Face Lift

What is a Face Lift?

Face Lift is a cosmetic surgical procedure performed in both men and in women to reduce the visible signs of aging produced by gravity and loss of skin elasticity, from your face and neck. The visible signs of aging include wrinkles, sagging and loose skin on the face and neck with deposition of fat in some areas. Face Lift consists of removal of fat, tightening of skin and the underlying muscle giving your face a younger and fresher look. Face Lift can either be done alone or in conjunction with Blepheroplasty (Eyelid Surgery), Rhinoplasty (Nose Reshaping) or a Forehead Lift.

Where can I get a Face Lift?

Country	Cost with MedSolution
France	$12,316 (inquire)
India	$2,543 (inquire)
Turkey	$12,000 (inquire)

Cost of procedure performed in the US: $8,500 - $11,000.

All prices are in US dollars and include the cost of the procedure and minimum hospital stay. Estimates and minimum hospital stay will vary depending upon individual needs and requirements.

Why is Face Lift performed?

Face Lift is fondly called a procedure to 'Turn Back Time'. The major reason for someone to have a Face Lift is basically to reduce or remove wrinkles, loose sagging skin and excessive fat deposition from their face and neck. However, bear in mind that Face Lift will not affect the wrinkles around your eyes.

Who is an ideal candidate for Face Lift?

If you are a man or a woman with loose, sagging skin on your face with well defined and strong structure of your facial bones, then you are an ideal candidate for a Face Lift.

What does the procedure of Face Lift involve?

Face Lift is usually performed under local anesthesia with oral sedation to help you relax during the procedure. It can also be performed under general anesthesia. The procedure of Face Lift may take anywhere from 3 - 5 hours depending on your surgeon's approach and definition of your facial bones. For a typical Face Lift, your surgeon begins by making an incision along your hairline just above the ear. The incision for the Face Lift extends down along the front edge of the ear, around the earlobe, and then up and behind the ear extending back into the hairline. The intent for making this incision is to hide it in the hair and make it as inconspicuous as possible. The same kind of incision is repeated on the other side of the face. Using various kinds of highly sophisticated instruments that are used for the Face Lift procedure, the surgeon separates the skin of the face from its underlying tissue, moving down to the cheek and into the neck area and below the chin. Fat deposits over the cheeks and in the neck may either be removed surgically or with Liposuction at this time. Your surgeon will then tighten bands of small facial muscles and tissue that extend up from the shoulder, below the chin, and up and behind the neck to give your face and neck that 'lift'. It is important that these muscles are tightened, otherwise, the looseness and sagging appearance of the skin will return. The excess skin from the edges of the original incision is trimmed, pulls the skin back and re-drapes it on the face, staples or sutures it into place.

How do I prepare for Face Lift?

Before your Face Lift surgery, make sure that you inform you surgeon and your anesthetist regarding any other medical condition, all the prescription and non-prescription medications (including vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements) that you take. If you smoke, make sure that you do not smoke at least 2 weeks before and 1 - 2 weeks after Face Lift surgery to avoid problems with healing. Your surgeon might prescribe you vitamin C and vitamin K to ensure proper healing of the scars after your Face Lift.

What is the recovery period like after the Face Lift?

The recovery period is pretty smooth for most patients after the Face Lift procedure. Your face will be bandaged to avoid hematoma formation. Your surgeon will most probably prescribe you pain medication, antibiotics and a steroid injection to prevent pain, infection and swelling after the Face Lift surgery. You will spend the next few hours after Face Lift in the recovery room to ensure that there is no bleeding and will be allowed to go home the same or the following day after the Face Lift procedure. Be sure to make arrangements for someone to drive you home and help you around the house for the next couple of days after the Face Lift surgery. Be gentle with your face and hair in the next few weeks as your face will be tender after the Face Lift. Your stitches will be removed after a week of your Face Lift and you will be able to enjoy your new and improved look soon enough. Your surgeon will provide you with some instructions to avoid irritation of your facial skin, sleep with your head slightly elevated to minimize swelling, avoid strenuous activities and also avoid saunas and steam baths for the next few months following Face Lift.

What is the outcome of Face Lift?

