Facelift surgery is a surgical method that helps to make the face look younger by stretching and hanging sagging, wrinkles and wrinkles due to aging and gravity. However, recently, all interventions related to facial aging have begun to be referred to as facial rejuvenation. As people age, the elasticity of the facial skin and other tissues increases, and the ligaments that connect the facial tissues to the bone loosen with the effect of years, sun rays, daily stresses, gravity and other factors (smoking, alcohol, malnutrition). For this reason, the tissues on the face are displaced downwards, and sagging occurs, more prominently on the sides of the chin and in the areas where the mouth and cheek meet. On the one hand, fine wrinkles and crow’s feet around the eyes become evident with the effect of constantly working mimic muscles, while on the other hand, various spots and irregularities occur, especially with the effect of sun rays. If the definition of an aged face is to be made, the percentage; Forehead lines have become deeper and more prominent, eyebrows have fallen, eyelids have drooped, bags and lines have formed under the eyes, deep lines have formed in the mouth – nose area, cheeks have sagged, chin contours have disappeared, neck has become oily and skin curtains have formed. In addition, the skin lost its vitality, sunspots and other moles appeared on it, thinned and wrinkled. The changes described above have different causes. For example, the decrease in volume of the structures that make up the skin with age causes thinning of the skin. The amount of fat under the skin decreases and the support that keeps the skin on it alive and taut is lost. This results in volume loss on the one hand, and further exacerbation of sagging on the other. With the disappearance of the support effect of the skin and subcutaneous tissues and the effect of gravity, the forehead region and the region between the eyebrows and the upper lip, which is defined as the middle face, go down, and the lower and middle sagging in the chin region, which is defined as the lower face, becomes evident. These changes occur in the form of deepening of the grooves between the cheek and nose, deterioration of the contour of the chin, and the formation of deep grooves on the edges of the mouth. As a result, we are faced with an old and tired appearance with the entire face sagging down.

In fact, the facelift attempt, which is one of the aesthetic surgeries that require the best planning, should be considered as the general name of the procedures performed to reverse all these changes on the face. Here, it is necessary to raise the displaced tissues back to their original place, while doing this, the excesses of the non-elastic tissues must be removed and firmly fixed. If this is not taken care of in the surgery, the results obtained will be extremely short-term. Although it is not possible to reverse the results of the thinning of the skin during the surgery, it would be a correct approach to correct the deficiencies that cause volume loss with different filling techniques. In addition, some complementary methods for thinning the skin (such as skin peeling, filling and botox) can be performed during the surgery or in a later session.

Ideal candidates for facial rejuvenation surgery are considered to be patients whose face and neck skin has begun to sag, but whose skin has not yet lost its elasticity and who have no other health problems. The scope of the facial rejuvenation intervention is completely planned according to the needs of the patient. Although the entire facelift is the most comprehensive operation among these, only mid-face and lower-face surgeries can be performed separately, as well as eyelid aesthetics, forehead correction, eyebrow lifting operations can be added to make the face look more beautiful and younger. Injection of fillers (oil, hyaluronic acid, etc.) or peeling (mechanical, chemical, laser) for fine wrinkles and botox application for wrinkles around the eyes and forehead can also be performed.

Face Lift Surgical Techniques

All facelift, mini facelift and mid facelift

The surgeries should be performed in the operating room in a full-fledged hospital environment. The intervention can be performed under general anesthesia or under local anesthesia under sedation (accompanied by sedative drugs). Depending on the scope of the surgeries, it may take 4 to 8 hours. Generally, it will be appropriate to stay in the hospital for 1 night. Since the scars in face lift surgery will be behind and in front of the ear and in the scalp according to the content of the surgery, they are generally concealable. If the fat in the sub-chin area is removed, a 3-5 mm scar will remain under the chin. If eyelid and forehead lift is added, additional scars will remain on the eyelids and scalp on the forehead. However, these facial scars are mostly invisible and can be hidden.

Sometimes, only the lower face and neck appear as the most problematic areas in patients. In such cases, deep grooves and bags under the chin and around the mouth can be treated with incisions made in front of and behind the ear. This surgery is known as a mini face lift. Since the scope of the surgery is limited, the recovery time is also shorter. In this attempt, improvements in both the lower part of the face and the neck occur in a very short time.

In some patients, sagging may be more pronounced in the area between the lower eyelids and the middle part of the face, between the eyes and the upper lip. In this case, the incision made for lower eyelid aesthetics (just below the eyelashes on the lower eyelid) is entered and the middle face is determined by moving upwards. After this intervention, the deep grooves between the cheek and nose are corrected, the downward displaced cheekbone protrusion is moved to its normal place, and the excess of the lower eyelid and bags are removed. Mini face lift and mid face lift surgeries are operations that can be achieved in a short time with very obvious results.

Early period after surgery usually passes on at ease. There may be a general swelling and bruising on the face, numbness and a feeling of tension. Since the facial nerves may be mildly affected by anesthesia during the surgery, there may be mild asymmetries on the face. These go away on their own in 3-5 days. A head wrap and cold pads are applied to the cheeks, leaving the eyes, nose and mouth open. In order to prevent the accumulation of blood in the tissue, silicone pipes called drains can be placed. The resistors are withdrawn within 2 days at the latest. The dressing is completely opened after 2-3 days. General inspection and dressing change is made. Hair can be washed during this period. If the stitches are not dissolving type, they are removed after 5-7 days.