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As people age, the effects of gravity, sun exposure, smoking and the
stresses of daily life can be seen in their faces.
A facelift can't stop the aging process. What it can do, is set back the
clock 10 to 15 years, improving the most visible signs of aging.
A facelift will address the signs of aging from the corner of
your eyes
downward, essentially the lower 2/3 of your face. It will not alter the fine
wrinkles or skin pigmentation that have resulted from sun exposure. Skin
resurfacing procedures such as CO2 laser or chemical peels are required to
achieve this end.
If you are considering a facelift, this text will give you a basic understanding
of the procedure, what it can help, how it is performed and what results you
can expect. It can't answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on the
individual patient. Please ask Dr. Semlacher about anything you don't
understand.
The best candidate for a facelift is a person whose face and neck have
begun to sag, but whose skin still has some elasticity and whose bone
structure is strong and well defined.
When a facelift is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon,
complications
are infrequent. Still, individuals vary greatly in their anatomy, their physical
reactions and their healing abilities.
Complications that can occur include a collection of blood under the skin
that must be removed post-operatively, injury to the nerves that control the
facial muscles of expression (function usually returns within a year),
infection, and reactions to the anesthesia. Poor healing of the skin is most
likely to affect smokers.
The incision usually begins behind your hairline in the temple region. If it is indicated, the incision may be placed in front of your hairline. The incision
will then extend in front of the ear and move downward inside the cartilage
at the front of the ear and continue behind the earlobe to the lower scalp. If
rejuvenation of your neck is also indicated, a small incision is also made
under your chin.
In general, Dr. Semlacher separates the skin from the fat and
muscle
below. The fat may be trimmed or suctioned from around the neck and chin
to improve the contour and jaw line. The muscle of your neck may be
partially or completely cut across to achieve a more youthful look. The
muscle may also be sewn together in the midline through the incision made
under your chin.
Post-operative discomfort is minimal and is easily controlled with oral
analgesics prescribed by Dr. Semlacher.
Numbness of the skin is normal and it will resolve completely within several
months. It is important that direct sunlight be absolutely avoided and total
sunblock be applied for at least three months. This will prevent the
possibility of hyperpigmentation.
At the beginning, your face may look and feel strange. Some bruising may
persist for two or three weeks and you may tire easily. But by the third
week, you'll look and feel much better.
You'll have some scars from your facelift, but they will be either hidden by
your hair or in the natural creases or color changes of your skin.
Having a facelift doesn't stop the clock. Techniques that Dr. Semlacher has learned through his post-graduate fellowship with, the world renowned
facelift surgeon, Dr. Bruce F. Connell allow him to consistently achieve a
natural, non-operated look that will age with you. The effects of a facelift are
lasting.
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