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Face lifting is commonly performed at plastic surgicentre in Doha, Qatar.
As people age, the effects of gravity, exposure to the sun, and the stresses of daily life can be seen in
their faces. Deep creases form between the nose and mouth; the jaw line
grows slack and jowly; folds and fat deposits appear around the neck. A
facelift (technically known as rhytidectomy)
can't stop this aging process. What it can do is "set back the
clock," improving the most visible signs of aging by removing
excess fat, tightening under lying muscles, and re-draping the skin of
your face and neck. A facelift can be done alone, or in conjunction
with other procedures such as a forehead lift, eyelid surgery, or nose
reshaping. If you're considering a facelift, the following information
will give you a basic understanding of the procedure-when it can help,
how it's performed, and what results you can expect. It can't answer
all of your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient
and the surgeon. Please ask your surgeon about anything you don't
understand.
The best candidates for a facelift
The best candidate for a facelift is a man or woman whose face and neck
have begun to sag, but whose skin still has some elasticity and whose
bone structure is strong and well defined. Most patients are in their
forties to sixties, but facelifts can be done successfully on people in
their seventies or eighties as well. A facelift can make you look
younger and fresher, and it may enhance your self-confidence in the
process. But it can't give you a totally different look, nor can it
restore the health and vitality of your youth. Before you decide to
have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them
with your surgeon.
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A facelift can improve the deep cheek folds, jowls, and loose,
sagging skin around the neck that come with age.
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All surgery carries some uncertainty and risk
When a facelift is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon,
complications are infrequent and usually minor. Still, individuals vary
greatly in their anatomy, their physical reactions, and their healing
abilities, and the outcome is never completely predictable.
Complications that can occur include hematoma (a collection of blood
under the skin that must be removed by the surgeon), injury to the
nerves that control facial muscles (usually temporary), infection, and
reactions to the anesthesia. Poor healing of the skin is most likely to
affect smokers. You can reduce your risks by closely following your
surgeon's advice both before and after surgery.
Planning your surgery
Facelifts are very individualized procedures. In your initial
consultation Dr Makki will evaluate your face, including the skin and
underlying bone, and discuss your goals for the surgery. Your surgeon
should check for medical conditions that could cause problems during or
after surgery, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood clotting
problems, or the tendency to form excessive scars. Be sure to tell your
surgeon if you smoke or are taking any drugs or medications, especially
aspirin or other drugs that affect clotting. If you decide to have a
facelift, Dr Makki will explain the techniques and anesthesia he will
use, the type of facility where the surgery will be performed, and the
risks and costs involved. Don't hesitate to ask your doctor any
questions you may have, especially those regarding your expectations
and concerns about the results.
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Incisions usually begin above the hairline at the temples, follow the
natural line in front of the ear, curve behind the earlobe into the crease
behind the ear, and into or along the lower scalp
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Preparing for your surgery
Dr Makki will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for
surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and
taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. Carefully
following these instructions will help your surgery go more smoothly.
If you smoke, it's especially important to stop at least a week or two
before and after surgery; smoking inhibits blood flow to the skin, and
can interfere with the healing of your incision areas. If your hair is
very short, you might want to let it grow out before surgery, so that
it's long enough to hide the scars while they heal. Whether your
facelift is being done on an outpatient or inpatient basis, you should
arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery, and to help
you out for a day or two if needed.
Where your surgery will be performed
A facelift may be performed in a surgeon's office-based facility, an
outpatient surgery center, or a hospital. It's usually done on an
outpatient basis, but some surgeons may hospitalize patients for a day
when using general anesthesia. Certain conditions such as diabetes or
high blood pressure should be monitored after surgery, and may also
require a short inpatient stay.
Types of anesthesia
Most facelifts are performed under local anesthesia, combined with a
sedative to make you drowsy. You'll be awake but relaxed, and your face
will be insensitive to pain. (However, you may feel some tugging or
occasional discomfort.) Some surgeons prefer a general anesthesia. In
that case, you'll sleep through the operation.
The surgery
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Facial, neck tissue and muscle may be separated; fat may be trimmed
or suctioned and underlying muscle may be tightened.
After deep tissue are tightened, the excess
skin is pulled up and back, trimmed and sutured into place.
