Facelift and neck lift is the facial cosmetic surgery that helps you to recover the smoothness, volume and youthfulness of the face and neck that over the years have been affected. Aging causes the connective tissue that holds all the structures together to become laxer and the skin loses its firmness, resulting in “sagging” in areas such as bags, the malar area, the jaw, etc. At the neck level, there is a sagging of the neck, appearance of cervical cords, excess skin and fat, “double chin”, etc. Another of the most common consequences is wrinkled skin and deep furrows in the expression areas.
In addition, as we age, we lose one of the most important components for maintaining freshness and youthfulness in the face: oil. This loss occurs in areas that appear full during youth, such as the cheekbones, chin, pretotid area, temples, etc.
At Dr. Villaverde we will work with you to define your needs so that the facelift and neck lift can give back to your face the freshness, smoothness and youthfulness that it has naturally lost.
How do you know if a face and neck lift is the cosmetic surgery you need?
● Your face and neck show signs of sagging
● Your cheekbones lack volume
● Lack of volume in the lower jaw.
● You have very deep wrinkles or furrows in expression areas.
● Your neck has strings or plastimagnetic bands
What is a face and neck lift?
Facelift and neck lift is a surgical procedure within facial cosmetic surgery that repairs all the changes associated with aging. First, the supporting tissues of the face, the so-called SMAS or “superficial musculoaponeurotic system”, are dissected and tightened, restoring firmness to the jaw, nasolabial fold, malar and frontal areas. The SMAS can be tightened by different techniques (plication, resection, etc). to be applied according to the characteristics of each patient.
Face and neck lift procedure
At the neck level, the muscular network formed by the platysma muscle must be tightened and reconstructed (sometimes the muscle fibers of the platysma separate and form unsightly platysmal bands); therefore, this muscle must be reconstructed to restore its function. Finally, the skin of the face and neck must be repositioned, removing all excess skin and tightening the tissue along the appropriate vectors.
The design of the incisions is also crucial, as they will determine the location of the scars; it is essential to place them in natural creases and behind the ear so that they are imperceptible to others. Furthermore, the scars must heal without excessive tension so that they are flat and eutrophic (not widened or hypertrophic), thereby ensuring they remain discreet.
What is the procedure for a facelift and neck lift like from a surgical and
perspective?
This surgery is performed in an operating room under general anesthesia. The incision runs in front of and behind the ear, and both the skin layer must be dissected and the SMAS fascia identified and dissected in order to reposition or tighten it. The excess skin is removed and repositioned to fit the new contour, resulting in a much smoother appearance and properly defining the facial contours
. As for the neck, the same incision used for the facelift is used to tighten the tissues there.
However, in many cases it is necessary to make an incision under the chin to access and work on the medial neck area, as well as to remove the platysmal cords. The procedure lasts about 4 hours, and it is common to leave a small redon on each side of the face. It is recommended that the patient stays overnight in the hospital, and the next day a first treatment is performed. If all is well, you will go home that day after the cure.
What is the postoperative period after a face and neck lift like?
During the postoperative period, compression garments consisting of a chin strap that applies compression to the chin, neck, and face are prescribed. They should be worn for approximately 2 weeks to help reduce swelling and edema more quickly. The postoperative period is manageable, not painful, and the patient can resume a nearly normal lifestyle, with the exception of sports.
The stitches are removed after 7 days, and it is recommended to use high-SPF sunscreen on the scars for 1 year to prevent them from becoming discolored.
Complement this surgery with a Facial Lipofilling.
A procedure performed in conjunction with a facelift that enhances the results is facial lipofilling: it involves grafting the patient’s own adipose tissue to fill areas that have become hollow due to
aging, such as the chin, cheekbones, etc.
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