THE EXPERT WHEN IT COMES TO FACELIFT SURGERY
WHY CHOOSE OUR CLINIC?
An individual’s face is a unique, complex, three-dimensional structure, with foundations of solid bone and supporting soft tissue volumes, all held together by visible and invisible ligamentous extensions. Environment, time and gravity eventually take their toll on the way your face looks, leading to wrinkles, a tired look, changes in the shape of the face or a loose neck and jowls. Facelift surgery seeks to undo some of these changes its ultimate aim is unwinding the clock on a person’s face.
Panthea Clinics’ surgeon Dr Farhadieh has a special interest, extended training and expertise in facial aesthetic surgery. Throughout his career, he has undertaken two separate aesthetic and reconstructive fellowships with a focus on the face. Recently, he has published multiple book chapters on facelift in two international comprehensive plastic surgery textbooks: Facelift, in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: Approaches and Techniques.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to facelift surgery, as it is specifically tailored to the patient’s wants and needs, as well as their individual features. The ultimate goal is to achieve a natural aesthetic that makes the patient look and feel younger. Where patients wish to have changes made to their underlying facial appearance Dr Farhadieh will discuss those surgical options with them in detail.
THE PREOPERATIVE AND POSTOPERATIVE PROCESS
The first step in getting any surgery is an initial consultation, where your surgeon will learn more about you, what your expectations. In this consultation, Dr Farhadieh will thoroughly examine your medical history, discussing at length factors such as:
- Past surgeries
- Your medical history
- Current medications
- Allergies
- Family history
- Smoking history
Once this analysis is done, where appropriate Dr Farhadieh will discuss surgical options best suited to your needs. Getting this expert advice will allow you to make a decision that is perfect for what you want from your surgery.
When you are getting your facelift operation, a hairline incision is usually made in front of the ear, extending behind it in order to gain access to your face. The underlying facial structures, including the fascia and shifting soft tissues, are connected to the underlying bones by an intricate system of ligaments. In order to achieve a more balanced and youthful appearance, it is necessary to surgically manipulate these structures. If you are getting a revision facelift surgery, the process may vary slightly as it’s a slightly more complicated procedure.
The eyelids can also be addressed during this process as well, if the patient wishes them to be. If you are also getting a neck lift, an incision will be made underneath the chin in order to make it as hidden as possible.
This operation is performed while you are under general anaesthetic and requires admission for one night. Most of our patients are discharged the next day. Although this operation does involve some bruising and swelling, this should be mostly gone after 10-14 days. This is when the majority of patients go back to work, although it is possible to do so just a few days after your discharge from hospital. On days 5-7, you will be required to be seen at Panthea’s Sydney or Canberra clinic in order to have your sutures removed and have our team perform a postoperative assessment.
YOUR PEACE OF MIND IS OUR BIGGEST PRIORITY
All surgeries bring with them risks of complication, the team at Panthea. Complications are inherent with any surgeries, these include wound breakdown, asymmetry, nerve damage, postoperative bleeding and infection. Dr Farhadieh will discuss all aspects of the surgery with you during your consultation, including all possible complications. His experience with facial nerve reanimation surgery is an additional layer of safety.
After your initial postoperative review, we will organise a follow-up appointment at regular intervals. Your relationship with your surgeon is the most important aspect of your surgical journey, which is why we make sure that we’re guiding you through the process every step of the way.
LEARN MORE ABOUT PANTHEA
If you’ve been thinking about getting cosmetic surgery for a while now, Panthea Clinics are more than happy to guide you through the process. Committed to your peace of mind, and our patient’s welfare we aim to make sure you have all the information you want and need before making your decision.
Contact our Sydney or Canberra clinic today and book your initial consultation to begin the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, facelift surgery is intricate surgery, which deals with the face. General anaesthesia and overnight admissions are the safest way to undertake this surgery
Immediately after surgery, yes, but the incisions are placed in such a way that once healed they will not be easily visible or noticed. From time to time, scar abnormalities or some skin loss might occur as a result of surgery. These can be managed conservatively, occasionally requiring secondary surgery.
This varies from patient to patient. The majority of swelling resolves within the first 7–10 days. Most patients are out and about by the end of the second week. Any remaining swelling is usually gone within 4 weeks.
Although all humans have some intrinsic asymmetry to their face and body, noticeable persistent postoperative asymmetry is not common. Occasionally the facial nerve is bruised during surgery ( literature reflect 10% of times), but this tends to recover within a matter of weeks. The literature shows in 1% of cases the nerve can be permanently damaged.
