The duration of facelift surgery can vary between 1-6 hours depending on the surgical technique used, the experience and care of the surgeon, the patient's facial anatomy, the equipment of the hospital, the type of anesthesia and the efficiency of the operating room staff.
So what are the factors that lead to such a wide time range?
Why is one facelift surgery completed in 1 hour while another one takes 6 hours?
In this article, we will review the factors that affect facelift surgery time.
İçindekiler
Facelift Surgery Technique Selection
The most important factor affecting the duration of surgery is the technique with which the surgery will be performed. As the scope of the surgical technique on the surface area of the face increases, the operation time increases. Mini or micro lift surgeries in which a little skin is removed in front of the ear and sutured can be completed in 1 hour.
As the surgery descends towards the neck, approaches the mouth, moves under the eyes, and moves towards the temple, the duration increases. Surgeries performed in the deep planes of the face are performed at a slower and more careful pace to protect the nerves and muscles.
The technique chosen for soft tissue detection affects the duration of surgery. In surgical techniques that base the permanence of the surgery only on the tension on the skin, no time is spent for deep tissue fixation. SMAS plication, SMAS flap fixation, deep temporal fascia fixation, periosteal fixation, bone fixation, retaining ligament reconstructions each require extra time.
Other Procedures Accompanying Facelift Surgery
Facelift surgery is often combined with other procedures. Each additional procedure added to facelift surgery prolongs the duration of surgery. Neck lift surgery, forehead lift surgery, upper eyelid surgery, lower eyelid surgery, lip-lift, fat injection, chemical peeling are some of these procedures.
Surgeon's Care and Experience
Every surgeon has a way of working, just like every valiant has a way of eating yogurt. As the surgeon's care increases, the operation time increases. As the surgeon's professional experience increases, the operation time shortens. For example; skin suturing can be completed in 5 minutes on one half of the face with the continous technique. In our preferred 3-layer suturing technique, it takes 45 minutes to close one half of the face.
Patient Factors
Some faces are more difficult than others. Excess weight, bleeding tendency, previous surgical and medical aesthetic procedures, certain diseases can make the surgery difficult and prolong the duration of the surgery. As the aging level of the patient progresses, the number of procedures you need to include in the plan to get a good result will increase, so there will be longer surgeries in general.
Support Factors
The type of anesthesia, the scope of preoperative preparation and postoperative recovery protocols and the equipment of the hospital closely affect the operation process. A competent anesthesiologist and a competent surgical nurse will significantly save you time during surgery. Surgery is a team work and the efficiency of the hospital team affects the operation time.
We generally perform more comprehensive, more holistic surgeries and often include other procedures to complement the facelift in the treatment plan. Deep plan surgeries, which are my specialty, take more time than classical superficial surgeries. Our tissue detection is quite comprehensive. We spend time at this stage because it is a factor that determines permanence. In order to optimize the scars left after this surgery, we use a 3-layer skin repair technique that takes 1-1.5 hours on its own.
The simplest form of my surgeries takes between 3-4 hours. In combined surgeries, this time can extend up to 8-10 hours and we may need to divide the surgical plan into 2-3 operation sessions to reduce complications. Some of my prospective patients may find this time long and are afraid. Facial aesthetic surgeries generally do not cause intense trauma to the body. Since the surgical procedure is subtle, the duration is long. Contrary to popular belief, the longer the operation time, the more swelling, bruising or pain does not automatically occur. If there is no direct connection between the duration of surgery and recovery time, we can say that between two surgeries with the same scope, the shorter surgery will heal faster.
In principle, I do not like to work under time pressure in these surgeries. Facial rejuvenation patients are taken as the project of the day, the only case of that day. We spend as much time as needed. I don't want to have a case in front of me that tires me and a case waiting for me behind it. Time is also very valuable to me and believe me, I can work at a speed that will shorten the duration of these surgeries by 30-40%. My personal preference is to give maximum attention to each patient and to return to my social life and family a few hours later.
When reviewing the procedure times, do not get the wrong idea that the shorter it takes, the healthier it is. Every detail is important in facial aesthetics. Every detail takes time.
You can find more information about facelift surgery by browsing other articles on this website. You can contact our clinic to get information about your own face and to plan a customized facial rejuvenation for you.
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Stay nice.
O.B.