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What is Facelift Surgery?

As you grow older, your face tends to lose some of its youthful appearances, extra skin begins to form. You could start getting folds, wrinkles, and visible signs of aging. The older you get, the more these signs culminate and your looks may regress.

However, with the ever-improving techniques of cosmetic surgeries, there is a surgical procedure to help fix these problems. It is called “rhytidectomy” or popularly, “facelift surgery”.

What is Facelift Surgery?

A facelift or “rhytidectomy” is a cosmetic surgery performed to rebuild your youthful appearance to your face. The surgery is mostly carried out in the face and the neck. It reduces visible signs of aging by lifting and tightening the fleshy, sagging folds of tissues on the face, neck, and jawline, creating an enhanced and younger appearance. 

There are different types of facelift surgery. Some include: 

  • Standard facelift, which is a more extensive surgery for people who have an advanced case of aging.
  • A mini facelift, which is less invasive and performed through small incisions. For people who gave a mild case of excess skin hanging from the jaws (jowling) and sagging facial skin. 

Mini facelift costs lesser than a standard facelift.

There is also “non-surgical facelift”, or “non-invasive facelift”, which is the use of non-surgical and less invasive procedures to restore the young features of the face. Some of these procedures include:

  • Dermal fillers
  • Thread lift
  • Botox facelift
  • Laser facelift

Non-surgical facelifts are more affordable, have a shorter recovery time with lesser discomfort, and fewer overall risk.

A facelift is performed for the following reasons: 

  1. To lift and tighten the facial tissues
  2. To remove excess skin and fat from the face, jawline, and neck.
  3. To smoothen out all sagging folds, creases, and wrinkles.
  4. To reshape the lower part of the face.
  5. To lessen obvious signs of aging.
  6. To give your face an enhanced physical appearance and make you have a younger look.
  7. To build your self-confidence.

Facelift only smoothens the skin on your face and takes away the excesses. It does not augment the nose, cheeks, jawbones, brows, forehead, eyelids, etc. Therefore, it can be combined with surgeries that can improve those parts of the face for added facial enhancement.

Recommendations

Before undergoing facelift surgery, consult with your surgeon, and discuss your expectations. Your surgeon may have to go through your medical records and run some tests to figure out if you are fit for the surgery both mentally and physically. 

People with hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, and other immune weakening diseases are not advised to go for this surgery. Also, people with poor skin elasticity and bone structures may not have good results from this surgery. Your surgeon will guide you accordingly.

If you are still willing to pull through with the surgery, you are expected to stop certain medications like aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, herbal therapies, etc, quit smoking, and intake nicotine products and alcohol. These should be done at least 2 to 4 weeks before the surgery.

Procedure

The surgery is done under general anesthesia, keeping you sedated. Incisions will be made on your hairline that runs down the front of your both ears, beneath the earlobes, and to the back of your ears. If the jaw is to be lifted, an incision will be made underneath the chin.

The upper layer of the skin will be detached from the underlying tissues, fat, and muscles and pulled upwards and sideways to determine the excess skin left. This excess skin is cut off and removed. The deeper tissues can also be repositioned and tightened. 

The remaining skin is positioned, straightened, smoothened, and stitched into place, not too tight but smooth enough to bring out the rejuvenated youthful contours of your face and jaws. The stitches are with sutures or surgical staples. 

The incisions are wiped with antiseptics and bandaged to prevent infections and minimize bruising, scarring, and swelling. Sometimes, a drain is placed through an incision at the back of the ear to remove excess blood and fluids until it is dry. The drain is bandaged along with the incision and often removed after one or two days.

After the procedure, you will be taken to your room to recover. You may have to stay overnight, or for a few days.

Recovery takes 2 to 4 weeks. Except bruising, swelling, and pains for a few days. Take pain relievers when needed. To heal faster, take care of your incision, keep them dry and clean, avoid the sun till you are healed, quit smoking, nicotine, and caffeine. Reduce alcohol intake.

Possible complications such as hair loss from the incision site, numbness, bruising, bleeding, infection, death of tissues, uneven facial appearance, may occur but are rare due to how advanced the procedure is.

Why in Turkey?

Turkey is known for its cosmetic surgeries. Many people travel there every year to undergo cosmetic medical procedures and among them, rhytidectomy is one of the most recognized. Turkey has a lot of world-class hospitals with the most advanced technologies and facilities. Their surgeries are done by well-trained doctors and top specialists that are well known for their expertise in the medical line.

They offer the best quality treatments and care to their patients and provide them every service they need to make their in the country and hospital the best experience. All these at very affordable cost and with little or no waiting time.

Therefore, if you are looking for the perfect spot for your facelift done, Turkey is one country to consider.

Cost in Turkey

The facelift cost depends on the type of facelift performed, the hospital, the surgeon, the tests, the after-care medication, etc.

The cost of rhytidectomy in Turkey is between $2,500 to $8,000. A non-surgical facelift is even cheaper costing around $400 to $600.

Where in Turkey

Turkey hospitals are known for their expertise in cosmetic surgeries. Their rhytidectomy surgeons are very professional and record-high success rates in their procedures. We are keen on providing you with the best hospitals and surgeons to have your facelift surgery within Turkey.

Hospitals

Medicana International Hospital, Istanbul

Anadolu Hospital, Turkey

Hisar Intercontinental

The information provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice. It is not intended to replace professional medical consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions regarding your health. Read more