How Does a Facelift Work?
If you ever wondered how a rhytidectomy, or face/neck lift, as it is commonly called, could improve your looks or self-confidence, you need to know how a facelift is performed and what you can expect from this procedure. As with all facial cosmetic surgery, good health and realistic expectations are prerequisites. Understanding the limitations of rhytidectomy is crucial and psychological stability is vital. There is no set ideal facelift. Rather, the goal is to improve the overall facial appearance without looking “done”. Honolulu Hawaii cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Ferguson has performed this procedure on patients in their thirties into their eighties. A facelift cannot stop aging, nor can it turn back the clock. What it can do is help your face look more youthful. A side benefit is that many patients experience increased self-confidence.
A traditional facelift involves making a large incision behind and around the ear up into the hair. The skin is elevated, or separated, from the underlying tissue all the way to the eye, nose, mouth, and to the other side of the neck. The skin is then pulled back and sewn or stapled into place after removing the excess skin. This often leads to the “swept back” look. Significant swelling and bruising occur and can take several weeks to months to resolve. The placement of the large incision into the hair usually causes loss of hair behind and in front of the ear. Skin easily stretches; therefore, this technique often requires frequent “touch ups”.
RapidLift Procedures
Aging of the face is inevitable. As the years go by, the skin begins to loosen on the face and neck. Crow’s feet appear at the corners of the eyes. Fine forehead lines become creases and then, gradually, deeper folds. The jawline softens into jowls, and beneath the chin, another chin or vertical folds appear at the front of the neck.
Heredity, personal habits, the pull of gravity, and sun exposure contribute to the aging of the face, but no matter how well you care for yourself, these changes will occur. As the aging population grows, it is obvious why rhytidectomy has become the third most desired facial cosmetic surgical procedure.
