A Face Lift to Counteract Aging Effects

A facelift is a cosmetic procedure that surgically removes excess skin and fats from your face to give you a youthful appearance. You may consider this procedure if you are unhappy with the aging effects, such as deep wrinkles and skin laxity. If other beauty treatments and products do not reinvigorate your skin as you desire, a facelift may be what you need. Since a facelift is a major surgical procedure, it is always essential to work with your trusted board-certified San Francisco facial plastic surgeon to reduce the risk of complications. The common risks associated with a facelift include:

Nerve injury

Despite your surgeon’s best effort to avoid nerve injury, some of these fibers may still get damaged during the procedure. Injury to the nerve can cause temporary or permanent effects on the nerves controlling muscle sensation. You may suffer temporary paralysis of the affected muscle, resulting in an awkward appearance or facial expression. Temporary numbness may last for several months to a year, and your surgeon may recommend surgery to offer some improvements.

Hair loss

Scars are an inevitable consequence of a facelift, which often causes hair loss. After the incision sites heal, the tissue may not achieve full function, including hair growth. As a result, you may lose hair on the incision sites, leading to a large bald area or an irregular hairline. Treatments like a hair transplant can help you if you suffer permanent hair loss. You can also conceal this problem by styling your hair in a certain way, but this may not always work.

Hematoma

Blood may pool outside of blood vessels which mainly occurs due to an injury to the wall of a blood vessel. As a result, your face may swell, which may damage your skin and other tissues. Hematoma is a common side effect of a facelift that may resolve spontaneously over time or require surgical intervention to evacuate the blood. You can reduce the risk of hematoma by stopping taking dietary supplements and blood-thinning medications before surgery.

Scarring

Scars form when your skin is cut or breaks open, including during a facelift procedure. It is usual for scars to form on the incision sites after you heal from surgery. The scars are usually permanent but are less noticeable as your face’s natural contours and the hairline conceal them. Rarely do the incisions cause raised and red bumps. Skilled surgeons have also mastered the art of scar camouflage, which involves creating small, precise incisions and placing them in less noticeable areas. Your doctor may also recommend corticosteroid shots to minimize the appearance of the scars.

Infection

Like most surgical procedures, a facelift also poses a risk of infection. When skin is cut open, it is easier for germs on your skin or in the environment to spread to the surgical wound. Anyone can develop an infection, but your risk is higher if you smoke, have uncontrolled diabetes, have problems with your immune system, or have surgery that lasts more than two hours.

If you want to understand what a facelift procedure involves, consult your surgeon at AESTHETIC SURGERY CENTER.