge of the lower jaw. It does not affect fine wrinkles or decreased tonicity and the skin texture as well. The facial tissues are separated from the skull through the incision on the lower eyelid. We can make another small incision in the buccal cavity along the gingiva in order to loosen the facial tissues. Afterwards the ptotic tissues are fixed in a new position.
What is the treatment after the surgery like?
After the surgery, we usually recommend to wear the compression bandage which helps to keep the operated tissues together, minimizes the swelling, prevents the liquid accumulation and provides higher comfort. Drains are inserted into the wound, they are removed on 2nd-3rd day after the surgery. Sutures are removed in 1-2 weeks time. Haematomas and swelling remain for 2-3 weeks. It is possible to resume all the common daily activities in approximately 1 month.
The surgery result:
The changes are noticeable right after the surgery, but the final result of the surgery is noticeable after the swelling subsides completely which means after 2-3 months.
If you have any question or comment, do not hesitate to contact us.