Face Lift - Process

A face lift is generally executed using general anesthesia, but can also proceed using local anesthesia with the patient in a state of doze. Depending on the scope of the treatment, an in-patient stay of 3-7 days is recommended. For out-patient treatment, intensive aftercare is unavoidable. Shaving the hair on the scalp is not necessary in most cases.^1,4

After the anesthesia has been introduced, the surgeon makes the incisions at the spots previously discussed with you. The extent of the incisions in a classic face lift runs from the temple downward in front of the ears to the back of the ears in the neck area. Depending on the scope of the operation, this incision can be correspondingly shorter or somewhat longer. In a forehead lift, the incision is made at the height of the head and spans from one ear to the other.

While making the incisions, efforts are typically made to ensure that the arrangement of the hair on your head is not altered.³
In the next step, the skin is detached from the underlying tissue along the run of the incision; the tissue, slack facial musculature, and sunken fat pockets are tautened. Some of the corrections can also be undertaken endoscopically, i.e. in conjunction with small incisions.1,2 When the deeper layers have been corrected, the skin can often be correspondingly expanded without subjecting it to a great deal of tension. This is the best precondition for maintaining your natural facial expressions after the procedure.³

The wounds are subsequently sewn shut with intracutaneous, self-dissolving stitches, 1-2 drainages are installed, and light head bandages are placed on you. Depending on the scope of the operation, duration of 2-5 hours can be expected.¹

Please speak about the treatment procedure in further detail with the doctor who is treating you.