Circular facelift

Many women, and some men, are interested in various methods of surgical rejuvenation, but not all of them know what a circular facelift is. We are talking about a whole complex of operational procedures, the purpose of which is to correct age-related changes. And not only the skin, but also more deeply located facial structures (for example, subcutaneous fat).

Plastic surgeons conditionally divide the facial area into segments: upper, middle and lower zone. The upper conditional dividing line runs through the eyebrows, and the lower one through the nostrils. If it is supposed to lift all these three zones at once, then in this case they talk about a circular facelift.[1]

Indications for the procedure

The indications for performing a circular facelift are the same for female and male patients:

• omission of facial soft tissues, eyebrows, outer corners of the eyes;
• the formation of "sagging" soft tissues along the edges of the lower jaw;
• strengthening the folds of the nasolabial triangle;
• the formation of wrinkles, "crow's feet", folded defects;
• stretching of the skin (so-called "extra skin");
• "double chin.

At what age is a circular facelift done?

It is generally accepted that a circular facelift is optimally indicated for patients belonging to the age category of 40-50 years. This is exactly the age at which pronounced age-related changes already appear on the face, and the condition of the epidermis is still good enough for high-quality postoperative recovery.

However, there are many cases when the intervention is carried out much earlier - even at 30-35 years. Of course, if there are relevant indications for this. For example, even young tissues of the facial area can suffer as a result of too intense and unnecessary cosmetic procedures, as well as from excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation or bad habits. Finally, the hereditary factor also plays an important role, due to which outwardly a person may seem older than his age. The surgeon takes into account and weighs all these nuances, determining the optimal procedure for the patient.[2]

Preparation

Before prescribing a circular facelift, the doctor must determine the factors that can cause difficulties at the stage of the intervention itself and further tissue repair. The surgeon will ask the patient about the medications he is taking, bad habits and lifestyle. In addition, he will prescribe a comprehensive diagnosis - as before any other operation. Such diagnostics may include general tests (blood, urine), analysis of the quality of blood coagulation, fluorography, assessment of blood sugar levels. The purpose of such events is to identify possible contraindications.

After receiving diagnostic results, the doctor should carefully examine the patient's face, paying attention to such factors:

• condition of soft facial tissues (muscle tissue, epidermis, pancreas);
• facial contours, its shape and structural features.

The doctor and the patient should discuss together all the nuances of the intervention, as well as expectations, expected results and possible complications.

All preparation lasts at least two weeks. During this entire period, you should:

• stop drinking alcohol;
• Do not smoke;
• do not take medicines.

The day before the operation, it is allowed to eat only light food, drink juices. Evening meals are best skipped. On the day of the procedure, you can neither drink nor eat food.

It should be borne in mind that facelift (namely, this term is called the operation of a circular facelift) can last up to 4-5 hours, and it is performed under general anesthesia. As a rule, this is inhalation anesthesia: intravenous anesthesia is used only for the correction of certain areas of the facial area, but not for a full circular lift. Therefore, the preparatory stage takes place in full, as before any other major surgical intervention.

Technique of the circular facelift

Many do not quite understand how a circular facelift occurs. Meanwhile, this is a full-fledged, and even complex operation that requires serious preparation and long-term rehabilitation.

How is the intervention performed?

1. The surgeon makes an incision that originates from the temple area and reaches the anterior contour of the ear shell. If a simultaneous neck lift is expected, then the incision is also made in the chin area.
2. The doctor exfoliates the skin, starting from the temporal region, as well as on the cheeks and chin.
3. The skin is redistributed by moving the soft tissues, then the "extra" areas are removed (cut off).
4. The doctor fixes the connective and muscle tissues by suturing (with SMAS-lifting).
5. The skin is pulled back and up.
6. The surgeon applies a compression bandage.

Thus, the circular facelift operation can be conditionally divided into the following stages: redistribution of tissues, getting rid of "extra" skin, fixation of tissues, formation of the correct facial contour. In some cases, additional plastic manipulations are carried out, depending on the desired effect. This can be plastic surgery of the pancreas and aponeurosis of the facial muscles, a circular eyelid lift, blepharoplasty and a circular facelift. Usually the scale of the intervention is negotiated in advance, even at the stage of preparation.[3]

Varieties of circular facelift

There are two types of such interference:

• SMAS circumferential lift - this method is recommended for patients with severe external age changes that cannot be corrected only by redistribution of epidermal tissue.
• Subcutaneous type of lifting - this method is practiced in patients with relatively small age-related changes that can be corrected by redistributing the skin.

