Aging is a natural process that everyone experiences but not everyone welcomes these changes to be reflected in their face. Thus, many individuals choose to have a facelift in Toronto as a solution to slow down their visible aging process.
A facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, is a cosmetic surgery that accomplishes a more youthful and refreshed appearance by improving the following visible signs of aging in the face and neck.
- Sagging in the face caused by atrophied muscles
- Deep folds or wrinkles formed between the nose and the corners of the mouth
- Fallen fat pads or loss of volume in the face
- Jowls developing in the jaw line and cheeks
- The appearance of a double chin or “turkey neck” due to loose skin, platysmal bands and excess fat.
These signs of aging can further be accelerated by a variety of contributors, including the thinning of skin, gravity, the loss of facial fat, sun damage, smoking, stress and genetics.
A facelift in Toronto is typically performed as an outpatient procedure and consists of the following important elements.
Step 1: Anesthesia
A patient’s comfort during surgery is of utmost importance. Patients may be given a choice of intravenous sedation or general anesthesia.
During a facelift, there are other procedures that can accompany it to further enhance the outcomes. These include.
- Facial implants or fat transfer to achieve better contouring of the face
- Resurfacing techniques that can improve the facial skin tone and texture
- Injection of fat or fillers that lead to wrinkle reduction and smoothening of fine lines
Step 2: Incision
Depending on the level of change that the patient is seeking, facelifts can include a traditional facelift, a limited incision Facelift or a neck lift.
Traditional facelift – an incision for a traditional or full facelift begins in the hairline at the temples. It continues along the ear and eventually comes to an end at the lower scalp. This type of incision allows for fat to be sculpted or redistributed in the face and neck, as well as repositioning underlying tissue. The deeper layers of the face and muscles are usually lifted to achieve a younger aesthetic appearance. Skin is then re-draped and tightened over the new, uplifted contours.
During this full facelift, a second incision may be necessary under the chin to help create improvements to the aging neck.
Limited incision facelift or mini facelift – shorter incisions are made at the temples for this alternative procedure to a traditional facelift. The mini facelift is recommended for patients that have less severe signs of aging, such as less skin relaxation. A rejuvenated appearance can be achieved but to a lesser extent than a traditional facelift because the neck is left untouched.
Neck lift – the incision for a neck lift begins in front of the ear lobe and wraps around, where it ends behind the ear in the hairline. This incision is designed to address issues such as sagging jowls, fat accumulation in the neck and loose neck skin.
Step 3: Closing Incisions
Once the procedure is completed, the incisions can be closed with sutures or skin adhesives.
Step 4: Seeing The Results
As the body heals, the incision lines will become less noticeable as they are well concealed within the hairline and natural curves of the face. After just a couple weeks, the swelling and minor bruising will subside and visible improvements of the facelift will appear. With patience and time, the final outcomes of a more youthful face will be more apparent.
If you are interested in a Toronto facelift, we like to invite you to our clinic for a private consultation with Dr. Solomon. We can address any aesthetic concerns you may have and discuss how a facelift can restore your youthfulness.
May 08th 2019