Rhytidectomy (Facelift Surgery)

Rhytidectomy (facelift surgery) refers to a surgery that reduces the signs of aging that appear in the most visible parts of an individual’s body, the face and the neck. Once performed, the effects of rhytidectomy will last for around 19 years. The indications of weariness are treated to lend a fresher look to the individual. The resulting appearance is natural, not giving any indication of such a surgery having been performed. Inconspicuous scars are all that remain. 

Rhytidectomy addresses signs of aging such as deep creases that appear below the lower eyelids, nasolabial folds, mid-face sagging of skin, fallen or displaced fat, jowls, and double chin arising due to fatty deposits and loose skin under the jaw and chin. 

The traditional method of facelift involves creating an incision in the front of the ear; this incision extends up to the hairline. Following the creation of the incision, the undermining process is carried out in which the skin is separated from the tissues beneath by running a scalpel over the cheeks and neck. The tissues are then tightened with sutures. The surgeon decides on the amount of skin to be taken as he re-drapes it. Following the removal of the excess skin the incisions are closed with the aid of sutures.              

Rhytidectomy only deals with reducing the signs of aging in the lower half of the face. The nasolabial folds aren’t completely removed, but Botox and Juvederm injections are administered to treat them more effectively. Their effects aren’t permanent though. It may require several injections of fat grafts administered over a period of time to result in a permanent fat build-up in the folds. For tackling signs of aging in the forehead and eyebrows, blepharoplasty & eyebrow lift are offered.  

One of the greatest benefits of a facelift is the tightening of loose neck skin. It also helps in creating a smooth jaw line without jowls. The scars resulting from rhytidectomy are inconspicuous. Loss of hair in the points of incision in the region of the scalp that bears hair is also rare. During rhytidectomy, the sideburns for men are generally pulled backwards and upwards which could bring about an odd appearance, but an expert surgeon could take care of these issues through the right techniques. The earlobe is sometimes pulled forwards or distorted for men and women, which is a clear indicator that a facelift has been performed on the individual. The face can also take on a pulled-back look. Due to the presence of hair-bearing skin, it’s difficult to bring about a more natural appearance for men. But as mentioned before, the more skillful and experienced surgeon can avoid these issues, and like a master craftsman bring about a natural look. 

Skin removal in an aggressive manner in order to restore shape is largely responsible for a distorted appearance. Skin tightening alone isn’t enough for a complete facelift. Tightening the SMAS layer under the skin is hugely beneficial as it results in restoration of the cheek contour, softening of the nasolabial folds and removal of jowls. Overlying the muscles of the face, the SMAS layer, made of strong fibrous fat tissue, is one of the most important factors that impart a fresh and natural look to the face. SMAS tightening is often the more important task carried out on individuals who’ve already undergone rhytidectomy when excess skin was removed. In such cases, skin removal is performed in an extremely limited manner.           

The neck bands that sometimes arise with aging are taken care of during rhytidectomy by tightening the neck skin and the loose muscle edges that cause the formation of these bands. The more prominent bands require a more complex treatment where an incision under the chin provides access to the loose muscle edges that are then sewn together.

Patients under the age of 55 usually go through minimal changes. Their neck contours are normal, and it’s only the lower cheeks that require treatment. A simple version of rhytidectomy, the short-scar facelift, is all that’s required in this case. This procedure won’t bring about the kind of scarring behind the ears that occurs with a total facelift. Individuals with regular cheeks and jaw line but with mild signs of aging evident in the neck require a necklift, which is the lower part of a total facelift. As this procedure results in thicker scarring behind the ears, it isn’t the most preferred one.         

A complete facelift surgery is accompanied by blepharoplasty and eyebrow lift if the upper face displays aging in the eyelids and forehead. The tip of the nose is made of cartilages that keep enlarging in one’s lifetime. The tip could become enlarged and droop. This is a visible sign of aging which can be taken care of by nasal tip-plasty. It decreases the size of the nasal tip and raises it slightly. Nasal tip-plasty leaves the rest of the nose unchanged, and is different from rhinoplasty which involves reshaping the entire nose and not the tip alone.  

Upper lip thinning can be treated by injecting fat grafts, or by implanting an alloderm graft. Individuals with weak chin are recommended a chin implant in order to make the results of a facelift more complete. Fine lines present in the face may be partially removed with a facelift. Accompanying procedures such as dermabrasion and chemical peels could treat these more effectively. Here at our state-of-the-art surgical facility, the facelift surgery is carried out under the direct supervision of Dr. Christopher T.Chia, a talented plastic surgeon with many years experience in the field.