facelift

A Facelift is usually performed under local anaesthetic with sedation (twilight anesthesia) or under general anesthesia. Your surgeon will be able to advise the best option for you during a consultation.

A Facelift is an option for healthy men and women who are experiencing mid-to-severe effects of ageing, such as sagging to the cheeks, excess skin on the jowls and deep lines running from the sides of the nose down to the mouth

It should be noted that a facelift is not a solution for the treatment of finer lines and wrinkles, sun damage and hyperpigmentation. Other non-surgical procedures, such as laser, should be considered either instead or in addition to a Facelift to treat these signs of ageing.

The results of a Facelift last for approximately ten years. However, having the procedure may help to turn back the visible effects of time but it does not stop the natural ageing process. To ensure that the results look good for as long as possible, you should lead a healthy lifestyle and enjoy a healthy diet, avoid smoking, follow a good skincare routine and avoid excessive exposure to the sun.

As with any surgical procedure that can significantly change the way you look, having a Facelift can have a psychological impact and so careful thought needs to be given prior to going ahead. At Cocoona, we ask for you to conduct a self-evaluation to help you assess if you are one hundred per cent ready, both physically and mentally, for surgery. You should ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I have realistic expectations about what a Facelift can achieve?
• Do I know how I want to look after having a Facelift?
• Do I fully understand the surgical procedure, how long it will take and what I need to do after the surgery to promote healing and recovery?
• Am I prepared to follow a healthy lifestyle to help maintain the results?

Once you have clarity on the above, the next step is to find the right surgeon and clinic. These are of paramount importance.

You need a surgeon who is experienced in performing Facelifts, has a sound reputation and proven results. You should also look for a surgeon who will give you honest and realistic advice on what you can and can’t achieve with this procedure.

A good clinic is one that has an experienced and highly skilled surgical team, licensed aestheticist(s), well trained nursing staff, an excellent reputation, and a low complication rate. Of course, the clinic also needs to be licensed with the relevant authorities for the country or region it is situated in. At Cocoona, we tick all these boxes.

For an accurate cost assessment, you will need to book an initial consultation with our surgeon. As with almost any aesthetic procedure, the cost will depend on the following factors:

Surgeon’s Expertise – The surgeon’s fee is based on their experience. Obviously, a reputable surgeon who is established and has a successful track record will charge higher fees.

Clinic/ Hospital – Fees also depend upon the quality of the facility chosen for the operation.

Geographic Area – Depending on the city/ area you decide to have the surgery in, the cost is likely be different: clinics in larger metropolitan cities tend to cost more. You should bear in mind that the expertise of your consultant and your comfort factor with him or her should be one the most important considerations, much more so than the cost of the procedure. A cheap procedure could turn out to be an expensive proposition in the long run.

Once you are clear about your reasons for having a Facelift and have decided to proceed, call us to fix an appointment. On the appointed day, the expert surgeon who will perform the surgery will consult with you. During the consultation, you should expect the following:

• Discussion about why you have opted for a Facelift and what your goals are in relation to the procedure
• Understanding your medical history
• Evaluating your health status
• The options available for your surgery
• An examination of the area to be treated, measurements (if relevant) and potentially, photography to record what the area looks like prior to the procedure being undertaken
• Explanation of the options, steps involved, future treatment, risks, and potential complications, if any

Feeling apprehensive before the surgery takes place is entirely normal. Be sure to discuss any fears or concerns you have with your surgeon and don’t hesitate to ask any questions related to the results you hope to achieve.

Being well informed is being well prepared. Apart from checking that your clinic and doctors have the necessary skills, knowledge and experience, here are some more areas that you should explore:

• How many years of experience do you have as a Plastic Surgeon?
• How many Facelifts have you done?
• Where will the Facelift be conducted?
• Is the clinic prepared and certified to undertake surgery for a Facelift?
• What are the most common complications experienced by your patients? And how were they handled?
• Do you have a “before” and “after” photo album of similar surgeries?
• Am I a good candidate for a Facelift?
• What can I expect after a Facelift?
• What precautions would I need to take before and after the surgery?
• How many days will I take to recover fully?
• What should I do for a quick recovery?
• Will the shape and appearance of the area to be treated change over time? If yes, how?
• What are the risks involved in this surgery?
• What treatment option/ technique will be used for me?

