Women never cease to try to attain perfection in face and form. As women get older, many tend to try to keep away those days of sagging skin and wrinkles, by going in for a facelift. If you are planning to go in for a facelift, you need to remember that this a medical procedure. Do not let the dream of eternal youth mislead you into thinking that getting a facelift is as simple as walking into a beauty parlor for a facial. While you will be able to restore a certain amount of your youthful look and your youthful energy by means of a facelift, it is not magic. You will need to be well informed so as to make the right choices before you get the surgeon to set back the clock.
Things To Consider Before Having A Facelift
Get The Right Surgeon
Since a facelift is a surgery in itself, always ensure that you do a bit of research first before you opt for it. Choosing the right surgeon is necessary since only then you will be sure that you will get proper results and a safe procedure. Ensure that the surgeon is certified by the Medical Board and is continuing higher learning. You can also check with anyone who has had a successful facelift. In case you are unable to do this, ask the surgeon of your choice for referrals and follow up on these. You can also ask to see their facelifts directly so that you will know what to expect. If the surgeon does not explain the risks of a facelift to you, then you should think about consulting a different surgeon.
Who Should Get A Face Lift
People with the right attitude are the ideal candidates for a facelift. If you are undergoing the facelift to just smooth wrinkles or to make you look younger, it is fine. However, if your reason for going in for it is due to lack of self worth or in order to fix a damaged relationship, then these are the wrong reasons. Facelifts are not intended to take the place of a therapist or a relationship counselor. If you have unrealistic expectations, you will be in for a disappointment and will never be happy with the results anyway. Also, if you do not have a positive attitude, the risks of the surgery increase and recovery takes much longer. If you are a smoker, you will find that you should be ready to give up the habit at least for a while, since smoking hinders healing.
Facelift Discussions
Your results depend on how truthful you are with the surgeon. Be sure to discuss your medical history, drug allergies, present allergies and medication, expectations as well as tobacco, drug or alcohol use. Discussion of these is necessary in order to avoid future reactions. You doctor will then determine how to go ahead with the procedure if you are a good candidate for a facelift. If you doctor decides that a facelift is not for you, you do have the right to seek a second opinion. However, don’t keep hunting around for opinions until someone says that you can go in for it. It might be time for you to consider other anti-ageing techniques.
The Procedure
The first step of surgery is anesthesia which will be administered based on your circumstances. Depending on the results you desire, the plastic surgeon will go in for soft tissue augmentation, facial implants or filler to reduce wrinkles. This is apart from the traditional facelift, for which an incision will be made hidden within the hairline. For the actual surgery, the surgeon might move fat from your face and neck and reset into position the tissue beneath the fat. After this, he would lift the muscles, replace the skin in place and remove any excess skin. Surgical adhesive or sutures are usually used to close the incision.
Facelift Results
While you will not need to stay overnight, you will find that the results of the facelift will be seen only much later since the initial swelling will take a few months to subside. Also, there are no guarantees that a facelift will work since there can be problems such as numbness, infection and scarring at times.