Facelift (facelift): how to maintain youth and beauty

A woman’s dream is to keep her face young and fit, which s-lifting will help with. Cosmetology offers to extend the attractiveness of the face using facelift. The first mention of it was in 1906, when possible surgical intervention to correct age-related changes in the face was discussed.

Since 1976, the concept of “subcutaneous muscular-aponeurotic system” has been introduced, called SMAS. Several years later, a technique for SMAS resection and fixation was developed. Innovative techniques for this method are soon emerging. They have become widespread in plastic surgery.

The method makes it possible to eliminate wrinkles and sagging skin under the influence of soft tissue. As a result, the appearance changes and the aging process is delayed. Customer reviews confirm that the procedure is effective and safe. The cosmetologist eliminates complications during the procedure. A similar effect as after it cannot be achieved even by using an expensive cream.

What's happened

Short-scar facelift is a type of rejuvenation using surgical intervention, during which the external and internal structures of the face are tightened, and excess skin is removed. The main advantage of this technique is its low-traumatic nature and the presence of small scars that are located in the tragus zone, which makes the suture invisible.

The short-scar method of lifting the middle third of the face is a radical operation in which muscles and skin are tightened through small incisions in the ear area, which become invisible some time after the operation.

Lifting is especially effective before the age of 50, when age-related changes are not very deep and there is no sagging of facial tissues. The result lasts up to 10 years.

Due to the fact that S-lifting affects not only the upper layers of the skin, the procedure allows you to achieve global rejuvenation. In this case, the effect of a stretched mask is absent.

Neck lift

With age, there is a loss of skin tone, firmness and elasticity.

This surgical intervention involves making an incision in the area near the ear and extending it to the temple area.

Thanks to the short-scar lift method, the epidermis of the neck and lower third of the face is corrected and rejuvenated, jowls are removed, ptosis and nasolabial folds disappear.

Due to the fact that deep-lying soft tissues are firmly fixed, the resulting effect lasts for a long time.

Forming goals

1. The purpose of a facelift is to make you look young and fresh, not “operated.”

2. Research shows that people first pay attention to the eyes and upper part of the face. Therefore, if you want to improve what is most noticeable, concentrate on the upper part of the face.

3. Facial rejuvenation by combining eyebrow and mid-zone lifting gives a very natural result - the face does not look stretched or tense.

Indications

It is recommended to perform S-face lifting for people aged 35-50 years, in whom age-related changes are of low severity, while the contour lines are preserved, and there is no obvious sagging of soft tissues. However, this cosmetic procedure is also suitable for more mature skin, provided that a certain level of elasticity is maintained.

S-lifting is considered a relatively gentle plastic surgery.
But after a lift, complications may arise in the form of thickening and swelling of the tissue. To eliminate them, specially selected rehabilitation procedures are used. Usually this is microcurrent, ultrasound therapy.

Cosmetologist, dermatologist, trichologist

Kalinina Olga Alexandrovna

4 years of experience

Manipulation is suitable for problems such as:

• pronounced folds in the nasolabial area;
• sagging epidermis in the area of ​​the cheekbones and cheeks;
• ptosis ;
• deformation of the contours of the lower jaw;
• excess fatty tissue on the chin;
• drooping corners of the eyes;
• loose skin on the neck .

Lifting around the eyes

Lifting the periorbital area (the area around the eyes) is a type of modern cosmetic procedure that allows you to combat the appearance of the first signs of age-related changes.

If deep, loose folds are noted in the neck and face area, it is recommended to combine the procedure with contour plastic surgery and lipolifting. Almost all patients get a noticeable effect. The only exception is pronounced sagging in the cervical region.

To achieve comprehensive rejuvenation, it is advisable to simultaneously perform circumferential blepharoplasty and forehead lifting.

Does age matter?

The most important thing is not the number of years you have lived, but the fact whether you have age-related changes that can be corrected with a facelift. Your age is of secondary importance.

Fillers such as Restylane, Radiesse and Juvederm can help plump up the cheeks, improve the appearance of the nasolabial folds, and thus rejuvenate the midface. Botox and Dysport can reduce crow's feet, glabellar lines and horizontal wrinkles on the forehead (called "worry lines") and thus give a more youthful appearance to the upper part of the face.