Important: a true circular facelift, or facelift, is always an operation. All other non-surgical techniques, called circular lifts, are not, but only imitate the corresponding effect.[4], [5], [6], [7]

Contraindications to the procedure

A circular facelift, contrary to the opinion of many, is not a harmless cosmetic procedure, but a full-fledged surgical intervention. Therefore, it has its own number of contraindications:

• impaired blood clotting;
• severe decompensated pathologies, malignant processes;
• psychical deviations;
• tendency to hypertension;
• epilepsy;
• diabetes;
• infectious diseases, dermatological diseases affecting the skin on the face.

Do not carry out a circular tightening for pregnant and lactating patients.

Consequences after the procedure

Most patients of plastic surgery clinics are concerned not only with their own appearance: they are also concerned about the likelihood of unpleasant consequences after the operation. In particular, the obvious disadvantages of a circular facelift are the following consequences:

• Edema: they will “show off” on the face for a long time - about three weeks, and you need to be prepared for this.
• Transient effect: circular facelift provides only temporary rejuvenation. Meanwhile, the aging process continues to do its job, and after some five years there may be a need for re-correction.
• Hematomas, dark circles under the eyes: such unpleasant signs disappear after a couple of weeks, with a well-conducted recovery period.

Today, there are many clinics, there are many practicing plastic surgeons who can offer a circular facelift. But when choosing a clinic and specifically a doctor, you should definitely make sure the experience of the specialists and the equipment of the institution, the positive reviews. If you do not pay attention to the level of service and the experience of the surgeon, then the operation may end in the development of various complications.

Complications after the procedure

Unforeseen complications sometimes have to be faced, for example, in such situations:

• with inexperience or incompetence of the operating surgeon;
• with insufficient examination of the patient before surgery;
• with improper preparation for surgery, improper management of the rehabilitation period.
• What are the complications? Most often these are such pathologies and phenomena:
• injury of the facial nerve with impaired muscle innervation;
• violation of facial symmetry, incorrect fixation of the skin and muscles, incorrect redistribution of tissues;
• incorrect suturing, which leads to noticeable postoperative scars;
• the formation of keloid cicatricial changes as a result of incomplete preoperative diagnosis.

It is important to remember: a circular facelift is a complex operation that requires a special approach and competent preparation. In order to avoid complications, you need to carefully choose the clinic and the surgeon who will perform the facelift. In addition, you can not ignore the recommendations of the doctor, violate his instructions regarding the diagnosis and management of the postoperative period. Unfortunately, there are frequent cases when the culprit of complications is not the doctor, but the patient himself, who neglected medical prescriptions.[8]

Care after the procedure

After the operation, the patient can stay in the clinic for a day, under the supervision of doctors. However, this issue is resolved individually, depending on the condition of the person, as well as on how the facelift procedure went. The postoperative period after a circular facelift usually lasts up to one month, and recovery takes place already at home.

The postoperative bandage is removed approximately on the second day, and the sutures are removed 1-2 weeks after the procedure. Absolutely all patients need to know when the seams are smoothed after a circular facelift, how to smear the seams, how long to process. The healing of sutures can take place in different ways: in some patients, they can completely smooth out in two months, while in others this happens only after six months. It can depend both on the state of immunity and on the age of the person.

Accelerate tissue recovery following the doctor's recommendations:

• After a circular facelift, you should not allow any thermal procedures (hot shower or bath, bath, sauna, solarium, prolonged exposure to sunlight or in hot conditions) for at least three months.
• Do not allow physical exertion, you can not lift heavy objects for at least three months.
• A light warm shower is allowed no earlier than 2-3 days.
• The first days after a circular facelift, the skin should be treated with Chlorhexidine, and starting from 3-4 days, the solution can be replaced with warm water and baby soap.
• When pain occurs, it is allowed to take a tablet of Ketonal, Ketanov or Nise.
• The sutures are treated with 0.05% Chlorhexidine up to three times a day. If the seams turn red, then you can additionally use Baneocin or Levomekol ointment. It is also allowed to make light lotions with a fresh solution of Furacilin (room temperature) for a week after the operation.
• Attention: the seam area must always be dry! With the appearance of weeping discharge, you need to urgently see a doctor!
• To accelerate healing, a mixture of Traumeel C and Bepanthen ointments (50:50) can be applied to the face area three times a day for three weeks.
• You should try to limit mimic manifestations for 20-25 days after a circular facelift.
• You can not sleep on your stomach, use a high pillow, massage your face and feel it for a month after the operation.
• You can take Traumeel tablets 1 piece sublingually, 8 tablets per day (for ten days), then switching to taking one tablet three times a day (for five days). Additionally, they take Askorutin (1 tablet three times a day), Detralex (1 tablet with breakfast), Lymphomyosot (20 drops three times a day).
• Approximately one month after a circular facelift, the sutures can be treated with silicone-containing products (Dermatix, Kelokot). This treatment is continued until the scars turn white.

