Recently, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of men and women seeking help from plastic surgeons to improve their appearance. A young and well-groomed face in our time is the key to success in almost all areas of activity, so a circular face and neck lift is gradually becoming one of the most common plastic surgeries in Russia.

Unfortunately, aging of the soft tissues of the face is inevitable and is part of the body’s natural general biological changes. First of all, the following anatomical structures are subject to involutional changes: skin, fatty body of the cheek (Bishat's lump), superficial muscular aponeurotic system (SMAS system).

Age-related changes are largely due to a decrease in the supporting collagen structures in soft tissues and the effect of gravity on them. As a result, tissues sag downwards - eyebrows, upper and lower eyelids, cheeks. Infraorbital and nasolabial grooves are formed and deepened. Age-related changes also affect the neck - the skin becomes flabby, horizontal wrinkles form, and the cervical-mental angle disappears. Various somatic diseases, exposure to harmful environmental factors and bad habits can accelerate the aging process of facial soft tissues. Thus, under the influence of a complex of reasons, by the age of 40, facial wrinkles are formed in the forehead, eyes, nasolabial, infraorbital furrows, the oval of the face changes, and then it becomes clear that even professional cosmetological care is not enough.

History of the facelift

• 1906 - the first mention of surgical correction of age-related changes in the soft tissues of the face
• 1926 - a technique for excision of excess skin around the eyes and temporal areas is described
• 1974 - the facelift technique was described, during which plastic surgery was carried out not only of the skin, but also of the muscular-fascial complex
• 1976 - the anatomy of the musculoaponeurotic layer was described in detail and the term SMAS (subcutaneous musculoaponeurotic system) was introduced.
• 1979 - a technique for subperiosteal skin tightening of the forehead and middle third of the face is described; a method for moving composite (multicomponent) flaps has been developed
• 1982 - a method for resection and fixation of SMAS was developed

Since then, numerous modifications and combinations of facelift methods have continued to develop. Modern knowledge and many years of scientific and practical research into the anatomy of the human face have made facelift surgery as effective and safe as possible.

When is a facelift indicated?

As a rule, at the age of 40-50 years, the skin of the face and neck is significantly susceptible to stretching and sagging. Sometimes, due to individual characteristics, serious correction of appearance is required at an earlier age (premature aging at 30-35 years). Of course, there is also a non-surgical method of tightening with Aptos threads, but it works effectively when there is no need to move large excess skin. Lifting surgery, or facelift, allows you to influence the soft tissues of the face and neck, successfully eliminating any manifestations of age-related changes, even if they are severe.

Indications for surgery

• Sagging forehead and eyebrow skin
• Formation of wrinkles in the bridge of the nose
• Ptosis of the eyelids
• Pronounced wrinkles in the temporomygomatic region
• Drooping of the outer corners of the eyes
• Deep vertical wrinkles on the cheeks
• Deep nasolabial folds
• Ptosis of the soft tissues of the cheeks below the edge of the lower jaw (“jowls”)
• "Double chin
• Formation of pronounced wrinkles and folds on the neck

Contraindications

• Severe diseases of internal organs
• Infectious diseases
• Oncological diseases

Preoperative preparation of the patient

• 2 weeks before surgery, do not take medications that affect blood clotting (for example, aspirin, cough suppressants)
• The day before surgery, spend a “fasting” day (light food in small quantities)
• The morning before surgery, do not eat or drink anything.
• Bleeding disorders

Anesthesia

A circular face and neck lift is a long operation (4-5 hours) requiring general anesthesia - inhalation anesthesia. Lifting of individual areas of the face, for example, the forehead and eyebrows, can be performed under local anesthesia or intravenous anesthesia.

Operation

During the operation, by removing excess skin and tightening it, strengthening deep-lying muscular aponeurotic structures (SMAS tightening), and using the liposuction method, it is possible to eliminate large folds and wrinkles, improve the oval of the face and correct age-related changes in the neck area. It should be noted that isolated skin tightening without affecting the SMAS structures, if necessary, gives a short-term aesthetic result.

