Understanding the Facelift Process
When considering the multitude of options one has in restoring a younger-looking face, perhaps the most invasive process is the facelift. While this may seem daunting, facelifts are beneficial in that they fix the root of your wrinkles, rather than just treating them temporarily. Thus, facelifts can be extremely beneficial, with results that can last 10-15 years or more.
After you plan and map out your facelift with your doctor, you are ready to have your surgery. Part of the planning includes where the incisions will be, what areas will need the most lifting, and what type of anesthesia you want. Although most surgeons perform the operation with only local anesthesia plus a sedative, others prefer to use general anesthesia to put you to sleep.
Once in surgery, after you are anesthetized, the doctor will begin to make the incisions necessary to perform the facelift. The major cut is in the hairline and runs up and around, underneath the ear and into the hairline behind it. The minor cut is under the chin. Because these places are fairly well hidden, the scar lines are mostly unnoticeable.
The doctor will then peel apart the layers underneath your skin. He or she will remove the fat on your face, and then the muscle and other tissues are repositioned so that they are pulled tighter and not sagging. Lastly, the doctor will pull the skin taut and smooth as well. This may require some trimming of the skin around the edges, but it is then reattached to the skin of your hairline and sewn shut.
Hopefully, understanding the complete process for a facelift will relieve some people’s fears about the surgery. Although it is more invasive than facial fillers and treatments like microdermabrasion, a facelift lasts a long time because it actually goes deep enough to fix the underlying causes of wrinkles, rather than the reappearing surface causes.
Contact Us
If you are interested in a facelift or other types of skin-firming techniques, you should consult a board-certified plastic surgeon about your options. For more information on facelifts as well as other kinds of skin lifts, contact Austin cosmetic plastic surgeon Dr. Apostolakis today at 512-329-8989.