Meet
Dr. Prashant Murugkar

The facelift and neck lift are among the most satisfying and exciting surgeries offered by cosmetic surgeons. Most patients before the facial rejuvenation surgeries claim that they look old and tired and want to have a new look. There are 3 components that are connected to ageing and all of these need to be addressed.

One of the first components is the underlying structures - the muscles and the fascia that is collectively called the superficial muscular aponeurotic system or just SMAS. This is one of the main structures that undergo alteration. While some surgeons prefer to tighten these tissues, others perform deeper dissection to add additional tightening to avoid a stretched look, also known as a deep plane facelift.

The skin is another component. Genetics and environmental factors dictate how the skin ages. The types of skin, like the skin of different colour and age will react differently to stimuli. This is taken into consideration during the procedure.

The third component is the volume. The jowls have more than the desired amount of fat, while the temporal areas hollow out. Liposuction, liposculpture and fat grafting are used to return the natural look to the skin.

Who can be a candidate for the facelift and neck lift surgery?

The following people can be good candidates for the surgery.

• Individuals who have a wrinkled, fatty or saggy neck.
• Candidates who have a poorly defined jawline
• People who have a poor jowl formation, i.e. whose jawlines and lower cheeks are saggy

What can you expect from such a surgery?

You can expect a few things from the surgery.

• The neck and chin angle would improve
• The jawline would become sharper and better
• You would look much less tired with a youthful glow

Lines around the mouth would not be treated nor would the surface defects or discolouration on the skin. A simultaneous skin treatment like chemical peeling or laser resurfacing can deal with the problem.

What is the procedure for the surgery?

The facelift and neck lift can be performed in the hospital, an accredited office facility or an outpatient facility. Local anaesthesia or general anaesthesia can be used. The surgeon generally makes incisions behind and in front of the ear. The surgeon would discuss everything with you. Staples and sutures are used to close the incisions. An elastic dressing is also used around the neck and face.

What should you expect after the surgery?

You would need to take rest for a few days at your home. However, an overnight hospital stay might be necessary. The compression garment needs to be worn around the neck and the lower face for about a week. Swelling and bruising are normal and it might take several weeks for them to resolve. Soreness and stiffness are quite common. The sutures and staples would be removed within a week and a half.

The drains are generally removed after 1-3 days following the procedure. Makeup can be applied about 2 weeks after the surgery. Mineral makeup can be worn before the end of the 2 weeks if skin resurfacing has been performed.

Minor complications might occur which do not affect the outcome of the surgery. There are very rare cases of major complications. The suitability of the procedure can be determined only be the cosmetic surgeon during consultation.

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Authored by Dr. Prashant Murugkar