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WHAT
to EXPECT
Bruising and swelling for several days. You will look much
worse before you look better. Would you like to see a picture
of a patient at one or two days post operatively.
ANESTHESIA
- Usually general anesthesia
DURATION
of OPERATION - Three hours for facelift
DAY
of SURGERY - When you leave the operating room, you
will go to the recovery unit for one hour, then to the post-op
area for three to four hours. You must have someone to drive
you to and from the surgical facility. You must also have
someone stay with you the first night or stay at an overnight
facility.
DRAINS
- Usually out in 24-36 hours.
PAIN
- Patients usually state pain is a 2 - 4 on a scale of 1 -
10. You will experience more soreness and a feeling of pressure/swelling.
POST-OP
DAY ONE - Keep head elevated on 2 pillows - sometimes
it is easier to sleep in a recliner. Use ice packs. Empty
drainage bulbs.
You may remove dressing after 24 hours. Swelling and bruising
will start to peak.
DAY TWO and THREE
- Drains will be removed. Continued swelling and bruising.
You may wash your hair starting with half water and half hydrogen
peroxide followed by a mild shampoo (Baby/Neutrogena) in shower.
Sutures will come out in 3-4 days.
SIXTH and SEVENTH DAY -
Staples will be removed from scalp.
BACK to WORK - You can usually
return to work in two to three weeks but it may take four
to five weeks.
ACTIVITIES - From day 1-6
limit activities to walking around the house and no lifting.
Day 7-14 you can slowly increase walking more around the house
and can lift up to five pounds. Day 14-21 you can walk 1/4-1/2
mile slowly on a treadmill. You can also go out to dinner
or a movie. If bruising persists you must stay out of the
sun completely.
EXERCISE
- Week 3-4 slowly increase activities such as walking and
light lifting. Exercise such as aerobics, tennis and golf
can be resumed after the fourth full week. Contact sports
at six weeks.
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 RISKS
BLEEDING
- Bleeding can occur following any surgery. If bleeding occurs
it will usually require going to the operating room to correct
it. Risk 1%-2%.
INFECTION
- Uncommon. We use antibiotics and pre and post-operatively.
SCARRING
- There will be scars around the ears and in the hairline
as shown. They usually are inconspicuous but occasionally
can thicken and be painful.
HAIR
LOSS - The hair follicle(s) can be damaged or lose
blood supply. This is uncommon. Most frequent sites are above
the ear. Risk 1%-2%. Smokers are at greater risk.
SKIN
LOSS - Most common in smokers due to constiction
of vessels by nicotine and carbon monoxide. If you smoke,
I would rather not operate on you.
NERVE
DAMAGE - You will have some sensory loss (numbness).
Most common sites are the ears, neck and cheeks. Recovery
of sensation is usually greater than 90%. Motor nerves that
allow muscles to work can be damaged or bruised. 99% of nerves
return to full functioning in my practice. It could take 3
weeks to 6 months or longer to recover full action.
PROLONGED
BRUISING - Bruising usually goes away in 2-3 weeks
but occationally can last 4-6 weeks in isolated areas.
SYMMETRY
- You are not symmetrical now and will not be perfectly symmetrical
after the surgery. Look very closely in the mirror prior to
surgery to identify asymmetry.
SWELLING
- Usually 80% of the swelling dissipates in 2-3 weeks but
could last up to 3 months.
LINES
AND WRINKLES - I cannot remove all wrinkles and not
have you look too pulled. Lines and wrinkles will vary from
side to side as they do now.
EMOTION
- You may have a period of mild depression after surgery.
This is caused by the stress of the surgey and anesthesia.
It will pass as you recover.
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WHAT
A FACELIFT WILL DO
- Make you looked fresher and more rested.
- Reduce lines, wrinkles and heaviness.
- Set
back the age appearance clock 5-15 years.
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WHAT A FACELIFT WILL NOT DO
- Make you look age 20.
- Remove all lines and wrinkles.
- Make you look symmetrical - you can find
asymmetry
now and after surgery.
- It will not last forever.
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WHAT
IF REVISIONS ARE NEEDED
You are
responsible for anesthesia and facility charges.
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HOW LONG WILL RESULTS LAST
This
is a very difficult question to answer. Longevity of the procedure
depends on your skin elasticity, heredity, previous sun exposure
and post-operatively, stress, smoking and elastic fibers in
your skin. If you are a good candidate with good skin qualities
and don't smoke, you can expect a good appearance for 4 -10
years. Remember gravity pulls and aging continues from the
moment I finish your operation. I wish I could guarantee the
duration of the results but it is impossible.
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