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A Face Lift
usually takes several hours. The exact placement of the
incisions depends mainly on your facial structure and the
areas to be worked on. Incisions usually begin above the
hairline at the temples, extend in a natural line in front
of the ear (or just inside the cartilage at the front of the
ear), and continue behind the earlobe to the lower scalp. If
the neck needs work, a small incision may also be made under
the chin. When combined with a Brow Lift, a coronal incision
will be used. This last incision follows a headphone-like
pattern, starting at about the ear level and running across
the top of the forehead and down the other side of the head
and is usually made well behind the hairline so that the
scar won't be visible.
In
general, the skin is separated from the fat and muscle
below. Fat may be trimmed or suctioned from around the neck
and chin to improve the contour. The underlying muscle and
membrane is then tightened and the skin is pulled back with
the excess removed. Stitches secure the layers of tissue and
close the incisions; metal clips may be used on the scalp.
Following surgery, a small, thin tube may be temporarily
placed under the skin behind your ear to drain any blood
that might collect there. A bandage wrap is generally used
to minimize bruising and swelling.
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