Endoscopic facelift

Endoscopic lifting is a modern facelift technique. All surgical procedures during endoscopic lifting are performed with thin fiber-optic endoscopes. Endoscopes are passed under the skin through 4-5 micro-incisions (up to 1 cm long) located on the scalp. Endoscopic facelift is usually used to tighten the skin of the upper third of the face. It can be used to tighten the midsection in individuals with minimal soft tissue sagging.

Postoperative period

• Hospital stay 2-3 days
• In the postoperative period, it is necessary to wear a special compression mask for a week
• Postoperative swelling reaches its peak on days 2–3 after surgery and subsides by the end of the first week.
• The sutures in front of the ears are removed on days 6-7 (to form a flat, invisible scar), in the scalp - on days 10 after surgery
• You can wash your hair a week after surgery, dye your hair - after a month
• One week after surgery, you can use decorative cosmetics
• After 10-14 days the patient can return to his workplace
• No sports (heavy loads) for 1.5 months
• You can sunbathe and visit the sauna after 1 month
• After 3-4 weeks, to achieve better results, it is advisable to conduct a course of lymphatic drainage massage; before this time, facial massage is contraindicated
• The final result of the operation is formed by the end of the second month, when the swelling of the skin finally disappears

Complications

Most likely complications:

• Swelling of the facial skin and bruises - mild when using fibrin glue, go away on their own
• Skin pigmentation - occurs in patients with sensitive and delicate skin due to intradermal hemorrhages, disappears on its own within six months after surgery
• Temporary hair loss around skin incisions in the scalp, subsequently their growth is restored independently

Rare complications:

• Bleeding in the postoperative period -1%
• Necrosis of the edges of skin flaps - less than 1% (the risk of occurrence increases in chronic smokers and elderly patients)
• Damage to the branches of the facial nerve
• Weakness of individual facial muscles - less than 1% (disappears on its own within 3-6 months)
• Damage to the branches of the ear nerve, temporary loss of earlobe sensitivity - less than 1%
• Infection of postoperative wounds
• Hypertrophic scars occur when the patient has an individual tendency to form rough scars

Results

A circular face and neck lift will help patients look 7-8 years younger. The final result largely depends on the patient’s age, the initial condition of the skin, the presence of concomitant diseases and bad habits, and lifestyle characteristics (work, nutrition, etc.). The same factors will determine the duration of the anti-aging effect after surgery. Repeated facelifts can be carried out at intervals of 5-10 years. Therapeutic cosmetic procedures significantly delay the period of reoperation. Mesotherapy, photorejuvenation, lymphatic drainage massage and masks consolidate the results for many years and prevent the recurrence of ptosis of the soft tissues of the face and deep wrinkles.

After facelift surgery, a light sterile gauze pad will be placed over the incision areas and secured with an elastic bandage around the head. The bandage is also fixed to the chin - this will prevent it from slipping. If the bandage is too tight, you can ask the doctor or nurse to loosen it. The bandage will be changed the day after surgery. During dressing, the wound is surgically treated with various antiseptic solutions. If blood leaks through the bandage, this should not be a cause for concern. This happens quite often - just call a nurse and she will solve this problem.

Drains

During the tightening, one or two drains are installed with a bulb designed to collect ichor; however, drains are not always necessary. If drainage is not installed, the liquid is gradually absorbed by the body. It is important to keep the bulbs compressed to maintain negative pressure. To do this, open the valve, squeeze the air out of the bulb, and then close the valve while the bulb is compressed. Although drains help remove excess fluid, they also increase the risk of infection, making it especially important to take the prescribed antibiotics. After a facelift, drains are usually removed during dressing the day after surgery.

Teeth and hair care

After facelift surgery, your hair will be processed before a bandage is applied. It is recommended to refrain from washing your hair for the first 48 hours after surgery. This measure is taken to protect the suture area and prevent bleeding from them. If you dye your hair, we hope you have done this before your facelift, as it may take 4 to 8 weeks before your doctor allows you to dye it again (preparing for facelift surgery). After facelift surgery, you may have difficulty opening your mouth. In these cases, use a children's toothbrush and mouthwash.

