Facelift Surgery in Delhi | Dr. Lokesh Handa

What is Facelift Surgery?

Facelift surgery or a rhytidectomy is a plastic or cosmetic surgery procedure that reduces the signs of aging appearing on the face. The procedure reduces signs of aging like sagging of the skin, loose skin, creases under and around the eyes, folding of skin on the cheeks and around the jawline, and other visible signs of aging. The procedure is done to remove aging signs and give you younger-looking face.

Facelift Surgery: How is it Done?

In facelift surgery, flaps of skin on each side of the face are pulled back and the underlying muscle/tissues are repositioned and altered to contour the face in its natural fashion for a youthful appearance. The excess skin is removed once the flaps on each side are pulled back. Generally, a facelift is combined with a neck lift to also proportionally reduce the sagging in the skin on the neck.

Reasons for Taking Facelift Surgery

With aging comes visible signs of it on your face. The shape and contours of the face change, the skin loses its elasticity, fat deposits decrease and increase in separate areas, skin sags, and causes creasing in several parts of the face. Anyone experiencing the following visible signs of aging can opt for a facelift surgery:

Sagging cheeks

Loose and excess skin on the lower part of the jaw

Prominent fold in the sides of the mouth and the nose

Loose and excess skin in the neck

Facelift surgery does not treat sun damage or crease lines or discoloration of the skin.

A rhytidectomy or a facelift is done for treating or reducing the following signs of aging:

Loss of elasticity

Worn out skin

Folds and wrinkles caused from sagging

Saggy neckline causing a double chin

Facelift Surgery: Preparation, Types, and Procedure

Similar to other surgeries, prior to a facelift surgery you are required to follow a certain procedure. It is important to have a few consultation sessions with your plastic surgeon in Delhi to discuss your concerns, problems, and expectations. Based on every case, facelift surgery may involve one of the following procedures:

Mini Facelift

This procedure is a proper treatment for premature aging. It is the least invasive and is only a temporary solution for the signs of aging that just start to appear.

Composite and Deep-plane Facelifts

These are more long-term solutions for cases with advanced signs of aging. The procedure involves the repositioning of deep tissues and muscles.

SMAS Lift

This technique gives the cheeks and jawline a more definite and sharp look. It involves the tightening of the skin by tightening the layer of the ‘superficial musculoaponeurotic system(SMAS)’ that lies under the skin.

Skin-only Facelift

In this procedure, just the skin is lifted and pulled back. Other tissues, muscles, ligaments, and even SMAS are not touched. It is only a temporary solution.

The Process

Depending on the type of procedure and the results expected, general or local anaesthesia is administered. During the procedure, the fats and tissues in the neck and face are removed, repositioned, and re-sculpted. Then the skin is re-draped over the newly positioned tissues, to contour the face and the excess skin after re-draping is removed. The incisions are stitched. As per the procedure opted for and the patient’s choice, the following incision techniques may be used:

Limited Incision

A very short incision is made which extends from inside the hairline just above the ear going around the front of the ear. The incision does not extend into the lower scalp.

Traditional Face-lift Incision

The most common facelift incision procedure involves an incision beginning around the temples in the hairline that extends down along and around the front of the ears and until the lower scalp behind the ears. If the procedure also involves a neck lift, an incision may also be made under the chin.

Neck Lift Incision

An incision is made in front of the earlobe continuing till the lower part of the scalp beyond the ear. And a second incision is made under the chin.

Recovery

After the facelift surgery, it may take some time for the results to fully show up. The recovery may take up to three to six weeks depending on the procedure and technique used. Once you fully recover and the swelling subsides and the wounds fade, the results would become more prominent.

Facelift surgery may involve some risks and complications if the procedure is not carefully conducted or post-surgery care is ignored. The complications may involve facial nerve injuries, excessive bleeding, pain, infections, numbness, the deposit of fluids, etc.

To avoid any such complications, it is important that a proper consultation and expectation setting is done with your surgeon. Certain lifestyle changes like avoiding direct contact with the sun, a healthy diet, quitting smoking, etc may help in taking proper care of yourself and avoiding any risks.

Also, avoid touching your face or picking at the crusting scabs on the wounds, consult your doctor before you resume using soaps and shampoos, avoid any exertion on the facial muscles and keep the motion of the face as less as possible.

In a Nutshell!

Facelift surgery is a cosmetic procedure that treats signs of aging. It does not treat sun damage, hyperpigmentation, and other issues with the quality of the skin. The procedure depends on the extent of signs of aging and the expected results. Post-procedure recovery is a crucial stage and proper care needs to be taken to avoid risks and infections.