FACE LIFT FAQs

Who is a good candidate? The most ideal patient for a facelift shows early signs of sagging skin but who still has some elasticity in the skin, minimal skin wrinkling and a strong supportive bone structure. The average age is mid forties to sixties, however older patients will also benefit from a facelift if their expectations are realistic. A facelift improves most patients' confidence by creating a newer, fresher look.

How will I be assessed by my surgeon for the suitability of my face for a facelift? Dr Wilkinson will, during your initial consultation, examine your face for loss of deeper soft tissue, skin excess/laxity and assess the tightness of the underlying muscles. Be frank discussing your expectations. Dr Wilkinson will describe the different options available and the risks and limitations of each.

What can I do to prepare myself for surgery? Dr Wilkinson will advise you to stop smoking well in advance of surgery if you are a smoker (smoking decreases blood flow to the skin and therefore affect the healing process. You will also be advised to avoid certain medications which can increase bleeding prior to surgery. Clinic staff will provide you with any additional pre-op instructions specific for your case. Enjoying a healthy eating and exercise regime before and after surgery will result in optimum results! To hide scars, it is advisable to grow your hair before surgery.

How is the facelift performed? Your surgery will be performed at the Renaissance surgical clinic. Most patients are admitted as day cases. Patients are discharged home or transferred to postoperative care facilities for 1-4 nights. Occasionally in patients with a medical history, the surgery may be done as an inpatient in a larger hospital, in which case you can plan on staying for a day or two.

A facelift is performed under a conscious sedation, which will make you feel drowsy and relaxed, however you'll sleep through the entire operation and not be aware of the procedure. The advantage is however that you will wake up feeling refreshed without the side effects of a general anaesthesia. Occasionally Dr. Wilkinson may use general anaesthesia. In all cases a certified anaesthetist will be responsible for your wellbeing.

The surgery usually takes 2-5 hours. The incisions are hidden, starting in the temporal hairline extending down a natural crease in front of the ear and then continues behind the earlobe into the scalp in the neck. A small incision below the chin is used if Dr. Wilkinson needs to work on the neck. To improve the neck contour she may trim or liposuction some fat in this area. The next important step is to tighten and suspend the facial muscles, where after the excess skin is removed. Stitches and metal clips are used to close the incisions.

A small drain is placed under the skin for 1-2 days to remove any blood that may collect under the skin. The patient will be discharged with the head lightly wrapped in bandages. This helps to minimize bruising and swelling.

What about scarring? You may have a small S-shaped scar around the ear or a full scar around the front of the ear extending to the scalp in the neck. The majority of scarring should fade to thin, white lines after 6 months to a year. Clever hairstyling can minimize the appearance of obvious scars during the first year.

What age is ideal? This is a personal choice but we advise you to discuss timing with Dr. Wilkinson. These days the trend is to start younger with less work as opposed to a whole lot or work being done later on. Consider a less-invasive lift which targets the jaw line and neck.

How much pain can I expect? For the first 5 days you can anticipate being swollen and uncomfortable. Then there will be some pain and bruising for the next 2 weeks. The drains and bandages are taken off within the first 2 days. While you should be fine within 3 weeks, there can be some subtle swelling up to 8 weeks after the procedure.

How long will the effects last? Optimum results will be seen by the end of the first year. Thereafter you can expect between 5 and 12 years of looking good before your own genetics, your lifestyle and environment take their toll. Many clients have repeat surgery over the years.

What can go wrong? Complications are rare, however results and outcomes of the surgery are not totally predictable. This is due to the fact that there is a large variability in individual anatomy, patients ability to heal and their normal physical reactions. Surgical sequelae like haematoma(collection of blood under the skin that requires removal), and infection can occur. Poor wound healing can result in skin loss which may necessitate skin grafts and widened visible scars. (problematic wound healing is most likely to occur in smokers). Temporary or permanent hair loss at the site of the scarring; an 'over-pulled' appearance,nerve damage, crooked smile, loss of facial expression – all of these are possible risks that need to be taken into account. Avoiding the sun, taking excellent care of your skin and stopping smoking can help to alleviate some post-surgery problems.

FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR PROCEDURE
www.plastic surgery.org
www.emedicine.com
www.cosmeticsurgeryexplained.co.uk