As people grow older, the natural aging process, genetic influences, exposure to the sun and weakening of facial ligaments cause the face to wrinkle and sag. In the younger individual, the face is firm and smooth due to fatty tissue directly beneath the skin and youthful skin elasticity. As an individual ages, the skin and underlying tissues lose elasticity and fat pad position the facial bones shrink. Skin folds become more prominent, particularly around the chin, on the jaw line and on the neck.

Rhytidectomy, or face lift, has been developed to correct these conditions and give people the youthful appearance they desire. This procedure involves the repositioning of fat pads, and the removal of excess skin. Often a rhytidectomy is done in conjunction with other facial cosmetic surgeries such as brow and forehead lift, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), chin and/or cheek bone augmentation, liposuction,fat grafting, dermal fillers and rhinoplasty (surgery of the nose). A face lift can be performed any time after, or "just before" signs of aging appear.

The surgeon works on one side of the face at a time. Incisions are made inside the hairline at the temple, running in front of the ear then around the earlobe and behind the ear, ending in the hair of the scalp. Loose skin is separated from underlying muscle. Connective tissue and sagging fat pads are lifted. In some cases, fat deposits are removed from beneath the chin and neck, and the neck muscle is tightened.

This may necessitate an additional small incision under the chin. The face skin is re-draped, excess skin removed, and tiny sutures are used to close the incisions. A rhytidectomy may take from four to five hours or more depending on whether other procedures are done at the same time.

After surgery, loose bandages and drains left in the area are removed within a few days. Patients who are operated on in a hospital are released after an overnight stay. Pain connected with the surgery is minimal to moderate and is controlled with oral medication. The surgeon determines when sutures are removed. This may be done in stages in order to minimize scarring. Scars from the incisions fade significantly with time and are, for the most part, inconspicuous because they are made within natural creases.

Swelling and discoloration disappear in a week or two. Keeping the head in a slightly elevated position when reclining can reduce swelling. A tightness or numbness of the treated area may be present for a while, and there may be slight changes in the normal hair pattern around the incision. A limited amount of blood collection under the skin may occur temporarily but does not affect the overall results.

For several weeks after surgery, patients are advised to avoid the sun as much as possible and to wear sunscreen when going out of doors. Healing is gradual and final results may not be apparent for several months. The amount of improvement varies depending on the initial condition of the patient and the extent of surgery. In most cases, a single procedure achieves the desired results while, in some cases, additional procedures may be indicated. Most patients who have had a face lift are delighted with their more attractive, rested appearance.

Dave Stringham, writes about plastic surgery procedures such as face lift, liposuction and breast augmentation. Lookingyourbest.com is an online resource that discusses plastic surgery.
http://www.lookingyourbest.com

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