During the entire rehabilitation period, you need to stop drinking alcohol and smoking: these bad habits increase swelling and slow down recovery processes. Do not take any medication without first consulting a doctor.

Control visits to the doctor are carried out a week after the operation, then - after 2 weeks, three weeks, after a month, after one and a half and two months, after three months and after six months.

An Alternative to a Circular Facelift

Surgery with the use of general anesthesia scares many, so not everyone who wants to change their appearance for the better decides on the procedure. In addition, for some people, a circular facelift is contraindicated, or simply “cannot afford”. For this, alternative tightening methods have been created - perhaps they are somewhat inferior in efficiency, but they are no less popular and also have their fans.[9]

A circular facelift without surgery is not a true facelift, but in many cases it is quite possible to replace it with surgery. What non-surgical methods does cosmetology offer today?

• Hardware procedures:
  • Cryolifting - involves a low-temperature effect on the skin, or the so-called thermal shock, which activates the processes of collagen synthesis, improves local blood circulation, relieves swelling and intoxication (a cryolifting course usually includes up to ten sessions).
  • RF-lifting - is the effect of energy radio frequencies that cause heating of the skin, contraction of collagen fibers and provide tightening and tightening of tissues. It takes at least 4-5 treatments to get results.
  • The fractional photothermolysis method is a type of hardware facelift that provides for the renewal of collagen fibers, which contributes to a significant improvement in the condition of the skin. The minimum course should consist of 3-4 sessions.
  • Ultrasonic SMAS lifting is a method that provides an impact on the deep layers of the facial and cervical zones. For the effect, sometimes one procedure is enough, the action of which lasts for a period of three to five years.
• injection procedures:
  • 3D circular lift with threads made of self-absorbable materials, which are injected subcutaneously using a special elastic needle. The threads form a kind of new facial "frame", outline the oval, eliminate skin folds. Lifting is carried out under local anesthesia, the effectiveness can be traced for 1.5-2 years after the manipulation.
  • Contour plastic method - involves the injection of hyaluronic acid - a special compatible material that fills wrinkles and improves the facial contour. The manipulation is performed under local anesthesia, and the effect is enough for about 1-1.5 years.
  • The Swedish soft-lift method (volumetric modeling) has much in common with contour plastic, however, it involves a deeper introduction of fillers. Thanks to the procedure, it is possible not only to tighten the face, but also to improve the relief, correct symmetry and shape. The result can last up to one year.
  • Biorevitalization method - involves the introduction of low molecular weight hyaluronic acid. Especially recommended for patients aged 25 to 35 years. Allows you to moisturize the skin, provides tone, stops the process of natural aging. The terms of the visible result are about 12 months.
  • Bioreinforcement method - resembles biorevitalization, but involves the use of a gel that is denser in consistency. Manipulation is recommended for patients aged 40-45 years. The result will please for about a year.
  • The plasmolifting method is a way to improve the appearance of the skin with the help of blood plasma, additionally enriched with platelets. Such injections optimize intracellular metabolic processes, improve oxygen saturation of tissues, which leads to a natural restoration of the skin. The procedure is suitable for almost any age, from 25 to 40 years.
  • Mesotherapy is a manipulation involving the injection of special bioactive substances (mesococktails). The composition of such solutions is individual and may contain vitamin substances, acids, etc. To obtain the effect, at least four procedures are required.

Another surgical alternative to a circular facelift is lipolifting. This is a method of rejuvenation, prevention of age-related changes, as well as contour correction. For the facial area, microlipolifting is practiced using the patient's own adipose tissue. The prepared tissue is introduced in small amounts using special instruments. After the procedure, the contour of the face becomes clearer, wrinkles are smoothed out, the contours are evened out.

Spicelifting, or the so-called Mendelssohn lifting (named after the author of this technique, the Australian doctor Mendelssohn), also belongs to low-traumatic methods of rapid rejuvenation. The basis of this method is the identification of specific voids between the facial muscles, their further displacement and consolidation. The operation is performed under intravenous anesthesia and lasts about two hours. This intervention is minimally invasive and practically bloodless.

Circular facelift exercises

There is a facial rejuvenation practice that can be successfully applied at home. We are talking about specially designed exercises, which many call rejuvenating facial gymnastics. Such gymnastics is affordable, uncomplicated, and the results of regular exercises will really please: the facial muscles are toned, the appearance of the area around the eyes improves, the natural contour of the cheekbones and chin is restored.

