Facelift

Everyone eventually starts to show signs of aging. Regardless of how many expensive creams you use or how well you look after yourself, your body and your face will begin to show the years. This can be an issue if you want to look as young as you feel.

You might be bothered that you have a youthful personality but it is not ultimately reflected in your appearance. In this case, a face lift could be just the right thing for you.

Face lift surgery or rhytidectomy is a popular cosmetic surgery procedure that rejuvenates a person’s face. It can be a fairly extensive procedure or quite simple depending on your anatomy and desired outcome. Over the years, your skin becomes thinner and slacker, the fat deposits in your face increase and your skin begins to sag over them.

You also develop wrinkles. There are various procedures that target limited parts of your face however a face lift can help make your entire face look younger.

The cost of a face lift can be very expensive, especially in developed countries. As a result, more and more medical tourists are choosing to travel overseas for treatment because the cost of a face lift abroad is so much more affordable.

For European patients, the cost of a face lift in Cyprus is more favorable than Western countries, such as France and the UK. They can combine this with the holiday they have always desired.

US patients are choosing plastic surgery in Mexico, not just because of the country's renowned, board certified plastic surgeons, but the country is home to the world's most beautiful beaches. One of the most popular plastic surgery treatments abroad is face lift in Mexico.

A Good Candidate for Face Lift (Rhytidectomy)

People have been having face lifts for years now and each individual has various reasons for undergoing this surgery. Some people feel young but think they look old, others are bothered by the signs of aging developing on their face while others simply want to refresh their tired look. A face lift or rhytidectomy can really help to take years off a person’s face.

During the face lift procedure, loose facial muscles are tightened and excess skin and fat is removed. To be a good candidate for a face lift, you need to be healthy enough to undergo surgery.

If you have any conditions that may cause complications during the surgery or during your face lift recovery, plastic surgeons will not consider you a good candidate. This is the same for any illnesses you might have.

A face lift is usually carried out on patients over 40 years of age. Both men and women can be good candidates for a face lift. Younger patients don’t usually have enough signs of aging on their face to justify such extensive surgery. Other treatment methods are generally recommended to them.

You need to be a well-balanced individual to be a good candidate for a face lift. The surgeon will discuss your reasons for surgery with you and talk to you about what it is you want to achieve by having a face lift.

Even though a face lift can shape the contours of your face and make you look much younger, it won’t necessarily change you or your life. If you have other issues while preparing for a face lift, these will need to be dealt with before you have surgery.

Signs of Aging on your Face that Make you a Good Candidate for a Face Lift:

-Loose and sagging facial skin

-Fat deposits

-Creases around the eyes (particularly lower eyelids)

-Creases along the nose and mouth (laugh lines)

-Excess skin under the chin and around the jaw

There are various types of face lifts available and some are much more extensive than others. You need to have realistic expectations of the results of your face lift so you are not disappointed later. It may be that you require other procedures as well as a face lift. An eyelid lift or nose surgery can often be carried out at the same time.

Types of Face Lift (Rhytidectomy)

Today, there are different types of face lifts available to you. Each procedure contains small modifications – depending on your own facial structure and what your desired outcome is. Some types of face lifts are more complicated than others and face lift risks and side effects of these increases greatly.

Be sure to talk to your plastic surgeon about any issues or questions you may have.

SMAS Face Lift: The Superficial Musculo Aponeurotic System (SMAS) refers to the muscle system under the facial skin. This type of face lift is called the SMAS face lift because the muscle system is manipulated during the surgery. A large incision is made along the hairline from temple to temple and loose muscles are tightened.

Excess skin and fat is eradicated before the incision is stitched back up. This type of face lift results in a larger scar than other types and the face lift recovery is longer. However, the results last longer.

Deep Plane Face Lift: Similar to the SMAS face lift but focuses on the mid-face structures and nasolabial folds. Sagging in the malar pad is corrected using a slightly smaller incision (incision does not span temple to temple).

The main advantage of this type of face lift is that it lasts 10-15 years but a significant disadvantage is the increased chance of nerve damage occurring.

Short Scar Face Lift: This type of facelift is also known as the minimal-incision face lift because it uses minimal incisions. The surgeon has less access to the superficial muscle tissue which means the face liftis less extensive.

To be a good candidate for this face lift, a small amount of work needs to be performed, especially in the lower part of your face. Recovery time is fairly short.

Endoscopic Face Lift: This type of face lift is suitable for younger patients and it focuses on correcting sagging in the cheek area. The endoscopic face lift is carried out using a small camera called an endoscope which is connected to a screen for visualization.

Small incisions are made in order to access and manipulate the tissue beneath. This may be the best type of face lift for you if you are concerned about scarring.