Face Lifts

A number of people choose to get multiple plastic surgery procedures done at once in order to achieve desired results. One of the five most popular procedures performed in the United States is rhinoplasty, also known as nose surgery or a nose job. One of the most popular procedures to get along with nose surgery is a face lift, also known as rhytidectomy.
 
While a nose job doesn't change the look or shape of the face as a whole, a face lift can. In addition, a face lift can complement the effects of a nose job. A face lift removes extra fat from the face and is essentially a re-draping of facial skin. The skin is tightened, which reduces or eliminates lines and wrinkles.

Best Face Lift Candidates

Generally, face lift patients are age 40 or over. The best candidates for surgery are those people whose skin has begun to sag or become wrinkled but whose skin still has elasticity to it.
 
Those considering a face lift should be in good physical and mental health. Also, it's important to have realistic expectations. A face lift can't stop the aging process altogether. It may also take awhile for results to be evident.

Planning a Face Lift

Planning a face lift can take some time and research. First, you must choose a surgeon. Getting recommendations from friends and family is often the way to go. You can also find great recommendations from:
  • the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
  • the state medical board
  • your doctor
  • your local hospital.

After narrowing down your surgeon selection, you may want to meet with a few surgeons. A surgeon should make you feel comfortable with your procedure or procedures and should explain everything to you in language you understand. He should also be willing to provide information from past patients and should fully answer any and all of your questions.

You should also know where your procedure will take place and what will happen if complications occur. You should also make an appointment with your plastic surgeon for a follow-up on your procedure or procedures. This way, your surgeon can make sure that your procedure went correctly and that everything is healing properly.

Face Lift Recovery

The recovery period for plastic surgery always includes some pain and swelling, especially in cases where patients are having more than one procedure performed. It can take a few weeks or even a month for you to feel and/or look normal.

Bandages and stitches can usually be removed after a couple of days. Generally, patients feel pain, swelling and tenderness for a few days, which can be helped by pain medication. Have your surgeon prescribe your pain medication before surgery and pick it up before you go in to have surgery. This way, you won't have to worry about going to a pharmacy when you're in pain and needing rest.

With face lift procedures, some numbness of the face is also normal in the first few days after surgery. Patients need to be gentle with their face and hairline for at least the first week following their surgery.

Resources

American Society of Plastic Surgeons (2007). Facelift. Retrieved November 2, 2007, from the ASPS Web site: http://www.plasticsurgery.org/patients_consumers/procedures
/Rhytidectomy.cfm.