Gymnastics is represented by the following typical techniques:

1. They raise their head up, try to touch the chin with the tip of the tongue. In this case, the facial muscles must be relaxed and strained.
2. They make such simultaneous movements: they press the bridge of the nose with their thumbs and bring their eyebrows together.
3. They smile without opening their mouths, after which they stretch their lips into a “tube” and draw in their cheeks. This is repeated several times.
4. They take air into the mouth, move it from left to right and vice versa, and then from the lower lip to the upper.
5. They clench their teeth strongly and expose them, lowering their lower lip a little.

Classes are repeated in the mornings and evenings, on average, one session should last up to 20 minutes. You can not do gymnastics without first applying a moisturizer or milk: the skin should not be dry.

Before starting the lesson, you should warm up your face a little by lightly rubbing and patting. Do not apply rough movements, squeeze and stretch the skin.

Circular facelift with massage

You can gradually tighten flaccid skin with a light massage, which is performed along the lines of the muscles, improving their tone. To properly massage, it is necessary to prepare in advance for the procedure not only the face area, but also the hands: the skin must be washed or wiped with a tonic, then a special massage or moisturizing cream should be applied. Kneading movements and vibration are carried out with the index and middle fingers of both hands. Stroking can be done with all fingers, from the median facial line to the auricles.

Do not forget about the massage of the neck and chin: apply tapping and stroking with the back of the hand. Each technique should be repeated at least 7-8 times.

To ensure the effect, massage can be done daily or every other day, or at least three times a week.

You can not do a massage if there are signs of inflammation, rashes on the surface of the face (including a herpetic rash).

Massage should be light, without stretching and squeezing the skin. The predominant movements should be tapping and stroking.

Circular facelift, price in Korea

To date, the operation of a circular facelift can be done in almost any country in the world. However, Korea is especially popular with patients: this country ranks fourth in the world ranking in terms of the frequency of plastic surgery. More often, a facelift is done only in the United States, Brazil and Japan.

Why do patients choose South Korea? First, it is closer than the US or Japan. Secondly, Korean specialists focus on minimally invasive and sparing techniques, with a minimum rehabilitation period. In addition, transactions here can be carried out anonymously.

There are many clinics practicing on plastic in Korea. This diversity dictates the different cost of such services. The average price of a circular facelift in this country is from 7 to 10 thousand US dollars. But we should not forget: the popularity of Plastic Surgery Centers in Korea is explained not only by affordable pricing, but also by the high degree of skill of specialists, and high-quality medical services.

Effect and results after a circular facelift

The final result of a circular facelift can be seen approximately three to four months after the operation. A full-scale effect with smoothing of all scars is noted no earlier than six months later.

The degree of visible rejuvenation depends on a number of indicators, so it is not the same for everyone. The optimal result is achieved under the condition of competent performance of the operation, proper management of the recovery period.

As a rule, the vast majority of patients note a clear facial rejuvenation (by 10-15 years), as well as firmness and freshness of the skin. The face takes on a rested, cheerful look, and even the look becomes more interesting and self-confident.

However, we must not forget that rejuvenation with the help of a circular lift is a temporary measure, the effect of which will last no more than 5-10 years. Age-related changes in the body will inevitably continue, and after a certain time there may again be a need for such an operation.

To keep the result of rejuvenation for the longest possible period, consult with your plastic surgeon. Perhaps your skin needs additional skin care, or the connection of hardware methods.

Reviews of the circular facelift operation

A circular facelift is a long and invasive intervention, so it is very important to properly prepare for it. Moreover, the preparation should include the right moral attitude. Unfortunately, some patients are unprepared not so much for surgery as for a long rehabilitation period. Therefore, most of the less positive reviews are related specifically to recovery: patients complain about prolonged abstinence from the usual social communication, etc. Well, miracles do not happen: only in films a person wakes up after plastic surgery and sees himself in the mirror completely different, young and beautiful. In life, there is no such installation, and the rehabilitation period should be fully sustained. And only after a few weeks, or even after 1-1.5 months, you can begin to enjoy your renewed appearance.

If we continue to consider negative reviews, an unsuccessful circular lift most often occurs in those patients who resort to such a measure too often, or do not maintain the recommended time interval between operations. In addition, problems can happen if you do not follow the doctor's recommendations for managing the recovery period.

And yet, reviews of such an operation as a circular facelift are generally positive. The main thing is to choose the right clinic and operating doctor, trust him and follow all his recommendations and appointments.