Rhytidectomy

Aging is a natural part of life. As we age, our bodies change and react to the passing of time. Some only lose height and some only lose hair, but one thing that all people have in common with aging is wrinkles. Our faces show signs of aging through creases in the skin. These appear mostly on the forehead, around the eyes, nose and mouth and around the neck and cheeks.

A Rhytidectomy or a face lift can be a great solution for those trying to slow down the aging process. A face lift works to reduce the visible signs of aging that appear in the neck and cheeks by tightening the facial muscles, removing excess fat and tightening the skin of the face and neck. This procedure cannot stop aging, but it can rewind the clock.

The Procedure

The Rhytidectomy procedure will begin with incisions above the hair line right around the temples. The incision will continue down in front of the ear, extend behind the ear lobe and end at the lower scalp. Each patient’s procedure will be a little different because the incision lines are placed based on facial structure.

Once the incisions are made, the surgeon will separate the skin from the muscle and fat below. The fat cells can either be cut or suctioned from the neck and chin area. This helps improve the contours of the face. The surgeon will tighten the facial muscles and after trimming the excess skin, will put the fold back into place. Non-removable stitches will be used to keep the underlying tissue in place and either stitches or metal clips will be used to close the incision.

Once the procedure is done, the surgeon will most likely wrap the head in bandages in order to cut down on swelling and bruising. A thin tube may also be placed behind the ear, directly under the skin in order to remove any excess blood that might collect there.

Will It Hurt?

A Rhytidectomy can usually last a couple of hours, but during the procedure no pain is felt. Doctors will most likely use a local anesthetic, but a general anesthetic can be another option. After the surgery patients should not feel any major discomfort. A numbing feeling around the head is normal and will usually fade after a few weeks or months. Swelling and bruising will occur but will fade after a week or so. Keeping the head elevated will help with the reduction of swelling.

What Will My Results Be?

Patients should be up and around a few days after the surgery but activities should be limited for several weeks. After a week or so, the stitches will either dissolve or be removed. At first your face might feel very strange. Facial movements will be stiff, bruising and swelling will persist, and the scars will be noticeable. As the swelling goes down, the scars will fade and the bruising will lessen. You’ll get used to the new shapes of the muscles, so movements will become easier. After about three weeks, most patients look and feel almost normal.

Face lifts can provide great results as long as patients understand that the results are not immediate. It takes time to heal, but once they do, patients notice a significant reduction in lines and creases on the face as well as the absence of sagging and excess skin. The face lift will not permanently solve your aging problem but it can turn back the clock. Most patients do repeat the procedure five to ten years down the line because the results are so satisfying. Face lifts are a great way to reduce the signs of aging and have smoother, younger looking skin.

Costs

A Rhytidectomy will usually cost anywhere from $6,000 to $12,000 but the costs for this procedure will vary depending on the location of the patient and the doctor treating you. It will also fluctuate depending on the extent of the work being done on the patient. This procedure can be a great investment for those seeking younger, wrinkle free skin.