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A facelift usually takes several hours-or somewhat
longer if you're having more than one procedure done. For extensive
procedures, some surgeons may schedule two separate sessions. Every
surgeon approaches the procedure in his or her own way. Some complete
one side of the face at a time, and others move back and forth between
the sides. The exact placement of incisions and the sequence of events depends on your facial structure and your surgeon's
technique. Incisions usually begin above the hairline at the temples,
extend in a natural line in front of the ear (or just inside the
cartilage at the front of your ear), and continue behind the earlobe to
the lower scalp. If the neck needs work, a small incision may also be
made under the chin. In general, the surgeon separates the skin from
the fat and muscle below. Fat may be trimmed or suctioned from around
the neck and chin to improve the contour. The surgeon then tightens the
underlying muscle and membrane, pulls the skin back, and removes the
excess. Stitches secure the layers of tissue and close the incisions;
metal clips may be used on the scalp. Following surgery, a small, thin
tube may be temporarily placed under the skin behind your ear to drain
any blood that might collect there. The surgeon may also wrap your head
loosely in bandages to minimize bruising and swelling.
After your surgery
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Most of the scars will be hidden within your hair and in the normal
creases of your skin.
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There isn't usually significant discomfort after
surgery; if there is, it can be lessened with the pain medication
prescribed by your surgeon. (Severe or persistent pain or a sudden
swelling of your face should be reported to your surgeon immediately.)
Some numbness of the skin is quite normal; it will disappear in a few
weeks or months. Your doctor may tell you to keep your head elevated
and as still as possible for a couple of days after surgery, to keep
the swelling down. If you've had a drainage tube inserted, it will be
re moved one or two days after surgery. Bandages, when used, are
usually removed after one to five days. Don't be surprised at the pale,
bruised, and puffy face you see. Just keep in mind that in a few weeks
you'll be looking normal. Most of your stitches will be removed after
about five days. Your scalp may take longer to heal, and the stitches
or metal clips in your hairline could be left in a few days longer.
Getting back to normal
You should be up and about in a day or two, but plan on taking it easy
for the first week after surgery. Be especially gentle with your face
and hair, since your skin will be both tender and numb, and may not
respond normally at first. Your surgeon will give you more specific
guidelines for gradually resuming your normal activities. They're
likely to include these suggestions: Avoid strenuous activity,
including sex and heavy housework, for at least two weeks (walking and
mild stretching are fine); avoid alcohol, steam baths, and saunas for
several weeks; limit your exposure to the sun for several months. Above
all, get plenty of rest and allow your body to spend its energy on
healing. At the beginning, your face may look and feel rather strange.
Your features may be distorted from the swelling, your facial movements
may be slightly stiff, and you'll probably be self-conscious about your
scars. Some bruising may persist for two or three weeks, and you may
tire easily. It's not surprising that some patients are disappointed
and depressed at first. By the third week, you'll look and feel much
better. Most patients are back at work about ten days to two weeks
after surgery. If you need it, special camouflage makeup can mask most
bruising that remains.
Your new look
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After surgery, you'll present a fresher, more youthful face to the
world.
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The chances are excellent that you'll be happy with
your facelift-especially if you realize that the results may not be
immediately apparent. Even after the swelling and bruises are gone, the
hair around your temples may be thin and your skin may feel dry and
rough for several months. Men may find they have to shave in new
places-behind the neck and ears-where areas of beard growing skin have
been repositioned.
You'll have some scars from your facelift, but they're usually hidden
by your hair or in the natural creases of your face and ears. In any
case, they'll fade with time and should be scarcely visible.
Having a facelift doesn't stop the clock. Your face will continue to
age with time, and you may want to repeat the procedure one or more
times-perhaps five or ten years down the line. But in another sense,
the effects of even one facelift are lasting; years later, you'll
continue to look better than if you'd never had a facelift at all.
The information on this web site is only intended as an
introduction to this procedure and should not be used to determine
whether you will have the procedure performed nor as a guarantee of the
result.
The best method of determining your personal options is to schedule a
personal consultation with Dr. Makki. He will be able to answer
specific questions related to your situation.
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Please don't hesitate to call for any questions that you might have
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