Lifting

The magic word is lifting. The face shows its age through the sinking of the cheeks, the deepening of nasolabial wrinkles and the fine lines around the eyes and mouth. These signs of aging can be treated by lifting and stretching tissues during a facelift. There is a distinction between upper facelifts (the incision goes from ear to ear and/or the forehead/hairline) and lower facelifts. In the latter the incision begins at the temples and proceeds down to the ear and around the earlobes and continues either over or at the hairline at the base of the neck.

This procedure can be performed either with local or general anesthetic. Generally speaking it is a one-day inpatient procedure.The ideal age: between 38 and 40 to 55 years. After that a complete lifting including the neck is recommended in order to achieve a harmonic impression. A facelift can also be performed in combination with an upper and lower eyelid lift and/or other facial corrections.

Postoperative care: Stitches are removed after five to six days. After two weeks you're usually "ready for the world" again.

Risks: After the operation swelling and discolorations caused by hematomas may occur, especially if blood thinners, for example aspirin, are taken. Physicians recommend avoiding alcohol and cigarettes for two weeks after the procedure.

Note: Fine scars remain at the ear and hairline and are concealed by the hair.

A facelift can be repeated up to three times. Approximately ten years should lapse between the individual operations. A fourth procedure is not recommended. Continue with "Lid Tightening"