Facelift (Rhytidectomy) in Karachi

Our face is our business card, the part of our body that creates the first impression. We always want our face to look fresh and healthy. As we age skin starts to lose elasticity and volume. Other signs such as wrinkles, brown spots and skin texture changes also occur. Signs of age are part of the normal aging process and may be more or less visible, depending on various factors such as genetics and skin care. Although having loose skin is not considered a health problem many patients who are bothered with aging signs may find a facelift to be a good solution for them to look healthy and fresh.

A facelift also known as rhytidectomy (removal of wrinkles) is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin from the face, neck or both and also repairs the tissues below the skin to improve face appearance and contour. Facelift will remove excess skin and improve the appearance of wrinkles, sagging folds and will provide a more defined structure.

Other surgical and non-surgical procedures can be combined with facelift for optimal results: blepharoplasty, browlift, fat grafting, hyaluronic acid fillers, Botox® and laser resurfacing.

There are different facelift types and techniques. No two facelifts are the same and each procedure is tailor made to each person´s age, genetic characteristic, degree of sagginess and desired results. However, we can consider two main approaches:

Mini Facelift: this is a less invasive technique that uses shorter incisions to tighten the skin and remove excess tissue from the neck and jawline. It addresses sagging skin on the lower third of the face through small incisions around the ears. A mini facelift is a relatively minor procedure that improves the appearance of your neck, jawline and cheeks and is the perfect option for patients with minor and moderate aging signs.

Full Facelift: a full facelift or traditional facelift will address moderate to advanced aging signs around the face and neck. This type of facelift will reposition deeper tissues beneath the skin, remove excess skin in the face and neck area to smooth folds, winkles and restore a natural and youthful contour of the face and neck. Scars are located behind the hairline and around the ear.

As you get older, your face appearance changes caused by the natural aging process. You will notice that your skin becomes looser and thinner and you may lose fat in certain parts of your face which will affect your face contour and structure definition. Aging signs that can be improved by a facelift include:

• Excess skin on your face, neck or both.
• Excess skin and lack of definition of the jawline.
• Loss of volume of your cheeks and hollow eyes.
• Excess fat in the neck area.
• Other aging signs may include excess skin on the eyelids, droopy eyes, wrinkles and brown spots.

Best candidates for a facelift usually meet the following criteria:

• Face appearance does not reflect their personality.
• You feel self-conscious about how your face and neck look.
• Look after themselves (surgery will improve your face appearance, but you must take care of yourself for long lasting results).
• Good overall health.
• Non-smokers.
• Mentally stable patients with realistic expectations about surgery results (you will not look like someone else, you will look better, a younger version of yourself).
• Loose skin on the face, neck or both.
• Prominent facial folds.
• Good bone structure will provide better results.

There is no exact age to undergo a facelift procedure. In theory you should be between the age of 35 and 75 to perform a facelift, with the optimal age at 45 to 55. The purpose of the facelift is improving and preserving face features so the sooner the better. If you wait too long to get a facelift done, you may find the change very dramatic. Performing a facelift when aging signs are moderate will provide a natural look and no one will notice you went through surgery.

A facelift is a very common surgical procedure to remove excess skin on the face and neck to restore a youthful appearance. However, it will not treat other aging signs that may interfere with your fear appearance and self-esteem. For optimal results facelift is often combined with other surgical or non-surgical procedures such as:

Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery): removes excess skin on the lower and upper eyelid.

Browlift or forehead lift: will lift sagging eyebrows and improve the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines across the forehead and glabella (wrinkles between the brows).

Neck liposuction: when there is excess fat on you neck area, you may choose to perform neck liposuction combined with neck lift or full facelift to improve the contour.

Fillers with hyaluronic acid or fat grafting: fillers will restore volume on certain areas of your face. Common areas that change or lose volume/definition with aging are: (chin, cheeks, nasolabial folds, lips, marionette lines/jaws, tear throughs, mouth frowns and mental crease).

Botox: botulinum toxin will improve the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes (“crow´s feet) and forehead lines.

Laser resurfacing: this treatment will improve skin texture and improve the appearance or brows spots and skin irregularities by removing thin layers of your skin.

Advanced plastic surgery techniques allow scars to be hidden extremely well (in the natural creases and other hiding spots whenever possible). As far as facelift scars are concerned incision location will depend on type of facelift / selected technique. Below are the areas where most facelift scars are located:

• In front of the ear.
• Behind the ear.
• Upper hairline.
• Lower hairline behind the ear.
• Under the chin – in case of neck lift.

