Face Lift Information in Mexico
Warning: Content may not be suitable for children, contains nudity & graphic surgical procedures.
There are many factors that contribute to the aging process of our Face:
Sun exposure, smoking, and variations of weight, menopause, and the aging process. Also the genetically information of our skin, somebody with a thin and with skin will age sooner that a patient with a thicker and darker skin (not necessary but most of the time) the aging process in the face is divided in several degrees, and affects different part of our face.
Face Lift Evaluation
In order to evaluate the aging process in a potential patient it is always use full to ask for photographs when the patient was young; this will help us understand: evaluation of the brows, asymmetries on the face, volume in the cheek bone, type of smile, definition in the jowl line, and neck, volume and distance of the lips from the nose.
Base on this changes we will plan the operation according to the necessary steps to bring the face to look like it was years a go.
Face Lift Cheek Surgery
On the aging process on the cheek the patient normally looks a lost of volume in the cheek bone, emptiness in the tear trot, prominent naso labial fold, and the deposit of jowls (with is the sliding of the SMAS or muscular system of the face).
The first evaluation I make on the patient who much skin is in front of the ear (a pinch test will determine the amount of skin to be removed) and the appearance of a wrinkle in front of the ear is a sing of redundancy of skin. This patient will benefit more from a cheek lift: basically an incision in front of the ear following the natural curve of the ear, behind the triages, and around the earlobe, we undermine the skin, and do a placation of the SMAS, at the level of the cheek bone, this will correct the jowls and bring back volume to the face, and will make your result last longer. One of the most important details is to avoid the excess of tension in the sure line; this will make sure you have a good scar with out tension. Also the suture of the wound in several layers helps.
Intra Oral Face Lift
If the patient is complaining of premature aging (early 40’s) but doesn’t have excess of skin, but notice reduce volume in the cheek bone, the presents’ of the naso labial fold, and small jowls, the alternative procedure are:
The intra oral face lift, or the Centro facial face lift is basically an incision inside the mouth, (a bob the canine) where an incision is made in the temporal area ( a bob the cyber) I undermine and realize the malar fat pat, and place 2 sutures to elevate the malar fat pat and bring the center of the face up, fix the sutures in the temporal area. This procedure is done in 30 min, and patients expect to have swelling for 5 to 7 days. The only inconvenience with this technique is the patient will be un able to move the upper lip for the next 4 to 6 weeks and it is 100% reversible.
Neck lift: the aging process in the neck usually involves fat deposits, de appearance of muscle bands, and the sagginess of skin. The neck lift begin with a incision under the chin, I undermine the skin, remove the fat, and tighten the muscles to the middle line. Then I continue the incisions behind the ear and into the hair line, undermine the skin up to the middle line, continue with muscle tighten and removal of the excess of skin in back of the ear. It is important to avoid excessive tension to minimize the scar..
There are a number of additional procedures that can be done at the time of the face lift:
Lower eyelids: normally a incision in under the lashes, elevation of the skin, small removal of muscle, and possible removal of fat depending on the patient need. The scar is usual invisible in just couple of weeks.
Dermoabration: is a mechanical scraping of the skin, were we remove the 2 superficial layers of skin usually develop a scab, and new skin will be present in 5 to 6 days typically around the mouth, the crows feet, and the frown line.
Filers: with the aging process around the mouth has lost of volume and fine lines the use of a filer will have 2 intentions: definition long the edge, and volume of the red lip.
How is done:
This procedure is done under general anesthesia in most of the cases, or twilight sedation and local. A full face lift is done in 2 to 3 hours. Our patients spend the first night at the clinic, and next day I check every ting before they go home or to the hotel.
Face Lift FAQ
HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED BROW LIFT OR UPPER EYELIDS SURGERY?
It is very common for patients to requests upper eyelid surgery and almost 80% of the patients I evaluate need a brow lift, why?
The answer is simple. Go back and evaluate a picture of you 20 years ago, and compare what happened to your eyes, your brows… bingo. Most patients find that their brows used to be in a higher position and they pretty much had the same amount of skin. Only lels than 20% of the patients genetically has a lot of excess of skin in there younger age.
This is a procedure that is easy to present to the patient you simply elevate the brow of the patient in front of the mirror and you simply ask you like it or not. This will simulate the result of the brow lift.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO HAVE FACE LIFT?
Personally I never read this answer in any book but I found it by communicating with my patients!
For so many years I have patients asking this question, either they are looking for the right answer even if in their heart they know its time they need some body to reassure they needs.
The best answer for this question is: when you wake up in the morning you look at your face in the mirror and you use your fingers to pull your face back “this is the right time to have a face lift” you just wake up fresh and your face does not look fresh.
Face Lift Post Operative Instructions
Ice all day long, slip with your head elevated at 45 degrees, daily shower and clean the scabs of the wounds with a q-tip and hydrogen peroxide once a day, meals soft and not hot , avoid any strenuous exercise bending over or pick up heavy stuff (no more that 5 lbs), never apply any heat, roll down a gauze to help drain any collection of blood behind your ear., take your antibiotic and pain relive as prescribe, you can also take some slipping pills the fist couple of days. If there is an incision in side your mouth, don’t use a mouth wash, only a baby tooth brush, sutures must be remove 7 to 10 days postoperative after 4 to 5 days you can apply petrolatum Vaseline to wet the tape in forehead and neck, and gently peel of., is eyelid surgery don’t’ wear contact Lents un till Dr. suggested, resume work out after 4 to 6 weeks
Face Lift After Care
Suggestion for a rapid recovery: slip at 45 degrees with head elevated, ice all day long in the face, arnica (tables or tea is a homeopathic herb) every 3 hours, pineapple fruit or juice, minimal physical effort.
All of this will reduce the chances of a lot of swelling, but some patient will swell no matter what and that is normal. The worst amount of swelling is at day 3 to 5. Patients must have a daily shower
Important things not to do: no slipping flat of head down, no application of heat, no hard thing to chew, no exercise, no moping or cleaning. The next follow up visit is at one weak normally to remove of stitches. The patient expects to see their face normal after 1 to 2 weeks. He or she will feel tightness and be swollen. Numbness will continue for the next 3 months and the best result of the scar and numbness will fully recover in one year.