Diet

During the entire recovery period after a facelift, it is recommended to start eating with a liquid diet, with a gradual transition to soft foods and familiar foods. However, if surgery was done through the mouth, your doctor may place restrictions on certain foods. Juice, jelly, broth, and yogurt are all good foods to start with. (Yogurt is especially beneficial because it balances the balance of natural bacteria in your gut, which can be disrupted by taking antibiotics.)

Activity

The recommended rest after facelift surgery does not mean bed rest. However, returning to work too quickly, with its stress, will negatively affect the healing process. The less you strain after a facelift, the faster the period of complete healing will occur. No physical activity, bending over, sex or physical stress. Leave all this for a period of a week to two after the operation. Any factor that increases your blood pressure increases your risk of bleeding and bruising. Get detailed advice from your doctor if your blood pressure increases.

Edema and hematoma

Facial swelling is common after surgery. This is especially pronounced 2-3 days after facelift surgery. Sometimes this is accompanied by swelling around the eyes. However, no need to worry. From this moment on, the swelling will subside. Bruising may appear - these are all stages of the natural healing process. Cold compresses should be applied for 20 minutes and a break of 20 minutes during the entire period of wakefulness. This procedure reduces swelling and reduces discomfort. Ice should not be placed directly on the skin of the face as the skin's temperature sensitivity may still be impaired and this may cause skin damage. Positioning in bed with your head and shoulders elevated also reduces swelling after a facelift.

If you find areas of compaction in the cheeks or under the chin, then do not worry. This is a natural process and over time these areas will dissolve. If a purple color appears and the swelling increases in size, contact your doctor immediately. You need to make sure that it is not a hematoma. The hematoma during the recovery period changes color from blue to purple then to green and yellow before. The use of arnica and vitamin K preparations is recommended, which reduce swelling and bruising. However, before using them, you should consult with the operating surgeon. The hematoma completely disappears 1-2 weeks after the operation and you will already begin to enjoy your new appearance.

Seams

Some of the stitches placed during a facelift are removed after 5 days. Other sutures, typically placed in high-tension areas, may remain in place longer. These seams are well hidden in the hair and provide additional support. Such sutures are removed 10-14 days after the facelift surgery. The suture after the operation will look normal after two weeks, but its color will remain pink for a longer period. Local therapy with special ointments and some types of physical therapy are used to improve the appearance of the suture.

Sensitivity

After a facelift, you will have areas of decreased sensitivity for some time. Sensitivity will return within a few weeks to months. Be careful as reduced skin sensitivity carries the risk of burns from cold compresses, curling irons, and hair dryers. Some patients experience discomfort in the ear area. It is possible that blood may have leaked into the outer ear opening during the facelift surgery and needs to be cleaned out. Sometimes, irritation of a nerve located in the neck (the greater auditory nerve) can cause discomfort after surgery.

Full rehabilitation after a circular facelift as a rejuvenating procedure is considered an invariable condition. The circumferential lift has several alternative names - rhytidectomy or facelift. And although this procedure is considered relatively new, it already has many fans around the world. And indeed, why go under the knife of a plastic surgeon if there is the safest and most effective tightening technique?

Of course, like most cosmetic procedures, a circular lift has a number of contraindications and possible side effects. But the high-quality work of a competent craftsman will negate all possible risks. And some of the difficulties of the rehabilitation period are forgotten at the sight of young and beautiful facial skin.

How long does rehabilitation take?

The rehabilitation period after a circular facelift can take some time. Moreover, the time period required for complete recovery is individual for each patient. The speed of rehabilitation directly depends on the patient’s age, the characteristics of her skin and general health.

As a rule, if the operation was successful and did not cause any side effects, rehabilitation after a facelift goes quite quickly. 3 weeks after the operation, the patient can begin to perform her work duties.

The average duration of the rehabilitation period after a circular lift takes 1-2 months.

The recovery period after the facelift procedure has a number of features:

• A circular facelift leaves multiple swelling on the patient’s face. They are the result of disruption of small vessels during surgery. To solve this problem, a special compression bandage is applied to the woman’s face. In the case of normal functioning of the body, with the help of this bandage, swelling disappears already 4 days after the intervention. Hematomas appear much less frequently than edema. As a rule, all external manifestations of the postoperative period disappear on the 10th day after surgery.
• A circumferential face and neck lift is not considered a complex operation. For this reason, to relieve possible pain, it will be enough to take regular painkillers.
• As a rule, sutures are removed on the 3rd day after surgery. They are replaced with special strip strips.

