What is a facelift?

A facelift, in a literal sense, means lifting the skin on the face. The procedure usually involves removing the excess facial skin, but the skin is not pulled tight. The entire sculpting is done beneath the skin, and then the skin is laid comfortably on the top. In a sense, it is the re-draping of the skin on the patient’s face and also the neck in some cases.

The data compiled by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in 2008 showed that the facelift is the sixth most popular cosmetic surgery after liposuction, breast augmentation, eyelid lift, tummy tuck, breast reduction, and rhinoplasty.

The great advantage of a facelift is that it makes the patient appear 15 to 20 years younger. It not only serves an aesthetic purpose, it also helps to boost the self-confidence and spirits of the person. From a cosmetic viewpoint, it can be of immense benefit to someone who is in a job involving public limelight or public performance. But even otherwise, an improved level of self-esteem and confidence leads to better results in any job, or even within the home.

When a person looks younger, it gives a great feeling and a renewed sense of energy and youth. As a result, the person would become more physically active and feel more energized. So a basic procedure like a facelift can help to transform the entire life and personality of the patient for the better.

The critical part of a facelift is to determine how much of excess skin must be removed. It varies from patient to patient, but the decision largely depends upon the judgment and experience of the operating surgeon. An experienced surgeon will adopt a conservative approach to facelift and ensure that the patient does not suffer from any irreversible adverse effects after the surgery.

Therefore, facelifts must be performed at the hands of a skilled and experienced surgeon in order to achieve safe and best results.

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