Facelift at Antiaging Group Barcelona

Facelift

As people age, the effects of gravity, exposure to the sun, and the stresses of daily life can be seen in their faces. Deep creases form between the nose and mouth; the jawline grows slack and jowly; folds and fat deposits appear around the neck.

A facelift (technically known as rhytidectomy) can’t stop this aging process. What it can do is “set back the clock,” improving the most visible signs of aging by removing excess fat, tightening underlying muscles, and redraping the skin of your face and neck. A facelift can be done alone, or in conjunction with other procedures such as a forehead lift, eyelid surgery, or nose reshaping.

The best candidates for a facelift

The best candidate for a facelift is a man or woman whose face and neck have begun to sag, but whose skin still has some elasticity and whose bone structure is strong and well-defined. Most patients are in their forties to sixties, but facelifts can be done successfully on people in their seventies or eighties as well.

A facelift can make you look younger and fresher, and it may enhance your self- confidence in the process. But it can’t give you a totally different look, nor can it restore the health and vitality of your youth.

Types of facelift

FRONTAL LIFTING

It has three main goals: to eliminate the wrinkles of the forehead, those of frowning and to raise the eyebrows. By means of this, the sad, tired or angry look are eliminated. Wrinkles occur by hyperactivity of the frontal and corrugator muscles (these are responsible for frowning). The technique consists of excising partially these muscles so that they are debilitated. At the same time forehead’s skin is stretched to raise the tail of the eyebrows and to give a youthful aspect to the face. We perform this technique with ENDOSCOPY. Instead of the classic long incision that is placed in the hair and that goes from ear to ear, we make two small cuts of 1,5 cm., within the hair, and with the aid of endoscopy and instruments specially designed, we search for these muscles to be sectioned. Because of this, a great scar is avoided, the recovery is faster and the aesthetic result is very satisfactory. Recently we have introduced the corrugator section through the upper eyelids.

Other choice may deal with a restricted treatment on the eyebrow, raising it through a limited incision in the temporal area.

Furthermore, through this temporal incision we also reach the malar area and lift the soft tissues of this area to increase the lateral fullness of the face.

However, in selected cases when there are many frontal wrinkles, flaccidity or severe skin damage after sun exposure, the classic frontal lifting is indicated. The incision in these cases remains hidden within the hair.

The actual trend is just to lift the tail of the eyebrow with a minimal scar in the hairline and using Vistabel for treatment fo the wrinkles. Recovery is faster and the results are very natural.

CERVICOFACIAL LIFTING

Indicated to treat the flaccidity and wrinkles of both neck and face inferior third. The incisions are placed around the ears trying to keep them hidden as much as possible. Both skin of the face and the thin muscular layer underneath (the SMAS) are dissected and raised. The SMAS work-up reshapes the face, giving back the natural curves of youth. Through another small incision under the chin, we can slim down the neck and stretch the platysma muscle. The neck gets a more acute angle and definition on profile. Liposuction in the neck is indicated to those patients with no skin flaccidity, no muscular bands and with fat excess in the submental area.

When performing a lifting, we try to avoid stigmata such as earlobe distortion, hairline malposition or scar stretching. The tension applied is the necessary in order to get satisfactory results but not to have such unesthetic marks.

Facelift is complemented with fat grafting to the face, that gives volume restoration and more youthful contour.

MIDFACE LIFT

To rejuvenate the area of orbits and cheeks without having to undertake complete lifting has been described. In this area there is a fat pad (named SOOF) that descends over the bone and causes a hollow eyelid increasing the interface between the eyelid and malar bone (tear-through deformity) and deepening the nasogenian fold. By lifting the malar area, the effect is astonishing, providing more lateral fullness, more projection to the malar area and smoothening the palpebral inferior boundary and the nasolabial fold. A blepharoplasty is usually perfomed at the same time.

All surgery carries some uncertainty and risk

Individuals vary greatly in their anatomy, their physical reactions, and their healing abilities, and the outcome is never completely predictable.

Complications that can occur include hematoma (a collection of blood under the skin that must be removed by the surgeon), injury to the nerves that control facial muscles (usually temporary), infection, and reactions to the anesthesia. Poor healing of the skin is most likely to affect smokers.

You can reduce your risks by closely following your surgeon’s advice both before and after surgery.

Planning your surgery

Facelifts are very individualized procedures. In your initial consultation we will evaluate your face, including the skin and underlying bone, and discuss your goals for the surgery.

We will check for medical conditions that could cause problems during or after surgery, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood clotting problems, or the tendency to form excessive scars. Be sure to tell us if you smoke or are taking any drugs or medications, especially aspirin or other drugs that affect clotting.

