Introduction to Facelift Surgery (Rhytidectomy)
Face lift surgery is a type of aesthetic plastic surgery procedure used to enhance the facial profile and skin. Cosmetic plastic surgeons have specific training and knowledge about the skin and muscles that are in and around the face. As the population of baby boomers in the United States moves into their 60's, more patients are taking advantage of the youthful appearance that can be created by facelift surgery. Other popular types of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures include rhinoplasty (nose surgery) and liposuction surgery. The most commonly performed breast enhancement surgery procedures are breast augmentation with breast lift, breast implants, breast enlargement and breast reduction. It is becoming more common that one or more plastic surgery procedures are performed on patients after they have experienced massive weight loss associated with bariatric surgery. Botox and other types of injections to remove or reduce wrinkles have become the most common non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
Facelift – The Procedure
During the aging process, the skin around the face can become loose. Deep creases sometimes appear in the facial area, brow and neck. Fat build-up can appear around the neck. In addition to the aging process, these creases and wrinkles can be exaggerated by excessive exposure to the sun or from the stresses of daily life. To correct and offset these changes in the facial profile, the facelift procedure, medically known as rhytidectomy, can be performed.
Facelift surgery is designed to reduce the slackness in the facial and neck tissues. The medical terms for facelift, Rhytidectomy, derives from the Greek term "rhytis," which means wrinkle and "ektome" which means incision. In other words, a facelift is an incision to remove wrinkles. Although the wrinkles are not completed removed during facelift, they can be lessened by removing the excess skin and fat of the facial area and by tightening the underlying muscles of the face and neck.
Best Candidates for Facelift Surgery
The best candidates for facelift are those whose skin has loosened in the facial region, but the skin retains sufficient elasticity so that it can be repositioned around the jaw line and facial bones. Importantly, a well-defined bone structure and a strong jaw line provide for better post-surgical results. Patients in their forties, fifties and sixties are the most common patients for the facelift procedure, but older patients can also have successful surgeries. It is not uncommon for candidates for facelift surgery to have had previous successful body plastic surgery, such as breast implant surgery.
Expectations of Facelift Surgery
As with any aesthetic plastic surgery procedure, facelift surgery can boost the patient's self-confidence and improve the way in which others interact with him or her. Facelift surgery can make the patient look fresher and younger, but it cannot create a totally different look. The properly performed facelift procedure is designed to make patients "look good for their age," but it does not completely reverse the aging process. While some degree of facial rejuvenation will be permanent, it is important to understand that every single wrinkle may not be resolved with surgery. Particularly, the more superficial wrinkles are less likely to be affected by the facelift procedure. Results will vary with race, weight, age, sex, type of skin, lifetime exposure to sun, etc. It is not uncommon for many facelift patients to undergo additional procedures to further enhance their appearance. Many individuals in the Northeast United States visit an eyelid surgery New York City specialist for help in this area of the face. Many patients who have a facelift also seek other types of enhancement procedures to help improve their overall facial appearance. A local dentist can help to enhance the smile and an eye surgeon can provide premium cataract surgery, a combined procedure to treat cataracts and presbyopia.
Smoking and Facelift Outcomes
Smoking can have a serious impact on surgical outcome. The nicotine and carbon monoxide content of cigarettes reduces skin oxygen levels and blood flow to the skin cells. If the patient can avoid smoking a month before and after surgery, the likelihood of successful surgery is dramatically increased.
Additional information about Facelift Surgeons can be found at Facelift Surgeon Directory or the American Society of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
The most commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedures are rhinoplasty (nose surgery), liposuction and breast augmentation. Other popular surgical procedures include tummy tuck and facelift. Learn more about breast, nose and tummy procedures from the Consumer Guide to Plastic Surgery.
This webpage discusses information about facelift, who are the best candidates and how to find a facelift surgeon.
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