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A facelift can improve the deep cheek folds,
jowls, and loose, sagging skin around the
neck that come with age. |
Rhytidectomy
- Facelift:
rejuvenation of the skin of the face,
jowls, and neck
A rhytidectomy,
commonly known as a facelift, is the surgical
procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the face
and neck. Often facelift procedures are done in
conjunction with forehead, eyelid, and nose reshaping
surgeries. People ranging in their late thirties to
the seventies may be candidates for this procedure.
Age, sun exposure, and the effects of gravity are all
reasons why the face and neck begin to droop. A
facelift can erase many years from your current
appearance, giving you a fresh rejuvenated appearance.
 Incisions
usually begin above the hairline at the temples,
follow the natural line in front of the ear,
curve behind the earlobe into the crease behind
the ear, and into or along the lower scalp. |
 Facial,
neck tissue and muscle may be separated;
fat may be trimmed or suctioned and underlying
muscle may be tightened. |
With every surgery
there are possible risks and complications:
Dr. Yaker performs many face lift surgeries successfully each year. However; there are risks
associated with this surgery. Possible complications
following surgery include infection, bleeding, poor
healing, and reaction to anesthesia. Smokers must stop
smoking 6 weeks before surgery and continue not
smoking until approximately 6 weeks after surgery.
Smoking greatly increases the risk of complications
during the healing process. Even second hand smoke can
effect the healing process, it is best to ask those
smoking to leave the room or smoke outside if
possible.
After
deep tissues are tightened, the excess skin is
pulled up and back, trimmed and sutured into
place. |
Most
of the scars will be hidden within your hair and
in the normal creases of your skin. |
About the Surgery:
The procedure is performed in our on site AAAASF
certified ambulatory surgery center under general
anesthesia. The procedure will take several hours and
possibly longer if multiple areas are treated. The
procedure is designed to give you a natural appearance
and not a tight or pulled look. Dr. Yaker generally
works through an incision beginning above the hairline
at the temple, extending in the natural line inside
the ear (so no visual scar is seen in front of the
ear), continuing down behind the earlobe back to the
hairline. The skin is separated from the underlying
fat and muscle. The fat is either trimmed or suctioned
away to contour the face. The underlying muscles are
tightened and excess skin is removed. The incision is
closed and a drain is placed to remove excess fluid
and blood. (The drain is removed the following
morning). The head is then wrapped in gauze dressings
for support. All dressings will be removed one week
after surgery. Most of the scars should be hidden
within your hair and in the normal creases of your
skin.
Illustrations
above are courtesy of
ASPS (The American Society of Plastic Surgeons)
(The
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic
Surgery, Inc.)
Pre-Operative
Instructions
For Face Lift
6 Weeks Before
Surgery: NO
SMOKING
2 Weeks Before
Surgery:
- Do not take aspirin
or ibuprofen products (You may take Tylenol)
- Do not take any
diet pills or similar appetite suppressant
medications, (i.e. Metabolife)
- Do not take any
herbal preparations, (i.e. St. Johns Wart)
- Do not take vitamin
E
Products Needed at
Home:
Fill your
prescriptions given to you during your pre-op visit:
- Percocet, Lortab,
or Darvocet is for pain
- Keflex is an
antibiotic (You will need to take all of these as
directed)
- Xanax is for
occasional anxiety due to surgery
- Extra-strength
Tylenol
- Benadryl 25mg- For
Occasional Itching
The Night Prior to
Surgery:
- Eat a bland meal -
Nothing Spicy
- Take a Pepcid AC
- Take one Xanax to
help you sleep if needed
The Day of the
Surgery:
**Eating
or Drinking Prior to Surgery Will Result in
Cancellation of the Surgery**
- Wear loose
clothing, something very easy to put on after
surgery. Wear a top that buttons or zips in the
front. Do not wear jeans or tight clothing.
- Do not wear make-up
- Leave all jewelry
and valuables at home
- The person caring
for you after surgery will need to stay with you
for at least 48 hours
Post-Operative
Instructions
For Face Lift
Medications:
- Take your pain
medications for the pain. Take one every 4-6 hours
for pain if needed. Do not take it on an empty
stomach. Most patients take their pain medication
for 2-4 days after surgery, and if needed longer.
- Take the
antibiotics as directed until they are all gone.
- Sometimes patients
will develop a yeast infection from the
antibiotics, if this occurs call the office.
- Should you become
constipated, you may use an over the counter stool
softener. If you do not have relief from your
stool softener, call the office.
- Should you have
nausea, a prescribed Phenergan suppository should
help.
- The pain
medications can cause nausea, itching, and
constipation. When possible taking Tylenol is
preferable.
- If you have
itching, take Benadryl 25mg one tablet every 4-6
hours as needed.
- Remember no aspirin
products until 2 weeks after surgery.
Other Things to
Remember:
- If you feel you are
in an emergency situation, please call the office
at any time. Our phones are answered 24 hours a
day. The calls include: abnormal bleeding,
abnormal swelling, or a temperature over 101
degrees. Other call should be made during business
hours Monday - Friday 9:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.
- Keep the gauze or
bandage areas dry.
- Most patients take
two to three weeks off work, depending on their
job responsibilities.
- Do not drive until
Dr. Yaker or his staff releases you to drive,
usually 5-7 days.
- Rest or sleep on
your back with 2 pillows behind your back for the
first 2-3 days to help with the pain and swelling.
- Patients are
encouraged to massage lotions containing Aloe Vera
and Vitamin E on the scars to help during the
healing process, once all of the sutures have been
removed.
- Keep activities
moderate for the first 3-4 weeks. After 3-4 weeks
you may ride a life cycle, and take walks. After 6
weeks you may resume normal activities as
tolerated.
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