Aesthetic facelift surgery, also known as face lift, is a surgical procedure that aims to improve the signs of aging on the face and neck. It is one of the most popular plastic surgeries performed worldwide.
The aim of aesthetic facelift surgeries, also known as Facelift (Rhytidectomy), is primarily to rejuvenate the appearance of the face by eliminating the signs of aging. The main goals of this cosmetic procedure are as follows. Sagging facial skin is stretched and tightened with this surgery. One of the main goals of a facelift is to tighten and tighten sagging skin, especially in the lower face, jawline and neck. As people age, skin loses its elasticity, resulting in sagging and jowls. A facelift can help give these areas a more youthful, defined appearance by lifting and repositioning underlying tissues. With facelift surgery, wrinkles and lines on the face are eliminated or alleviated. Facelift surgery can also help correct wrinkles, fine lines, and deep creases that develop as a result of aging, sun exposure, and other environmental factors. By tightening the skin and underlying tissues, the appearance of wrinkles and folds can be significantly reduced. It clarifies the jawline that has become irregular after face and neck lift surgery. A facelift can improve the definition of the jawline by removing excess fat and skin and tightening the underlying muscles. This can create a more contoured and youthful appearance on the lower face and neck. Youth lines can be regained with this surgery. As part of the aging process, the face may lose volume and fullness, especially in the cheeks and midface area. A facelift can help restore more youthful contours by repositioning and distributing facial fat and tissue to create a smoother, fuller appearance. Facelift surgery can holistically correct facial aging. While nonsurgical treatments such as fillers, botox, and laser therapy can target specific signs of aging, facelift surgery offers a comprehensive approach to entire facial rejuvenation. It provides more dramatic and long-lasting results by addressing multiple concerns simultaneously. Facelift surgery can increase self-confidence. Many people choose to undergo facelift surgery to increase their self-confidence and confidence by achieving a more youthful and refreshed appearance. Being more satisfied with their appearance can have a positive impact on overall well-being and quality of life.
It is important to remember that although the facelift procedure provides significant improvements in facial appearance, it is not a permanent solution to aging. The effects of gravity, sun exposure, and natural aging will continue to affect the face over time. It may be necessary to resort to additional procedures or non-surgical treatments to maintain the rejuvenated appearance.
Aesthetic face lift surgery can cause many positive changes both physically and psychologically.
Physical Changes are manifested by the reduction of wrinkles and skin tightening. The surgery removes loose skin and wrinkles, leading to a smoother, more youthful appearance. Facial features are revealed. By lifting sagging tissue and removing excess fat, facelifts can redefine the jawline, cheeks, and correct chins, creating a more sculpted appearance. Improving the appearance of the neck, tightening the underlying muscles and removing excess fat from the neck area can lead to a younger and more shaped neck.
Potential psychological changes are highlighted by increased confidence. Feeling good about one’s appearance can significantly increase one’s self-esteem and confidence. By improving personal image, people who have facelift surgery report feeling more positive about their overall self-image, relieving concerns about facial aging.
The permanence of positive changes resulting from facelift surgery depends on various factors:
The specific techniques the plastic surgeon uses and the areas targeted can affect how long the results last. While the permanence of the results of classical facelift surgeries, in which only the skin is tightened, is generally shorter, it has been reported that the permanence of facelift surgeries, in which the deep structures under the skin on the face (SMAS) are also supported, lasts longer. The skin quality and elasticity of the person who will undergo surgery is also very important. Patients with naturally good skin elasticity tend to experience longer-lasting results. Lifestyle factors, lots of sun exposure, smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight can affect how well results show up over time.
Generally, face lift surgery results are permanent for a very long time. However, it is important to remember that the aging process continues. Although surgery can significantly turn back the clock on visible signs of aging, it cannot stop it completely. Fine lines and wrinkles may slowly reappear over time, but usually not as much as before surgery. Here are some additional points to consider. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through sun protection, a balanced diet and not smoking will significantly contribute to the longevity of your facelift results. Realistic expectations are important. Although facelift surgeries provide significant improvements, they do not completely change your facial structure or make you look like a different person. The goal is to achieve a natural, younger version of yourself.
