Facial Lift & Neck Lift

Face lifting and neck lifting are some of the most interesting and appreciated surgical interventions performed by plastic surgeons. But what do facial lifting and neck lifting actually mean?[1] A facelift is an operation to tighten and lift the loose skin of the face below the eyes (everything related to interventions above the eyes is called a brow lift). A neck lift tightens and lifts the skin on the neck.

First of all, you will meet with Dr. Olimpiu Hârceagă and discuss the reasons behind your decision to resort to plastic surgery and your expectations. During the consultation:

• You will be explained in detail what this surgical procedure involves;
• You will be asked questions regarding your medical history and the medications you are taking (whether or not they have been prescribed to you);
• Your face and neck will be examined, and photographs may be taken (with your consent);
• The doctor will ensure that you are a good candidate for surgery (if you are overweight or intend to become pregnant, the surgeon may suggest delaying your surgery).

Maintaining a state of health as good as possible and a weight appropriate for your age and height will help with a quick recovery, without complications. If you smoke, try to quit at least six weeks before the operation; this will help with healing and reduce the chances of complications. You should not remove/shave hair from the vicinity of the areas where the cuts will be placed on the skin. Maintaining strict hygiene will help reduce the risk of infection. In the case of female patients, it is important to inform the surgeon if you are using contraceptives or if you have the slightest suspicion that you might be pregnant. Many antibiotics can decrease the effectiveness
of birth control pills.

Breast reduction surgery means removing fat, tissue

A facelift involves lifting and repositioning the skin and soft tissue of the face. During the operation, cuts are made on both sides of the face, in front of the ear, and extend along the hairline, in front of or behind the ear cartilage and around the back of the earlobe, in the folds behind the ear and then into the lower scalp. In some cases, the surgeon may make a small incision under the chin for neck lift surgery.

Depending on the desired results, only the skin above the neck can be lifted (only a facelift), only the neck and skin can be intervened on (only a necklift), or the neck muscle and the skin above it are tightened, lifted and sewn towards the solid structures in front of and behind the ear (a facelift and neck lift). Excess skin is then removed, and the remaining skin is fixed in place. Fats and tissues are redistributed and sometimes added to the face.

You should keep in mind that a facelift only improves the lower half of the face, especially the jawline. If you have drooping eyebrows and wrinkles on your forehead, the surgeon may suggest a browlift (lifting of the upper line/eyebrows). Sagging skin, with fine wrinkles, freckles and rough areas, will benefit more if a chemical peel or laser resurfacing is also performed, which can be performed together with a facelift, a browlift or a neck lift.

glandular tissue and excess skin.

Before the operation, you must maintain a state of health as good as possible and a weight appropriate for your age and height, for a quick recovery, without complications.

If you smoke, quit smoking six weeks before the operation; this will help with healing and reduce the chances of complications.

You should not remove or shave hair from the vicinity of the areas where the cuts will be placed on the skin. Maintaining strict hygiene will help reduce the risk of infection.

Facelifts and neck lifts are usually performed under general anesthesia or under local anesthesia. You may need to be given antibiotics to keep the wounds clean. You may have drainage tubes in your face or neck to drain any remaining fluid or blood. These tubes will be removed when the fluid or blood has been drained, usually before you return home. You will feel your face and neck tight and irritated, but using analgesics should be enough to keep you at a comfortable level.

Here’s what you can expect:

• You will have bandages applied to your face and neck – most surgeons will bandage your face to reduce bruising and swelling; the bandages are maintained for 1-2 days, and the stitches will be removed after 7-8 days;
• It is normal to have numbness of the skin of the cheeks and ears – this will usually improve in a few weeks or months, although there may be a long-term loss of skin sensitivity in front of the ears; it is advisable to sleep with extra pillows to keep your head elevated in the first days after the operation;
• You will be able to get out of bed on the same day as the surgery and you will be able to carry out light activities after two weeks – avoid intense activity, saunas and massage for at least two weeks;
• At first, your face will be swollen and there will be scars and bruises; these can be easily hidden or masked, especially in the case of women; some men choose to let their beard grow after such a procedure to hide the scars; in general, the scars on the hairline are not visible, but the hair will be kept shorter immediately around the wound. There may be a slight reduction in hair growth at the temples, but this is not usually a problem, unless the hair is very thin and multiple lifts are performed.
• You should not lift heavy objects for a few weeks and avoid bending over or having sexual relations for at least two weeks (physical activity of any kind can cause the vessels to open and bleed and/or form a hematoma; activities that increase the pulse and heart rate can cause additional bruising and bruising, inflammation and the need to open the operation to control bleeding);
• If you have travel plans or important meetings planned, inform your surgeon in advance; any surgical procedure involves risks and possible complications that can delay healing and return to normal life; your plans will be taken into account when the intervention is scheduled, but there are no guarantees that you will be able to resume your activities on time.

For a good recovery:

• Resume your activities gradually;
• Avoid exposure to the sun or visits to the solarium – exposure of the operated areas and suture lines to the sun can lead to poor healing and hypo or hyperpigmentation color changes, whether or not sunscreen is used.

The results of the procedure are not permanent. Over time, due to aging, sun exposure, weight loss or gain, pregnancy, menopause or other circumstances, changes may occur in the face and neck, unrelated to the procedure itself.

As every time you resort to surgical procedures, choosing the doctor who performs them is the most important thing you can do. The reasons why you should turn to Dr. Olimpiu Hârceagă are numerous, but we will only mention a few of them:

• Double specialization in Plastic Surgery and Dermatology;
• He completed 3 years of specialization abroad and worked as a resident in the plastic surgery service of John Radcliffe Hospital, part of Oxford University Hospitals, one of the three major plastic surgery services in the UK; he also completed training courses in Belgium, Brussels, at the UZ Brussel University Hospital, in Stuttgart, at Marrien Hospital, and in Munich, at Munchen Bogenhausen Klinikum;
• He is a perfectionist for whom every half millimeter counts;
• Collaborates with several clinics in the country (Cluj Napoca, Sibiu, Turda) and abroad;
• He makes sure that at each consultation he offers his patients all the information they need to make the right choice;
• Can perform a wide range of surgical and non-surgical procedures;
• Maintains constant contact with experts in the field of aesthetic surgery and uses the latest techniques available;
• You can benefit from a free online video consultation.