Facelift Questions

    WASHINGTON, DC, November 20, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Is sagging facial skin weighing down your self-confidence? Each year, many middle-aged men and women decide to seek the help of a cosmetic surgeon to rejuvenate their facial aesthetics and retain a youthful appearance through a facelift.

If you are seeking a cosmetic solution to remove years of visible aging from your face, the questions below about facelifts can aid in your decision-making process and help you decide if a facelift is right for you.

What can a facelift correct?
While a facelift cannot stop the aging process, it can address numerous visible aging signs on your face, restoring the youthful vibrancy it once had. Common corrections include:

• Eliminating wrinkles and delaying further wrinkle formation
• Ridding the facial region of displaced fat
• Addressing the formation of deep creases that commonly develop below the eyelids
• Removing undesirable skin beneath the chin
• Tightening skin to hide facial drooping

Does a facelift consist of a single procedure?
While some patients can have their aesthetic goals met through a generic facelift, it has become common for patients to have a series of facial rejuvenation procedures performed in order to fully meet their cosmetic goals.

During a consultation with an experienced cosmetic surgeon, your goals will be discussed and your surgeon will recommend the procedures he feels will most effectively counteract your facial aging. These may include:

• Removing the appearance of a "turkey neck" with a neck lift
• Lifting undesirable droopy eyelids through blepharoplasty
• Using laser skin resurfacing to refresh your face

What does a basic facelift procedure entail?
The majority of facelifts can be performed under general anesthesia.

Once anesthesia is applied, your surgeon will make a discreet incision. The incision location varies with each individual and is dependent on cosmetic goals. The most frequently used locations for an incision line are inside the hairline or behind the ear.

After the incision is made, loose skin is pulled up and back. Any excess skin is removed and most importantly, sagging muscles are tightened and secured into a more aesthetically pleasing location. Repositioning and tightening of the facial muscles is what prevents the operated or so called "Wind-Tunnel look". Some patients also have fatty deposits removed from their neck and chin.

What does the recovery process entail?
It is important to be aware of the fact that results do not become visible immediately. Following a facelift, it is common for the face to appear pale, swollen, or bruised. Taking all prescribed pain medications can reduce any pain you may experience.

The initial 24 to 48 hours after a facelift require the face to remain bandaged. Occasionally, patients must keep bandages on for upwards of a week following surgery.

Due to the face retaining sensitivity, patients should avoid strenuous exercise after surgery and not sleep with a pillow as it may interfere with the final results.

Are there risks involved with a facelift?
As with any cosmetic surgery, patients are subjected to numerous risks and complications, which can include:

• Facial asymmetry
• Loss of hair at the incision line
• Reduced skin sensation
• Nerve damage
• Visible scarring

If you live in the Washington, D.C. or northern Virginia area and are considering a facelift, please visit the website of NOVA SurgiCare, PC today to explore your facial rejuvenation options.

Website: http://www.novasurgicare.com/

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