Please feel free to add any more questions that you wish to this list before your consultation.

After your initial consultation, you will need to make the final decision regarding your surgeon. Never choose your surgeon simply based on how much the treatment will cost. Instead, focus on the following:

License & certification – is the surgeon licensed and certified to conduct surgery for a Facelift by a reputable body?

Expertise & experience – the number of years of experience/ how many Facelifts the surgeon has performed previously

Before/ after pictures – evidencing their capability of past performance

Clarity on possible results – whether they are providing you with realistic expectations and honest feedback

Professionalism & comfort factor – if you feel comfortable with the professionalism and manners of a surgeon, and feel you can trust him/her with your face and body then that’s the surgeon you should consider

Safety philosophy – if the surgeon is ready to put you at risk by recommending or agreeing to perform multiple unrelated surgeries and/or procedures on the same day or within a short period of time, you should refuse to proceed and go elsewhere.

Patient testimonials & reviews – A good reputation and a large number of positive patient testimonials and reviews on independent forums should be an important consideration in your process of choosing the right surgeon

Keep in mind that there are hidden costs in the long term and greater risks (including threat to life), associated with a surgery where costs, safety and skills are compromised. Always be wary of a plastic surgeon or clinic that is offering very low costs and/ or miraculous results.

After your initial consultation with the surgeon, once you are satisfied with the outcome of the ensuing discussions and have confirmed that you will go ahead with your chosen consultant, a date will be fixed for the procedure.

Facelift surgery can be on an outpatient basis, but an overnight stay may be required, depending on if your surgery will be performed under local or general anesthesia. In the unlikely event of complications, an overnight stay may be required for outpatients, or inpatients may face a longer stay, should the attending doctor make the recommendation. Before you come in for your procedure, we recommend that you plan accordingly.

Here are some of the important steps that you must take before the procedure:

• Discuss all medication and vitamins that you regularly use with your consultant to see if you should stop taking them before surgery and, if so, for how long. For example, any medications and vitamins that interfere with your body’s blood clotting ability, such as Vitamin E, will need to be stopped completely prior to surgery.
• Smokers should quit at least two months prior to surgery; smoking interferes with the efficiency of blood flow to the skin which may have an impact on achieving optimal results and increase the risk of complications.
• You should be in the best possible health and at a stable weight; ensuring that you follow a healthy, balanced diet prior to surgery will help you to be in optimal physical condition to help promote the best outcome

Our surgeon and patient counselor will guide you thoroughly about what you need to do so that you are completely at ease and ready for surgery and beyond.

• Immediately after the surgery, dressings will be placed on your face with a drainage tube to get rid of any excess blood or fluid. The tube is normally removed and the dressings changed the following day.
• A few days after the procedure, the dressings are usually removed and replaced with a special elastic facial sling that provides support and aids healing.
• Sutures are usually removed between 5-10 days after the procedure.
• You should expect some discomfort and pain after the surgery, particularly within the first two days when the bruising and swelling is at its worst. This will be controlled with a pain management plan, which will be explained to you by your surgeon, and you will be given a course of antibiotics to help avoid infection.
• Once discharged, you will need to have regular follow ups with your surgeon to check on your healing and care for the wound.
• You may experience some numbness and muscle stiffness, which is absolutely normal and will subside as you recover.
• Recovery takes around two weeks, during which time you should avoid wearing make-up and washing your hair.
• You should avoid direct sun exposure to the incision for three weeks and use a high-factor sunscreen or a hat afterwards
• Hair should not be exposed to any harsh chemical treatments – such as coloring or bleaching, perms or chemical straightening- for a minimum of six weeks.
• Most people are able to resume exercise after six to eight weeks under the consultant’s supervision.
• Scarring will take around a year to fade. In the meantime, the hair can be styled to cover the scars.