If you wish to look younger and better and contemplating any treatment, a trip to India to get a facelift just might be the perfect solution. A facelift is a surgical procedure and is clinically known as rhytidectomy. It is a procedure that facilitates the removal of excess skin to make the person appear younger and better than before. As a person ages his or her skin also ages and thereby the skin becomes loose and also loses its elasticity. Along with the sagging of the skin the muscle tone and fat also disappears. However one can get a correction of these issues through a facelift.

There are also many associated procedures such as liposuction, blepharoplasty, and removal of cheek fat pad. These additional procedures may be required to be done to achieve an overall and all inclusive improvement. Some of the common procedures include necklift, autologous fat injection, forehead lift and brow lift. Some people may also opt for chemical or laser peel and implants for the cheek and chin.

In India you can have your facelift surgery at very competitive and low rates. The person wanting to undergo the facelift procedure should be in general good health and should have realistic expectations about the outcome of the surgery.

In the following sections, we will be covering:

1. Types and procedure of Facelift
2. Symptoms, diagnosis and medical tests needed for Facelift
3. After effects of Facelift
4. Preparation needed for Facelift
5. Frequently asked questions about Facelift
6. Factors affecting the cost of treatment of Facelift

Types of Facelift

You have seven types of facelifts.

• Lower facelift and lower Neck Lift
• Upper facelift
• Full facelift
• S-lift (a minimal incision facelift)
• Classic necklift
• Lower face and neck lift
• Suture neck lift

Lower facelift and lower Neck lift: In this facelift importance and focus is on the lower third of the face. To ensure that the results for the neck and the face match the neck lift is also done.

Upper facelift: The upper half of the face that is the region of the face from the cheek to the jowls is targeted during this procedure.

Full facelift: When there is a need or requirement to tighten the skin all over the face then a full facelift procedure is opted for. In this facelift the neck is also touched up to ensure that the skin in the neck does not show any difference from the skin in the face.

S-lift: An S-lift procedure is done when a person has sagging skin along the jaw line and along the top half of the neck. .

Classic necklift: As the name suggests the Classic necklift is done if a person has sagging skin around the neck which they wish to turn into a sharp and youthful neck contour.

Lower face and neck lift: This procedure aims at improving the looks of the lower face and neck.

Suture necklift: This procedure aims at neck rejuvenating and contouring of the skin of the neck results in a youthful appearance. In this procedure to suspend sagging tissue collagen strips made from cow tissue is used. In time, this is replaced by human tissue.

Facelift ​ Procedure

The steps for the facelift procedure are as follows:

• Anesthesia
• Incision
• Closing the incision
• Go home and follow up

In most cases local anesthetic will be used and the operation will be an outpatient one. The patient will be given mild sedatives along with the anaesthesia to perform the facelift. The patient will not feel any discomfort at all.

The surgeon during the facelift process will make an incision that follows the hairline, goes around the earlobe and ends at the bottom of the hairline. The surgeon then separates the fat and muscle lying underneath the skin. To reshape the contours of the face the surgeon may suction off this fat..

As part of the procedure the mass of tissue underneath the skin, called the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) is tightened. This is done by pulling it back over itself. The definition of the jaw line increases when the SMAS is pulled over the jaw over itself which makes the neck firm.

To continue with the procedure the surgeon then pulls the skin back over the area and uses a knife or laser to trim the excess skin. One can imagine this through an analogy that we can easily relate to - that of pulling a carpet over the floor and then stretch it to make it tight.

Surtures are used close the incision or at times skin glue might be used. The stitches remain invisible as they go under the hairline. The normal time taken for this procedure is between two and four hours. Post the surgery the patient's face and neck will remain wrapped in bandages.

Symptoms, diagnosis and medical tests needed for Facelift

The appearance of wrinkles is the best sign that a facelift is required. The lack of firmness of the skin and the increased number of wrinkles on the face are symptoms in this case. These occur due to one of the following causes:

• Heredity
• Force of habit
• Pull of gravity
• Improper diet
• Exposure to the elements

As part of the preparation for the surgery the doctor will order a series of test to check whether the person is physically prepared for the facelift surgery. This will involve one or more of the following tests:

1. Tests to rule out anaemia
2. Tests to rule out clotting disorder
3. Testing to check for exposure to HIV or Hepatitis C
4. Check for health factors such as diabetes
5. Females of the child bearing age will be given a urine pregnancy test

After effects of the facelift

Some degree of bruising and pain will be experienced by the patient and there will be swelling all over the face for some time. To keep the swelling down one may use a cold compress. While lying down, the patient must keep the face in an elevated position. For two to three weeks after the surgery the patient must avoid hard work.

Preparations needed for facelift surgery

Two weeks before the scheduled surgery, the patient must stop all medicines that prolong bleeding. This includes analgesics, high dose vitamin E, Motrin, aspirin, herbal medication, and fish oil. For food intake or diet, it is advised that high salt content has to be avoided from two days before the day of the surgery. Smoking needs to be stopped 15 days prior to the surgery as well as 15 days post the surgery which will help in the healing process.

Lab testing and an evaluation will be needed to be done. As per the reports medicines will be given before the surgery. The facial skin must undergo preparation by applying certain substances.

Factors affecting the cost of treatment of Facelift

The elements that will affect the cost of the treatment include the following:

• The amount of work involved or needed in restructuring the face.
• The type of facelift that was chosen.
• The hospital chosen for the treatment.
• The hospital room chosen simple or deluxe.
• Doctors' fees surgeon, anaesthetist, and dietician.
• Nursing fee
• Medicine Costs
• Fee for diagnostic tests
• Operating room as well as ICU charges.
• Cost of Follow-up procedures