Due to the tightening of the dermis and the removal of excess fat from the subcutaneous space, the patient may feel discomfort in the form of tightness of the skin at the incision sites. The affected areas may also experience tingling and numbness. Usually these symptoms go away on their own after the skin has completely healed.

You will learn more about restoration from the video:

To ensure that facelift tightening does not cause unforeseen complications, you should follow simple cosmetic recommendations in the postoperative period:

• The patient is recommended to sleep exclusively on her back for at least 2 weeks for faster tissue restoration and consolidation of the positive effect obtained.
• For six months after the intervention, you should avoid visiting the solarium and exposing your face to direct sunlight.
• Follow a daily routine and diet.
• Optimal alternation of physical work and rest.
• Also, a woman should minimize sports activities at least for the first time after a facelift.
• It is not recommended to use aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs 2 weeks before and after surgery.
• Cold compresses for the eyes using gauze or soft cloth will have a good effect.
• The first time after the procedure, it is recommended to sit, stand and walk more to consolidate the resulting tightening effect.
• It is worth taking antibiotics for 5 days to avoid possible inflammatory processes.

Compliance with all the basic rules of the recovery period will help the skin remain beautiful and tight for a long time after the rhytidectomy procedure.

During the first time after surgery, a woman may experience difficulty eating, especially if the oral cavity has been affected. During the entire rehabilitation period, the patient is recommended to adhere to a diet, eating only liquid food. Gradually, a transition is made to softer foods and, finally, a return to the usual diet.

Various juices, broths, jelly and yogurts are especially useful during the recovery period. The latter is especially relevant during this period, because yogurt restores intestinal microflora, which can be disrupted by taking antibiotics.

The recovery period after a circular facelift involves some changes in the patient's lifestyle and habits. In order for the recovery to take place as quickly and successfully as possible, a woman should take into account some subtleties. So, in the postoperative period, the patient is allowed to:

1. On day 2-3 you can wash your hair; a visit to the hairdresser after a total facelift is possible on day 7-8.
2. On the 10th day, it is permissible to apply light makeup to the face.
3. After a month, you can perform a lymphatic drainage massage procedure.
4. At the end of the rehabilitation period, it is permissible to consolidate the tightening effect using mesotherapy or Botox injections.

The rehabilitation period after rhytidectomy imposes certain restrictions on the patient. So, at first it is not recommended for her:

1. Drive a car (the first week after the procedure);
2. Do a facial massage;
3. Swim in pools and open water;
4. Smoking and drinking alcohol;
5. Lighten and color hair.

In case of insufficient preliminary examination of the patient’s body before the tightening procedure, certain difficulties may arise at the exit. Thus, the most important side effects after a circular facelift surgery are:

1. Inflammation at the incision sites. Formed as a result of insufficient preliminary disinfection of work areas.
2. Damage to the facial nerve. It can form due to insufficiently qualified actions of a plastic surgeon.
3. Facial asymmetry. Occurs due to uneven tissue distribution.
4. The appearance of keloid scars. It is considered an individual reaction of the body to making incisions.
5. In some cases, postoperative sutures are clearly visible. Usually this problem is solved by using absorbable ointments.
6. Excessive stretching of the skin.

In addition to scarring, swelling and possible bruising, the following complications may occur after a circular facelift:

Necrosis. Ignoring problems with sutures can cause a complication in the form of necrosis - tissue death. This problem can occur as a result of too much tissue tension or detachment. As a result, the seam line does not close. The area around the ears is especially susceptible to necrosis. In addition to medical errors, the cause of necrosis can be the presence of diabetes mellitus or atherosclerosis in the patient.

Wound suppuration. Hematomas, necrosis, and the entry of various foreign bodies into the wound provoke inflammatory processes and the release of purulent fluid. To avoid such a problem, the wound area is washed several times during the operation, and upon completion, a drainage system is installed to drain excess fluid.

