Unfortunately we can not stop signs of aging appear in the face as wrinkles, crow's feet, and a variety of other skin blemishes. Though you may feel youthful and energetic on the inside, you may appear to be weathered on the outside! A plastic surgery face lift (Rhytidectomy) can reverse the signs of aging and give you back your youthful appearance. As we age, our facial skin loosens and wrinkles, as do the muscles of the neck. Sun exposure, weight fluctuations and heredity will also hasten the process.

Face lifts are sometimes performed on the whole face (a full facelift) and other times just on the brow area, lower face, or neck only.

Cosmetic Surgery Face Lift Procedures:

Traditional face lift - A typical face lift, performed under anaesthetic, involves the surgeon making a surgical cut right around the hairline, past the front of the ears. Cuts may also be made under the chin, to lift a sagging jaw line. The skin will then be separated from the underlying muscles of the face. Excess fat will be removed and the muscles will be tightened. The skin will then be lifted up, pulled back and any excess will be trimmed off. It will then be stitched back to the line where the cut was initially made.

Another option is a face lift using keyhole (endoscopic) surgery, mainly for a brow lift (where the forehead is lifted). Several tiny cuts are made that allow an endoscope to be placed under the skin. The operating instruments are inserted through other tiny holes. The surgeon watches a TV monitor to see what he is doing under the skin.

Another type of face lift surgery is minimal access cranial suspension (MACS). Shorter cuts, compared to a traditional face lift, are made in the temple and in front of the ears. Fibrous tissues under the skin are tightened with permanent stitches that are fixed to tissue close to the cheek bone or the fibrous connective tissue under the skin.

Both endoscopic facelift and MACS have the advantages of smaller scars and usually a shorter recovery time.

Face Lift Surgery Recovery:

Patients usually recover surprisingly quickly after a face lift. Despite the fact that it is a large operation, there is usually very little pain. Swelling disappears within a few days, and bruises are usually gone by two weeks. Patients generally feel a sense of tightness and numbness that should gradually return to normal within several weeks. It is important to follow a careful plan on return to strenuous activity, in order to avoid tension on the wound (which could lead to worse scarring).

The scars will remain pink for a few months before maturing to less visible white scars, which can be hidden with makeup. Furthermore, the scars are often hidden within the hair and in the normal creases of the skin. The results of a face lift are different for each person. Although a surgical face lift can last for many years, people do continue to age - Some people have one face lift in a lifetime, while others have a second surgery 7 - 15 years later.

Face Lift Surgery Complications:

A face lift is a surgical procedure, subject to all of the usual problems that accompany surgery. Some possible complications may include: bleeding; bruising; infection; neurological dysfunction (temporary loss of muscle function or sensation); widened or thickened scar; loss of hair; asymmetry (uneveness between two sides); or skin necrosis (loss of skin from tissue death). In order to minimize these risks, it is important that all of the Face Lift Cosmetic Surgeons instructions are followed - both before and after surgery.

Face Lift Cost:

The cost of a cosmetic surgery face lift ranges between $6000 - $12,000.

Face Lift Finance:

Finance is available to patients wishing to undergo a Cosmetic Face Lift - some loans take as little as 30 seconds - by filling out an on-line application.

Face Lift Alternatives:

Some non-surgical techniques provide an alternative to plastic surgery. These techniques will not have the same results as surgical techniques. They involve a variety of indirect treatment methods. Things like radio frequency emitters, lasers, and topical creams can all tighten the skin on the face without the need for incisions and tissue reconstruction. These methods have shorter recovery periods and fewer complications, but also reduced results. These non-surgical methods are better suited for younger people with initial signs of aging that can be easily smoothed out with these maintenance procedures.

The new ThermaCool Thermage Facelift lifts and tightens the aging face without surgery, without lasers and without recovery time. This new FDA approved technology uses gentle radiofrequency waves to rejuvenate sagging skin and diminish fine wrinkles.

Then there is also resurfacing techniques which reduce surface wrinkles; Laser facial resurfacing; a chemical peel can also improve and smooth the texture of the facial skin by removing its damaged outer layers; Tissue augmentation plumps out deep wrinkles with fillers to make up for the loss of fullness to the skin; Anti-wrinkle injections, where botulinum toxin (eg Botox) is injected into the facial muscles, can flatten out skin wrinkles.

And - many creams, gels and beauty treatments claim to be able to tighten the skin. However, there is no scientific proof that they work permanently.

So...worth checking out before undertaking surgery'

And remember...before undertaking face lift surgery - ensure that the plastic surgeon you have chosen has a reputation for honesty and integrity and an excellent record for safety!