Is facelift surgery safe?
When you’re making any of life’s big decisions, it is natural to want to weigh up the pros and cons before deciding how to progress. The same principle is true for people considering cosmetic surgery, it is very important to understand exactly what you’re signing up for, and what the risks are.
Last year over 51,000 people opted for some kind of plastic survey in the UK, and almost 7,500 of them chose to have a facelift. What’s the first thing that people usually ask when they are considering a facelift? They wish to know how safe it is.
Facelifts are very popular – and in fact they are growing in popularity. Part of the reason for this is that they are considered to be a very safe procedure. They are also long lasting and people are often very happy with the results.
As long as your facelift is being undertaken by a professional surgeon who is experienced in their trade, you are in good hands. There are naturally some risks, but care is taken to mitigate any factors that could cause harm.
What are the risks?
Very occasionally patients develop an infection following a facelift, but the chances of this are slim. Compared with other areas of the body, the face has a generous supply of blood vessels, meaning a fresh supply of blood is delivered to the skin regularly. This helps reduce the risk of infection taking hold and helps aid in the healing process.
Some patients may experience loss of sensation in part of their face following the operation, but this is usually temporary and is as a result of the sensory nerves being affected by the procedure. This numbness is often found on the side of the face near the front of the ear.
If you experience a ‘woolly’ feeling that indicates this slight loss of sensation, make your surgeon or aftercare team aware and they will ask you to monitor it. It should pass relatively quickly as part of the normal healing process.
Other risks, though rare, include the possibility of a visible scar running in front of the ear – a good surgeon will always try to avoid this, but sometimes there is no other option – and the very small possibility of damage to the nerve that allows you to smile.
All of these risks, including their incidence on both a national level and within the surgeon’s own practice, should be explained to you in full at your Warwickshire facelift consultation.
Choosing a suitable surgeon
The key to ensuring that you’re in the best possible hands is to spend some time thoroughly researching the surgeon that you would like to perform your operation.
Surgeons like Mr Alan Park should be members of professional associations such as The British Association of Plastic Surgeons, who monitor, train and regulate surgeons to ensure that they are offering the best possible care for their patients.