Face lifting, facelift or rhytidectomy surgery

English subtitled video

“Face lifting”, “facelift”, “Face pull”, “Rhytidectomy” or “Lifting”, “submentoplasty”, “mini lifting” … are the most common and known terms to describe various plastic surgery procedures or operations performed at Clínica Sanza Barcelona. All of these surgical techniques are designed to tighten the skin of the face and/or neck in order to reduce sagging, wrinkles, flaccidity, excess skin and achieve a younger and more natural aspect. That is, not to swell faces with substances such as hyaluronic acid and other fillers but to restore their natural youth.

In some occasions, we treat structures under the name SMAS. With this technique, described further on, we achieve longer lasting results and a greater perfection.

Clínica Sanza in Barcelona, Spain, is a centre of reference in the treatment of face lifting surgery.

Diferent methods to improve the face and neck

Simple techniques

Creams, massages, lotions, serums, …

Techniques with a minimum invasive procedure

Soft or strong peelings, mesotherapy, tensing threads, laser, Facial Radio Frequency, ….

Surgical techniques

Facial lifting (SMAS– Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System), weekend lift surgery, mini lifting, …

Video: Face Lift surgery – Rhytidectomy (audio subtitled)

La operación de lifting de cuello o lifting de papada es un tratamiento de cirugía que hacemos en Clínica Sanza Barcelona. Consiste en la reposición de la musculatura, grasa y piel que han caído con la edad o pérdida grande de peso. Así como la cara puede mejorar mucho con tratamientos médico-estéticos, el cuello sólo puede mejorar con la cirugía plástica. El día que exista un tratamiento, no quirúrgico, para subir los pechos caídos, entonces existirá para mejorar un cuello flácido. Lo demás son todo engaños.

Clínica Sanza en Barcelona, es un centro de referencia en la cirugía plástica de lifting de cuello y papada.

WHERE DO WE OPERATE?

At Clínica Sanza we rely on the Sagrat Cor Hospital, part of the Quirónsalud group, to perform our surgical procedures.
Its prestige, facilities, medical and healthcare staff, as well as its technology are a guarantee.

BARCELONA: A HEALTH HUB

Do you want to know why it is worth coming to Barcelona for plastic surgery and why so many people come from abroad?

WE ORGANIZE EVERYTHING FOR YOU

Your trip, your flight, your operation, your transfer and your hotel with our support agency. We work with the best travel agencies worldwide.

PATIENT’S PROFILE

People with ageing and lax facial skin.

It is indicated indistinctly in women or men, between 40 and 70 years old, even younger, in which the stigmas of aging are incipient and a quick, simple solution is required and not as bulky as a conventional facelift.

Any patient who feels the need to improve their flaccid facial appearance. The moment signs of skin flaccidity begin to appear, and undesirable wrinkles with falling tissues, and regardless of age or sex. Premature flaccidity due to genetics, weight loss or age.

SURGERY PROCEDURE

This operation consists of making an incision in front of the pinna (ear) in the areas of natural wrinkles to keep it hidden. Depending on the size of the facelift, it can be extended behind the pinna and even inside the hair (in cases where we perform a neck lift). The extent of the incision is determined by the amount of skin and flaccidity present on the face and neck. The incision is hidden in the natural wrinkle areas or inside the hair.

It can be combined with eyelid surgery (Blepharoplasty) or procedures on the forehead (Frontoplasty or Brow Lift).

SMAS (Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System), Weekend lift or Mini lifting, are very similar surgical techniques. They are differentiated by the height and depth of the incision allowing the separation of the skin to work on the internal areas of the face and neck.

In aesthetic surgery, the incisions are made on the most discreate areas of the face and eyelids, being less noticeable and camouflaged.

SMAS (Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System) Facial pulling technique

With the SMAS technique, the incision will start at the template hair line advancing downwards, always following the hairline, passing in front of the ear and ending at the back of the auricular area.

After dissecting the skin, we can reposition the malar fat (SMAS), generating a younger face and a wrinkle reduction.

Lastly, we remove the excess skin and stich.

Usually we use two different types of sutures: reabsorption stiches for the internal side and non-reabsorption stiches to bind the skin with an intradermic technique.

We cover with a special bandage to reduce bruising, seroma and edema.

In some occasions, we can also proceed with a submentoplasty. In other words, a plastic intervention of the platysma muscle to improve the neck bands. Which is named as Muscle platysma plication.

Weekend lift surgery or “weekend face lift”

In North America and other countries with so much tradition in cosmetic surgery such as Brazil and Venezuela have coined the term “weekend lift” which encompasses a series of aesthetic-surgical procedures, minimally invasive and ambulatory, which allow to recover from 5 to 20 years of youth of the face and neck in a quick, simple, natural and elegant.

Our technique is milar to the SMAS. However, we use smaller incisions as we do not need the skin as separated to work with, as we get deep into it right away.

The incision line in this procedure does not finalize behind the ear, instead, it ends in front of the ears. We dissect the immediate skin that needs to be improved. This procedure is normally focused on patients that have flaccid skin.

Mini lifting surgery

Mini face lifts have as main goal the improvement of very specific areas where there are signs of aging, such as, the face, forehead or neck.

This procedure is less traumatic and the postoperative process is faster.

In Clínica Sanza we recommend the weekend lift as it has great results and very low postoperative risks.

This procedure provides greater and more natural results.

Clinica Sanza medical team have great experience for all type of procedures, ranging from the simplest of interventions to the most complicated. Our team use the latest technologies, equipment and surgical techniques present now days.

