Facelifting: A Closer Look

A facelift is one of the most common cosmetic surgery procedures for both men and women. Known as a rhytidectomy, the procedure can reduce facial wrinkles and minimize sagging caused by aging, stress or environmental conditions. As our society becomes ages, and longevity increases, many people want to maintain a youthful appearance as long as possible.

image:silkwoodmedical.com.au

Facelifting has a long history and the procedure has been around for over 100 years with the first surgical facelift in 1901 in Berlin, Germany. Over the next century plus, improvements to the procedure and safety have made the facelift common and accessible for most people. As the facelift has become more common and accepted, different techniques have evolved to target specific areas of the face and neck as well as combining the procedure with other surgeries and procedure to create a more comprehensive procedure to extend the younger look by years.

First things first

Rhytidectomy is a surgical procedure. There will be an extended recovery period from the surgery lasting between four and six weeks. During the recovery period the swelling from the procedure lessens and the skin heals. Your doctor will give you a list of things you have to do to get the most from your facelift and the recovery period is as important as the actual surgery to ensure the best results.

Since the procedure is cosmetic surgery, many insurance policies won’t cover it. That means you could be responsible for several thousand dollars’ worth of surgery when everything is said and done. Because the cost of the procedure is relatively high, you should be careful finding and vetting your doctor.

Since the procedure is expensive – the average cost of a facelift in the United States in 2014 was approximately $6,550 according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons – many doctors offer some type of payment plan.

Experience counts

A slick TV commercial or website is not the most important quality in a plastic surgeon. Although there are a lot of qualified plastic surgeons with their own websites, board-certification and experience count much more than having a good web presence. Personal referrals from friends and family, as long as they lead you to a qualified surgeon are the best reference.

Once you have found a surgeon, most initial visits are free. This gives you a distinct advantage over the past when most plastic surgeons charged for consultations. Finding a surgeon who makes you comfortable will make the procedure less stressful and give you a better chance for success.

Most plastic surgeons have photographic examples of before-and-after procedures that they have done. Although this isn’t an important qualification, it can make you – as the patient – more comfortable with the doctor’s work and qualifications.

Deciding what you want

Although a facelift can diminish deep wrinkles and tighten sagging skin, it isn’t the best procedure for smoothing smaller, surface wrinkles. Combining plastic surgery with other procedures, such as Botox injections or skin resurfacing, can have a much more noticeable effect.

Making the decision on what procedures you need to achieve the results you want is a process between you and your surgeon. It is one of the major reasons you need to have a comfortable relationship with the doctor, he or she has the information you will need to decide which procedures you need.

Plastic surgeons are not miracle workers and there is a difference between cosmetic surgery and facial reconstruction. A facelift will not change your facial structure, it won’t stop ageing and it won’t transform your face into something it never was. Within reason, rhytidectomy will tighten sagging skin and remove deep creases in your face.

Summing it all up

A facelift isn’t for everyone, but if you want to erase the visible signs of aging on your face and neck a rhytidectomy procedure, perhaps combined with other procedures, can make you look 10 to 12 years younger than your chronological age. Facelifts are popular with both men and women, and the average age of people getting facelifts is getting younger all of the time.

Sagging skin and creases can strike during middle age and make you appear older than you actually are. Every person physically ages at a different rate and determining if you want to look younger is a personal decision, no matter what your age. A simple facelift can cosmetically give you back the looks that the years or other factors have taken from you.

Getting information and advice from qualified and experienced plastic surgeons for a face lift in Sydney can be as simple as picking up a phone or visiting a website and making an appointment for a consultation. Take your time to get to know your doctors and work with them to get the most out of your procedure and the recovery process that follows.