Face Lift, the common name for the procedure surgeons call "Rhytidectomy". This procedure uses surgical means to correct the natural process of aging. As the skin ages, deep creases form around the mouth, folds appear in the neck and the jawline loses its definition.

Traditionally, face-lifts are designed to restore saggy skin in the face to a more youthful and vigorous appearance that leads to an improved quality of life and positive physical. An ample spectrum of ages ranging from 35 to 75 years of age consult for this procedure.

A face-lift markedly improves the contours of the neck and jowls. It immensely rejuvenates the middle face and corrects drooping mouth corners, flat cheeks and “crows feet” on the lateral aspects of the eyes. It will tighten loose tissues in your face, skin, muscle and remove bulges of fat in your neck.

 A well-done face-lift should not change a person’s essence or physical characteristics even when large amounts of fat and skin have been removed. The ultimate and primary goal is to rejuvenate the face and look years younger than their chronological age.

For most patients the results tend be permanent. The skin will loosen again with time as aging continues it’s natural course. The facelift does not inhibit aging but does rejuvenate your appearance substantially. The benefits of this procedure can usually be seen from 8 to 10 years after undergoing surgery before ever having to consider reoperation.

The surgery consists of incisions usually starting at the temples in the hairline and extend down to your ear, behind the earlobe and around the back into the scalp.The type of incision is variable on an individual basis and can change depending on the patients needs. After the incisions, the skin of the face and neck is undercut forward into the cheeks, downward and backward into the neck so it can be drawn up, tightened and smoothed. The excess is then cut away. The skin edges are carefully tailored to fit smoothly into the scalp and around the ear. Facial tissues are then tightened in two layers, first elevating and tightening the muscles of the neck called “platysma” and a layer of tissue called the SMASS, the skin is then tightened separately. Fat is removed from beneath the jaw and neck improving the overall contours of the face. The scars are placed specifically in areas not readily visible and hidden under the hairline.

All surgeries are performed in a private hospital. Patients are required to check into the hospital on the morning of the surgery. Patients normally remain in the hospital for one night following this surgery. There is usually mild or no pain after a face-lift. Medication will control the pain and discomfort that patients usually experience. Drains may be used, but they are usually removed the next day along with the operative dressings.

The procedure takes around four to five hours of operating time and is done with either I.V sedation or general anesthesia, most rhytidectomies are carried out under local anesthesia with sedatives providing a "twilight sleep".

Sutures are removed 4 days after surgery and supporting dressings may be worn for several days after the sutures are removed. It is extremely important that the newly rejuvenated skin be protected from sun damage after surgery. A broad brimmed hat and SPF 15 or stronger sunscreen application is essential. Sunbathing should be avoided for 6 weeks. Surgical recovery is recommended in a recovery facility that provides continuous monitoring and care. A 12 day stay is suggested for major surgeries. The recovery period should take approximately 2-3 weeks and will prevent you from driving, working and exercising. A majority of 75% of patients go back to work after 2 weeks.

Conditions that increase your risk:

1- Hereditary conditions with a tendency to bleed, medications that anticoagulated such as increase the risk of bleeding during facelift surgery is considerably.

2- High blood pressure increases your risk of excessive bleeding especially values of 150/100.

3- Smoking increases your risk of poor healing after any surgery, a face-lift is particularly susceptible to poor wound healing in smokers

Side effects and complications

Major complications are rare. When a face-lift is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor. All surgical procedures may have complications. Infection, bleeding, and damage to important structures such as nerves in the operating area may occur.

Although complications are rare, the most common are accumulation of blood or fluid that require aspiration or drainage, appearance of hematomas and bruising, swelling of the face lasting weeks and areas of numbness in the face and neck and. Each patient assumes a different degree of risk with every surgical procedure and these should be explained by your surgeon and understood before proceeding with any procedure

You can reduce the probability of the risks described by closely following your surgeon's advice both before and after surgery.

It is paramount to discuss the expectations regarding possible outcomes and final results in detail. Successful face-lifts can temporarily set the clock back, no cosmetic procedure can permanently end the effects of aging. Some patients will require other types of procedures such as chemical peeling to achieve the results they desire.