What Is A Facelift? What Is A Rhytidectomy?
A facelift is a surgical procedure that is typically used to give a more youthful appearance to the face. Technically, it is also called a rhytidectomy. This type of cosmetic surgery reshapes the lower one-third of the face by removing excess facial skin. Some facelift procedures also include the tightening of underlying tissues. To achieve the best result, it is often combined with other additional procedures addressing the forehead, cheeks, brows and eyes. According to statistics, facelifts are increasingly popular among both men and women.
The first facelift was performed in Berlin in 1901 by surgeon Eugen Holländer.
According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary, a rhytidectomy is:
"Literally, excision of wrinkles. Usually used to designate rejuvenative surgery of the cheeks and neck performed by tightening the facial supporting structures and excising excess skin; face-lift."
The facelift procedureThe traditional facelift. An incision is made in front of the ear extending up into the hair or hairline. The incision stretches downward in front of the ear, comes under the ear and then upward behind the ear. It then ends in the hair or hairline behind the ear. If necessary, the deeper tissues of the face can be tightened. The excess skin is removed. beauty
The incisions are then closed with sutures and staples. In some cases a drain is placed under the skin behind the ear to drain off any excess blood and fluids. This drainage tube is removed a day or two after the procedure. Then bandages are applied. beauty
New surgical techniques There are new methods for performing facelifts. New surgical options are constantly being developed.These advances aim at improving cosmetic procedures:
Lasers: A face-lift procedure called laser neck and jaw liposculpture and resurfacing, uses lasers. This can be done through a one-inch incision under the chin using only a local anesthetic.
Endoscopy: Endoscopic techniques are now used to do face lifts and brow lifts. This method allows for smaller incisions. As a result, there are fewer traumas to tissues, and a faster recovery time. Facial structures are raised, and there is beauty no need to cut away folds of skin. However, this type of procedure also depends on the patient.
Liposuction: This method is used to remove focal deposits of fat in the face. It is usually used in the area between the chin and neck. Liposuction can be combined with a face lift or performed separately.
Face lift surgery can last from two to five hours. It can be performed in an outpatient facility with local anesthetics and sedatives to relax the patient. However beauty, in some cases surgery can be performed under general anesthesia and the patient may stay in the hospital overnight.
Facelifts are effectively combined with eyelid surgery and other facial procedures. The result of a facelift is a smoother, more youthful appearance. The procedure removes and tightens sagging skin. The droop of the cheeks around the jaw line is reduced. The corners of the mouth are lifted and the creases between the cheeks and lips are diminished. The results usually last between five to ten years.
The incisions in front of and behind the ear are usually not noticeable. For a satisfactory and pleasing result, the adequate techniques are required in each individual case. In men, achieving a natural appearance following surgery can be beauty more challenging because men have hair in front of their ears (sideburns). The sideburns can be pulled backwards and upwards.
This may result in an odd look. In both men and women, one of the obvious signs of having had a facelift is a distorted earlobe. If skin is removed in excess, the face can assume a pulled-back or startled appearance.
Additional procedures to supplement the facelift may be necessary for optimal results, including neck lift, eyelid surgery, liposuction beauty, fat injection, removal of cheek fat, forehead lift, brow lift, chemical or laser peel, and cheek or chin implants.