If you decide to have a facelift, we will explain the techniques and anesthesia he or she will use, the type of facility where the surgery will be performed, and the risks and costs involved.

Preparing for your surgery

We will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. Carefully following these instructions will help your surgery go more smoothly. If you smoke, it’s especially important to stop at least a week or two before and after surgery; smoking inhibits blood flow to the skin, and can interfere with the healing of your incision areas.

If your hair is very short, you might want to let it grow out before surgery, so that it’s long enough to hide the scars while they heal.

Whether your facelift is being done on an outpatient or inpatient basis, you should arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery, and to help you out for a day or two if needed.

About the operation

Depending on what to do the operation can be performed under general or local plus sedative anesthesia. I prefer the patient to be in the clinic for one or two days.

A facelift usually takes several hours-or somewhat longer if you’re having more than one procedure done. For extensive procedures, sometimes we have to schedule two separate sessions.

The exact placement of incisions and the sequence of events depends on your facial structure and technique chosen.

Incisions usually begin above the hairline at the temples, extend in a natural line in front of the ear (or just inside the cartilage at the front of the ear), and continue behind the earlobe to the lower scalp. If the neck needs work, a small incision may also be made under the chin.

In general, we separate the skin from the fat and muscle below. Fat may be trimmed or suctioned from around the neck and chin to improve the contour. Then the underlying muscle and membrane is tightened, pulls the skin back, and removes the excess. Stitches secure the layers of tissue and close the incisions; metal clips may be used on the scalp.

Following surgery, a small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin behind your ear to drain any blood that might collect there. The surgeon may also wrap your head loosely in bandages to minimize bruising and swelling.

A type of facelift is designed to improve the middle third of the face and reposition the tissues to restore youthfulness to the malar bone and periorbita. This is achieved through incisions within the hair and the mouth.

The lines from the nose to the mouth are greatly improved with this technique.

Fat grafting is usually done to fill and enhance some areas like mandible line, malar areas, lips and lines from the nsoe to the mouth.

After your surgery

There isn’t usually significant discomfort after surgery; if there is, it can be lessened with the pain medication. (Severe or persistent pain or a sudden swelling of your face should be reported) Some numbness of the skin is quite normal; it will disappear in a few weeks or months.

Your head should be elevated and as still as possible for a couple of days after surgery, to keep the swelling down.

If you’ve had a drainage tube inserted, it will be removed one or two days after surgery. Bandages, when used, are usually removed after one to five days. Don’t be surprised at the pale, bruised, and puffy face you see. Just keep in mind that in a few weeks you’ll be looking normal.

Most of your stitches will be removed after about five days. Your scalp may take longer to heal, and the stitches or metal clips in your hairline could be left in a few days longer.

Getting back to normal

You should be up and about in a day or two, but plan on taking it easy for the first week after surgery. Be especially gentle with your face and hair, since your skin will be both tender and numb, and may not respond normally at first.

We will give more specific guidelines for gradually resuming your normal activities. They’re likely to include these suggestions: Avoid strenuous activity, including sex and heavy housework, for at least two weeks (walking and mild stretching are fine); avoid alcohol, steam baths, and saunas for several months. Above all, get plenty of rest and allow your body to spend its energy on healing.

At the beginning, your face may look and feel rather strange. Your features may be distorted from the swelling, your facial movements may be slightly stiff and you’ll probably be self-conscious about your scars. Some bruising may persist for two or three weeks, and you may tire easily. It’s not surprising that some patients are disappointed and depressed at first.

By the third week, you’ll look and feel much better. Most patients are back at work about ten days to two weeks after surgery. If you need it, special camouflage makeup can mask most bruising that remains.

Your new look

The chances are excellent that you’ll be happy with your facelift-especially if you realize that the results may not be immediately apparent. Even after the swelling and bruises are gone, the hair around your temples may be thin and your skin may feel dry and rough for several months. Men may find they have to shave in new places-behind the neck and ears-where areas of beard- growing skin have been repositioned.

You’ll have some scars from your facelift, but they’re usually hidden by your hair or in the natural creases of your face and ears. In any case, they’ll fade within time and should be scarcely visible.

Having a facelift doesn’t stop the clock. Your face will continue to age with time, and you may want to repeat the procedure one or more times-perhaps five or ten years down the line. But in another sense, the effects of even one facelift are lasting; years later, you’ll continue to look better than if you’d never had a facelift at all.

