Rhytidectomy – General Info

What Is a Facelift?

A facelift, also known under the name rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure focussed on reducing visible signs of ageing on the face and neck; this includes common ageing signs such as sagging appearance in the middle of the face, creases below the lower eyelids, creases between the nose and corners of the mouth, a lack of fullness in the face, excess fat in certain areas of the face, and the loss of skin tone.

How Is a Traditional Rhytidectomy Procedure Executed?

During a rhytidectomy, you will be given certain medications to ensure your comfort during the procedure. To this end, patients often get the choice between an intravenous anaesthetic or general anaesthetic, although the surgeon may recommend a specific type of anaesthetic depending on your situation.

To start the procedure, the surgeon will make an incision in the hairline at the temples. The incision is then continued around the ears towards the lower scalp. Once the incision is made, the surgeon can start to sculpt or redistribute fat and tissues on the face, jowls and the neck. The incision also allows the surgeon to make changes to the deeper layers of the face and lift the facial muscles.

In some cases, the surgeon may need to make an additional incision right underneath the chin; this incision gives the cosmetic surgery better access to the neck and allows him to further improve the aesthetics of this treatment area.

How Is a Limited Rhytidectomy Executed?

A limited rhytidectomy is executed by making shorter incisions between the temples and around the ear. In addition to this, the surgeon can also make a small incision within the lower eyelids or just underneath the upper lip; this to get better access to the areas that require lifting.

How Is a Neck Lift Performed?

Nowadays, the neck lift is considered as a separate procedure, so this technique is often an addition to your regular rhytidectomy procedure. During a neck lift, the surgeon usually makes an incision in the front of the ear lobe and follows the back of the ear. For a neck lift, the incision will also end in the lower part of the scalp.

During a neck lift, it is possible that the cosmetic surgeon removes excess skin and soft tissue to reshape the silhouette of the neck. For example, if the patient has no distinguishable jawline, the surgeon can use liposuction to resculpt the jawline.

Are the Incisions Visible After the Rhytidectomy Procedure?

The incisions from a rhytidectomy are only slightly visible after a rhytidectomy. An experienced surgeon will make sure that the incisions are either hidden by your hairline, or by the natural contours of your face and ears.

Patients should expect some side-effects, including bruising and swelling post procedure. There is also a small chance of complications such as hematoma.

Why Do Some People Age More Rapidly Than Others?

Even though ageing is inevitable, some people may experience an aging face faster than others. Premature signs of ageing may be caused by numerous things; this includes genetics, lifestyle choices such as smoking, and excessive stress over a long period. While some premature causes of ageing cannot be prevented, living a healthy lifestyle can make you look younger for longer.

Of course, there are other signs of ageing that are completely normal. These signs of ageing do not only occur on top of the skin, but also on a subcutaneous level. For example, it is not uncommon for someone to experience changes to their bone structure as they get older. Of course, the skin flap around the eyes can also encounter an accumulation of fat as well as excess skin. For the latter, some patients choose to address the problem with eyelid surgery. An overall reduction in skin laxity is another common sign of ageing.

Is the Facelift Performed with Other Cosmetic Surgery Procedures?

A rhytidectomy can be performed on its own, or in combination with other cosmetic surgery procedures. The brow lift is a procedure that is executed to correct a sagging or deeply furrowed brow, while blepharoplasty rejuvenates the eye area. The addition of these procedures to a rhytidectomy depends heavily on the aesthetic goals of the patient and will be determined by the surgeon before the rhytidectomy takes place.

What Are Realistic Expectations for Rhytidectomy Patients?

Patients who want to have a rhytidectomy should have realistic expectations regarding their surgery. Within this framework, the patient must be aware that a facelift does not change the fundamental appearance of the face, nor can a facelift stop the ageing process after the procedure.

The results from a rhytidectomy can only be obtained through a surgical procedure. Even though there are non-surgical procedures that may rejuvenate your skin, muscles underneath the skin can only be lifted through surgery.

Since there are different types of facelift, including the SMAS, neck surgery, and even the mini facelift, results can vary considerably according to the type of facelift you have obtained. Some procedures are also combined with fillers or laser resurfacing to enhance the results. To discover what you can expect, it is always best to speak to your cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist.

Naturally, the facelift can be a complex procedure. It is therefore important to choose an experienced surgeon who is familiar with the important facial nerve, platysma muscle, nasolabial fold, and the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, and subsequently can prevent nerve injury while performing your procedure. However, even experienced facial plastic surgeons cannot guarantee the absence of complications.

What Should I Consider During The Rhytidectomy Procedure Recovery?

While you recover from your rhytidectomy, you may have to wear a special bandage; this bandage will be placed around the face by the cosmetic surgery or a member of his surgical team. The bandage has a specific purpose and should not be removed by the patient, since the bandage will minimise some of the swelling and bruising the patient can experience after a surgical procedure.

In some cases, the surgeon needs to implement thin cannulas (tubes) in the treatment area. These tubes are necessary to remove any excess blood or fluid that have accumulated during the procedure. The surgeon will provide you with more information on how to take care of these drains once you leave the clinic.

In most cases, the procedure is done with general anesthesia. Local anesthesia is also a possibility with some cosmetic procedures that rejuvenate the skin. When your facelifting procedure is done under a general anaesthetic, you must have someone drive you home. It is also recommended that someone stays with you for at least 24 hours after the procedure.

Patients will receive other instructions from their cosmetic surgery as well, which need to be followed accurately during their recovery. In most cases, the patient will need to apply or take certain medications to aid healing, prevent infection, or reduce discomfort that may result from surgery.

Your recovery will also depend on the type plastic and reconstructive surgery you had. For example, someone with a deep plane facelift or plication techniques might have a longer recovery period than someone who had their surgery with minor facelift techniques executed on the midface and lower face. If the patient had facial rejuvenation procedures such as laser resurfacing, the patient should expect some additional recovery time. Procedures such as laser resurfacing can enable the facial skin to produce more collagen and subsequently promote skin elasticity.

Some procedures may require the removal of sutures, but most procedures are done with dissolvable sutures, this means that you do not have to come back to the surgery for removal. However, you do have to return to the clinic for a follow-up appointment.

To ensure you know what to do after your rhytidectomy, it is important to ask your surgeon some important questions; this includes questions about medications, dressings and bandages, your follow-up appointment, physical activity and when you will be able to wear makeup again.

More Information about the Rhytidectomy Procedure

Do you require more information about the rhytidectomy? Or do you want to know your eligibility for the procedure? Feel free to contact the receptionists at the Dr Lanzer Clinic to book an appointment. Patients can also request more information by contacting our clinic, since our experienced team is more than qualified to reply to questions pertaining to rhytidectomy procedures. Therefore, be sure to contact our team if you are left with any questions after reading this article.