The face is one of the most intricate parts of the body and its importance in projecting our sense of ‘self’ is clear. Performing facelift surgery is often thought of as a subspecialty amongst plastic surgeons and those who are interested seek further training beyond basic plastic surgical qualifications. Dr Farhadieh has an interest in facial surgery and has undertaken two separate clinical fellowships in London, England, focusing on the face from both cosmetic and reconstructive perspectives.
Dr Farhadieh believes that the relationship between doctor and patient is sacred and privileged. Our practice is based on compassion, honesty, transparency and, above all, patient welfare. We pride ourselves on making sure that you feel supported at all times. We will be available during all stages of your journey and will schedule short-, medium- and long-term follow-up appointments as part of our overall practice.
1. There are some general risks associated with ANY operation, which include:
a) Infection in surgical wounds with resultant redness, pain and possible discharge. In severe cases, wounds could break open and need to be washed out and debrided prior to being closed.
b) Possible bleeding in surgical wound(s) with swelling or bruising.
c) Secretions may accumulate in the lungs and cause a chest infection.
d) Deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
e) Death is possible during or after an operation following severe complications.
f) Smoking significantly increases the risk of complications. Therefore, you should completely stop smoking at least 4 weeks prior to surgery, and refrain from smoking for at least 4 weeks.
2. The following facts, risks and complications apply specifically to THIS operation:
a) There are always scars following this procedure. The location and extent have been explained in full. Every effort will be made to make them as inconspicuous as possible.
1. This may be simply in front of or into the hairline, ear and extending to behind the ear into the hairline.
2. And/or include a 4-5 cm incision under the chin.
3. Thickening or poor aesthetic healing may follow any surgical scar.
b) Delayed healing at times occurs along the margins of the incisions and occasionally there is some loss along the skin edges requiring prolonged dressings or additional surgery for correction. This is more common in smokers and men. The areas of loss often heal with excellent aesthetic outcome occasionally requiring secondary surgery.
c) Smokers have a significantly greater risk of skin loss and wound healing complications. Dr Farhadieh expects an undertaking of not smoking for 4 weeks prior and 4 weeks after the surgery.
d) There will be swelling in the face, which may occasionally persist for several weeks and, in rare cases longer, following the procedure.
e) There may be discolouration of the skin (black and blue) for a few weeks.
f) There may be scattered areas of numbness over the face and neck following surgery, which may persist for an indefinite period of time; usually this settles completely within the first few months from surgery. Very rarely there may be burning or pain as the result of the surgery in the related operated field. Whilst this often settles down with time it may be permanent.
g) No guarantee has been made as to the amount of improvement either in terms of apparent age or the permanency of the result.
h) Some patients may develop hypertrophic scars or keloids, which may require additional treatment and incur extra costs payable by the patient. I realise this can happen even though the surgery has been performed correctly and without complication.
i) Any special conditions I may have, such as high blood pressure, etc., means my risk of undesirable side effects is greater than normal and I have considered that factor for added risk in my decision of whether or not to proceed with the surgery.
j) It is possible, though unusual (<2%), to experience a bleeding episode during or immediately after surgery. Should postoperative bleeding occur, it may require emergency treatment and surgery to drain accumulated blood, and/or a blood transfusion. I will not take any Aspirin or anti-inflammatory medication for ten days before and after surgery, as this may increase the risk of bleeding.
k) Infection is unusual after this type of surgery. Should an infection occur, treatment including antibiotics or additional surgery may be necessary.
l) Deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels and muscles may be damaged during the course of the surgery. The potential for this to occur varies depends on where in the body surgery is being performed. Injury to deeper structures may be temporary or permanent. Most serious complication of permanent facial nerve injury resulting in facial asymmetry is approximately 0.3%-1%. Some temporary weakness in the facial nerve branches is expected from the surgery (up to 10% of cases).
m) Salivary gland leaks may occur as the result of surgery requiring further treatment and impacting the final outcome.
n) Although rare, any asymmetry as a result of facial nerve or musculature manipulation or damaged may require revision surgery in time and may never be completely rectified.
o) Scarring may be hypertrophic, keloid unsightly and may be permanent.
p) You may not be satisfied with the final aesethetic results.
q) Bone substitutes may be necessary in some cases to achieve optimal facial symmetry and long last results. This increases both the time and cost of surgery as it incurs a separate cost for the material. In rare cases these may become infected and require excision.
r) It is recognised that, during the course of the operation, unforeseen conditions may necessitate additional or different procedures than those outlined. Also, emergency conditions may require performance of additional medical procedures.
s) The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science, and no guarantees can been made to me as to the results of the operation or procedure; nor are there any guarantees against unfavourable results.
t) The aim of face and neck lift surgery is improvement rather than perfection. Further operations may occasionally be required to improve the results. You may not satisfied with the final outcome.