Clinic for plastic surgery, Belgrade, Serbia

FACELIFT SURGERY

Facelift Surgery, Face Rejuvenation

FACE LIFTING – RHYTIDECTOMY - FACE REJUVENATION

The normal process of ageing includes changes in the face and neck. Many authors consider that because of numerous factors (effect of sunlight or genetics) skin begins to lose its elastin and gravity acts on it.


Prof. Dr. Milan Jovanovic strongly opposes this opinion. It has been presented in his doctorate. He says that: "FACE REJUVENATION HAS TO BE A STRATEGIC BALANCE BETWEEN SUSPENSION AND AUGMENTATION" in other words “THAT WITHOUT AUGMENTATION OF THE FACE, A GOOD RESULT, I.E., REJUVENATION CAN NEVER BE ACHIEVED”. During face lifting surgery, Prof. Dr. Milan Jovanovic utilizes lifting in several layers and in several directions. He is using the technique of augmentation of deeper face layers, which, therefore, gains youthful fullness.


The influence of inner genetic factors and the cumulative factors of the environment are linked to the ageing process. These age-related changes first begin in the zone of brows and eyelids and spread out slowly toward complete face and neck.


In plastic surgery there are several methods for rejuvenation of face and neck. Facelift (rhytidectomy) is one of the most common and safest methods whose goal is lifting and tightening of neck tissues and loose face, volumetric face rejuvenation and wrinkle removal. Facelift can once again create pleasant contours of face and neck that can help the patient to look and feel many years younger than he actually is.


Most common signs of ageing on the face: 1) neck area with transversal wrinkles and platysma muscle flabbiness in form of stripes, appearance of double chin, often named goose neck, 2) chin zone – flabbiness of the chin and lower jaw skin with extension of mouth and nose wrinkles; 3) cheek area with nose wrinkles and dents, eye wrinkles and dents, pre-cheek wrinkles and dents, skin flabbiness with ptosis of sides of the face, i.e., flabby cheeks;  4) in the area of the mouth – nasolabial folds and small vertical wrinkles; 5) forehead zone – parallel wrinkles; 6) area between the brows, so called brow furrow – two vertical and one horizontal in the nose root area; etc. Solution for these ageing problems is facelift surgery in combination with other assisting procedures (liposuction, dermabrasion or eyelid correction).



FACELIFT SURGERY CANDIDATES

The best patient for facelift surgery is a person between the ages 45 and 55. A person who has normal weight, good bone structure, firm skin, thin neck and deep cervicomental angle.



PRE-OP PATIENT ASSESSMENT

If you decide to undergo a facelift surgery, the first step is an examination with Prof. Dr. Jovanovic. You’ll be asked to openly discuss everything about your appearance, to show in front of the mirror what change you want on your face. This open dialogue with Prof. Dr. Jovanovic will help him to understand your wishes, to pre-operatively do an analysis of your face and to show you realistic expectations of surgery. During the first examination Prof. Dr. Jovanovic will thoroughly discuss with you medical history of earlier surgeries and illnesses (if applicable), possible allergies, medicines you are currently taking. Based on medical examination and anamnestic data further indication is determined in order to prevent complications.

 

Next step is detailed examination of your forehead, skin of mid and lower third of the face, zone around the mouth and vertical wrinkles, nasolabial folds and so called "malar pockets", neck and lower jaw line will be examined as well as thickness of the hair in order to plan the incisions. If you decide to undergo surgery, you will have to do laboratory analysis. Several things are forbidden before the surgery, including use of the aspirin, vitamin E and estrogen. It is recommended by many surgeons to quit smoking two weeks before and a week after the surgery.

FACELIFT SURGERY PROCEDURE

Facelift surgery can be performed using general anesthesia and most often using local anesthesia with strong intravenous sedation The best method suited for solving your facial problems and based on indication you have, will be chosen by Prof. Dr. Jovanovic. There are several variation of incision but generally, incision of the skin is hidden in hairy part of the head, then it goes in front of the earlobe, hidden in the natural contour of the ear, continues around and behind earlobe, and ends in hairy part of the side of the neck. After that, a very careful preparation of subdermal tissues of the face and skin is done, up to the corners of the eyes, nasolabial fold, half of the cheeks, corners of the mouth, while the skin of the neck is lifted almost to the midline. Preparation must be very careful in order not to cause an injury to any of the branches of the facial nerve. When these structures are prepared with repositioning of the deep facial tissue, and skin excess is reduced, youthful contour of your face will return. Skin is then stitched with fine atraumatic sutures that are removed after seven days.



COMPLICATIONS

Complications of facelifting surgery are very rare but some may appear: hematoma, feeling of numbness, bruising, sometimes hypertrophic scarring or alopecia around the incision in the hairy part of the head. The risk can be reduced if the patient follows surgeon’s advice and instructions before and after the procedure.



POSTOPERATIVE TREATMENT

When the surgery is complete, after a few hours patient is ready to be discharged from hospital. However, depending on evaluation, the patient can stay for one day in hospital. Patient has to follow some instructions after the surgery. During the first postoperative day, movement of the head should be minimized and head should be slightly elevated around 30 degrees lying slightly raised. After two or three days after the procedure, the patient can begin with hair care. Hair dryer should be kept on moderate temperature. Patient should avoid exposure to sunlight for a month after the surgery.


If done well, face lift gives excellent results. After postoperative recovery, with makeup and new youthful looking face, patient feels more confident and refreshed.



FACE LIFT SURGERY - COSTS

Face Rejuvenation "Face lifting" (Rhytidectomia) from 3500€



SURGERY AND RESULTS BEFORE AND AFTER FACE LIFT

Some of the patients that were operated on by Dr. Milan Jovanovic personally:

Note: All of the results are genuine, without any processing in Photoshop.



Before face lift Five days after face lift
Before face lift | Five days after face lift

Before face lift Five days after face lift
Before face lift | Five days after face lift

Before lift After lift
Before lift | After lift

Before lift After lift
Before lift | After lift

Before face lift After face lift
Neck before face lift | Neck after face lift

Before face lift After face lift
Before face lift | After face lift

Before face lift After face lift
Before face lift | After face lift

Before face lift After face lift
Before face lift | After face lift

Neck before face lift Neck after face lift
Neck before face lift | Neck after face lift

Before face lift After face lift
Before face lift | After face lift

Before face lift After face lift
Before face lift | After face lift