During the next couple of weeks following Face Lift, your face might look different and feel a little stiff making you self conscious. All this will soon disappear and in about 3 weeks or so, and you will certainly like what you see. There will be some scarring from your Face Lift stitches which can be well hidden by your hair and will soon start to fade and disappear. Getting a Face Lift does not halt the aging process. As time goes by your face will again suffer the brunt of aging and environmental factors and you will probably require another Face Lift in about 5 years time.

B . R . A . N . D . of Face Lift

Benefits of Face Lift

• Face Lift can take away years from your face and give you that youthful and fresh look that you long for and deserve. Face Lift is performed primarily for cosmetic reasons to improve your physical appearance, enhance your image, boost up your self confidence and self esteem. Face Lift procedure is commonly used by people in the show biz e.g. actors, models etc where physical appearances are extremely important and determine the shelf life of an individual in that particular career.

Risks of Face Lift

• Swelling, scarring and bruising - As with any other cosmetic surgery procedure, there is some degree of swelling, scarring and bruising present after the Face Lift procedure. However, there is no reason to be alarmed as this will subside in the next few days and you will be ready to enjoy your new look pretty soon.
• Allergic reaction to anesthesia - This post-operative complication is rare as your anesthetist will thoroughly evaluate your health condition before the Face Lift surgery.
• Nerve damage - There might be numbness in some parts of your face, or you might not be able to raise your eyebrow or there may be some facial weakness due to damage to the facial nerve. This is usually transient and returns back to normal in 3 - 4 weeks after the Face Lift procedure.
• Hematoma formation - There might be localized collection of blood or hematoma formation.

Alternatives to Face Lift

There are alternative non-surgical treatment options available to Face Lift if you want to look younger but not have those unsightly scars on any part of your face. Here are some alternatives for you to consider:

• Laser Skin Resurfacing - In this technique sun damaged, scarred and aged skin is peeled off and vaporized using a laser beam.
• IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Photo-rejuvination - This non-invasive treatment repairs broken capillaries, skin discoloration, age spots, freckles and mottled pigmentation.
• Injection therapy - Fat Injections, Restylane, Collagen and Hylaform Gel are used to treat fine lines and wrinkles, deep folds, or to provide lip enhancement. These substances are injected under your skin and they restore the youthful and fresh appearance of your face.
• Thermalift - In this method, radio frequency energy waves are used to improve the appearance of skin in various areas including the eye area (crow's feet), lower face (jowls), forehead and neck.
• Botox Injections - This is an injection which is used to treat frown lines, crows feet, turkey neck, and other wrinkles and fine lines that tend to accumulate over time and are the result of years of squinting and frowning. Botox works by paralyzing the muscle by blocking nerve impulse to the muscle.
• Chemical Peels - Chemical peels improve the appearance and texture of your facial skin by peeling off superficial layers of skin that are old and damaged, thus exposing and encouraging the growth of newer cells.
• Dermabrasion - Dermabrasion is a form of plastic surgery that gives your skin a smoother, fresher look. This procedure is most often used to treat skin that has pits and scars due to severe acne but the procedure can also be used to treat wrinkles, scars, pre-cancerous growths and for tattoo removal.
• Micro-dermabrasion - Micro-dermabrasion can be a great way to rejuvenate your skin without having to undergo a major surgery. The procedure is often quite affordable compared to other forms of plastic surgery and the best part is that the pain and healing time are eliminated.
• Facial Implants - These implants are made from silicone and are used on the chin, cheeks and jaw to bring features into proportion and give a lift to people whose faces look aged, tired or sunken.

Now or Never

• The skin that we were born with was smooth, soft and flawless. Over time we all age and bear the brunt of environmental factors like excessive sun exposure, bad make up, bad diet, effects of smoking etc. Skin conditions like skin cancer, moles or age related skin problems like blemishes, skin pigmentation contribute significantly to how we look. How we look has a major impact on how we feel. Face Lift is an ideal procedure if you are more than 40 years of age and want to change the way you look, then Face Lift can work wonders for you.

Decision to have Face Lift

• Face Lift is a procedure preferred by many men and women worldwide to combat the signs of aging from your face and neck. Face Lift is a cosmetic procedure that has proven success and satisfaction with patients over the years. Having realistic expectations from the Face Lift procedure will make you very happy!