THE RHYTIDECTOMY PROCEDURE
The techniques used in rhytidectomy depend upon the desirable outcomes. The technique choose by your surgeon determines the location of incisions and the resulting scars. Three different techniques are as following:
- Traditional face-lift: Incisions are made in the hairline starting at temples, continuing down and around the front of the ears and ending behind your ears in your lower scalp. To improve the appearance of the neck, a incision might be made under your chin.
- Limited-incision face-lift: Short incisions are made in your hairline starting at your temples and continuing down and around the front of your ears. Incisions might also be made in the lower eyelids or under the upper lip.
- Neck lift: Incisions are made starting in front of your earlobes and continuing around behind your ears in your lower scalp as well as a small incision under your chin.
This is an outpatient procedure performed under local or general anaesthesia which the surgeon may recommend depending upon the situation. It generally takes between one and two hours. If the surgery is complex, it can take longer.
Once the patient is anaesthetized, the surgeon will make incisions in the hairline at the temples continued to ears, and the fat and tissues on the face, jowls and the neck are distributed. These incisions also permit the surgeon to create changes to the deeper layers of the face and lift the facial muscles.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH RHYTIDECTOMY
- Scarring
- Swelling and bruising
- Numbness and changes in skin sensation
- Hair loss (alopecia)
- Facial nerve injury
- Skin loss
- Hematoma
- Infection
- Skin flap necrosis
- Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
- Skin irregularities and discoloration
- Hypertrophic scarring
Post-operatively one may observe the following symptoms:
- Swelling: Swelling varies from patient to patient and side-to-side. The swelling may initially increase for first few days and will gradually resolve over the first two weeks. Keeping your head elevated over the first few weeks, avoiding bending over or heavy lifting for the first few weeks, and avoiding prolonged sun exposure for the first two to three months helps in minimizing the swelling.
- Discoloration: Post-operatively, bruising is commonly observed on the face which would resolve over the first two weeks.
- Numbness: Numbness of your face is quite common following the surgery and will subside over the coming weeks to months. Unusual sensations, pins and occasionally mild discomfort may happen as these nerves regenerate eventually.
POST-OPERATIVE LIMITATIONS
- Avoid strenuous activity for at least two weeks after surgery
- Avoid lifting heavy weights for three weeks
- No head turning activities or exercises for four weeks
- Avoid hair colouring for four weeks post-surgery
- No “pull-over” clothing for two weeks
- Avoid yawning, wide mouth opening and hard chewing foods for two weeks
- No driving for one, preferably two weeks after surgery
- During sleep, avoid rolling onto your face
The healing time for facelift surgery is less than expected and the results are worth the wait. While, the swelling should completely disappear after four to six weeks, healing will continue for the entire first year.
Why BSR Hospital?
Our team are amongst the most experienced around Hyderabad and Secunderabad with highly qualified and trained ENT specialists like Dr. B. Shanker Rao, MS, DLO, FICS and Dr. B. Kalyan Chakravarthy, MS ENT / Head and Neck surgeon.
BSR ENT Hospital is the largest and most trusted provider of cosmetic surgery. At BSR, we are committed to deliver excellent individual care and customer service. Our dedicated and highly trained team for skull-base surgeries aim to achieve excellent results.
Our world-class facilities include our own modern hospital equipped with all latest technologies. The Hospital has emergency care and consultations that are available on appointments with just a phone call.
