As people age, the effects of gravity, exposure to the sun, and the stresses of daily life can be seen in their faces. Deep creases form between the nose and mouth; the jaw line grows slack and jowly; folds and fat deposits appear around the neck. A facelift (technically known as rhytidectomy) can 't stop this aging process. What it can do is "set back the clock," improving the most visible signs of aging by removing excess fat, tightening under lying muscles, and re-draping the skin of your face and neck. A facelift can be done alone, or in conjunction with other procedures such as a forehead lift, eyelid surgery, or nose reshaping. If you 're considering a facelift, the following information will give you a basic understanding of the procedure-when it can help, how it 's performed, and what results you can expect. It can 't answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient and the surgeon. Please ask your surgeon about anything you don 't understand. The best candidates for a facelift The best candidate for a facelift is a man or woman whose face and neck have begun to sag, but whose skin still has some elasticity and whose bone structure is strong and well defined. Most patients are in their forties to sixties, …show more content…
It 's usually done on an outpatient basis, but some surgeons may hospitalize patients for a day when using general anesthesia. Certain conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure should be monitored after surgery, and may also require a short inpatient stay. Types of anesthesia Most facelifts are performed under local anesthesia, combined with a sedative to make you drowsy. You 'll be awake but relaxed, and your face will be insensitive to pain. (However, you may feel some tugging or occasional discomfort.) Some surgeons prefer a general anesthesia. In that case, you 'll sleep through the operation. The