A facelift is a surgical procedure that can reduce the signs of ageing in your face and neck. The procedure aims to restore a more youthful appearance by tightening loose skin, removing excess fat, and improving the appearance of sagging muscles and wrinkles. However, many remain apprehensive about undergoing a facelift in Sydney. Worry not because this guide has everything you should know about the procedure before signing up for one.
What is a Face Lift?
Facelift surgery (also known as a rhytidectomy) is a procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the face, neck, and other areas of the body. Facelifts can tighten the underlying muscles of the face.
Facelifts are usually performed under general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia with sedation. You may also receive intravenous medication for pain relief during your procedure. After your surgery, you will likely spend 1-2 days in recovery before going home.
Requirements
Your surgeon will help you decide whether you are a candidate for a facelift. The accompanying can be utilized as basic rules:
- Be in good health and be realistic about the results of your facelift.
- Facelifts are not for everyone, so if you have any doubts or concerns, talk them over with your plastic surgeon before proceeding.
- Don’t make major life decisions while under the influence of anaesthesia (some patients report memory loss).
The Advantages of a Face Lift
Facelift surgery can help you look more youthful and rejuvenated, but it is important to understand that a facelift does not give you a completely new face. In Sydney, over 14% of all women consider the procedure for its youthful results. Facelifts are designed to make subtle changes that improve the shape of your face rather than completely reconstructing it from scratch. A skilled cosmetic surgeon will be able to minimise scars, but there is always some degree of scarring associated with this procedure.
Facelifts are considered radical procedures because they involve making large incisions to access tissue underneath skin layers (usually around the neck area). While these incisions heal quickly and leave minimal scarring, there may be some initial discomfort following surgery. Some swelling and bruising around wounds should subside within several days after surgery.
Custom Fit Treatment Plans
Custom-fit treatment plans in Sydney are tailored to your needs and use the latest technology, techniques and tools. They take into account your medical history, lifestyle and personal preferences. A custom-fit treatment plan can help you avoid complications by ensuring you’re aware of all the risks of undergoing a facelift in Sydney and that you only have the necessary procedures. Your doctor may also be able to recommend other non-surgical options to improve your appearance or health if they think those would be better suited for your situation.
Post-Surgical Care
After the medical procedure, your specialist will give you explicit directions. These include how and when to apply ice or heat to the incision site and how often to change your bandages.
Here is what you can expect to hear:
- Keep your head above your heart level for forty-eight hours following surgery. This helps reduce swelling and discomfort by allowing gravity to help drain excess fluid from under the incision area. It also makes breathing through your nose easier without choking on liquids that may have accumulated in your throat (such as saliva).
- Take pain medication as prescribed by the doctor, but do not exceed the prescribed dosage because this could cause adverse reactions such as drowsiness or dizziness, which could interfere with recovery at home. Do not smoke or use nicotine products such as gum because they increase blood pressure and may contribute towards complications during surgery. Avoid drinking alcohol while recovering from plastic surgery since it can slow healing.
Back to Your Regular Routine After Your Face Lift Procedure
- Avoid strenuous activity. Strenuous activities (such as lifting heavy objects) can cause blood to pool in the area of your face that was operated on and make bruising worse.
- Avoid sun exposure for at least two weeks after the procedure. If you have facial sutures or staples, you should avoid direct sunlight until they are removed, usually about 10 days after surgery.
- Do not get a tanning bed or a spray tan while your skin is healing from a facelift procedure, as it could cause discolouration, blotchiness and scarring.
