Facelift - What is a facelift? Care Clinic Amsterdam

What is a facelift?

Over the years, your skin loses its firmness. If your skin has slackened so much that the contours of your face are less defined, then a facelift could be the solution.

Care Clinic has observed three factors that can cause the face to look aged:

A slackening of the skin
Fat loss
Damage to the skin

We look at the causes. Our approach is, therefore, not based on a preference for any particular technique, nor on price nor profit, but on reliable knowledge and analysis.

Slackening
A slackening of the skin and the underlying tissue go hand-in-hand with ageing. You will notice this by the sagging skin around your jawline and in the hollows that have formed at your temples. Facelift surgery is an effective solution for this.

Fat Loss
Fat loss sometimes plays a significant role in the ageing process. A facelift operation can partially resolve this. Moving fat from the stomach to the face – mostly in combination with facelift surgery – would, in this case, be advised to achieve optimal results. We call this lipofilling or fat transfer.

Sun or Smoke Damage to the skin
Superficial wrinkles, blemishes and veins will not be improved with a facelift, and, not even by injecting fat into the face. Laser treatment, however, or chemical peeling would be ideal.

*The doctor will determine if the treatment is necessary for medical reasons. * This treatment falls within the tax-exempt medical care as stated in article. 11-1-g Tax Law, 1968.

How is a facelift done?

The plastic surgeon removes wrinkles and folds in this cosmetic operation by tightening up the skin in your face and the underlying fat, muscle and connective tissues. Your facial features are, as it were, given a ‘lift’ giving you a fresher and more youthful appearance.

First, an incision is made next to your ear. This incision can run down to your ear lobe but is sometimes extended to the hairline above your ear or behind your ear. This all depends on the shape of your face and the desired results.
Next, the skin is separated from the connective tissues and the muscle tissues. The tissue is then lifted. Connective and muscle tissue are much firmer than the skin; because of this, the skin will be lifted as well. The tissue is pulled together and fixed in place, and lastly, the excess skin is cut away. The skin is sutured tension-free, which is necessary to allow the wounds to heal nicely, and it also gives a subtle and inconspicuous scar.

When am I a suitable candidate for a facelift?

You are a good candidate when you suffer from sagging skin on your lower jaw, have slackened cheekbones, deep wrinkles and folds, or deep lines between your nose and the corners of your mouth. You are also a good candidate when you suffer from loose skin, have lines and too much fat in the neck area.

What are the advantages of a facelift?

No visible scars
No more sagging skin
No more deep folds between your nose and the corners of your mouth
Performed by a surgeon with years of experience.

CONSULTATION

During your first consultation with the doctor, you can discuss what bothers you the most and what you hope the facelift will change. Prior to this, photos will be taken for your medical file, and for your meeting with the surgeon. Based on your photos, the surgeon will decide whether you are a suitable candidate for a facelift and will recommend the treatment that best meets your needs. The surgeon will explain the technique used and what you can expect in terms of the end result.
With all this information, you can then make a well-informed decision when choosing the right facelift for you. Furthermore, the surgeon will ask you questions regarding your health, medical history and any possible medication you may be using. Should you use blood thinners, then you should stop using them at least one week before the treatment.

During your consultation, you will be informed about the recovery period and the possible risks and complications. After which, all the information will be put together in a treatment plan, and our consultant will run through the costs with you for your facelift. The consultation takes about an hour and its purpose is to provide you with as much clear information as possible about your facelift.

What can I expect after having had a facelift done?

You need to be well prepared when you have a facelift done. The aftercare is vigorous and well organised. Once the operation has been completed, your head will be dressed in bandages, which will be removed the next day. The sutures will also then be cleaned up. Doctor Wever uses small drains, which are removed four days later. The sutures will be removed, for the most part, the week after your operation.

You should get plenty of rest and may also not drink any alcohol in the first week after your operation because of the side effects of the general anaesthetic. You may do sports only after three weeks, and if you feel well enough. Do not go swimming or visit the sauna in the first three weeks. Both smoking and alcohol have a negative effect on the healing process and recovery time – try to abstain from both for a while.

We advise you to take two weeks off and add an extra week on top, just in case. Should you have any (official) events that you are required to attend, then we would like to suggest that you do not schedule them until two months after your operation. The whole healing process takes about a year.