Who can have a  face lift surgery:
• People with sagging skin in the face and neck
• People with skin that still has some elasticity
• People with in good health
• People maintaing a stable weight (at least 6 months)
• People with a strong bone structure
• People with realistic expectations

If you do not meet all of these criteria, but meet some of them, you may still be a good candidate for a face lift. If you have good skin tone, it is more likely that your skin will respond well to the surgery.

You are also at increased risk for complications if you have diabetes, poor circulation, heart, lung or liver disease, smoke, have a family history of blood clots, take certain medications, etc. You’ll want to discuss your medical history thoroughly with your physician before you choose to undergo surgery.

 

Initial consultation

At the initial visit, your doctor will likely ask you to describe in detail what you would like improved. Be specific about what you would like done. If your surgeon fully understands your expectations, they’ll be able to determine whether your goals are realistic. Your physician will examine your skin, hairline, and structure of your face to determine which techniques will be employed, where incisions will be made and what results can be achieved. Your skin type, thickness and texture, your age, if you are a smoker, and pre-existing sun damage will all effect the final result.

 

The best way to minimize the side effects & risks of undergoing a facelift operation is to have the surgery performed by a board certified, highly qualified plastic surgeon. During the consultation phase of the facelift surgical process, it is imperative that you choose a plastic surgeon that you feel has the necessary experience in performing this surgery to perform the operation. Having trust in your plastic surgeon will give you peace of mind. More importantly, the fact that you are undergoing this treatment from a trained medical practitioners whose qualifications and past operations you have researched will minimize the chances that side effects & risks will happen during or following your face lift surgery.

For your convenience, we have compiled the most common side effects & risks associated with facelift surgery:

• Allergic reaction to anesthetic: This is common to any surgical techniques that use anesthesia. Anesthesia is used during a facelift surgery to relax the patient and to allow the plastic surgeon to perform their work at the highest level without having to worry about distractions from the patient. Considering its power, it is not unheard of for patients to have a feeling of sickness that is caused by the use of anesthesia, particularly general anesthesia. This side effect of facelift surgery is short lasting and will subside shortly after.
• Allergic reaction to medication: Typically, plastic surgeons will prescribe medication to patients following facelift surgery to help accelerate the recovery process for the patient. Sometimes these medications may cause an allergic reaction in the patient. Although plastic surgeons are mindful of a patient’s medical history when subscribing medication, there are times when a patient (and doctor) finds out at the worst time that they are actually allergic to a prescribed medicine. If you experience an allergic reaction to medication, visit your doctor immediately.
• Swelling and scarring: Following any cosmetic surgery, the patient will experience surprise by the amount of swelling, bruising, and scarring that is evident. These are only temporary conditions that will subside once your body begins to heal. The key is being patient.
• Haematoma: This is a condition in which the patient experiences bleeding under their skin, which causes painful swelling. Usually occurring within 24 hours of the surgery, this is a serious condition that may require a further operation to stop the bleeding and remove the clot.
• Facial nerve damage: Considering that nerve endings are severed during face lift surgery, as excess skin is removed, patients will experience damage to their facial nerves. This is manifested in feelings of numbness and facial muscle weakness. Usually this is a temporary condition but there are instances where facial nerve damage is permanent. This is particularly true in facelift patients that smoke

For faster recovery:
• Keep your head elevated as much as possible to reduce swelling
• Apply ice packs to minimize swelling
• Do not take aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications
• Do not smoke or be exposed to secondary smoke during recovery
• Avoid exposure to direct sunlight
• Use a sunblock (minimum 15 SPF) to protect your skin

Expect that your facelift will turn back the clock approximately 7-10 years. You will continue to age on your new face. The results of your facelift may be dramatic or subtle, depending on how you looked before surgery. Since the healing process is gradual, you should expect to wait at least several weeks to fully realize your results. Additional minor changes, or settling, may occur over several months.