Will A Facelift Affect My Facial Expressions?

Facelift surgeries are those in which the lower half of the face is reshaped with the removal of the existing excess skin and the repositioning of the deeper structures where it is needed. In facelift surgeries, it is aimed to correct and improve the signs of aging on the lower half and neck of the face. As people get older, the skin and muscles on their faces begin to lose density. Facelift surgeries make it possible to correct and improve the most obvious and visible signs caused by aging process, with procedures such as tightening deep tissue structures in the face, removal of the excess skin and tightening the skin on the face and neck, and removing the fat tissues from selected areas. The planning of the surgery to be performed is performed by evaluating the current conditions in various regions of the face and the neck. A patient’s facial bone stucture, facial shape, facial fat tissue distribution, facial skin quality, skin laxity, excess facial skin amount, deeper facial tissue positions are evaluated for their candidacy for a facelift operation. As each patient has a different anatomy with individual needs, the surgery planning and approach is designed accordingly.

Generally, facelift surgeries are executed through an incision starting in the hair or hairline above and in front of the ear, in the temporal region. The incision is extended downwards in front of the ear, moving towards under the ear and then upwards behind the ear ending in the hair or hairline behind the ear. The skin and fatty tissues are then seperated from the underlying muscle and connective tissue as much as needed. The underlying muscle and connective tissues can be tightened with sutures if there is a need for it. The skin is pulled back and upwards and the excess skin is removed. Then the wound is closed with sutures and skin staples.  Surgical techniques that work on deeper tissues can also be used.

Facelift surgeries are not expected to adversely affect the patient’s facial expressions. When the surgery being planned, the amount of tightening that the patient needs to achieve a firmer look without creating excessive tightness should be estimated. The direction of tightening, how much skin to be removed, the position and direction of the lips, the hairline and other details will be evaluated. In the postoperative healing process, the patient may observe some temporary changes in their facial expressions due to the trauma that the facial tissues recieve and due to the swelling expected to occur. After the healing process is completed, this is not expected to be present or minimal if at all. As a result of detailed assessment, evaluation and planning, with a good doctor patient communication as well as the selection of the right doctor, facelift operations should not impair the patient’s facial expressions.