Facelifts have evolved over the past few generations into a safe, predictable method to rejuvenate the face, without the pulled “done” look of the past procedures.
Dr. Cerqueiro uses the most proven techniques for facelift plastic surgery which have demonstrate maximum levels of security as well as of final patient satisfaction. Depending on the age and the relative health of the patient, facelift plastic surgery can be performed in the hospital under sedation or general anaesthesia. Various options are used with the face lift: mini ‘lifts’, MACS lift, SMAS lifs, neck tightening or brow lift. This cosmetic surgery procedure is performed by Dr. Cerqueiro in the Hospital setting. Patients normally stay one night in the hospital after the operation.
This procedure is usually performed on patients from the age of 40 through the seventies. Depending on the age of the patient, the goal of the operation may be entirely different, as well as the type of operation. Of course, the patient must be of good health, and if older, must have medical clearance.
Facelift plastic surgery can be performed under intravenous sedation anesthesia, avoiding the general anaesthesia. However, there are certain patients with whom the general anaesthesia may be preferable. All of our anaesthetists are fully qualified specialists and highly experienced. Dr.Cerqueiro believes that the choice of anesthetists is as critical as the choice of plastic surgeons. Our anaesthetists are all hospital-based physicians. Facelift plastic surgery may be combined with the blepharoplasty (eyelid plastic surgery), or other body contouring procedures.
The convalescence for a full facelift is approximately 2-3 weeks. This is the time that you may feel you need before returning to your social calendar, without the need to explain discoloration and swelling to your friends and working colleagues. In general, the younger the patient, the quicker the return to full function. This may be as short as 10 days to two weeks. The first two to three days are marked by a feeling of tightness, and swelling. This improves over the following week. Modest pain is usually controlled with the use of oral pain medication.
This is performed on the younger patient, without the neck and or brow being done. The entire operation takes less than three hours. There is a choice of IV sedation with local anaesthesia or of general anaesthesia.
An isolated neck lift may be performed in some patients where most of the changes are below the chin and in the neck area. A small incision is made behind the chin prominence, and may be made in conjunction with traditional behind the ear incisions to maximize correction.
In some patients an open brow approach may be prefereable. These are patients with an excess of skin, and a low anterior (front) hairline. The incision is made in the hairline across the top of the scalp. The procedure is then performed open, and the scalp is tightened. This will raise the edge of the hairline, and should not be used in patients who have a high forehead line.
Forehead lifts are used for correction of the eyebrow when it has descended too low. It also can be used to fix a permanent furrow between the eyebrows, and forehead lines. Dr. Cerqueiro uses the latest techniques such as the endoscope, a device that has been popularized in knee surgery. Three small incisions are made in the hairline. Then the endoscope, actually a small camera, is inserted and used for correction. Brow elevation is accomplished as well as the correction of the glabellar furrows (the muscle between the eyelids). This plastic surgery procedure minimises scarring and discomfort.
As in all surgery, there are well-known and reported complications. Dr. Cerqueiro will go over all of these with you. During this discussion, Dr. Cerqueiro will also tell you the relative frequency of all complications, and the treatment. These potential complications include hematoma, and facial nerve damage. This nerve damage may be temporary, or permanent.