A facelift or neck lift involves preparation and it is recommended to get ready for surgery and follow medical recommendations. The first step towards your facelift experience includes a medical consultation with your plastic surgeons where the following must be addressed:

Medical history: inform your plastic surgeon about any medical condition or other important issues such as medication you take, allergies, etc. Be forthcoming about your smoking habits as these may have a significant affect on facelift outcome. Herbal medicines may contain blood thinner so tell your doctor if you are taking any herbal medicines regularly. Be ready to answer questions about your health, habits or any other issues.

Expectations: you should share with your plastic surgeon your goals and expectations regarding facelift. Always remember that the goal of any surgery is looking and feeling better and not looking like someone else. Surgery results depend on your initial facial characteristics, your general heatlh, weight and genetics. Your plastic surgeon will be able to confirm if you are a suitable candidate for a facelift and the appropriate techniques to achieve the desired results.

Here are some tips to better prepare for a facelift:

• Medical tests must be performed in advance (it may include blood, and other tests).
• Stop smoking a few weeks before and until the healing process is completed. Nicotine will interfere with healing process.
• Do not take medication that can thin your blood.
• Prepare to take 2 weeks off work.
• Plan for a family member or a friend to pick you up at the clinic – you can´t drive after surgery.
• You should have someone helping you at home during the first 48 hours.

Although a facelift is not particularly painful, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Mild to moderate pain.
• Discomfort.
• Swelling.
• Bruising.
• Skin numbness.
• Tiredness.
• Drainage from incisions.

As with any other surgery, full recovery from a facelift takes time. It is important to know what to expect and follow medical instructions for a quicker and more comfortable recovery. Here are some tips for a good and comfortable recovery:

• Get 2 weeks off work.
• Full rest for 24 to 48 hours.
• Wear compression garment.
• Sleep on your back with elevated head.
• Use cold compresses in your face to reduce swelling.
• Take the prescribed medication.
• Do not scratch your face.
• Avoid sun exposure.
• Do not smoke.
• Avoid taking medication that can increase the risk of bleeding.
• Attend the follow-up appointments.
• Avoid strenuous activities.
• Get lots of sleep and rest.
• Eat light meals and drink plenty of water.
• If you have babies or young kids, ask your family to help you at home.

A facelift or neck lift will give you a more youthful appearance (very often patients say they look 10 years younger). Facelift are long lasting, but it is important to understand that surgery does not stop the natural ageing process. As we continue to age, facial skin may begin to droop again but obviously you will look better than if you had not performed a facelift earlier in life. Most patients that perform a facelift surgery are happy with the results for at least 10 to 15 years. If you feel your skin has started to droop again after several years speak to your plastic surgeon to address your concerns and possible solutions. Attend your follow up appointments and speak to your plastic surgeon whenever you have questions or concerns.

As with any other surgery, facelift or neck lift involves risks and complications but, fortunately, they rarely happen if you follow strictly pre and post op medical recommendations. Below are some possible risks and complications that may occur:

• Reaction to anaesthesia.
• Bleeding.
• Hematoma.
• Infection.
• Extended Swelling.
• Fluid accumulation.
• Nerve injury.
• Changes in sensitivity.
• Poor wound healing.
• Skin irregularities.
• Hair loss on the incision spots.

To diminish the risk of complications, you must follow your plastic surgeon’s recommendations before and after surgery. During your facelift consultation, all the surgery potential risks and complications will be discussed in detail and you will be able to ask all your questions and talk about your concerns.

The price of a facelift depends whether it´s a full facelift, a neck lift or both. No two facelifts are the same and may require different approaches to achieve good results. Very often facelift is combined with other surgical or non-surgical procedures which will also affect the overall cost. However, the price of a facelift in Karachi starts at Rs 250.000 – includes the cost of surgery, medical and nursing fees, anaesthesia, hospital charges and the disposables and medicines used during surgery. The exact price of your facelift surgery package will be confirmed by the finance department after your medical consultation with Dr Zia. To schedule your facelift consultation in Karachi or for more information on prices and conditions, please contact us today on the following numbers:

• Aga Khan Hospital: +92 21 111 911 911
• Cooper Consultants Clinic: +92 21 35 37 0671 4

A facelift is a very meticulous and demanding procedure that requires in-depth knowledge of anatomy and a very high level of surgical skills. For this reason not every plastic surgeon performs facelifts.

Dr Zia is a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon from Karachi with over 10 years of experience in performing facelifts, necklifts and other aesthetic and reconstructive facial surgeries. A good result is not the same for every patient – it´s a result that looks natural for patient´s gender, age, ethnicity and facial features.

• Dr Zia routinely performs facelifts.
• Proven results by before and after gallery.
• Top rated facelift plastic surgeon in Karachi.
• Performs facelifts and other facial surgeries in some of the best clinics in Karachi – Aga Khan Hospital and Cooper Clinic in Karachi.