For sure, age and gravity usually affect the way you look. The areas which were smooth and firm in the past started to be more wrinkled and saggy. Moreover, you may feel young and energetic on the inside on the contrary to your body. Therefore, your self- confidence may dwindle and your social life may suffer a bit. Your face is something which stands out first and it does not only shows the state of your mood for those around you but also you would like to have it showing confidence at the same time. Loads of facelift abroad procedures are performed on a daily basis, however, in the past cheap facelift procedure was considered to have harmful effects.
Nowadays, experienced surgeons are accustomed to a variety of techniques that produce natural-looking effects. Nevertheless, there are some risks which should be taken into account while arriving at the decision.
Side effects of the facelift
Facelift surgery is known as a safe procedure and with the skilled specialist, you will be glad about the results. Make sure that you have discussed the realistic expectations and to determine if you are qualified for being a good candidate for a facelift. If wrinkles and lines bother you, you lost volume or you feel that your skin is saggy as the time passes by, you may consider facelift procedure. Below, you will find 10 factors to take into consideration
Bleeding / Hematoma
After the surgery, you may experience abdominal bleeding which can develop into hematoma. The main causes of hematoma are for instance high blood pressure, altered blood clotting and intensive exercises. Main symptoms of hematoma which may occur are rapid swelling, tenderness, bluish-purple skin discolouration, a painful lump, or bruising which should improve with time being.
A hematoma is one of the prevailing complications after facelift procedure which occurs 1-5% of procedures. Even the most experienced surgeons may experience hematomas, however, with the proper care and attention hematoma is easily taken under control and usually does not lead to long-term problems. It may be observed that small blood collections may appear and they will be easily absorbed by the body. In the case of larger collections, surgical treatment may be required including evacuation or drainage.
It is vital to search for immediate medical attention in case you suspect hematoma as they may hinder the healing process. In most cases hematoma occurs 24 hours after the surgery, however, it is possible for them to occur several days after. If untreated, they can delay healing, develop contour issues, increased scarring, make your skin darker, cause infections or rarely skin necrosis.
Infection
Bacteria may develop on the site of incisions which may theoretically develop an infection after the surgery. There is about 1% possibility of infection after safe facelift procedure among healthy people and is higher in those who suffer from diabetes, smoke regularly, take steroids or have other medical issues.
The most common symptoms are fever, redness, pain, warmth, discharge, tenderness and/or foul smell. If you suppose that you have an infection, it is vital to contact your surgeon straight away so that you will be taken care immediately.
In case the infection is so alarming that it impedes the healing process, the final results may be affected by this, therefore, scars after facelift may be more prominent.
Scarring
Scars are an indispensable part of every plastic surgery and facelift procedure is not an exception. The healing abilities of a face are satisfactory and the scars after the facelift are located in specific areas around the hairline site and ears just to make them less visible. Thanks to specific techniques, scars are almost invisible. If you follow the surgeon’s post-surgery instructions, your skin will heal properly and the risk of visible scarring is low.
People with a dark complexion like Hispanics, Asians and African Americans are more likely to have thicker scars such as scars such as hypertrophic scars and keloid scars, yet generally, the risk is not high. If you are susceptible to keloid scarring, consult your plastic surgeon about the possibilities and realistic expectations connected to facelift surgery
Adverse reaction to anaesthesia
A facelift can be done under local or general anaesthesia or under twilight sleep. For some time you may experience grogginess, nausea or a sore throat, however, they cease to last after a day or two. There may also occur an allergic reaction from anaesthesia, yet is rare.
For sure, some of the patients are not in favour of any anaesthesia and are worried that they may wake up in the middle of the surgery or on the other hand, they will not wake up from the surgery. These voices are invalid as such instances happen extremely rare and together with modern anaesthesia and healthy patients it is almost impossible. Altogether, it is the surgeon who will decide on the best type of anaesthesia for you.
Delayed healing
Each patient is different thus ones recovers at own pace. The recovery time varies from person to person and it all depends on your age, genetics. skin type, general health and the scope of the surgery. There are instances where the healing period is delayed which may result in longer time of swelling and other side effects. Also, skin slough or wound breakdown can appear.
Tissue loss
Each surgery entails cutting of tissue which may affect the blood supply to tissues. Generally, face has a good blood supply, therefore facelift surgery is fully tolerated. In some instances, which are really rare, the circulation to the skin, fat or even muscle may be diminished causing tissue necrosis. Due to skin slough, wound impairment,
Damage to underlying structures
There is a slight possibility that underlying structure like nerves, muscles, blood vessels, fat or salivary glands may be damaged.
Numbness, tingling, sensitivity or itching may occur after the facelift procedure. Moreover, in some circumstances, a facial motion may be temporarily affected for example movements of eyebrows, eyelids or mouth. These symptoms frequently cede several weeks or months after the procedure. Nevertheless, in some instances, permanent damage may happen yet the risk of it is less than 1%.
Seroma
After the surgery, fluid can accumulate under the skin and resemble a swollen lump or cyst. This is possible to occur at the incision place or where tissue was moved or altered which is commonly called seroma. Nevertheless, the pile-up of tissue is not always visible right after the surgery. It may start to build and swell several days or weeks after the surgery. Straight after the surgery, small drainage tubes are inserted in order to prevent any pile-up of fluids. Nevertheless, the is a possibility that fluids will build up after the drainage tubes were taken out. It is also common for small fluids to collect after facelift procedure and they are usually drained with the use of a needle or absorbed by the body. In very rare occasions, when fluids do not stop to collect, a drainage procedure is required.
Allergic reactions
Allergic reactions to some of the medications or material applied during or after the surgery may occur in some cases. In most instances, reactions are rare and may be cured simply by discontinuing the usage of medications. However, in extremely rare situations allergies to medications may induce shock. If you have any allergies, make sure to inform your surgeon about them before the procedure.
After sutures dissolve, redness or irritation may occur, yet is a common reaction and you should not be surprised. If you have any doubts, contact your surgeon and follow his advice during the healing period.
Unsatisfactory results
Experienced surgeons who deal with facelift procedures are known for high rate success, yet there may be a slight chance that you may not be fully satisfied with the results. The surgery and practice of medicine are not exactly the same, therefore the results cannot be guaranteed. In some circumstances, poor results may require another procedure.
Poland is becoming more popular among foreign patients and facelift abroad is more affordable than in the UK or Germany. If you consider undergoing this procedure, you should think about doing your facelift in Poland. Our advisors at Beauty Poland will be glad to assist you in arranging your surgery and post-op stay.
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Marek is a great fan of medical tourism. He believes that medical tourism is a huge chance for many people, who cannot afford treatment in their home country.
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