We are here to help, improve and rejuvenate your appearance in the most sophisticated, elegant, safe and natural manner.

DURATION OF SURGERY

The time of surgery is individualized by each patient, the type of intervention and the extent of it, but on average we can say that a facelift lasts between 2 and 4 hours.

PROTOCOL

Pre-operative

Assessment of the area to determine the extent of surgery and type of technique required
Follow specific guidelines determined by the doctor
CBC and tests on cardiac and respiratory status

Anesthesia

It is usually performed under general anaesthesia supplemented by local anaesthesia in the area of the incisions

Hospitalization

In Sanza Clinic we perform innovative and minimally invasive techniques so that the patient can return home the same day, except in special medical conditions or that the patient requires, we leave 1 or 2 days in the hospital.

Post-operative

Postoperative for the first 24 hours is painless.
Most stitches will fall out on their own (resorb) if any need to be removed, this is done about 15 days after the operation
Medication if required
Compressive bandaging for 1-2 days after surgery
Inflammation and some bruising may occur.
The recovery is quick and the patient can return to his normal activities very soon, after 1 or 2 weeks.
Mandatory check-ups after a few days, a few weeks and a few months, as required

Convalescence

One week’s rest from light activities
Two weeks without weight bearing
Physical exercise can be resumed 3 weeks after surgery and gradually; one month after surgery in the case of strenuous sports

RESULTS

Elevation of the descended tissues of the face, eliminating or considerably reducing them: Nasolabial folds, tear troughs (dark circles under the eyes) and Jowls
Marked and stretched neck
Smooth skin
Defined cheekbones and jaw angle
Rejuvenated and improved appearance
Improved psychological profile and self-esteem of the patient

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY

Medium – large operation

RISK LEVEL

All surgical or medical treatments have a certain risk or a possibility of complications during the procedures. However, there is a very low percentage of these and it is highly compensated by the end result.

In whichever case, all medical measures are taken to prevent any complication and reduce the risks to low or none.

Medium risk of the operation
Risks inherent to surgery: visible scar, alterations in the hairy area, irregularities
Risks of any operation: haemorrhage, infection, alteration of healing

BEFORE/AFTER PHOTOS

Articles

Whatever your case may be, do not hesitate in contacting us.

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Frequently asked questions about facelift surgery

Does it hurt?

Not at all. It does not hurt. The sensation is of a slight tension behind the ears during the three days following the intervention, which diminishes as the hours go by. Most patients can go outside the day after surgery. Rarely hematomas appear, what usually is a small inflammation that only lasts those three days. To protect against infections, the patient must wear a bandage during the first 24 hours.

What is a weekend lift or facelift?

Facial rejuvenation surgery, also known as a facelift, weekend lift, facelift, rhytidoplasty, rhytidectomy, and facelift, is a very popular surgical procedure in facial plastic surgery to improve tissue sagging due to loss of skin tension, facial muscles (SMAS). In the procedure the skin is stretched and the excess is removed, the muscles can also be tightened if necessary thus making the skin smoother and firmer.

What are the risks of this surgery?

As any surgical procedure there are risks, although they are rare. The most frequent is the hematoma, which can be visualized the first 24 hours and easy to resolve. Damage to deep facial structures (nerves or vessels) is a potential complication of face lift, highly unlikely in experienced hands. Abnormal scarring or loss of skin on the edges of the wound are more frequent in smokers, so we recommend and indicate to stop or decrease the tobacco the same day before and after surgery.

What are the scars like?

The least visible areas are located, following the rim of the ear, the base of the lobe and extending towards the back of the auricle and the natural hairline if required. The final length varies depending on whether a full facelift (face and neck) or a mini lift is performed. Except in exceptional cases, the scars must be erased with the passage of time until they become practically imperceptible.

How long do the results last?

On average, facial lifitng results tend to last between 5 and 10 years, after which patients may opt to undergo a touch-up procedure. However, it will always have a more youthful appearance than would correspond by nature. The aging process continues after surgery and it is normal that it does not look as good at year 5 as it would at year 10 after surgery, but it will always have a better appearance than if it had not been operated on.

Why do people look so stretched or fake?

Each patient chooses the color of their hair, the way they make up and dress. The same goes for surgery. There are patients who want to be very smooth, even if it’s false. The same goes for large, round breasts. We recommend naturalness and elegance, i.e. discretion and small stretching, especially on the face. On the contrary if we consider elegant a very smooth and firm neck in both men and women. The neck does not change the expression of the face and always gives a very youthful and elegant appearance.

From what age can we proceed with a facial lifting surgery?

Whenever your skin needs it and you whish to proceed with the intervention.

Normally, these surgical interventions are applied to an age rage of 40 and above. However, in certain circumstances, such as, a great loss of weight, which create flaccidity of the skin, the age can be younger. Also, there are skins that are genetically laxer or have been in excess contact with the sun or other oxidative agents. Thus, creating a breakage of the collagenous molecules, which in turn, generates a premature aging effect of the skin.

In whichever case, the majority of the patients are found in an age range of 40 to 60 years old. However, face lifts can also be appropriate for patients that have an age range between 60 and 80 years old, and still have great results. Always taking into consideration illnesses or contraindicative circumstances.

Are there any problems with a facelift surgery?

The weekend lift for face and neck does not have any contraindication in particular. In reality, it is one of the safest lifting techniques. Its contraindications are exactly the same as any other surgical intervention. With a good preoperative study on behalf of the doctors and the anaesthetist will ensure a safe surgery and determine whether it can be proceeded or not, and in the case of being in good health, age does not matter.