The lower face and neck are still areas that typically require surgical lifting, but these changes usually occur later than age-related changes in the upper and midface.

Contraindications

A short scar lift is prohibited if there are a number of restrictions. All contraindications to surgical rejuvenation are divided into aesthetic and medical.

The first group includes:

• pronounced signs aging in the temple area;
• sagging skin in the neck and face area.

The second group includes such pathological conditions as:

• diseases of the heart and blood vessels;
• benign and malignant tumors ;
• hypertension;
• diagnosed diabetes mellitus ;
• bleeding disorders and other blood diseases;
• pathologies of the autoimmune system.

Cosmetic manipulation will be refused in situations where the doctor understands that during surgery he will not be able to provide the desired result.

If the patient has serious age-related changes, then the most effective for him will be a circular lift, as a result of which work is carried out not only with the problematic epidermis, but also with fatty tissue, muscle and deep tissues.

Preparation

Before undergoing a short scar facelift, the patient needs to prepare. First, you need to visit a plastic surgeon, who during the consultation will conduct a thorough examination of the skin of the problem area, tell you how the operation will take place, what the consequences may be, and what the rehabilitation period is like.

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It may also be necessary to visit related specialists in order to identify possible contraindications, for which a diagnostic examination may be prescribed. It is also important to take a blood test to determine the level of blood clotting, which will help avoid bleeding during surgery.

If there are no restrictions on the lift, then the specialist sets a date for the anti-aging procedure and gives further recommendations for preparing the patient.

If the client is planning to lose weight, this process must be completed before surgery, since sagging folds resulting from rapid weight loss are difficult to remove.

About two weeks in advance, you need to stop taking acetylsalicylic acid and other medications that have a negative effect on blood clotting. Smoking and drinking alcohol are prohibited, which increases the risk of complications and increases the recovery period.

Answers on questions

Topics about youth and beauty always raise many questions. Let's try to answer the most popular ones. So what are we being asked?

How much does lifting correction cost using different methods?

The cost of the operation depends not only on the chosen technique, but also on the number of simultaneously performed manipulations. If you do a classic lift, the price will be the same; if you add rhinoplasty or other procedures, the fee will increase.

Average cost of correction of different areas of the face:

• endoscopic plastic surgery - 85–100 thousand rubles;
• circular facelift - 120–130 thousand rubles;
• SMAS lifting and platysmoplasty - 140–150 thousand rubles.

The duration of the operation also depends on the number of procedures. For example, a circular lift with eyelid and neck correction will take at least six hours under general anesthesia.

How long does the effect last?

There is an opinion that the result of circular and deep lifting lasts for life. This is not entirely true. As a rule, it lasts 8–10 years. But even after this period, women who have had surgery look much younger than their peers.

With proper and competent care, the effect can truly last a lifetime.

Will there be any scars after the procedure?

There are no scars with the endoscopic method. If during the intervention the doctor makes small incisions, they are always located in a place inaccessible to prying eyes: on the scalp, behind the ears.

In addition, the scars are so small that after 2-3 months there is no trace left of them, and it is almost impossible to see them.

What alternatives to facelift are there?

If we talk specifically about long-term and permanent facelift, then there are no other options other than surgical lifting. Other procedures with a similar effect - mesotherapy, photorejuvenation, laser - have a temporary result and are not able to relieve serious problems. Simply put, all alternative methods have a purely cosmetic effect.

What complications and adverse reactions can there be?

The most common consequences of surgery are facial swelling, hematomas and moderate pain.

Somewhat less commonly noted:

• temporary loss of superficial sensation;
• the occurrence of pigmentation in women with thin and delicate skin;
• hair loss at the incision site.

These symptoms disappear after 12–14 days. Then the stitches are removed and physiotherapy and massage are prescribed. Most often, rehabilitation procedures are included in the price of the operation and are mandatory.

What are the pros and cons of a facelift, is it worth doing?

We can talk a lot about the effectiveness of the procedure. Plastic surgery really restores youth and stops aging for 10–12 years.

As for the minuses, not everything is so rosy. The method has disadvantages, but they are not so critical as to refuse manipulation.