It is generally considered appropriate to perform aesthetic face lift surgeries at older ages and as late as possible. However, the fewer the problems on the face, the more flexible the person’s skin is, and the better the general health condition, the more beautiful and lasting results are obtained. Therefore, it is not recommended to wait until older ages to have surgery.
Here are some factors to consider when determining the ideal age for facelift surgery. Facelift surgery is most effective at addressing moderate to severe signs of aging, such as skin sagging, jowls, deep wrinkles, and loss of facial volume. Patients who begin to notice these changes and are disturbed by them may be good candidates for facelift surgery. Good general health and well-preserved skin quality are important factors in determining candidacy for facelift surgery. Patients must be in good physical health and have realistic expectations about the results of the procedure. Factors such as smoking, sun exposure, and weight fluctuations can affect the aging process and longevity of facelift results. Patients, who maintain a healthy lifestyle, including avoiding smoking and excessive sun exposure, may experience better, longer-lasting results from facelift surgery. Some people may experience better, more long-lasting results from facelift surgery if they are bothered by early signs of aging or have a genetic predisposition to certain facial features. They may choose to undergo face lift surgery at an early age. Others may choose to wait until there are more obvious signs of aging before considering surgery.
Swelling and bruising that may occur after surgery vary depending on the individual. Placed drains are usually removed after one day. Stitches are removed on the fifth and seventh days after surgery. Swelling, bruising, and discomfort are common after facelift surgery. These complaints can last from a few days to weeks. Applying a cold compress and keeping your head elevated can help reduce swelling and bruising in the early stages of healing. In general, strenuous activities, heavy lifting, bending, and any activity that may increase blood pressure or strain surgical incisions should be avoided. You can slowly, gradually, resume your normal activities as you heal, but it’s important to listen to your body and avoid pushing yourself too soon. The plastic surgeon’s advice on when it is safe to resume exercise, work, and other daily activities is crucial. Although the initial recovery period usually takes a few weeks, it may take months for the swelling to completely subside and the final results of the surgery to appear. To ensure your results are long-lasting, it is important that you continue to follow your surgeon’s instructions for post-operative care and protect your skin from sun exposure.
Face lift surgeries in men should be planned more carefully. Because men’s hair is shorter and more meticulous planning is required to hide the scars. In men, there is a beardless transition zone between the bearded skin and the ear in the sideburn area. If this transition area is not taken into consideration, the bearded skin will be placed very close to the ear after the surgery and will create aesthetically unnatural problems and may make shaving the beard difficult.
Men generally have thicker skin than women, which can affect surgical technique and results. In addition, due to the presence of beards in men, there are denser vessels and dense adhesions called fibrous bands. These structures cause the dissection of the classic face lift surgery in men to be more bleeding and difficult. In men, deep plane facelift may be a more suitable technique to lift thick skin. Because in this technique, less dissection is required compared to the classical face lift surgery, thus the anatomical difficulties in men are overcome.
Not everyone can be a good candidate for cosmetic facelift surgery. Characteristics that make a person an unsuitable candidate include: Some pre-existing health problems can significantly increase the risks associated with surgery. It may be very risky for those with uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart disease, serious breathing problems or uncontrolled diabetes to undergo facelift surgery. If you have a condition that affects your blood’s ability to clot, it may increase the risk of excessive bleeding during and after surgery. Smokers, especially heavy smokers, are not suitable candidates for face lift surgery. Since smoking greatly reduces the blood supply to the skin, there may be serious nutritional problems in the skin after facelift. For this reason, smoking should be avoided for a safe period of time before surgery. This safe period is determined by the surgeon.
The skin quality of the person who will undergo face lift surgery is also important. To achieve the best results, the person who will undergo surgery must have a certain skin elasticity. If the skin has lost a lot of elasticity due to aging or sun damage, a facelift may not be very effective. After surgery, the loose skin may not tighten enough. Both very thick and very thin skin can create difficulties during surgery and affect the results.
Psychological factors are also very important for face lift surgery. It is important to have realistic expectations about what a facelift can achieve. It does not completely stop the aging process or make the person look like a different person. If an unrealistic outcome is aimed for, there may be disappointment with the results.
Additionally, excessive alcohol use may hinder recovery from facelift surgery and increase the risk of complications. Face lift surgery is not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding.