The stress of the daily life, gravity and even just the passing of time have unpleasant effects on the skin of the face. As the time passes, deep creases appear between the nose and mouth, the jaws protrude, the skin of the jaw line becomes loose and folds and fat deposits appear on and around the neck.

Facelift is a cosmetic procedure than can adjust the placement of the skin on face and neck, remove the excess fat and tighten the muscles below the skin, but it cannot, however, stop or even slow down the aging process. The skin will continue to sag and creases will appear again. Sometimes forehead lift, nose job, eyelid surgery and some other procedures are performed along with the facelift to enhance the outcome of the surgery.

People whose neck and face skin has started to sag but still has some elasticity are the best candidates for a facelift surgery. Strong bone structure can also make the procedure simpler. Most of the facelift recipients are in their fifties and sixties, but there are people who are in their seventies and eighties and still go for a facelift. Facelift does not change the shape of the face; the patient would still look the same, only younger and fresher. A fresher look can significantly increase the self-confidence of the facelift recipient. Sadly it won't return the energy and vitality of the younger ages.

If the surgery is performed by a qualified and experienced surgeon, the risks and complications involved in the surgery will be minimal. Following the advices of the surgeon will minimize the risks as well. Sometimes collection of blood underneath the skin, which is called hematoma C, might occur with the surgery, in which case it needs to be removed by the surgeon. Nerves controlling the facial muscles might get injured, but it is only temporary and will not have a long term effect. As we all know, infection is a possibility with any procedure. Some patients respond poorly to anesthesia. Smokers take longer time to recover, as nicotine effects the blood circulation of the body.

Consultation for Surgery

The plastic surgeon will evaluate the face, skin and the bones during the consultation. He should also review the medical history for high blood pressure, blood clotting issues, skin's scarring tendencies and other issues related to a plastic surgery. Make sure to talk to the surgeon about what you want and what to expect after the surgery.

Most surgeons perform the surgery under local anesthesia, on an outpatient basis which will reduce the time spent at the hospital.  Some surgeons, on the other hand, prefer the general anesthesia which usually requires the patient to stay in the hospital for at least a day.

The procedure generally takes several hours, depending on the way the surgeon wants to perform the surgery. There will be incisions starting at the temple above the hairline toward the front of the ears, behind the earlobes and extending to the lower scalp. There will be incisions under the chin if neck surgery is performed as well.

First the skin is separated from the fat and muscles below it. The fat is trimmed or suctioned, and muscles and membranes are tightened. Then the skin is pulled back and the excess parts are removed. The layers of the tissue are secured by stitches and the incisions are closed. The surgeon would use a drain tube to drain the blood collected under the skin. These tubes are left behind the ears to be used in case of blood clotting after surgery. The bandages are loosely wrapped around the head to prevent bruising and swelling.

Pain medications can be used to minimize the pain and discomfort during the recovery. The skin would be numb for a few weeks, in some cases even months. If the head is elevated and kept still for a few days after the surgery, the chance of swelling will be minimized. Bandages, drain tubes and stitches will usually be removed five days after the surgery. At first the face will look puffy and bruised, but within a few weeks it will look normal again. The scalp sometimes takes longer to heal, but most patients are out and about in ten days after the surgery.

Hair and skin should be handled gently after the surgery. Steam baths, saunas, alcohol and other stressing activities should be avoided. Such activities can have negative effects on the elasticity of the skin for months. The best thing to do is to get a lot of rest to let the body heal.

Even after the swells and bruises are gone, the hair around the temple will be thin and the skin might be dry and rough for some time. The scars will be hidden by hair and the creases of the face and skin. Unfortunately, the skin will continue to age and the surgery won't even slow down the process.