Facelift Surgery- A Mask for Ageing Skin: Types and Complications

Rhytidectomy or facelift surgery is a procedure performed to enhance the facial appearance giving a youthful appearance. Rhytidectomy in Greek means “rhyti “ which means the face and “ektome” which means excision.

Facelift surgery usually involves the removal of extra skin from the face, which sometimes involves tightening of the underlying tissues and redrawing the skin on the face and or on the neck.

Facelift surgery is usually accompanied by eyelid surgery for better results. This surgery is often done under the effects of anesthesia.

Indications of facelift surgery:

• The appearance of wrinkles, wrinkles or folds on the face.
• Sagged cheeks and jowls.
• Prominent under-eye bags.
• Folds at the corner of the eyes.
• Folds on the foreheads.
• Permanent crease above the bridge of the nose.
• The aged look of the face.
• People who are in their fifties or younger are the ideal to undergo this surgery.
• This surgery is also beneficial for people who spend a lot of time in the sun as the sun tends to speed up wrinkles on the skin.

Contra-indication for facelift surgery

• People who smoke or drink a high amount of alcohol or suffering from high blood pressure.
• Diabetes
• Heart ailments
• Avoid taking aspirin from at least a week before surgery.

Know more about Cosmetic Surgeons in India.

Types

• SMAS or Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System lift surgery which is mainly secure the ligaments that hold the cheek fats, thus, giving a youthful appearance.
• Deep-plane facelift, which corrects the deepening of nasolabial
• A composite facelift involves repositioning and fixing of the orbicularis oculi muscle or the muscles of the eyelid healing ptosis.
• Mid facelift surgery is suitable for women who are in their forties or for them who have sagging cheeks and neck or has folds or laxity in the nasolabial areas. This procedure heals very fast and is often performed with eyelid surgery.
• Mini facelift or s facelift surgery is the least invasive facelift surgery. This surgery is a temporary solution for people with deep nasolabial folds and sagged facial structures. This is usually done on people who age prematurely.
• Subperiosteal facelift, involves vertical lifting of the soft tissues of the face sometimes detaching it from the bones it was initially attached and replacing it at the aesthetically correct place. This procedure causes swelling of the face for a little more time when compared to other facelift surgery.
• Skin only facelift is useful for older adults where the skin has sagged. In this procedure, only the skin is lifted without involving the underlying soft tissue or muscles. The skin tends to sag again after 6 to 8 months.
• MACS or minimal access cranial suspension lift surgery, this surgery is the safest facelift surgery as there are fewer chances of bleeding and nerve damage. It also takes less time to do this procedure.

Complications:

• Infections
• Hematoma
• Dyspnoea
• Nerve injury