Facelift

Q. I’m 65 and I would like to have a face-lift. What kind of results can I achieve?

A. There are no age limits to undergo this kind of surgery. Indeed, face-lift surgery is performed successfully even on people aged between 70 and 80, although the bests results are achieved with the patients whose skin has still good elasticity.

Q. What precautions should I take before having a face-lift?

A. If you smoke, it is essential to stop completely at least 4 weeks before the operation, because smoking may inhibit the blood rush towards the skin and may interfere with the healing of your wounds. In the two weeks before the operation, it is important not to take certrain drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen which might induce bleeding but your surgeon will be able to advise you on this and other pre-operative measures including diet.

Q. What kind of anesthetic is given during face-lift surgery ?

A. A face-lift is usually performed under general anesthetic - that is, the patient is put to sleep - but it is also possible to perform the operation under local anesthetic with sedation to be administered intravenously.

Q. How durable is the cosmetic result achieved by face-lift?

A. The duration of the result achieved by face-lift surgery depends on the patient’s state of health and overall well-being, as well as on his/her lifestyle. Obviously, the ageing process doesn’t stop after the operation. Some patients choose to repeat the operation after some time. The average duration of face-lift is normally of 5-10 years.

Q. Are face-lift scars visible?

A: In face-lift surgery, the scars are not very visible because they are hidden by the hair and behind the ears. Sometimes, an incision under the chin may be necessary to improve the appearance of the neck, but even this scar is usually hidden from sight.

Q. Does a face-lift remove wrinkles on the face?

A. As a general rule, a face-lift does not act on wrinkles but only on loose tissue; however, by stretching the skin, some wrinkles will become more visible. This can happen with the wrinkles on the nasal groove and on the cheeks, but not with those on the lips. On the other hand, a face-lift acts directly on crow’s feet wrinkles and on those on the eyelids, if the surgeon weakens the muscles whose contraction produces them.

Q. How long do I need to wait after face-lift surgery before I will be able to go out in public?

A. The reaction varies from patient to patient: some faces "deflate" quickly from the third or fourth day, but normally you have to wait about 15-20 days before being actually presentable.

Q. How long should I wait to sunbathe after face-lift surgery?

A. During the first days after the operation, exposure to the sun is not advisable, especially if haematomas have occurred. After 2-3 weeks, when oedema and puffiness gradually disappear, you will be able to sunbathe, provided that you don’t expose the scars.

Q. When is it possible to resume sports activity after face-lift?

A. Starting from the third week after the operation, you will be able to gradually resume all your normal activities, including sports activity, provided that you avoid sudden and exaggerated movements which engage the neck. Swimming is not advisable for a few months, until the scars have healed.

Q. How many times can I have a face-lift and how long should I wait between two face-lifts?

A. About one year after the first face-lift, you can go for a retouch-job to correct any imperfections possibly left by the first operation. The cosmetic result achieved by a face-lift is long-lasting but not permanent because it is influenced by your lifestyle (weight gain, weight loss, smoking, etc.) and by the inevitable effects of gravity and ageing. It is therefore possible to repeat the procedure every 5 years, but it will become more and more difficult and delicate over time.

Q. I would like to have a facelift that produces natural results but have been detered by images in magazines of facelifts that have produced very alarming results. Is it possible to establish beforehand with my surgeon the look that will be achieved by face-lift?

A. A plastic surgeon experienced in face contouring always tries to give the face a younger look preserving, at the same time, its naturalness and its original appearance.

Unlike American surgeons who, when asked by the patients, perform very evident face-lifts to be shown off in public, European surgeons try to achieve the most natural and shapely result they can.

Sometimes it happens that even your friends don’t realize that your face has undergone a real surgical operation, only observing your refreshed look. Obviously, the kind of face-lift and rejuvenation that the surgeon is going to perform will be decided in tune with you and in accordance with your features.