Facial Lifting

The face lift consists of a set of procedures aimed at remodeling the skin, subcutaneous and muscular tissue, located in the frontal, genial and cervicofacial areas, in order to obtain facial rejuvenation and reduce expression wrinkles. The motility of the facial muscles remains intact, therefore the face retains its natural expressiveness. Sometimes, the excessive aging of the tissues, the high number of wrinkles and the loss of facial tone cause discomfort in the subject and loss of self-confidence. The reasons that push the patient to undergo such surgical interventions are:

– rejuvenate the face with a natural effect;
– redefine the contours of the face, especially in the mandibular and zygomatic area;
– eliminate excess skin to firm the treated area and reduce expression lines.

An initial consultation with the plastic surgeon will help to eliminate doubts and perplexities, to understand exactly how the operation will take place and what all the options and possibilities are suitable for your case. In order to achieve an optimal result, the possible minimal variations of the surgical procedure will be evaluated, based on the anatomical characteristics and needs of the patient. The visit is not binding and gives the opportunity to receive all the information and satisfy any curiosity regarding the surgical and post-surgical program, the drugs to be taken, the analyzes and checks to be performed and the costs.

The surgical alternatives are:

-mini-facelift (sectoral facelift): minimally invasive technique performed under local anesthesia with sedation, which allows the restoration of the conicity and tension of the skin and muscles of only one sector of the face (frontal, genial or mandibulo-cervical). The duration of the operation varies between 1 and 2 hours.
-cervico-facial lifting: allows the skin and underlying muscles to be lifted and tightened, through a more extensive surgical access, in order to simultaneously rejuvenate the frontal, genial and mandibular-cervical areas. The duration of the operation is approximately 4 hours. In the case of the mini facelift, small hidden incisions are made between the frontal scalp, the pre-auricular area or the sub-auricular scalp, depending on the type of sectoral facelift chosen. Through this incision the skin of the face is detached from the underlying muscle planes; the latter are then repositioned upwards and backwards. The skin is redistributed over the muscles with minimal stretching and removing the excess portion. The operation ends with the suturing of the wounds with internal stitches or very thin threads. It may be necessary to leave a small drain under or behind the ear which will be removed 24 hours after surgery. Finally, a compressive dressing is applied to reduce the onset of edema. In the case of the cervico-facial lift, the incision line is continuous and begins in the hair above the temples, goes down in front of the ear, goes beyond the lobe, turns behind the auricle and ends in the hair, near the nape of the neck. Through this incision it is possible to lift the skin, subcutaneous and muscular tissues which are fixed, using internal stitches, higher than the initial position. The skin is then redistributed on the underlying muscular layer, eliminating the excess. The operation ends with the suturing of the wounds, the possible placement of drainage and the application of compression bandages to reduce edema.

Normally one day of hospitalization is required. 24 hours after the operation the drainage is removed and after another 24 hours the compression dressing is removed. The removal of the sutures will take place approximately 10 days after the operation, allowing the wounds to be bathed; until then bathing and showering are not recommended. In the days following the operation, rest and limitation of facial movements are recommended. Work activity can be resumed after 7 days, and sports activity after approximately 30 days.

In the first post-operative days, the presence of slight pain, swelling, redness and bruising in the treated area will be normal. Post-operative discomfort can be controlled with normal painkillers and anti-inflammatories.

The residual scars are well hidden in the hair, in the case of an incision in the scalp, and in the preauricular area. Initially visible and red, over time they progressively become very invisible.

The result of the surgical intervention depends on various factors, such as the patient's initial clinical condition, the healing capacity and compliance with the post-operative instructions given by the surgeon: avoid inappropriate movements, abstain from sun exposure until complete stabilization of scars. The results are evident from the first post-operative days, however the natural aging process leads to the result fading over the years.

Complications of the operation are rare, but possible: hematomas and bleeding, infection, delayed healing of the surgical wound, hypertrophic scarring, modification of skin sensitivity.