Facial oval deformation. Sometimes patients complain of persistent subcutaneous lumps after surgery. The problem is usually corrected with repeat surgery.

Hair loss. Postoperative sutures are often located on the scalp. For this reason, there is often a significant reduction in the amount of hair in the parotid and temporal zones. The main factor is considered to be damage to the skin and hair follicles. In most cases, the problem resolves on its own 3-4 months after the lift. If this does not happen, it is necessary to excise the scar interfering with growth or transplant skin from other areas.

Real photos of the results of a circular facelift will help you evaluate the effectiveness of the procedure. It is not difficult to notice the amazing effect after using this rejuvenating technique.

A circular facelift is a modern, safe and effective way to correct facial contours and problem areas. Of course, the maximum effect will be achieved if all safety rules are observed and the doctor’s qualifications are followed. Therefore, the patient should approach the choice of a lift specialist as carefully as possible.

Having decided to undergo rhytidectomy - a facelift - you need to carefully weigh the pros and cons, the pros and cons of this operation. The first adviser in this matter is a plastic surgeon, who, after examining the condition of the skin, will determine which methods will be most effective in achieving the goals. The level of development of postoperative complications depends on the chosen methods and techniques.

There are expected postoperative side effects that always occur after surgical interventions, since the very fact of intrusion into the body’s functioning causes an immediate response on its part to outside intervention. You need to be prepared for such consequences. Usually these are bruises, microhematomas and swelling.

However, there are complications of a completely different kind that require urgent treatment and can even threaten the patient’s life. The absence of serious complications after a facelift and the comfortable course of the recovery period are largely due to the degree of professional training of the surgeon. But nevertheless, surgeons are not gods, and the patient must be aware of possible risks and complications in order to be psychologically prepared. As the ancient sages said: “praemonitus, praemunitus” - forewarned is forearmed.

Classification of complications after rhytidectomy

Thus, all complications are divided into:

• predicted (early);
• late ones are heavy.

Early complications include:

• swelling;
• bruises;
• microhematomas.

Predicted or early complications usually do not pose serious concerns and, as a rule, go away on their own within a few days.

Tissue swelling occurs as a reaction of the body to a violation of tissue integrity. Swelling occurs even with the most minor surgical interventions. Edema is the accumulation of fluid in facial tissues or in the space between tissues. The cause of edema is the accumulation of lymph as a result of the active work of the human immune system, which tries to minimize the consequences of surgery.

Much less often, postoperative inflammatory processes can be the cause of edema. As a rule, swelling as a result of inflammatory processes is accompanied by high temperature and local hyperemia of the skin.

Advanced edema can be a serious inflammatory process and have unpleasant consequences, so you need to know how to quickly eliminate it.

Bruises and microhematomas appear a day later and are often postoperative accompaniments of edema. To prevent the development of persistent swelling and bruising, cold compresses should be applied and held for 20 minutes, every 20 minutes.

Compresses will help reduce swelling and bruising, as well as reduce the level of discomfort in the facial area. It should be noted that the ice is not applied directly to the skin, but is placed in a special container like a heating pad. Helps quickly eliminate edema - sleep on a high pillow with your head elevated.

Late complications include:

• bleeding;
• hematomas;
• seromas;
• damage to the facial nerves;
• flap necrosis;
• infection and suppuration of wounds;
• formation of hypertrophic scar tissue;
• hair loss along the suture line;
• deformation of the auricle;
• damage to the parotid glands.

Bleeding is the result of damage to blood vessels during surgery. This complication is often accompanied by pain and swelling. To eliminate bleeding, coagulation of damaged vessels is carried out, as well as inspection of suspicious areas that can cause bleeding. As a result of bleeding, hematomas may occur. Certain people experience bleeding more often than others. These people are at increased risk of bleeding because they have problems with blood clotting.

Hematomas are the most common complications after a facelift. Hematomas develop during the first days after surgery. The reason for the formation of hematomas is:

• high blood pressure;
• bleeding disorders as a result of taking certain medications;
• damage to blood vessels.

Hematoma is characterized by the following symptoms:

• pain;
• increase in tissue volume (edema);
• feeling of tension;
• pulsations;
• redness or bluishness of the skin.

