Facelift operations, which have become especially popular in recent times, counteract the effects of aging and enhance facial beauty. Facelift procedures preferred for a more youthful appearance can be performed in different ways depending on the choices made. There are facelift procedures performed through surgical intervention as well as non-surgical facelift procedures. At this point, the patient’s condition and the doctor’s guidance will be influential in the decision to be made. Thanks to facelift techniques that can be safely preferred in almost every age group, even the earliest lines that appear can be addressed. With these procedures, it becomes possible to prevent facial lines from deepening further and becoming much more difficult to treat in the future.
In facelift procedures, if the lines are addressed before they deepen significantly, fewer procedures are needed and the process is completed in a shorter time. It is of course possible to address lines that have deepened and become more pronounced to an advanced degree, but this requires considerably more extensive work. There are various methods used in facelift procedures. Regardless of the patient’s preference, there are many important points to consider both before and after the procedure.
What Should Be Known and Considered Before a Facelift Procedure
*As with every operation, facelift procedures first and foremost require the patient to be ready for this process. When patients know what kind of process they will go through and are prepared for it, the operation is more successful and patients feel more comfortable both before and after the operation. For a facelift procedure, it is sufficient for patients to set aside approximately twenty days for this process.
*In order for the process to go more smoothly and for a successful result to be achieved after the procedure, patients need to be very careful in choosing their doctor. Doing thorough research to choose the right doctor and reviewing the before-and-after photos and stories of patients the doctor has previously treated is the right approach.
*If facelift aesthetics are properly planned and performed by a specialist in the field, natural aesthetic results can be achieved. Since the likelihood of post-procedure complications is low in these procedures, which serve as a means of combating the signs of aging, patients can make their decision more easily.
What Should Be Known and Considered After a Facelift Procedure
*On the night following the facelift procedure, patients may feel a mild throbbing sensation. A slight amount of pain may also be felt due to the swelling that occurs.
*Patients who undergo facelift surgery are generally discharged from the hospital the day after the procedure. Small tube systems (drains) are used to allow fluid accumulated under the skin to be easily removed. The removal time of these drains may vary depending on the color and amount of fluid draining, and they are typically removed after approximately 48-72 hours. Discharge can take place following removal of the drains. It is also possible for patients to be discharged with the drain still in place. Stitches, on the other hand, can typically be removed seven to ten days after the operation.
*Some time will also be needed for the bruising and swelling that may occur after the operation to heal. During this process, the bruising resolves relatively quickly, while the swelling takes longer to fully subside. Bruising typically heals within about a week after the facelift procedure. Complete resolution of the swelling, however, is expected to take about a month. If the facelift procedure was performed on a person with a more advanced condition and more sagging in the neck area, the healing time for swelling and bruising may be longer.
*To speed up the healing process after the operation and reduce swelling, it is recommended to keep the head elevated above the level of the heart. It is particularly important to sleep in a position close to semi-upright, especially during sleep. If you tend to move around a lot while sleeping and feel you may not be able to control this, it will be helpful to wear a hat with a brim that can alert you, or to sleep with 2 pillows.
*It is important for patients to use a facial mask after facelift procedures. To prevent blood from accumulating under the skin and to help the facial skin settle into place after the tightening procedure, it is recommended to wear the mask day and night during the first week. In the following 2-week period, wearing the mask in the evenings will be sufficient.
*Also, after a facelift procedure, patients are advised to avoid salty foods for a while and to drink plenty of water so that swelling heals quickly and the amount of edema can be reduced.
*No matter how well the facelift procedure is performed, patients will carry traces of the procedure for a while. If the incisions made for the tightening procedure were placed in hidden areas such as within the hairline, the scars will not be noticeable. However, the red marks remaining from incisions made around the ear area will be visible for a few months. Patients who do not want these marks to be visible can minimize their visibility or conceal them completely with the help of makeup products.
*Smoking should be stopped, as it prolongs the healing process after all operations and can cause negative effects. For their own health and to heal in a shorter time after undergoing this type of operation, it is advisable for smokers not to smoke.
*Another important issue for patients after a facelift procedure is skincare. Since the skin remains under a dressing for about 3 days after the procedure, skincare is not possible during that time. After the dressing is removed, care can begin shortly afterward, as the skin will regain its balance. Depending on the patient’s condition, cleansing with skincare products can be done in the third or fourth week after the operation. In addition, skin healing can be supported with the use of vitamin supplements.