Facial Plastic Surgery Facts
The facial plastic surgery procedure known as a face lift can give you a more youthful and refreshed image while improving your self-confidence. There are a number of face lift techniques available when considering the benefits of this procedure. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), well over 170,000 face lift surgeries were performed in 2008, with women making up over 90 percent of patients. If you are considering a face lift, then it is important to know the benefits and complications.
Without a doubt, patients with realistic expectations and clear goals in mind are the best candidates for any type of cosmetic surgery, and especially a face lift. People should know that while it is true that a face lift can make you look years younger, it will not restore you to the health and vitality of your younger days.
Your number one goal is to find the most experienced surgeon for the facial plastic surgery. He or she is the deciding factor in the success or failure of a face lift. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons can help you search for the doctor that fits you best at their website at www.plasticsurgery.org. It is as simple as browsing through their database to find a qualified doctor in your area.
A traditional face lift can take several hours or longer to perform, depending on how many procedures you have at the same time. With this type of face lift, the surgeon will separate the skin from the fat and muscle below, and then go onto trim or suction fat from around the neck and chin to improve the contours of those areas. Your surgeon will then tighten the underlying membrane and muscle and then pull back the skin and remove anything that is in excess. Your surgeon will then stitch the layers of tissue securely, closing the incisions.
Smoking is absolutely forbidden when undergoing any type of aesthetic plastic surgery or reconstructive surgery. It is imperative that patients who smoke quit at least two weeks before surgery, and not smoke for at least two weeks afterward. Nicotine inhibits the healing process by restricting blood vessels in the face and can have adverse consequences.
So what should you expect after the procedure? The dressings should remain in place for the first 48 to 72 hours. Generally, any drains will be removed when the dressing is changed for the first time. Relaxation is extremely important following a face lift. You should rest or sleep the first two days after your surgery. It is important for the head to remain elevated and immobile in order to keep swelling to a minimum. Most people return to work in about two to three weeks after their plastic surgery procedures.
If you are considering facial plastic surgery, then you may want to remember that time does not stand still, and you will continue to age after the procedure. It is hard to determine how long the results of the initial face lift will last. While some people are happy with a single face lift throughout their lifetime, others may decide that a second procedure, five to ten years down the road, is in order.
