What is it?
The standard facelift is the most commonly practiced facelift. It tightens and smoothes the skin of the face and neck and removes fat and skin excess (jowls, double-chin and baleen). Ultimately, the face looks naturally younger (cheeks, neck and facial outline), exception made for the upper eyelids and the forehead that remain unchanged. Facelift results last a dozen years.

Before the pre-operative consultation, a first electronic consultation is done by our plastic surgeon to understand the results you want to achieve and determine the surgical technique that will give the best outcome for you (procedure, scar location, pre-and postoperative cares).

Am I a good candidate for facelift surgery?
The facelift is suitable for men and women who would like to correct in a long-lasting way the visible signs of aging:

• A loosening or a sagging of the skin and tissues of the face (cheeks and contours of the face) and neck.
• An excess of subcutaneous fat, present in the cheeks (jowls) and neck (baleen).
• The vertical wrinkles on the skin of the face and neck.

Pre-operative check-up:
The preoperative check-up includes a complete blood test and sometimes a general and cardio-vascular clinical examination. Your surgeon will then be able to have an idea on your health in general, to evaluate your scarring capacity and your body reaction to the surgery. The blood test should be included in your request for an electronic consultation or can be sent by mail to your Venus-Esthetique assistant before your arrival. The preoperative check-up can also be done in Tunisia the day of your arrival. Please check its feasibility with your Venus-Esthetique assistant.

When you fill in the electronic consultation and quotation form, please do not forget to attach photographs (front, back and profile) or to send them later by email to your Venus-Esthetique assistant at contact[at]venus-esthetique.com . These photographs will be the basis for your electronic consultation.

During the pre-operative consultation, your anesthetist will select with you the type of anesthesia the most suitable for you (based on your medical and surgical history, its recommendations and your preferences).

Preoperative advice:

• If you are a smoker, you will be asked to stop smoking well in advance of the surgery (2-3 weeks) and 2-3 weeks after.
• During the ten days prior to your surgery, some medications that increase the risk of bleeding are prohibited such as aspirin, anticoagulants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications; and some vitamins/homeopathic regimens should be discontinued prior to surgery.
• It is recommended to wash your hair the night prior to your surgery.
• If your hair is short, you may want it to grow out enough to cover your incisions while they heal. Any chemical processing of your hair should be performed prior to surgery or only a month after surgery.
• Be on an empty stomach beginning from the six hour preceding the surgery: do not eat, do not drink, and do not smoke. In practice, your procedure is planned between 8 and 10 am.
• Right before your surgery and at the clinic, use a skin cleanser to remove dust and any traces of make-up (for ladies).

Surgery duration :
2 to 3 hours.

How is a facelift performed?
The surgery is performed under general anesthesia or more rarely local anesthesia associated with neuroleptic drugs. The facelift procedure usually involves incisions in front of and behind the ear. The incisions may extend into the scalp and are dissimulated behind the hair. Once the incisions are made, various degrees of undermining of the skin are performed, and the deeper layers of the face are ‘lifted’. The muscles from the face and neck (musculo-aponeurotic system of the face or SMAS) are tightened and liposuction of the neck (double-chin, fat neck ...etc.) and jowls may be performed. Excess skin is either removed or repositioned. This dual action on the skin and the muscles allows a sustainable rejuvenation of the face and neck, with a natural face expression.

The results are a reversal of the effects of gravity (skin dropping or sagging) and tightening of soft tissues (excess of fat) of the face to restore a more youthful contour to the face.

Duration of hospitalization:
Facelifts are relatively important procedures that require paramedical postoperative assistance. Thus, you will have to remain for 48 hours at your clinic bedroom with a continuous medical and paramedical assistance before checking out.

Post-operative monitoring:

• To reduce the occurrence of swelling and bruising, you will have compressive face dressings during 72 hours after surgery.
• Your surgeon will give you specific instructions that may include caring for the dressings and incisions, directions for your analgesics and other medications, and when to follow up in his office so that he will monitor your healing process.
• Bruises will disappear after two weeks. It may take several months for the swelling to fully resolve, and up to 6 months for the incision scars to fully fade.
• To help your face find more quickly its natural appearance, a lymphatic drainage may be performed by a physiotherapist. You can ask for it as a complementary treatment in your consultation form.
• Concealing make-up is usually permitted after the first week.
• One month later, you can restart your normal sports activity. Only diving is not permitted before 8 weeks.
• Your healing process and post-operative results will be evaluated by your surgeon at regular intervals via Jpeg photos that you will post in your private account, via phone calls that we will give you, and email exchange.

Post-operative results:

• The first results are visible two weeks after the surgery. It is then possible to resume a normal social life.
• Since the healing process is gradual, you should expect to appreciate the final aspect only after a few months; usually after at least three months.
• The results of your facelift may be subtle or dramatic, depending on your appearance prior to the surgery as well as the specific goals that you and your plastic surgeon have established.
• Towards the sixth month, the scars that remained pink will fully fade and disappear.
• It is vital for the sustainability of your facelift results to avoid excessive unprotected sun exposure and cigarette use.

Leave of absence:
You will have to be away from your office during 10 to 15 days after surgery.

Points to consider :

• During your electronic consultation and depending on your needs, our plastic surgeons will give you personal advice for free and establish the best procedure and surgical technique to achieve your aesthetic goals.
• As a precautionary measure, a mandatory term of fifteen days of reflection is usually necessary.
• As the standard facelift will not change the forehead or eyelids, your surgeon may advise you a complementary eyelid surgery (for droopy eyelids), a forehead lift (to remove wrinkles and rejuvenate your forehead) or even advise you to do a skin resurfacing (such as a peel, a micro-dermabrasion or an anti-aging laser) to smooth the imperfections of the skin. He can also recommend you Botox or fillers injections (Hyaluronic acid, Collagen…etc.)
• Depending on your lifestyle and your skin type (oily, dry or mixed), the results will last on average 10 years.
• A same person can perform 2 to 3 facelifts during her life.

Price of a standard facelift:
The price depends on the procedure plan and the complementary techniques that will be used. Ask for a free estimate.

 
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