Give Yourself a Whole New Look with a Facelift

August 22, 2018, 10:40 pm

A rhytidectomy, also known as a facelift, is a clinical procedure used to give a more youthful look to a patient. Signs of aging can include wrinkles, excess facial skin, creases around the mouth and nose, and hanging skin and excess fat around the chin and on the neck.

Pre-Surgery Checks

Before the date of your surgery, you will need to arrange a consultation with Dr. Hlavacek. During this, Dr. Hlavacek will examine your blood pressure, blood clotting, medications, smoking history, drug use, allergies, scarring, and skin condition. You and Dr. Hlavacek will also discuss your aesthetic needs and goals for the surgery.

The Surgery

A traditional facelift is a very common option for patients and offers comprehensive results. During a traditional facelift, Dr. Hlavacek makes an incision in front of the ear; this extends to the hairline as well as behind the ear into the scalp.

Dr. Hlavacek will then lift the skin off the deeper facial muscles and fat layer. The deeper tissues will be pulled in an upward direction and tightened, as will the skin. Excess skin will be removed.

To complete the surgery, Dr. Hlavacek then closes the incisions with stitches. Bandages are applied over the stitches to aid in healing. Drains are commonly placed under the skin behind the ear for a couple of days to remove excess fluids and blood.

The entire process can take anywhere between two and five hours, and the patient is in most cases able to go home the day of the surgery.

The Post-Surgical Recovery Process

After your facelift procedure, it will be vital that you follow Dr. Hlavacek’s post-surgical care directions as closely as possible. Doing this will allow you to experience a more comfortable recovery process with a lower risk of complications. It can also lead to a shorter recovery period.

Before coming in for your facelift, you will need to arrange for a ride home from a friend or family member following the procedure. You will notice a degree of post-surgical bruising and swelling, and this can be treated with the help of ice packs. Typically, it takes around two weeks for the bruising to disappear. Swelling takes around three to eight weeks to fully ameliorate.

It will take around a week or two of rest and relaxation before you can return to your everyday schedule. It is best to avoid strenuous physical activities for around six to eight weeks.

Eligibility

The majority of patients who undergo facelifts are between the ages of 40 and 70 years old. People older than 70 can benefit from the surgery, too. Skin elasticity and overall health play an important role in a patient’s suitability for the procedure. Patients with poor skin elasticity and health may not be right for surgical rejuvenation.

A facelift is able to make a patient look up to 10 years younger. Research shows a high success rate for people who explore a facelift operation to look younger. Patients who are most satisfied with the results of this procedure are those who held reasonable expectations from the treatment beforehand.

Make an Appointment

Find out more about the facelift and what it can do for you – contact the office of skilled surgeon Dr. Matt Hlavacek for a consultation.