Aging is an inevitable part of life, and it comes with a host of physical problems that we should address as best as we can. One of the most obvious signs of getting older shows on your skin, especially on your face. We start getting wrinkles, and our skin starts to sag, which can make us feel self-conscious and affect our overall confidence.
Fortunately, there’s a lot we can do to remedy our skin issues and make our faces age as gracefully as possible. Getting a facelift is one of the most common procedures recommended to tighten and smoothen the skin.So, what happens during a facelift procedure? You will be placed under a general anesthetic, and incisions will be made along your hairline, which will go past the front of your ears. It will go into the hairline behind your ears.
Afterward, your surgeon will reposition the excess fat and tighten your facial muscles. Your skin will be stitched back into place along the original area of the incision. Excess skin will also be removed.
Your face will be bandaged to lessen bruising and swelling. The procedure usually takes two to three hours, and you will need to stay in the hospital overnight.
Since it’s a surgical procedure, you must consider several factors when deciding whether you should go through it or not. So how can you tell that it’s already time for you to get a facelift? Here are the signs to look out for:
1. There Are Deep Creases Around Your Mouth
These are called “marionette lines,” which form between your chin and your mouth’s lower corners. They tend to become deeper with age, and you will also see the nasolabial folds form a bracket around your mouth. If you’re already seeing these in your face, you’re already a good candidate for a facelift.
2. Your Mid-face Has Lost Volume
It’s not just the wrinkles and folds that you should watch out for – it’s also the sunken and hollow areas of your face, especially the cheeks, due to the loss of volume. A facelift can make your cheeks look plumper and healthier again by lifting your facial muscles and repositioning the fat pads.
3. There’s Drooping Skin in Your Jawline and Neck
As we age, the skin under our chin and along the neckline droops. This makes our jawline look less defined and therefore makes us look older than we are. We can all blame gravity for this, which contributes to the loss of skin elasticity. A facelift can firm up that sagging skin and improve the appearance of our jowls and double chins.
4. You Always Look Angry or Tired
It seems like your face has settled into a permanent frown even though you’re in a good mood and well-rested. It’s because your cheeks can look sunken or flattened due to skin laxity and loss of facial volume. It can also pull down the corners of your mouth and make you look like you’re always scowling. A facelift can make you look more refreshed and well-rejuvenated, not only on the outside but on the inside as well.
5. You Want More Than Short-term Results
Granted, there are tons of options available for those who want a youthful-looking face but don’t have the guts to undergo a surgical procedure such as facelifts. Maybe you’re already enjoying the benefits of injectable treatments such as Botox and dermal fillers or machine treatments such as micro-needling and HIFU.
But these are only short-term solutions, and you are looking into something that can last you for years. Getting a facelift will certainly not stop the aging process, and you’re still going to lose elasticity on your skin, but at least with a facelift, you don’t have to worry about getting treatments for years.
6. You Are Willing to Allot Ample Time for Recovery
The procedure itself for the facelift is just one thing – the healing time is another. Since it’s surgery, you will need plenty of time to heal. A full facelift usually has a recovery time of 10 to 14 days, and you must follow instructions on post-surgical care, too. So, if you’re going to go ahead with this, you must factor in the recovery time needed.
7. You Are Emotionally Prepared
It’s only natural to be concerned about surgical procedures such as facelifts. Your doctor is prepared to answer all the questions you have, which you should bring up as early as the initial consultation. It’s important to set realistic expectations regarding the procedure and its outcome. It’s also good to have a support system as you go through this procedure, whether it’s your family or friends.
Again, you must have realistic expectations when it comes to facelifts and any other cosmetic procedures. Make sure that you go through everything with your doctor or cosmetic surgeon so that you will have a clear idea of what your facelift can achieve.