Rhytidectomy, also known as rhytidoplasty or more commonly as a facelift, is the surgical procedure to reduce sagging and wrinkling face and neck skin. This can be done by redraping the skin of the face and neck, removing excess fat, and/or tightening the underlying muscles. To further resolve the effects of aging, facelift surgery is often performed in conjunction with other procedures, such as a forehead lift, rhinoplasty, or eyelid surgery.

Procedures and techniques will vary greatly among surgeons and from patient to patient, however on the whole you can expect the following:Facelift surgery generally takes between two and four hours, though it may take longer when combined with other procedures and more extensive procedures may require two separate sessions. The surgery can be performed in a hospital, surgical center, or office. Outpatient procedures are more common and typically involve some combination of local anesthesia, mild sedative, and/or mild intravenous anesthesia, though inpatient procedure requiring a night or more in the hospital may be required, particularly when using general anesthesia or with patients with conditions requiring extra post-operative care.

Incisions are most often placed in the hairline, then pass in front of and behind the ears. The surgeon may then remove fatty deposits and/or tighten sagging muscles before lifting the skin up, removing the excess, and suturing it into place. Following surgery, a dressing is typically applied to protect the entire area where the incisions have been made. This may include wrapping the head loosely in bandages, which helps to minimize bruising and swelling. A small drainage tube may be placed behind the ear temporarily in order to drain any blood that can collect there.

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