RHYTIDECTOMY / Facelift Surgery
As people age, neck muscles start to weaken and facial skin can loosen and wrinkle as well. Crow’s feet can appear at the corner of the eyes, forehead lines can crease further and the jaw line softens into jowls. Sun exposure, heredity, weight oscillation or anything which causes the skin to lose its elasticity can speed up this process. Certified doctors are aware of this and know that our surgery program would not be complete without including a rhytidectomy, which is now the third most demanded plastic surgery in the world.
A face lift surgery (RHYTIDECTOMY) can correct these problems by tightening the 
skin of the neck and face. It restores lose tissue and returns its youthful appearance. This procedure is usually performed in conjunction with other surgeries to provide a fuller facial renewal, for example, lower and upper eye blepharoplasty. However, contrary to popular belief, a face lift will not alter the texture of the skin. Lines, scars and creases will return to their original texture, no matter how tight the skin is pulled. However, this surgery can be combined with different skin treatments (eg: chemical or laser resurfacing) to improve and smooth skin wrinkles and texture.
Even though a rhytidectomy cannot stop the aging process, it can make a person appear a decade younger, boosting your self-confidence and making you feel better about yourself. This is one of the core values we have here at HCR; we want our clients to be completely satisfied with the results of their surgery and to heighten their self-assurance.
Prices
Please check here for price estimates. Price changes and updates are not shown on the website immediately. If you wish to obtain more information regarding the current costs of a particular procedure, please contact us .
What Can I Expect
Submitting yourself to a face lift is a certified way to help you boost your confidence and to improve your features. Keep in mind that a rhytidectomy is designed to enhance, not to provide perfection. It can’t change your looks completely, nor can it provide the vitality of youth. Even though certain types of wrinkles can be reduced or eliminated, some wrinkles can actually be permanent and may not be able to be corrected with surgery. Therefore, if your outlook is realistic and you are searching for an augment in your appearance, this type of surgery is the one for you.
The results of a face lift can differ depending on race, sex, age, weight, skin type or preceding exposure to sun, among other factors. Please feel free to discuss these issues with your doctor before undertaking the operation. Your surgeon will help determine what is best for you.
HCR connects you with one of the best teams of doctors in the industry and we are therefore aware of the different types of needs our diverse patients have. But no matter what you are looking for, we will provide you with the best service and aid you in every possible way in your pursuit to enhance your appearance.
If you have good facial skin elasticity, are in good physical health and are looking to improve the appearance of your neck and face, a face lift is the perfect cosmetic surgery for you.
Surgery Planning
Before any type of procedure is performed, patients are expected to have a detailed discussion with their plastic surgeon. By doing so, both parties have the opportunity to contribute in the whole process and to increase the client’s level of satisfaction. The patient must discuss his/her expectations openly with their doctor, who will help determine what isn’t or what is possible to accomplish. All the different aspects of the surgery you are willing to undertake (the cost and recovery process) must be extremely clear to you.
You will need to inform you doctor of any allergies you might be prone to or if you have any serious medical conditions. Make sure to ask your doctor concerning the diverse details that the surgery entails. For example, you should know if you should stop taking certain medications (eg: aspirin) or if you will need to refrain from drinking or eating for a certain time period before your surgery.
If you have any questions, our surgeons will be more than happy to help you during your initial discussion.
The Procedure
This surgery can take from 2 to 3 hours to be performed, longer if you are combining it with another cosmetic treatment. General anesthesia is commonly used, but it can also be performed using local anesthesia. Sometimes, for more complicated procedures, you may be scheduled for two separate sessions. You can discuss these details with your doctor prior to the operation.
Each surgeon has a personal approach to this procedure, depending on his/her preferences and your needs. One side of you face may be completed face first, while other times, doctors prefer to move between sides during the surgery. Where the incisions will me made depends on you doctor’s technique and your facial structure.
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Generally, incisions are initially made just a little above the hairline, and follow a natural line up to just in front of the ear, continuing down the ear lob to the lower scalp. They are usually hidden in the natural contour of your ear and post-surgery, they can be easily concealed with makeup and by your hair. In the case of work being necessary on the neck, small incisions can be made under the chin.
Once this part of the procedure is completed, the surgeon proceeds to separate the skin from the fat and muscle below. To improve the general outlines of the face and neck, fat can be suctioned or trimmed. The doctor then continues on to tighten the membrane and muscle, pulling the skin back and removing the excess. Once this is done, incisions are closed with stitches, which also protect the layers of tissue; some times, small metal clips can be used on the scalp.
When the process is finished, a tiny, thin tube may be provisionally placed under the skin at the back of your ear so that any blood that may collect there is effectively drained. To help minimize any swelling and bruising, your head may be loosely wrapped up in bandages.
It may be necessary for you to spend the night at the hospital after a facelift surgery, since sometimes medical staff monitors your recovery. However, you can also be allowed to retire to recuperate within a few hours of the operation.
Post-Op – After Surgery
After submitting yourself to this cosmetic procedure, you might find that you will look and feel good surprisingly quickly. Even though it can be a significant operation, the level of pain and discomfort experienced is very low. After a few days, you can expect the bruising and swelling to lessen significantly. Patients sometimes experience a sense of numbness and tightness, but this disappears within a few weeks.
You can expect to be up and about within a couple of days, but you should try to take things slow within the first week after the surgery. You must be extra-careful with your face, since your skin will be extremely tender and unfeeling. Try to avoid strenuous activities (such as sex, exercise or heavy housework) for at least a couple to weeks. Drinking alcohol, saunas or steam baths should be avoided for a few months. Concerning work, most clients usually return to their jobs around 10 to 15 days after the operation.
During the first few days, your face might feel and look rather strange. Keep in mind that due to the swelling, your appearance may appear to be distorted while your facial gestures may be somewhat rigid and your scars may cause you to feel ill at ease. Since the bruising may take up to 2 to 3 weeks to completely disappear, you might not be in your best spirits and may feel a little disappointed with the procedure.
But you must allow yourself to recover from the process and by the third week, you will feel much better as your face heals properly and the results of the surgery will be much more evident.
Health Issues
Complications are rare and usually minor after a rhytidectomy is performed. However, a person’s anatomy varies from individual to individual, as well as their physical reactions and their healing capacity and outcomes are never entirely predictable.
You can expect bleeding from cut tissues, which leads to bruising and the probable accumulation of blood under the skin. This is called a hematoma and in some cases, it must be removed surgically by your doctor. Also, the nerves which control the muscles of your face might receive some temporal damage or you might present a reaction to the anesthesia.
Infection is uncommon, but in the case of its’ occurrence, it is treated with antibiotics during a five day period.
However, due to the high level of talent presented by HCR’ certified team of surgeons, these dilemmas are kept to the bare minimum. Make sure to let your doctor know if you smoke (smoking can slow the healing process of your skin) or if you have any previous health issues during your initial discussion. This will help maximize the success of the procedure and will minimize the risks, therefore, it is recommended that you follow your surgeons instructions at all times.