In most cases, hematomas disappear without a trace, without causing more serious complications.

Small hematomas are punctured using a needle that is inserted through the surgical wound. Large hematomas require repeated surgical intervention to identify the cause of bleeding and reliably stop it. Treatment of hematoma consists of removing blood clots, washing the wound and electrocoagulation of damaged vessels. It is necessary to re-introduce drainage and apply a compression bandage.

Untimely treatment of a hematoma can lead to very serious consequences, for example, necrosis of the skin flap. This happens in the case of a rapidly growing hematoma. In addition, the accumulation of fluid is an excellent environment for the growth of microorganisms, which contributes to infection and suppuration of postoperative wounds.

Like a hematoma, seroma develops in the first hours and days after surgery. The causes of gray are as follows:

• damage to lymphatic vessels;
• the occurrence of inflammatory processes in areas of damaged tissue;
• high blood pressure;
• obesity;
• diabetes mellitus

To prevent the development of this complication, it is necessary to carefully examine the patient before surgery for contraindications to the operation or to eliminate causes that could cause complications in the future.

Small seromas resolve on their own. In other cases, puncture or vacuum aspiration is performed to remove fluid, followed by the installation of drainage tubes in the wound.

Damage to the facial nerves is a very common complication after a facelift. As a rule, the greater auricular nerve is damaged, which is easily found at the anterior edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. In this area, the skin flap becomes thinner. Symptoms of nerve damage include intense bleeding. Attempts to restore the nerve are not always successful. Failures provoke additional symptoms in the form of local sensitivity disorders and the formation of a neuroma.

Damage to the motor nerves also occurs, which can lead to paralysis or paresis of part of the face. This is an unfortunate outcome for both the patient and the surgeon. During the operation, it is impossible to know that the nerve has been damaged, but if the surgeon notices this, then it is necessary to try to eliminate its damage by anastomotization (connection).

Fortunately, practice shows that most motor nerve injuries recover on their own over time. But if recovery does not occur within one year, then facial tissue reconstruction can be performed: eyebrow lifting and eyelid restoration procedures.

Skin flap necrosis develops as a result of:

• circulatory disorders;
• excessive tissue tension when applying a suture;
• improper flap planning;
• damage to the subcutaneous plexus;
• some autoimmune and systemic diseases;
• smoking.

Most often, necrosis occurs in the postauricular and preauricular zones. If a facelift is performed at a deeper level with relocation of the SMAS complex, then in this case the risk of necrosis is much less, since a more intensively blood-supplied flap is created and its tension is reduced when suturing the edges of the wound.

Repeated mention of the negative impact of nicotine on the condition of blood vessels and blood supply is not for the sake of a nice word. The risk of developing necrosis in smokers prevails. Studies have shown that in heavy smokers, skin necrosis occurs 13 times more often than in non-smoking patients.

Diseases such as diabetes mellitus and vascular diseases of connective tissue can cause circulatory problems and require serious treatment before surgery.

Necrosis is expressed by the following symptoms:

• changes in skin color;
• numbness of part of the face;
• deterioration of general condition;
• changes in temperature indicators;
• tachycardia;
• swelling of tissues.

Therapeutic actions consist of daily treatment of the affected area with hydrogen peroxide and the use of antibacterial ointment. A course of antibiotic therapy is also mandatory. With the second tissue tension, the necrotic areas heal well. To improve the condition of an area with necrosis, constant monitoring and care of this area is required.

Infection and suppuration of wounds develop, as a rule, as a result of a hematoma that is not completely cured. And also due to necrosis of the edges of postoperative wounds. To resolve this problem, follow these steps:

• regular wound treatment with aseptic solutions;
• use of drainage systems;
• using a course of antibiotic therapy.

The formation of hypertrophic scar tissue occurs as a result of suturing the skin flap with excessive tension. The process of formation of scar tissue hypertrophy appears two weeks after surgery. The cosmetic seam begins to harden, becoming denser and thicker. Such metamorphoses strikingly distinguish it from normal skin. Treatment involves the use of hormone therapy (steroid injections) and cosmetic hardware procedures (laser, mechanical resurfacing) that can smooth out the scar and make it even with the skin. Surgical treatment of scars is used in the most extreme cases.

