Rhytodictomy is a surgical process meant to contract the effects of time on the aging face.
In this process the tissues under the skin are tighten and excess facial and neck skin are excised. It is literally means wrinkles (rhyted)rynoyal (ectomy). The targeted areas include cheeks, midface, jawline, and neck areas. the name is misleading because rhytodectomy actually does not removes wrinkles, wrinkles are removed by surfacing process like peels or laser therapy. Medications such as botulinum toxin injected into underlying muscles can also soften the appearance of wrinkles. A rhytodectomy may be performed alone or in combination with forehead lift and eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) or nose surgery (rhynoplasty).
Steps of Surgical Face Lift Rhytidectomy
Incision;
The surgery consists of incision in the starting in the hairline near the tample, tracing a path in front of the ear , around the ear-lobe behind the ear, and ending again in the hairline. If a neck lift will also be performed a small inscion made under the chin/ for men, the inscion is made to accommodate natural beard line. in all cases incision will placed where they will fall into a natural skin crease for camouflage
Procedure
A skin flap is elevated over the tissues that will be lifted in surgery. A second tissue layer, deep to the skin is than elevated and sutured. Tensioning of the layer allows fir tightening of facial jowls and improvement of the jawline contours. This Tissue layer is then suspended from the upper face and sutured roughly horizontally, allowing for tightening of the lower face and jawline. If neck tightening is required, an incision is made under the chin. The platysma muscle is exposed. The platysma is continuous with the tissue layer used for “Lifting” the face and tightening it allows for rejuvenation of the neck. This muscle also causes neck bands. The platysma is secured behind the ear to the mastoid bone for a more horizontal pull, using sutures that ultimately are absorbed. Excess skin left over from these process is removed.
Anesthesia
Surgeon will perform general anesthesia you will go to sleep or through IV sedation. Your surgeon will recommend the best choice for you.
Facial Implant or Fat Transfer Grafting
To improve contour resurfacing techniques to improve the tone of facial skin wrinkles reduction by injections of fat or fillers.
The Incision
Depending on the degree of change you would like to see your facelift choices include a traditional fcelift , limited incision facelift or neck facelift.
A Traditional facelift incision often begins in the hairline at the temples continuous around the ear and ends in the lower scalp. Fat may be sculpted or redistributed from the face, jowls, neck and underlying tissue is repositioned, commonly the deeper layers of the face and the muscles are also lifted. Skin is redraped over the uplifted contours and excess skin is trimmed away.
A second incision under the chin may be necessary to further improve an aging neck. Sutures or skin adhesive close the incisions.
Traditional Facelift
An alternative to a traditional facelift uses shorter incisions at the temples, continuing around the ear, Mini-lifts are usually reserved for patients with less skin relaxation, as the results are less rejuvenating than a full facelift.
Limited Incision
A neck lift addresses the sagging jowls, loose neck skin and fat accumulation under the chin. The neck lift incision often begins in front of the ear lobe and wraps around behind the ear, and ends in the posterior hair behind ear.
Closing the incision
The incision will be closed with sutures that may dissolve or may need to be removed after a few days. Some surgeon use skin glues to seal the incision. once healed the incision lines from a facelift are well concealed within the hairline and in the natural contours of the face and ear.
Surgical Face Lift Results
The visible improvements of a facelift appear once swelling and bruising subside. Your final result should not only restore a more youthful and rested appearance, but also help you feel more confident about yourself.
Closure
Once the surgeon is satisfied with the Lift and excess skin has been trimmed, the skin then closed with sutures. A combination of absorbable and permanent sutures is used/ staples may be used in the skin in the hairline, as this does not cause to put pressure on the inscion lines and surgical area to limit swelling and decrease the chances of fluid collection in the surgical wound.