Face lift surgery is a procedure that repairs visible signs of aging on the face and neck. Wrinkles and sagging skin naturally occur as people age. However, heredity, an unhealthy diet, smoking and obesity accelerates these skin problems. This procedure also repairs folds and fat deposits that appear on the neck and creases around the nose and mouth. You look younger after certified plastic surgeons prepare skin, fat and muscles. Like any surgical procedure, various risks are associated with face lift surgery.
Procedure
A face lift takes between three to five hours to complete, depending on the complexity on the procedure. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons website describes face lift surgery. An anesthesiologist administers intravenous sedation and/or general anesthesia. A surgeon decides on the best kind of sedation. The surgeon then makes an incision along the hair line at the temples and continues cutting around the ears to the lower scalp. The surgeon redistributes fat on the face, jowls and neck and repositions underlying tissue and muscle on the face. A surgeon pulls the skin upward and trims the excess skin. Sutures or skin adhesives close the incisions. The hairline incision decreases scar visibility once the incision heals. A face lift may include nose reshaping, forehead lifts and neck lifts.
Anesthesia and Medication Reactions
You can have an adverse reaction to anesthesia and medications given after face lift surgery. According to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, reactions include nausea and vomiting, allergies to medications, sore throats, nerve damage, lung infections, strokes, heart attacks and death. Doctors provide medications before surgery to prevent nausea and vomiting, and surgeons monitor patients before, during and after surgery as precautionary measures for serious complications. Speak to your surgeon about changing medications, but don't stop taking current medications.
Healing
Many risks associated with face lift surgery occur during the healing process. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons website says these risks include unfavorable scarring, bleeding, infections, skin and hair loss, fluid accumulation, discoloration, swelling and skin sensitivity. Avoid these risks by following your doctor's instruction on cleaning wounds and changing bandages. Doctors use a tube to reduce fluid buildup on the face. Discoloration and swelling decrease in a few weeks or months.
Nerve Damage
You may experience nerve damage after face lift surgery. This damage includes facial nerve weakness or numbness or changes in skin sensation on the face. The U.S. National Library of Medicine says nerve damage is usually temporary. See your surgeon if you don't feel sensation in your face.
Unsatisfactory Results
You may not be happy with your face lift and have a second procedure to get the desired result. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons website, dissatisfaction includes facial asymmetry, unsatisfactory scar location and visible deformities.