One of the disadvantages is the high cost of the operation. But it is completely justified. A high-quality intervention will restore youth and beauty, and this, in fact, is a priceless treasure.

Let's sum it up

We looked at two types of facelift - surgical and non-surgical. They will help turn back time and restore beauty. But maybe the fight for youth should start from the second point? Then you won’t get close to the first one for many years. And if you add to this a full-fledged facial care, the effect will not be long in coming.

What do you think about this? Are there proven ways to avoid surgery and preserve beauty for many years? Have you had a facelift? Share your feedback with people who are just planning this procedure. Why did you decide to have the operation, how was the rehabilitation period, and does the result of the facelift meet your expectations? Leave your comments.

Progress

The duration of the cosmetic procedure takes 2-4 hours. The duration of the procedure depends on the complexity of the surgical intervention and the volume of work performed. The whole process takes place in several sequential steps.

First, the plastic surgeon takes a photo of the face, which is necessary for subsequent marking. Next, he prepares the skin, for which he cleanses its surface of dirt and remnants of decorative cosmetics using an antiseptic solution. After this, general anesthesia is administered using intravenous administration of the drug and local anesthesia.

According to a pre-designated scheme, the specialist makes micro-incisions. If the operation is performed on a woman, the incision will be located in the retrotragus area. In men, tissue dissection occurs in the area of ​​the natural fold of the preauricular part.

Then a fragment of the deep-lying muscle-fat layer and tightened epidermis is fixed to the periosteum of the cheekbones at the highest point. As a result, the tissue of the lower third of the face is raised, the angle of the lower jaw becomes more prominent, the contour is smooth, and jowls are removed.

Forehead and eyebrow lift

Eyebrow and forehead lifting is carried out using plastic surgery, which involves correcting and smoothing the forehead line, raising the eyebrow line, and smoothing out wrinkles in the corners of the eyes.

To smooth out nasolabial folds and tighten the skin in the cervical area, additional sutures are used.

Excess skin is excised. An intradermal cosmetic suture is applied to the wounds using a non-absorbable hypoallergenic thread.

Removal of sutures occurs after complete tissue restoration, usually 8-12 days after surgery.

The first positive changes can be seen 1.5-3 weeks after the S-lifting. Final improvement is observed after 2-5 months.

Results and how long will the “new youth” last?

The feeling of a “second wind”, that the clock hands have been turned back 10 years or even more, is the main motivation. A popular phrase during consultations is: “I want to look as young as I feel.” If the patient is happy, it's a great job.

Rehabilitation

The recovery period takes a lot of time. To consolidate the result, proper skin care is necessary. For quick healing, experts recommend avoiding stressful situations.

Immediately after a short-scar lift, swelling and bruising may appear, which is normal. These side effects disappear on their own after about a week.

To eliminate pain, your doctor may prescribe painkillers. The patient must be patient, since the course of long-term rehabilitation will largely depend on the state of the human body. The full result appears only after six months.

During the recovery period, you must follow all the instructions of the plastic surgeon. For the first two days, the client will be in the hospital under close medical supervision. A compression bandage that secures the zygomatic and chin areas must be worn continuously until the stitches are removed (1-2 weeks). Starting from the second and after the 3rd week, it is worn only at night.

To eliminate swelling more quickly, it is not recommended to get out of bed and move a lot. Do not apply decorative cosmetics to your face. Hair washing is also prohibited.

During rehabilitation, you must adhere to a certain diet. All dishes must be in liquid or pureed form.

Patients who have undergone S-lift surgery are prohibited from visiting the bathhouse, sauna, solarium or sunbathing in direct sunlight. Do not overload the body with excessive physical activity.

To ensure the rehabilitation process goes quickly, manual and physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed.

Rehabilitation period after S-lifting

Inpatient observation in the clinic is observed for 1-2 days from the moment of the manipulation. The patient must be given a compression bandage, which must permanently fix the zygomatic and chin areas until the sutures are removed. After this, a compression bandage may be recommended by your doctor at night if the operation was preceded by liposuction of the cheeks and chin. Bruising and swelling disappear within 5-7 days. Often they do not occur at all. During the rehabilitation period, it is recommended to switch to liquid and ground food due to painful sensations when chewing. After a week, the discomfort usually disappears.

