Laparoscopic mini-invasing Forehead lift (forehead rhytidectomy)

Rhytidectomy is one of modern and highly demanded procedures. It is a surgical correction involving lifting of excess skin. It allows coping with eyebrow lowering, cheeks sagging, corrects area under eyes, on forehead and chin. A surgeon rearranges the skin on forehead, face and neck and removes the excess skin. He will also handle subcutaneous fat and muscle tissue.

How forehead lift is carried out:

Prior to surgery a surgeon marks a layout of future cuts on the face. It depends on the defects subject to removal and selected procedure technique.

During surgery a surgeon dissects the excess skin and restores the position of soft tissues, lifts face muscles, redistributes layers of subcutaneous fat. Several types of forehead plastic surgery are distinguished:

1. Coronary forehead lift (lifting of the brow line). A long cut is made a few millimeters away from the hairline and forehead skin is lifted up. Thus, the forehead height is increased visually and the hairline is moved higher. This surgery fits those patients who have a low forehead, but it is not advised to those who have high forehead or suffer from hair loss.
2. Endoscopic forehead lift. This procedure is carried out using a special endoscopic tool inserted under the forehead skin through small cuts. All operations are monitored by means of microscopic video camera. This method is the least traumatic for a patient. It is successfully performed when there are contraindications for coronary lift.
3. Temporal brow lift. This procedure is aimed at lifting of the brow line. At the same time the mimic wrinkles will be removed. A surgeon makes small cuts at the temporal area on both face sides. This technique can be profitably combined with the endoscopic method resulting in full smoothening of the forehead skin.
4. Brow lift along the hairline. This procedure is similar to the coronary method. But the main difference is that a cut is made inside the hair area of the head behind the hairline. Then the forehead skin is lifted and the excess skin is removed. This technique is also suitable for patients having a high forehead. It will not make a high forehead even higher visually.

After surgery the incisions are sutured by cosmetic stitches and the sterile stickers are applied.

Preparation to forehead lift surgery:

Preoperative preparation starts with the general clinical examination. A patient’s blood and urine will be taken for biochemical analysis, blood also will be taken to perform the tests for coagulation and infectious diseases; the patient shall also undergo ECG and X-ray examination. A consultation will take place as well. During this consultation the patient is advised on taking medicines, drug allergies, type of surgery, etc. Then the plastic surgeon thoroughly examines the patient’s face, state of skin and face muscles, presence of deep wrinkles.

Procedure/surgery duration: 2-4 hours

Anesthesia: local or general

Postoperative period:

If surgery is performed under general anesthesia a patient will stay at the clinic for 2 days. The doctors will monitor his or her condition throughout this period. The stitches are removed on the 7-9th day after a surgery. Cold compresses are applied to reduce swelling. Generally, face swelling subsides in two weeks but the recovery period lasts for the next month. During this period the patient should avoid intense physical activity, hair dying, visiting sauna or solarium. It is also important to stop smoking and consuming alcohol. Applying makeup and hair washing are allowed in one week after surgery.

Although swelling will subside in two months the final result can be evaluated in a half year only. By that time all damaged skin layers will be healed and muscle tone will be restored. Specialist guarantee that the achieved result will persist for at least 10 years. However, many things depend on the patient’s lifestyle. It is recommended to add such cosmetology procedures as nourishing masks, mesotherapy, face massage, etc. They will not only help to preserve the achieved result but also will become good preventive measures for recurring deformation of the face soft tissues.