The facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy procedure, is a surgical operation that is done on a person’s face. Other parts of the head may be affected by it such as the hairline and the jawline but it mostly concentrates on the visage. The aim of the operation is to successfully improve the appearance of the person by initially excising wrinkles and creases from the visage. In the more recent years, more and more plastic surgeons have offered to do other kinds of procedures which can complement the rhytidectomy in such a way that the person’s face appears younger and more refreshed. Surgeries on the eyes, cheekbones and lips are just some of the procedures that can complement the facelift. Rhinoplasty and liposuction on the jaws can also be done in order to improve the person’s appearance significantly.
Indications and Contraindications
The appearance of wrinkles, folds and creases on an individual’s face is the primary basis for a plastic surgeon to agree to or recommend the performance of the operation. Manifestations such as sagging cheeks and jowls are among the factors that may indicate that a person is a prime candidate for the facelift procedure. Other factors include but are not limited to, predominant eye bags, folds in the eye area (crow’s feet and laugh lines), a permanent crease above the bridge of the nasal region and folds in the forehead. The appearance of the individual’s face may seem aged. Ideally, the patient should be around the age of fifty or below in order to be an ideal candidate. Above this age may not be ideal anymore because the work may be more extensive than for younger individuals. This means that more surgeries might need to be performed in order for the parts of the head or visage to actually complement each other. Another important indication for a facelift is the state of a person’s skin in this region. Sun exposure is one of the primary reasons why a person might have wrinkles and older looking skin. The sun basically ages the skin and this is especially true for skin that is continuously exposed to it. The procedure can rejuvenate the overall look of the individual with the right recommendations from the plastic surgeon.
The contraindications for a person from this operation is varied and dependent on what the plastic surgeon might see in the physical and mental checkup that is necessary before any major cosmetic surgery is to be performed. One major contraindication is being a smoker and the consumption of alcohol above what is considered to be casual drinking. Smoking can be detrimental to the circulatory system. This can limit the delivery of much needed oxygen to various extremities and organs of the body. Excessive drinking of alcohol can also have an effect on the operation. Some underlying conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and heart disease can also put a halt to the person’s plans for a facelift operation.
