Our skin and tissues naturally lose elasticity as we started getting older, which leads to wrinkles and sagging. There is no way to stop the aging process, but there are tons of procedures designed to turn back the time, and make our skin look young again.
If you would like to get rid of sagging skin and wrinkles on your face, you can check out the face surgery performed by ICCM or you can search locally instead. A good facelift procedure can make you look much younger, and here are some things you should know beforehand.
A good facelift can do wonders!
What is a facelift?
Also called the rhytidectomy, a facelift is a surgical procedure that is designed to deal with the natural signs of aging on your face and around your neck. It is a surgery that will remove excess skin, fat and/or muscle from the desired areas. Another option that is getting very popular these days is Hifu Treatment in Kuala Lumpur.
A facelift can help with:
- Crease lines and/or deep folds that often form at the corners of your mouth and nose.
- Wrinkly and sagging skin on your face.
- Facial fat that has fallen.
- Loose skin and extra fat on your neck that forms a double chin.
- Drooping skin on your jaw and cheeks.
A facelift is seen as a restorative surgery that is not going to change your appearance fundamentally or stop the aging process. Before you go through with the procedure, it is good practice to understand the results that you can expect from it. Keeping your expectations realistic is very important.
Consultation is essential
Before you can go through the facelift surgery, you will have to talk to your doctor. He or she will discuss your goals and the main reason you want to have a facelift procedure. The consultation often takes around 20 minutes, depending on how many things you want to ask.
During the consultation, your doctor will ask you about your medical history, medications you are currently taking, whether you are a heavy drinker or smoker, and other things that might be relevant. Sometimes, the outcomes patients are searching for can better be achieved with a different procedure, and not a facelift.
Preparing for a facelift
This is something your doctor will discuss with you before the procedure is scheduled. It is important that you listen to your doctor’s orders, to avoid any complications and get the best results possible. Your doctor could ask you to stop taking some medications or they might adjust your dose.
You might also be asked to stop smoking, stop taking certain drugs, and apply specific products to your face. Keep in mind that you will have to be driven home from the hospital once the procedure is done, so make sure that you have somebody with you. You will likely be put under general anesthesia, so you might also want to arrange somebody to stay with you for at least two days.
Risks and complications
Every procedure will have some complications and risks involved, and it is important that you learn more about them… as well as how you could prevent them. You can talk to Dr Hodgkinson about these risks and complications, or talk to your local doctor. The typical risks of a facelift are:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Blood clots
- Pain or scarring
- Cardiac events
- Prolonged swelling
- Cardiac events
- Hair loss at the incision site
- Problems with the healing
- Overall anesthesia risks
The recovery process
After the surgery is done, your doctor will prescribe you pain medication. It is completely normal that you feel some discomfort and pain, with bruising and swelling. However, anything that feels abnormal or too extreme, you need to talk to your doctor immediately.
Make sure that you follow your doctor’s instructions, that are often provided after the procedure. These instructions will include when you should be removing the dressings or drains, and when you should visit him/her next time.
Make sure to follow your doctor’s instructions after the surgery
After the swelling has gone down, you will be able to see the effects of the facelift. However, your skin will starting “feeling normal” only a couple of months after the procedure. It is a good idea to get a 2 weeks break after the surgery, before you go back to your daily activities. As for anything too strenuous, you might want to give it about 4 weeks instead.
Final word
A facelift surgery can do wonders for some people, as the results can be quite amazing. However, this all depends on each individual’s personal case, so make sure to talk to your doctor. Sometimes, your doctor might recommend a second surgery alongside the facelift, for even better results.