Puede interesarte:

1. ¿Un lifting en verano?
2. Cheek surgery
3. Lipodistrophy
4. Dermolipectomies

Post comments This post comment feed

1. 08 / Jan

   Kanlaya said…

   I have a little excess skin under my neck, if I lean forward it looks like I have a double chin – I can pull this skin tight and it makes my chin look much more defined. You mention that you can do an underchin cut in conjunction with other treatment but are you able to do it on its own just to tighten the skin around the chin?

   Reply

   1. 08 / Jan

      AGB said…

      Dear Kanlaya,

      We can tighten the skin by doing a scar under the chin and sometimes behind the ear. Only by dissecting the skin it shrinks and the contour improves. In some cases we have to put some stitches or a special device named Endotine which helps to tighten the muscle. The operation can be
      done under local anesthesia and sedation and the cost is around 4500 euro including fees and hospital expenses. Feel free to call us or to fill in the form to book a consultation with us. We’d love to help.

      Thanks for your comment,

      Dr. J. Benito.

      Reply

2. 02 / Apr

   dania batista said…

   Hola,
   hace 15 días me hicieron un pequeño lifting , un sólo punto debajo de la oreja, tengo la parte derecha en perfecto estado, pero la izquierda no se mueve y se va de lado, y al reír no se abre esa parte izquierda, cuando como me muerdo el labio, es normal? si lo es , que tiempo se necesita de recuperación y que tratamientos recomienda, muchas gracias por su atención

   Reply

   1. 02 / Apr

      AGB said…

      Hola Dania

      Soy Elena, la ‘community manager’ de AGB. Normalmente los doctores responden en un plazo de 24-48 horas, pero AGB está cerrado durante este período vacacional de Semana Santa, del 2 al 5 inclusive. Te responderán a la vuelta lo más rápidamente posible.

      Saludos!

      Reply

   2. 06 / Apr

      AGB said…

      Hola Dania,

      Posiblemente en un estado temporal provocado por el musculo platisma y se resolverá por sí solo. El que mejor te puede ayudar es tu cirujano, ya que él sabe la técnica que usó y te puede decir por qué está pasando esto y el tiempo de recuperación. Si la diferencia entre los lados es grande se puede inyectar en el lado sano un poco de vistabel (”botox”) para compensar y que se note menos la asimetría. Ya nos cuentas,

      Saludos

      Reply

3. 06 / Apr

   anne said…

   hello, my friend and I have searched the net and heard discussions and have decided that you sound like the right person we need for our surgery. I would like my previous 36f implants reduced to a 34d and a face and neck lift. My friend would like upper and lower eye lifts, lower face lift and dental veneers. can you send prices, process please. We will be available between july and august. kind regards.

   Reply

   1. 09 / Apr

      AGB said…

      Dear Anne

      It took us a little bit longer than usual to reply, due to Easter holidays.

      Firstly, thank you for your interest. The cost for changing the breast implants and the face lift is around 11,000 euro and for lower face lift and eyelids is around 7000 euro. They are inclusive for fees, implants and hospital expenses without hidden costs (extra costs for surgical or medical complications are not included). We do not perform dental works. If you would like to go ahead on this, the first thing that you should so is to send us some pictures of your face along with further doubts you have so we can give you a quote and after that we can organize the visit 2-3 days before the operation.

      Cheers

      Dr. Jesús Benito.

      Reply

4. 12 / Jul

   ORFI said…

   Estoy interesada en una cirujia de liftin de cara y cuello.
   Me interesa saber si manejan otro procedimiento dierente a cicatrices al rededor de las orejas u otra parte de la cara.
   y cuanto puede valer mas i menos el procedimiento y el nombre del cirujano plastico, especializado en loiftin de cara.

   Cordial saludo.

   ORFI

   Reply

   1. 13 / Jul

      AGB said…

      Hola Orfi

      El lifting de cara y cuello necesariamente usa cicatrices alrededor de las orejas. Sin embargo, hay una opción si no hay mucha flaccidez que consiste en dar volumen a la cara mediante lipofilling y posteriormente hacer tratamientos con Vistabel (=bótox) y láser para tratar las diversas partes involucradas en el envejecimiento. Lo que necesita necesariamente un lifting es el cuello, especialmente si hay bandas, ya que no hay alternativa. Yo soy cirujano especialista en liftings.

      Quería agradecerle además el haber contactado y participado a través de los comentarios en nuestra web. La primera visita/consuta con nosotros es gratuita para todos los lectores que, como usted, han decidido participar en la web.

      Un cordial saludo,

      Dr. Jesús Benito

      Reply