Facelift

A consultation always takes place before surgery. It includes a full description of the treatment and mentions the potential complications as well as answering individual/personal questions.
This description is necessary in order to be prepared for the personal meeting and to be informed about the most important points.

Mode of Anaesthetization:

general anaesthesia

Period of operation:

3-5 hours

Estimated time of hospital care:

1-2 days

Ability to return to workplace:

earliest after 2-4 weeks

Continuation of your ordinary lifestyle:

10 days

Completely return to the lifestyle led after operation:

3 months

 

Reason of medical intervention

Characteristic features of aging show on the face as the years go by. The Skin of the face becomes thin, loses its elasticity, and begins to slack. These differences increase if related to a high degree of weight loss.
Horizontal wrinkles develop on the forehead. The original Eyebrow line can go down with 10-15 mm laterally, which can cover the upper eyelid.
Vertical wrinkles above the nose can make one look negative or upset.  Because of the vertical slide of skin, fat, and muscles above the cheek-bone can cause the face to become flat, haggard, and typically deep wrinkles (nasolabialis) form by the nose in the direction of corner of the mouth.
The wrinkles around the lower and the upper lips act as are the clock’s “minute hand” which shows as the years go by.
The skin of the neck can also slack which could worsen the growth and hanging of double chin.
To summarize, the alteration of the aging face is caused by the following symptoms in varying degrees and combinations:

• transversal wrinkles on the forehead (excessive contraction of the forehead’s muscle)
• vertical wrinkles above the nose (creasing facial muscles)
• lowering of the eyebrow
• increased hang of the eyelid 
• flat cheek-bone, haggard face
• deeper wrinkles on the face (nasolabialis crease), slight wrinkles around the lips
• loosening of the neck skin, inactive neck muscle (plastyma), appearance of double chin

 

The Operation

Traditionally “full-face lift” method means to renovate the slackened skin with lateral straining and removing of excess skin. The operational incision is started at the temple region at the scalp hair and continues directly in front of the ears then curving along the hairline. In some cases, the wrinkles of the mid-face can be renewed with the “mini lift” method which could mean less procedure than “full face lift”. Each method is considered, and a personalized treatment solution can be decided during consultation.

The type of the surgical incision and the method of surgical treatment depend on the current aptitude of the face. The surgery will be performed by the most up-to-date medical instruments with the smallest incisions. These are covered by plastic stitches under the skin which assure us of, hardly visible scars.

The operation can be performed under general or local anesthesia and which ordinary takes 3-5 hours. The surgical area always needs a thin tube (drain) to lead blood and fluid away.

 

Before surgery

Prior to using anaestesia, the following medical examinations are necessary: EKG, chest X-ray, laboratory test. On the day of surgery, the patient has to stay one night in the hospital.

We can helpfully organize any necessary examinations.

 

Therapy after Operation, Medicines, Lifestyle, Monitoring

On the 2nd day after the operation, the tube (drain) will be removed. The stitches will be absorbed within a few months. The slight scars reach their final form over 6-12 months.

After the operation within 24-48 hours the patient can remove the cover dressing and take a shower including the surgical site.

For 10 days after the operation, it’s offered to wear a pressure bandage which can be bought in medical supply stores with our prescription.

Further free examinations or personal counseling are possible by appointment.

In the case of any problem on the surgical site, such as swelling, fever. or pain, please contact us immediately.

 

General and Special Risks of Operation, Possible Complications

All possible risks of using anaesthesia will be explained during your personal consultation. In the interest of reducing surgical complications, antibiotic medicine and an injection (LMWH) are needed before every operation to prevent thrombus during anaesthesia.

During and after the operation, it’s possible that bleeding or inflammation necrosis because of infection could develop.

In certain cases, a special risk of the operation may be the injury of mimic muscle which results in an inactive or paralyzed muscle.

In the case of sensitive nerve fibers’ injury, some skin area may become immovable temporarily or permanently.

Surgical incision scars depend mainly upon patients’ skin and genetic predisposition which makes the scar a normal thin line, or thickened (keloid), or expanded (hypertrophia). 

You’ll get specific advice about your risks and possible complications from your personal doctor.

 

Next step

If you'd like to turn back a few years and be younger, we can help with personalized advice about your possibilities. If you contact us, you can speak about all your requests and ideas personally with Dr. Bernadett Lévay at no cost. Your consultation doesn't oblige any commitment, so don't hesitate to contact us!

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