NECK AND FACE LIFT

The operation aims to remedy the sagging and laxity of the skin and muscles of the face (forehead, eyebrows, cheeks, jowls, and the oval facial outline) and the neck. The aim here is not only to transform the neck and face's form and aspect. On the contrary, restoring the different anatomical structures of the face and neck (the skin, the muscles and the fat) enables the patient to look as they did some years earlier.
The muscle aponeurosis, or SMAS, is tightened to correct slackness. The skin is then draped over the new curves without excessive stretching.L'aponévrose musculaire, ou SMAS, est resserrée pour corriger le relâchement. La peau est ensuite drapée sur les nouvelles courbes sans étirement excessif.

This dual action gives a natural appearance (as the skin is not over-stretched), which lasts (since the muscular base is strong). The healing process is generally uneventful (the skin is less bruised and less traumatized because the tension and separation are limited.)

Excess fat, if present, can be treated by liposuction. On the other hand, if the face appears emaciated, this can be corrected simultaneously by re-injection of autologous fat.

(liposculpture). In this way, the face and the neck are ‘rebuilt’ or ‘restructured.’

The incisions necessary for the procedure are hidden almost entirely in the hair (at the temples and the nape of the neck) and around the ears. The scar is thus almost completely concealed.

HOSPITAL STAY AND TYPE OF ANESTHESIA

Type of anesthesia:

A face-lift is done under general or local anesthesia with sedation (‘twilight’ anesthesia). The incision is almost completely hidden in the hair or around the ears. Once these incisions are performed, the skin is detached, to a greater or lesser extent in each case, according to the degree of sagging of the skin. The muscle layer is then carefully and precisely tightened to correct laxity without affecting the regular expression of the face. Lipoaspiration is performed during the operation if there are localized fat deposits, which can form on the neck, the chin, the jowls or the cheeks. The skin is then re-draped naturally, excess skin removed, and stitches placed without extra tension. Finally, a dressing is placed around the head, framing the face. The procedure lasts two to three hours, depending on the surgeon and the required individual corrections.

AFTER THE OPERATION

You can go home on the same day. You are advised to rest and avoid physical strain for the first few days. During this period you should not be surprised by, or worried by, the following:

edema (swelling) which can be worse on the second day than the first.

After two or three months, one can have a good idea of the final result. The scars, however, will still be slightly pink and hard to the touch and will not fade until the sixth month after the operation. Through progress over the years and techniques of great precision, we usually achieve a result giving an impression of considerable rejuvenation, which nevertheless looks quite natural. The face does not have a ‘surgical’ appearance and has regained the features it had eight to twelve years before. The general impression is relaxed and refreshed. This physical improvement is also, in general, psychological. In the long term, a face- and neck lift has beaten the ravages of time, but aging continues, and a similar procedure can be discussed after about five years.

These can be essentially:

the edema (swelling), which can persist in certain zones three months after the procedure, and which needs to be treated by massage.
A partial relapse of sagging skin (ptosis), particularly of the neck, when this was a significant problem before surgery.
Visible scars or hair loss around the temples (alopecia), which can require revision surgery after six months to a year.

Even though complications are so rare, you must be aware of the following possible problems:

Hematoma: This must be rapidly drained.
Infection: This is extremely rare when the procedure is carried out in a sterile environment
Skin Death(necrosis): This delays the healing process.
Damage to a branch of the facial nerve can lead to paresis or facial paralysis. This complication is rare, and the after-effects usually disappear in a few months.
Abnormal scars, either hypertrophic or keloidal, are impossible to foresee, and their development is unpredictable. They can threaten the aesthetic result and require specific treatment over a long period. The risks must not be overestimated, but you must be conscious that an operation, even a minor one, always has some unforeseeable unknown factors. A qualified plastic Surgeon will have the experience and skill required to avoid these complications or to treat them successfully if necessary.