A facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, is a type of cosmetic surgery which is done to give a more youthful facial appearance. It is done by reshaping the lower half of the face and by removing excess facial skin. It can tighten loose, drooping skin around the jawline and can also remove deep wrinkles around the mouth and nose, and excess, hanging skin and fat beneath the chin and in the neck region.

If you have loose neck skin or droopy cheeks, a facelift may be good for you. An ideal candidate for facelift surgery is usually between the ages of 40 and 70. But there are exceptions as some people choose to have their facelift at a young age.  But the most important thing is that the patients must be in good health. 

There are five types of facelift surgeries.

• Neck liposuction is done to remove excess fat in the neck and the jowls.
• The deep plane facelift is for severe cheek and neck aging and used to correct heavy cheeks.
• The mid-facelift which is for sagging cheeks and the midface region.
• The mini-facelift which is for the lower face and minimal skin sagging and early jowls.
• The silhouette instalift which uses dissolvable sutures and cones secure the cheeks and fix the sagging facial structures.

Pain is minimum and can be helped with oral medications after the procedure. But swelling and bruising subside in seven to fourteen days.

A traditional facelift is done through an incision starting in the hair or hairline above and in front of the patient's ear. The incision is stretched downward in front of the ear. From there it falls under the ear and then is dragged upward behind the ear ending in hairline behind the ear. The skin and fatty tissues are then lifted off the underlying muscle and fascia as far forward to correct the loose skin problem. The underlying muscle can be tightened with joints if it seems necessary. The excess skin removed. The wound is then closed with sutures and skin staples. Sometimes a drain is left in the wounds to remove excess blood. Bandages are then applied. 

Although uncommon, the risks of facelift surgery include:

• hematoma
• Asymmetry
• Bleeding
• bruising
• Infection
• Loss of hair
• Loss of muscle function or sensation that is usually temporary
• Skin necrosis
• Widened or thickened scar.

You need to perform the following activities before getting a facelift:

• Get lab testing and medical evaluation
• Take certain medications
• Adjust your current medications
• preoperatively apply suggested products to the facial skin
• Stop smoking
• Avoid taking aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs

The total time a facelift takes 3 to 4 hours and varies from patient to patient. For a mid facelift, the time would be approximately two hours. And it may take up to six hours for a facelift, neck lift, and an eye lift. 

Both, local anesthesia or general anesthesia can be employed during facelift surgery.

After the surgery bandages are wrapped around the patient's head and chin to minimize swelling and two small tubes are placed by his or her ears for drainage and to prevent fluid buildup under the skin.  Then the patient is then given full instructions on caring for his or her incisions, how to empty the drains and how to sleep. 

Though a facelift helps a person revitalize the facial appearance while reducing or sometimes eliminating visible signs of aging in the face, the procedure does not stop the natural aging process. The improvements from the procedure last between 7 and 10 years. If the sagging appears again, you can opt for a tuck-up procedure that can provide dramatic and long-lasting change.