This is a surgical intervention aimed at repositioning the tissues of the face and neck, by tensing the muscles which have become flabby and by removing excess skin through an incision made in the pre-auricular, retro-auricular and occipital regions.
A face lift (of the face) or cervical (neck) can sometimes be carried out separately, but in many cases it is necessary to simultaneously treat both regions to get the overall rejuvenation. Similarly, other procedures such as blepharoplasty, facial remodeling through Lipostructure ®, or a treatment of the frontal region by injecting botulinum toxin (Vistabel ®, commonly known as Botox ®), may be associated in the same act or on a deferred basis in order to optimize the result.
In any case this operation is performed under general anesthesia, requiring hospitalization for at least 24 hours. The operation time for each of these separately is of approximately 2 hours, whereas for the complete cervical-facial around 3.5 hours.
With regard to the postoperative period, upon being discharged by the clinic, the patient wears a compression garment on the face and neck during 7 to 10 days. Occurring inflammation in lifted regions is very common and will remit towards the second week. The suture threads are removed after ten days, at the same time as the compression is being taken off.
It is important to highlight that like any other surgery of large flaps, this procedure presents significant risks for patients who are heavy smokers. It is therefore necessary for smokers to rethink this habit during the weeks before and after the intervention, in order for the surgery to take place.
