Cosmetic surgery: it’s not just for woman anymore. A growing number of men are seeking ways to improve their appearance by taking on the aging process. Rhytidectomy, or as it is commonly known, facelift, is one of the ways in which men are tackling the unwelcome aspects of aging.
As one ages, the consequences of years of continual exposure to the sun, stress from daily life, and even gravity itself has a detrimental effect upon the skin. Deep creases, or wrinkles develop in the brow, the skin around the jaw line begins to loosen and sag, and fatty deposits develop in the neck.
A facelift can reverse these effects on men, just as with women. A facelift will not stop the aging process, nor will it give the man a brand new or different appearance. It will rejuvenate his appearance though, and lessen the more obvious visual cues to the aging process. And if one looks younger and feels younger, one’s outlook on life will be that much more positive and productive.
This has been a well-kept secret among high profile men such as actors and TV anchormen for years, but now the word is getting out.
A facelift should involve a creative process in which both the patient and the cosmetic surgeon participate. During the initial consultation the patient should inform his plastic surgeon what areas he wants improved, and the surgeon will advise him on what realistically can and can’t be accomplished. The cosmetic surgeon will take into consideration the thickness, elasticity and texture of the patient’s skin, as well as, the depth and severity of folds and wrinkles. They will also determine the most inconspicuous places for the incisions to be made. Depending on what the patient wants done, the doctor may discuss other procedures in conjunction with the facelift to enhance appearance. A forehead lift, eyelid surgery, cosmetic nose surgery and chin augmentation surgery are separate procedures from a facelift.
A facelift is usually done on an outpatient basis. A local anesthesia and a sedative to make the patient drowsy are administered. The facelift surgery takes several hours, or longer if more than one procedure is being performed. The actual process of the facelift involves the making of tiny incisions in unobtrusive places on the face. Generally, the incisions are made along the contour of the ear, around the ear lobe and back into the hairline. This allows the incision to be easily covered by the hair after surgery. Once the incision is made the surgeon will take out excess fat and or rearrange tissue mass to restructure the patients appearance. Stitches are used to close the incision.
Most men who have facelift surgery do not suffer excessive pain during the recovery process, but your cosmetic surgeon can prescribe pain medication if you are uncomfortable. Although, numbness of the skin is expected it will disappear after several days.
The risks involved in a facelift are minimal but they do exist. A few of the complications include: hematoma, infection or reactions to the anesthesia, and the possibly of injury to underlying tissue or muscle.
There will be bandages and draining tubes after the operation, but these are usually removed one to two days after the operation, and the stitches will be removed in about 4 to 7 days. As is always the case, healing depends on the individual and his particular metabolism. There will also be swelling and puffiness as well as the appearance of unevenness of the face. This is normal. The swelling should disappear within 24 to 48 hours after the operation, the bruising after 2 weeks. It is recommended that smoking and exposure to second hand smoke be avoided for a while after the facelift. It is wise not to do any excessive or unnecessary activities until the healing process has taken its course. Most patients are back to work after about 10 to 14 days after having facelift surgery.
As stated above, a facelift doesn’t stop the aging process and many patients opt to have the procedure repeated over time. Most men who choose to have facelifts are extremely satisfied with their rejuvenated and youthful appearance.
