Rhytidectomy
A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that removes excess facial skin and lifts the deeper tissues (SMAS) to create a more youthful appearance and minimize visible skin wrinkles and jowl lines on the face and neck. The results can be subtle or dramatic, depending on the effects the patient wants to achieve. Aging of the face is inevitable. As the years go by, the skin begins to loosen on the face and neck. Crow’s feet appear at the corners of the eyes. Fine forehead lines become creases and then, gradually, deeper folds. The jawline softens into jowls, and beneath the chin, another chin or vertical folds appear at the front of the neck. Heredity, personal habits, the pull of gravity, and sun exposure all contribute to the aging of the face. As the aging population grows, it is understandable why rhytidectomy has become the third most popular facial plastic surgical procedure.