To speed up the healing process, some surgeons recommend physical therapy and chiropractic procedures. Special lymphatic drainage massage, microcurrents, ozone therapy, magnetic therapy, and caring procedures using healing masks show excellent results.

Maintaining the result and possible complications

The risk of complications associated with the S-lift procedure is minimal. Most often it is associated with improper implementation of doctor’s recommendations, as well as the choice of an unqualified specialist. In these cases, blood loss and prolonged healing are possible (if the patient uses anticoagulants, antibiotics and active smoking), infection in the area of ​​resection of the skin flap, persistent hematomas and edema due to neglect of wearing a compression bandage.

The effect of the operation lasts for a long time and is comparable to the results of a comprehensive SMAS lifting. Thus, noticeable skin rejuvenation is achieved, and the result lasts for 10 years or more. The technique can be repeated if there are indications for this, after agreement with the plastic surgeon.

s-lifting plus blepharoplasty

Complications

Since short-scar facelift is a gentle procedure, the risk of developing consequences is minimal, but they should not be completely excluded. The most common complications include:

• penetration of infection into the wound;
• accumulation of serous contents at the suture site;
• formation of hematomas;
• swelling;
• bleeding;
• nerve damage ;
• improper and long healing .

The appearance of such conditions is often caused by the patient’s failure to comply with recommendations during the rehabilitation period, or the surgeon’s failure to comply with the rules for performing anti-aging manipulations. In addition, a provoking factor may be the moment when the operation was carried out in the presence of contraindications, which the client did not consider necessary to inform the doctor about.

Advantages and disadvantages

The short-scar facelift has distinct advantages over similar cosmetic procedures.

Short scars

All surgeon actions are performed through a small incision, which is made in the ear area. Sometimes the soft tissue of the temporal region in the area of ​​the scalp may be additionally excised. This makes it possible to make scars invisible to others.

Minimum complications

Because the S-lift does not require an incision at the back of the ear, it greatly reduces the chance that the facial nerve will be damaged.

Possibility of vertical rejuvenation

Short-scar facelift allows you to get a natural result without a mask effect, since there is no tension on the face, which usually accompanies the classic method of lifting. In this case, soft tissues are tightened from bottom to top.

High efficiency

In addition to the fact that the rejuvenating procedure eliminates age-related changes on the forehead and temples, the condition of the skin in the lower third of the face and neck improves. The method also makes it possible to get rid of jowls.

Short period to complete the operation

If we compare the S-lift with a circular lift, then the first technique takes significantly less time to implement. Also, the patient recovers from anesthesia in a shorter period of time.

Rising SMAS

During surgery, the plastic surgeon also tightens the subcutaneous soft tissues of the face. It is this rejuvenation tactic that allows you to get a natural look and maximum effect that lasts for several years.

Minimum recovery time

Since the procedure is accompanied by minimal blood loss, recovery occurs much faster.

Among the negative aspects of the technique, one can highlight the fact that in some cases it is not possible to obtain the desired result. This usually happens if there are deep, loose wrinkles on the face. If a patient has such a problem, then to eliminate it, experts recommend combining S-lifting with hardware procedures.

Disadvantages also include the presence of a number of contraindications and the pain that the client experiences after the lift.

A short-scar facelift is a rejuvenating procedure that allows you to combat mild signs of age-related changes. Due to its low-invasiveness, the method is very popular, since complications after surgery occur in rare cases.

To obtain maximum results, you must follow all the specialist’s recommendations both during the preparatory and rehabilitation periods. You need to be careful when choosing a clinic and contact only proven, highly qualified surgeons.

How much does a facelift cost?

A full facelift costs from 140,000 to 300,000 rubles and consists of several components: the forehead, the middle part of the face and the lower part of the face (this usually includes the neck). Additionally, you can use injections of fat or fillers and fractional laser, or undergo plastic surgery of the upper and lower eyelids.

An experienced surgeon with an established reputation can obviously charge a higher price for his services. However, this does not mean that everyone who quotes a high price is necessarily the best. Ask those who have already done a facelift.