Rhytidectomy – facelift in Ukraine

Overview

With age our appearance changes. It is unavoidable. Sooner or later, even if you take a really good care of your face and body, you start seeing disturbing signs of ageing. Hereditary predisposition, hormonal shifts, pollution, stresses of living in the unstable and demanding today’s economy, even inevitable gravity, all add to this upsetting fact of life.

Even good emotions, laughter and happiness live their marks on our face, but lines and wrinkles are not the only things that give our age away. With time epidermis and underlying muscles loose tone, volume and elasticity. Gradually it becomes noticeable: sagging skin, drooping cheeks, turkey neck, changed facial contour, tired looks.

Nobody wants to look like that and we are always looking for anti-age treatments. For a while non-surgical procedures can suffice but at some point they fail to give lasting and visible results. If that is the case, but you are not ready to give up, then plastic surgery can be your best option.

The surgery you will need is called a facelift, and if you are looking for a cheaper but very professional, high-quality and efficient alternative, consider a facelift in Ukraine. At Romital clinic downtown Kyiv we perform all types of this cosmetic surgical procedure to reduce signs of ageing and restore younger, more attractive looks.

What is a facelift?

A facelift surgery, also known as rhytidectomy, helps to visibly enhance the appearance of face and is sometimes performed together with neck lift or eyelids surgery. It allows to get rid of sagging skin, deep lines, creases and unattractive fat deposits, giving you a better, younger look.

During the surgery, which usually takes two-three hours, a surgeon lifts and physically removes extra skin, improving the jaw line and overall facial contour. Additionally, facial tissue needs to be repositioned and tightened so that the results of the procedure looked natural. Such precision requires talent, knowledge and practice, which is exactly what plastic surgeons at Romital can offer you. Looking 10 or even 15 years younger is quite possible with a cosmetic face surgery.

Since everyone ages differently, not all patients need a full face lift. Depending on your individual needs, you may require a facial cosmetic surgery only on a certain part of the face: upper, middle, or lower. Another option is a 2/3 facelift procedure, which covers upper and middle or middle and lower parts of the face.

What can and cannot be achieved by a facelift?

No procedure, not even such an extensive surgery as a complete face-lift can stop ageing. But it can help your face look a few years younger and for many people it’s a way to balance their inner age and outer appearance.

Facelift can visibly improve facial contour and help with such age-related problems as:

• Loose, sagging skin
• Creases under the eyes, around nose and mouth
• Jowls
• “Turkey-neck”
• Excess fat deposits.

However, some signs of ageing, such as bags under eyes, drooping eyelids, flat cheeks, wrinkles on the forehead, “crow’s feet”, and skin pigmentation, cannot be eliminated by facelift. You will need other rejuvenating procedures for such problems: blepharoplasty, forehead lift, cheek implants, beauty injections, and microdermabrasion. Some of them can be combined with your face plastic surgery.

Generally speaking, even the best facelift will not make you younger; it will only give you more youthful appearance.  

Most patients considering a rhytidectomy are between 40 and 60 years, however older men and women can also be suitable candidates as long as their health permits such an invasive procedure. It is also important to clearly understand the limitations and have reasonable expectations from the surgery.

Cautions and limitations

You must be in good health (no chill or other diseases in this period). If you smoke, you should stop smoking at least 2 weeks before the surgery and abstain from smoking for at least 2-3 weeks after it. Otherwise there is a risk of wound healing disturbance because smoking significantly reduces blood supply to skin vessels.

Make sure your doctor knows if you have such medical conditions as uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood clotting problems or the tendency to form excessive scars. Quit taking aspirin and aspirin products at least two weeks before surgery.

Before the surgery

Before the surgery you should undergo a thorough examination, have blood and urine tests made, fluorography of thorax organs, electrocardiogram. The surgeon will evaluate your face, its bone structure and skin condition to create an individual surgery plan.

If you take any drugs you need to discuss this with the doctor during preliminary consultation. You should also discuss with your surgeon your expectations from the surgery. There are many factors that can have influence on the outcome and it’s best to be realistic about what you want to achieve and fully understand limitations of the procedure.

It is necessary to thoroughly wash your head two days before the surgery.

 

The surgery

Rhytidectomy can be performed under a local anesthesia combined with a sedative, or a general anesthesia. The surgery can be made in an outpatient setting, or on inpatient basis with hospitalization for a day or two. A facelift usually takes 4-5 hours or somewhat longer if more than one procedure is performed.

Techniques for each surgery may vary but general rules in most cases are the same. Incisions are made near the ear, circling it and giving access to the skin and underlying tissue. If the neck needs work, a small incision may also be made under the chin. The skin is raised outward and the surgeon repositions and tightens the underlying muscle and connective tissue. Some fat may be removed, as well as excess skin. The skin is stretched upwards and backwards and the areas sutured. Stitches secure the layers of tissue and
close the incisions; metal clips may be used on the scalp. Following the surgery, the surgeon will apply a dressing to protect the entire area where the incisions have been made.

 

What can be expected after the surgery?

Swelling, bruising and numbness, especially in the ears and cheeks area are usually observed right after the surgery. These symptoms will disappear gradually in a few days or, in some cases, weeks. You may use cold compresses to reduce swelling. You should also keep your head elevated when lying down and limit facial movements, as they can cause additional discomfort. If you experience slight pain in the first days following the surgery, you may take pain medications prescribed by your surgeon.

If you’ve had a drainage tube inserted, it will be removed one or two days after the surgery. Bandages, when used, are usually removed after 1-5 days. You must be prepared to the fact, that when the bandages are removed, you face will be bruised, pale and puffy, not the beautiful picture you wanted to see. Be patient and remember that the final result will only be visible in a few weeks.

All sutures and staples are usually removed within five to ten days following the surgery. It is strongly recommended to avoid strenuous activities for at least six weeks and sunbathing for at least four weeks. Sedentary work may be resumed in about two weeks, when many surgery signs should have subsided.

For the first week be especially gentle with your face and hair until they start to adjust to a new state and position. Scars from your surgery remain, but they are hidden in your hair and natural creases of your face and ears. With time they will fade out and will be hardly visible.

When the healing is completed, your face will finally look rejuvenated and fresh. Remember though, that a facelift will not stop your ageing, it will just postpone it. With the new face, looking 5-10 years younger you will be influenced by the same factors and will keep ageing, however not as fast. You may need another surgery in about 10-15 years if you want to keep your face from ageing.

If you have more questions about a facelift surgery, feel free to contact us.