18 Oct Rhytidectomy: Types Of Procedures That Might Be Part Of A Facelift
Is A Facelift All You Need?
Sometimes, years of skincare routines, spa treatments, and injectables are not enough to maintain a youthful appearance. As a result, thousands of women and men turn to plastic surgeons for help. For many, the answer is a facelift, known as rhytidectomy. Rhytidectomy can fight the signs of aging. However, the procedure alone may not be enough. To get the full benefits, the surgeon may suggest one or more added surgeries as a part of the facelift.
What’s a facelift anyway?
The goal of rhytidectomy is to visibly improve the signs of aging. These signs are often deep wrinkles, fine lines, jowls, and sagging skin. The procedure happens under general anesthesia or local anesthesia and starts with an incision along the hairline. The incision runs to the front of the ear, and the skin is gently lifted off the face. The muscle and tissue are adjusted, and excess skin is removed. The surgeon completes the facelift by stitching the skin back in place. A facelift is one of a range of other procedures the surgeon may perform at this time.
Addressing your neck
Neck lifts and facelifts often go hand in hand. A facelift may not address sagging skin under the chin, jawline, and neck. Excess fat can gather under the lower face and neck thanks to age, weight gain, and genetics. In addition to the small incisions behind the ear, the surgeon will make further incisions under the chin. The surgeon will then lift the muscles, skin, and fat, removing excess skin as needed. Recovery can take 4 weeks or longer with the facelift.
Adding an eye upgrade
Some patients may benefit from an additional procedure that addresses the eyes. Glabellar lines can appear between the eyebrows or skin can droop over the eyelids. Others have loose, sagging skin on the forehead. A brow lift or forehead lift addresses these forehead lines and any sagging skin. The surgeon uses incisions on the hairline or near the brow to perform the surgery. The skin is lifted and placed in a new position. Any excess skin is removed, like the facelift, and the skin is set on the hairline. In some cases, an eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) removes excess skin around the eyelids.
Removing or adding facial volume
A facelift may not be able to remove all of the excess fat in the face and neck. To address the issue, the surgeon may suggest facial liposuction. A syringe or vacuum device removes unwanted fat deposits. Removing the fat allows the surgeon to sculpt the jawline and other parts of the face. On the other hand, the patient may have uneven facial features. Facial implants can add volume to the chin, forehead, jawline, or cheeks. The surgeon will install specially designed silicone implants in the desired area. Both procedures can happen during facelift surgery to maximize the results.
Your nose may need love too
Some patients are interested in changing the shape or contour of the nose. Adding rhinoplasty to the facelift procedure repairs or reshapes the nose. During a nose job, the surgeon makes incisions outside or inside the nostril to remove pieces of cartilage or bone. External pieces of cartilage can help the surgeon further reshape the nose. Rhinoplasty often means an extended recovery time. Speak with the surgeon about the potential risks and expectations beforehand.
A completely new you
A facelift can provide a long-term solution to wrinkles, jowls, sagging skin, and fine lines. However, to get the full contouring effects of cosmetic surgery, other procedures will be helpful. The surgeon will suggest one or more at some point. Patients would not be placed under pressure to have additional procedures. However, these can significantly improve the satisfaction rate and provide a fresher, younger look. Don’t hesitate to ask about other helpful techniques during a facelift consultation.