Hair loss along the suture line. Unevenness of the incision line can contribute to hair loss in the temple area and along the edges of hair growth where the incisions were made. Hair loss comes in two forms:

• local;
• generalized.

With local hair loss, the areas are located in the temporal and post-auricular areas. The causes of hair loss lie in damage to the layer of skin in which the hair follicles are located. Hair in the temporal region can be restored by transplanting a micrograft. Sometimes the hair follicles can regrow on their own, but if the flap is sutured with excessive tension and the hair follicles are damaged, the hair will not grow back. Hair restoration should occur approximately six months after surgery. If their recovery has not occurred during this time, then you can think about their transplantation.

A generalized form of hair loss develops as a result of a stressful situation. As a rule, a predisposition to general alopecia occurs in women with weak hair follicles.

Deformation of the auricle, or otherwise “satyr’s ear” or “devil’s ear,” occurs if the auricle is positioned incorrectly. As the ear heals, it droops, which contributes to its deformation. The best way to eliminate the defect is V-Y plastic surgery, but this can only be done six months after the main plastic surgery.

Damage to the parotid glands is very rare. The complication is eliminated by suturing the accessible part of the SMAS flap. If fluid accumulates, the area is aspirated, drainage tubes are placed, and a rigid bandage is then applied.

Psychological risks after rhytidectomy

Any surgical intervention is stressful for the body and it is natural that the patient may encounter psychological problems. There are times when the operation was performed flawlessly, but the patient is not happy with his “new face.” Even before the operation, each patient chooses a certain standard of appearance, what he wants to achieve. Striving to live up to his ideal in everything, he does not think about how the fictional ideal harmonizes with his own external data.

Sometimes some inadequate individuals fall into their own trap of “searching for the ideal appearance” and are constantly trying to fix something about themselves. Unfortunately, we all understand well what this leads to, and there are a lot of faces that look like frozen masks among public and ordinary people.

In addition, the patient must get used to his new image, and this adaptation may be accompanied by difficulties of a psychological nature. Relatives and friends, as well as work colleagues, may not accept the new appearance, which can cause disappointment in the person. In addition, a new image forms in a person a new model of social behavior. Therefore, having decided on facial plastic surgery, you need to visit not only a surgeon, but also a psychotherapist for psychological support.

How to avoid complications?

Having decided on facial plastic surgery, you need to organize yourself to get a good result.

1. First, you must clearly define your goals: why you are doing plastic surgery and what you want to achieve with it. Being like someone is not a reason to go on the operating table. Also, don't dream about the impossible. We must remember that not a single plastic surgery can turn back time and give a woman back the face of a 25-year-old girl. The human body is aging - this is embedded in its biological program, the ultimate goal of which is slow extinction and involutionary degradation of the personality, and the elixir of youth has not yet been invented. But we have the power to stop the aging process, smooth it out and refresh the external characteristics of the skin.
2. Secondly, when deciding on facial plastic surgery, you need to know exactly your true state of health. This will help to avoid unforeseen complications and unpleasant moments in the future. After all, when dreaming of plastic surgery, everyone wants a good result with minimal risks. If the price of plastic surgery is your own health, then what is the point of it? No wonder they say that if there is health, then there is hope, and if there is hope, then there is everything. Therefore, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination to identify contraindications to the operation. Also, do not lie in front of the surgeon and keep secrets about your chronic diseases and current state of health.
3. Thirdly, it is necessary to strictly follow all the doctor’s recommendations and follow his advice in everything. At this interval of life, he is your God. Listen to his advice in the preoperative period and under no circumstances violate the postoperative regimen, do not skip scheduled examinations and visits to the doctor.
4. Fourth, choose an experienced professional. Do not be led by advertising and marketing gimmicks when choosing an aesthetic clinic and doctor. Make sure personally that the surgeon has experience in the field of practice and has performed a sufficient number of similar operations. Recommendations from girlfriends, friends and acquaintances, as well as queues outside his office, are the best indicator of his professional training.