Face Lift Surgery
As we age, our face tends to sag. The sagging of the face due to aging, the cheeks shifting downwards and losing their prominence, has led to the development of face lift procedures. Changes in the structure of the subcutaneous tissue, aging, gravity, and genetic factors contribute to this. There are now quite a few treatment options available for this issue. In recent years, aesthetic procedures have shifted towards non-surgical methods. Both the developments in aesthetic devices and new technologies, as well as the widespread use of thread lifting procedures, have led surgical methods to be evaluated less prominently. Patients’ reluctance towards non-surgical methods initially or not being very suitable for surgery are also important factors in this regard.
In a face lift surgery, the face is lifted upwards through an incision that extends from the front of the ear to the back. It can be performed using the classical surgical method or, more commonly in recent years, using endoscopic methods.
Who is suitable for face lift surgery?
Face lift surgery is a procedure performed on individuals over 40 years of age with significant sagging of the skin and loosening of the subcutaneous tissue. Besides being generally suitable for aesthetic surgery, the issue of smoking is also crucial for face lift surgery. The patient should preferably not smoke, or if they do, they should stop smoking at least 2 weeks before the operation and refrain from smoking in the early postoperative period. This is crucial to prevent complications such as poor skin nutrition that may occur after the surgery. The patient should also not have serious diabetes, bleeding disorders, or general conditions that would be a contraindication for surgery. Another important point is that the patient should not expect their face to completely rejuvenate. Although there may not be dissatisfaction in the early postoperative period, there may be dissatisfaction later on. Face lift surgery is not about creating a new face. This should be explained very well to the patient beforehand. Additionally, it should be clearly shown how and where there will be a scar on the face after the surgery.
Face lift surgery can also be performed along with other lifting surgeries such as neck lift and forehead lift. It is a surgery that lasts about 3 hours and is performed under general anesthesia. Generally, staying in the hospital for one night is sufficient. A special face corset is used after the surgery. We recommend using this corset for about 1 week. You can return to your normal life in about 10 days to 2 weeks. Some swelling and slight bruising may be observed after the surgery, which is normal.
In recent years, we have also been successfully performing endoscopic facelift, forehead lift, and brow lift procedures. The absence of general anesthesia risks and a faster recovery period are significant advantages. However, it is important to emphasize that these are procedures that require experience and knowledge, and should not be performed on everyone, as with all other procedures.