Rhytidectomy typically is performed to remove excess or loose, sagging skin from the face and neck. The extent of the procedure depends on what changes are desired and what your surgeon deems appropriate. When removal of pouches around the eyes is desirable, eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, may be done in conjunction with the facelift operation or as a separate procedure. On Dr. Azouz’s recommendation you may be operated on an outpatient basis or you may be admitted to a hospital.
Rhytidectomy may be performed under a local anesthetic with sedation which numbs the area to be treated. Medication to relieve tension is given before the anesthetic is administered. The sedative and local anesthetic allow you to be comfortable during surgery. In some cases, accumulations of fat are removed from beneath the chin and neck, and sagging muscles and connective tissues are tightened. The objective of a a facelift operation is a natural, younger, more attractive appearance. However, normal healing is a gradual process, with final results not fully realized for at least three weeks.