FACELIFT AND/OR NECKLIFT - SPECIFIC SURGICAL RISKS

DESCRIPTION                    

q      Facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure to improve visible signs of aging on the face and neck.   As individuals age, the skin and muscles of the face region begin to lose tone.   The facelift cannot stop the process of aging.  It can improve the most visible signs of aging by tightening deeper structures, redraping the skin of the face and neck, and removing selected areas of fat.   A facelift can be performed alone or in conjunction with other procedures such as a browlift, liposuction, eyelid surgery, or nasal surgery. 

q      Facelift surgery is individualized for each patient.  The best candidates for facelift surgery have a face and neckline that have begun to sag but whose skin has elasticity and whose body structure is well defined.

RISKS

q      ASYMMETRY: The human face is normally asymmetrical.   There can be a variation from one side to the other in the results obtained from a facelift procedure.

q      NERVE INJURY: Motor and sensory nerves may be injured during a facelift operation.   Weakness or loss of facial movements may occur after facelift surgery.   Nerve injuries may cause temporary or permanent loss of facial movements and feeling.   Such injuries may improve over time.  Injury to sensory nerves of the face, neck and ear regions may cause temporary or more rarely permanent numbness.   Painful nerve scarring is very rare

q      CHRONIC PAIN:  Chronic pain is a very rare complication after a facelift.

q      SKIN DISORDERS/SKIN CANCER: A facelift is a surgical procedure for the tightening of skin and deeper structures of the face.   Skin disorders and skin cancer may occur independently of a facelift.

q      UNSATISFACTORY RESULT: There is the possibility of a poor result from the facelift surgery.   This would include risks such as unacceptable visible deformities, loss of facial movement, wound disruption, and loss of sensation.   You may be disappointed with the results of surgery.   Infrequently, it is necessary to perform additional surgery to improve your results.

q      HAIR LOSS: Hair loss may occur in areas of the face where the skin was elevated during surgery.   The occurrence of this is not predictable.

q      DELAYED HEALING: Wound disruption or delayed wound healing is possible.  Some areas of the face may not heal normally or may take a long time to heal.  Areas of skin may die. Frequent dressing changes or further surgery may be required to remove non-healed tissue.  Smokers have a greater risk of skin loss and wound healing complications.

q      LONG TERM EFFECTS:  Subsequent alteration in facial appearance may occur as the result of again, weight loss or gain, sun exposure, or other circumstances not related to facelift surgery.   Facelift surgery does not arrest the aging process or produce permanent tightening of the face and neck.   Future surgery or other treatments may be necessary to maintain the results of a facelift operation.

ALTERNATIVES

q      Alternative forms of management consist of not treating the laxness in the face and neck region with a facelift (rhytidectomy).  Improvement of skin laxity, skin wrinkles and fatty deposits may be attempted by other treatments or surgery such as chemical face peels or liposuction.   Risks and potential complications are associated with alternative forms of treatment.