Facelift

What is facelift surgery?

Facelift operation is also known as "Rhytidectomy". With facelift surgeries, sagging in the face and neck skins is eliminated; and if there is any fat accumulation under the chin, it is removed as well. The subcutaneous tissue is reinforced.

Who are good candidates for this surgery?

Ideal candidates for facelift surgery are those who have no other health problems, whose face and neck skins have begun to sag but have yet to lose their elasticity.

This surgery is usually applied to men and women over the age of 40.

Rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, forehead lift, brow lift surgeries can also be added during facelift surgery, with intent to enable the face to look more beautiful and younger. For slim wrinkles, filling substances can be injected (fat, hyaluronic acid etc.) or peeling (mechanic, chemical, and laser) can be applied.

Before the surgery

When you consider having a facelift surgery, first think to yourself about what and why you want, and then discuss it with your doctor. If you are a smoker, definitely stop smoking 10 days before the surgery.

Let your doctor know about your tanning and skin care habits; and do not forget asking about what you must do after the surgery for ensuring it to give a more lasting result. Discuss the subject with your doctor several times if required.

Surgery

The surgery is done under the supervision of an anaesthetist in an operating theater and under hospital conditions. It can be done under general anesthesia as well as local anesthesia and intravenous sedation. Under normal conditions, it lasts for 2-2.5 hours.It is possible to be discharged the same day.

If extra procedures (Rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery etc.) are done, the surgery may take longer. In such a case, night hospital stay is required.

Facelift surgery is an operation that leaves scars. However, the resultant scars are not prominent. Scars are hidden in the haired scalp in the temporal area, in front of the ears, or behind the ears. If fats under the chin are removed, a scar of 3-5 mm is left under the chin. If the eyelid and forehead lift operations are also added, additional scars remain on eyelids and in the hairy skin on the forehead. However, these are generally hidable and hardly noticeable scars.

After Surgery?

The early stage after surgery is generally experienced comfortably. There may be a general swelling, bruising, the feeling of numbness, and tension in the face. Because the facial nerves may be mildly affected by anesthesia during the surgery, there may be slight asymmetries in the face. These disappear spontaneously within 3-5 days.

A head bandage is applied in such as a way as to leave the eyes, nose and mouth open. A tube called drain can be placed with intent to prevent blood accumulation inside, which is a rare possibility. In man, placing a drain may be a necessity because the facial skin of male patients is richer in blood; and therefore, bleeding and clot formation inside is seen more often.

The drains are removed within 2 days at the latest. The bandaging is opened 1 day after the surgery. General examination and dressing changes are performed. The hair is washed and the bandage is wrapped again, if required.

The sutures are removed 5-7 days after the surgery.

Returning to Normal Life:

The operation gives good results. Despite being rare, secondary corrections may be required.

The person could return back to work and applying make-up 1 week after the surgery. It is advised to avoid vigorous exercises and excessive exposure to sunlight, as well as external mechanical impacts for 2 months.

In male patients, the distance between the back of the ear and the haired scalp gets shorter. Therefore, they should be careful when shaving. In certain cases, epilation needs to be applied to these areas.Male patients are advised not to shave their beards for 3 weeks. Since the shape newly given to the face and the neck will be affected by the gravitation, it lasts for a period of 5-10 years and sometimes lasts a whole lifetime, depending on the structure of the individual.

As per the Theraputic Medication Law, scope of which was extended by law dated 29.08.2005 (BGBI.IS 2570), it is forbidden to display before and after treatment/operation images of patients for advertisement purposes. Therefore, before and after treatment/operation images are not available in our website.