face face lift

As people age, the effects of gravity, exposure to the sun, and the stresses of daily life can be seen in their faces. Deep creases form between the nose and mouth; the jaw line grows slack and jowly; folds and fat deposits appear around the neck. A facelift cannot stop this aging process. What it can do is 'set back the clock', improving the most visible signs of aging by removing excess fat, tightening underlying muscles, and re-draping the skin of your face and neck making you look younger and fresher, and it may enhance your self- confidence in the process.

When undergoing facial rejuvenation, the cosmetic units in the face are assessed to see how they contribute to the individuals overall appearance:

- Brows and upper eyelids
- Lower eyelids and cheeks (midface)
- Lower face/chin and neck

These components are then addressed to meet the individual's particular needs and goals. There has been a paradigm shift in recent years which has seen less use of 'subtractive techniques' which give a skeletonised and, hence, an aged or done look. These have been replaced with 'restorative techniques' which maximally reposition and recontour the facial cosmetic areas and remove only as much tissue as necessary. The MACS-lift is a relatively new technique that provides an overall lift to the mid and lower third of your face. Compared to a traditional facelift, it is a quicker operation with a much faster recovery. The MACS-lift is particularly well suited for middle-aged and younger patients and can make a dramatic change in the way you look by tightening sagging muscles and skin of the cheeks and jowls. A MACS-lift may be combined with facial and neck liposuction. Results from your MACS-lift can be further enhanced with subsequent laser skin tightening to smooth wrinkles and provide greater skin contraction.

Anesthesia:
General

In/Outpatient:
Inpatient

Length of surgery:
2 to 4 hours. If you are also having brow lift and eyelid surgery, may take 3 to 6 hours

Recovery:
Back to work in 10 to 14 days. More strenuous activity, wait 2 weeks or more. Bruising lasts 2 to 3 weeks. Must limit exposure to sun and wear SPF 30 or higher for 6 months

Duration of results:
7 to 10 years. Final result seen in 4 to 8 weeks

Additional procedures:
Brow lift
Eyelid lift (blepharoplasty)
Nose reshaping (rhinoplasty)
Ear surgery (otoplasty)


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Dr Tim Papadopoulos is a certified cosmetic and plastic surgeon and a member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He is a consultant cosmetic and plastic surgeon in the Sydney West Area Health Service and has private hospital appointments at Hunters Hill and Westmead Private Hospitals.

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