Facelift

Facelift surgery is also known as rhytidectomy. It is applied to correct skin sagging and skin loosening in the face. It helps is recovering facial deformities. It gives a more dynamic, young and healthy face appearance. While doing this, it does not change the facial expression of the patient.

The operation is not always for aesthetic purposes but is sometimes preferred for medical reasons (accident, burning, etc.).

Facelift is not performed only by surgery. Face bands can also be used for this process. But their effect is temporary. On the other hand, as non-surgical facelift methods; Non-invasive techniques such as filling, cellular therapy, and laser can be used. The effectiveness of these processes is lost in an average of 6 months to 1 year. Therefore, it must be repeated.

In Which Situations Is Face Lift Surgery Applied?

• Corrects the appearance of smile lines by smoothing out wrinkles and restoring the skin’s natural elasticity.
• Corrects sagging in the mouth and chin area, giving the face a more youthful and lifted appearance.
• Treats dimples under the eyes, improving the overall appearance of the lower face and restoring a more even skin tone.
• Removes sagging and wrinkles around the eyes, reducing the signs of aging and restoring a more youthful look.
• Eliminates wrinkles, lines on the cheeks and lip edges, and other signs of aging by tightening and lifting the skin.
• Gets rid of forehead lines, improves the appearance of a double chin, resolves excess skin under the chin, lifts low eyebrows, restores lost chin contours, and smoothes out the skin of the neck.
• In cases where non-invasive procedures like fillers are not effective, facelift surgery may be recommended for individuals over the age of 50.
• Corrects deformations in the neck area and jawline, giving the face a more balanced and proportionate appearance.
• Removes excess skin in front of the ear, reducing the appearance of sagging skin and restoring a more youthful appearance.

 

How is FaceLift Surgery Performed?

 

During a facelift procedure, the patient’s youth photos are analyzed to determine the aging process and facial deformations. The surgery involves reshaping not only the skin but also all underlying layers in three dimensions. Necessary adjustments are made to mimic the placement of muscles, connective tissues, and lifting of sagging skin. Fat injections may be included for patients with facial volume loss. The procedure may also be combined with other cosmetic procedures such as brow lift, rhinoplasty, or eyelid surgery for a comprehensive facial rejuvenation.

 

 

Irregularities and sagging skin on the neck, face and forehead are corrected in the surgery. Excess fat tissue in the neck and cheek areas is removed. If necessary, complementary interventions are applied like correcting the eyelids and reinforcing the facial tissues.

The surgery can be performed under local or general anesthesia and typically takes 3-10 hours, depending on the type of the procedure.

Classical face lift is applied for those who have more skin wrinkles. In this technique, the facial tissue is separated from the main tissue and the tissues in the skin are stretched.

On the other hand, the endoscopic facelift is a minimally invasive surgical procedure to enhance facial features, smooth wrinkles and rejuvenate skin. It uses small incisions, an endoscope and specialized instruments to lift and reposition underlying tissue, creating a more youthful appearance. It can be performed on the mid-face, lower face, neck or brow.

 

 

Face Lift Surgery Methods

1. Classic (Traditional) Face Lift: Involves making incisions around the ear, in front of the sideburns, along the earlobe and extending to the scalp. Tightening skin in the chin, neck and face and removing excess skin. Correction of fat position under the skin may be performed.
2. Standard (Sub) Face Lift: Focuses on the lower one-third of the face.
3. Endoscopic Face Lift: Uses smaller incisions and an endoscope to view and intervene with fine instruments. Suited for mid-face lift, forehead lift, and upper facelift procedures.
4. Medium Face Lift: Corrects sagging adipose tissue in cheek and under-eye areas.
5. Subperiosteal Facelift: Adjusts deep tissue positions on facial bones and restores tissue-bone relationship. Targets mid-face area.
6. Deep Plane Face Lift: Addresses lower eyelid and mid-face deformities but with a higher risk of complications.
7. Composite Face Lift: Aims to stretch fat and muscle tissues, skin, and subcutaneous tissue as a single unit. Removes deep grooves on the side of the nose and cheek sagging.
8. Mini Face Lift: Stretches tissues using smaller incisions. May not be successful for serious sagging.
9. Full Face Lift: Rejuvenates upper and lower eyelids, forehead, lower face, mid-face, neck area, and lips.

Before Face Lift Surgery

The use of herbal products or drugs that are likely to cause bleeding and delay wound healing should be discontinued. Smoking should be stopped 2 weeks before the operation and you should act according to the instructions of the physician.

The use of multivitamins, vitamin E and blood thinners should be discontinued at least 10 days before.

The use of 500-1000 mg of vitamin C is started 3 weeks before the surgery.

After Face Lift Surgery

• Since tissue damage is minimal, recovery time is short. The patient stays in the hospital for 1-2 days after the operation. Then they can return to his daily life.
• Bruises and edema on the face begin to lighten within 2-3 days. In 3-6 months, the face regains its natural appearance and the desired results are clearly observed.
• In the early period, sudden movements that may cause blood pressure to rise and cause bleeding should be avoided.
• It is recommended to walk upright for a while, not looking down.
• Vitamin E should not be used for the first 1 week.
• Sexual activity, heavy lifting and heavy exercises should be avoided for the first 2 weeks; During the first 1 week, you should not drive.
• For the first few days, a collar should be used to minimize bruising and swelling.
• Applying ice will help bruises and swelling go away more quickly.
• Smoking and alcohol use should be avoided.
• Minimum exercises should be performed regularly.
• The face area should be protected from harmful sun rays for the first 2 months, and sunscreen should be used.
• In order for the result of the surgery to be permanent for many years, it is necessary to eat healthily, get enough sleep, adopt a stress-free lifestyle, and take care not to get stressed.

Does Face Lift Surgery Leave Scars?

This surgery is not scarless. But since traces are hidden, it does not distort the look of the face. These are hidden in front of and behind the ear, in the scalp in the temple area.

If forehead lift and eyelid aesthetics are added, additional scars will remain in this area. If fat is removed from the under-chin area, the procedure will leave a 3-5 mm scar. These are scars that are not very obvious and can be easily camouflaged.

Is Face Lift Surgery Permanent?

The resulting rejuvenation effect maintains its permanence for at least 5-10 years. However, the main factors that determine the duration are;

The success and experience of the surgeon

The skin structure and lifestyle of the person.

Factors such as being under constant stress, sun damage, using alcohol and smoking, not exercising regularly, unhealthy and inadequate nutrition, and insomnia shorten the duration of facelift permanence.