What is it?

Rithidoplasty is the surgery that has as its objective the facial rejuvenating, eliminating flaccidity, wrinkles and creases. Besides, it repositions the facial muscles. It presents good results, always taking into consideration the specific characteristics and the age of each patient. This procedure delays visually the process of facial aging, but does not interrupt the evolutive process of the organism.

What you need to know:

1) Scar
The scars are usually located on the scalp and a small portion behind the ear.

2) Anesthesia
General anesthesia as well as local anesthesia with sedation is used.

3) Surgery time
Normally, around 2 and a half and three hours.

4) Hair dyeing
The hair dyeing must be done a week before the surgery so that its effect remains until it can be redone.

5) 5) Hair cut
The hair is not cut during the surgery.

Before the surgery:

1) Complementary exams to be specified by the surgeon.

2) Picture of the region, taken at the clinic. This procedure is important for the evaluation, surgical planning and documentation.

3) Go to the clinic on the day and time scheduled, preferably with a companion.

4) Do not take jewelry or other valuables to the clinic.

5) Do not polish your nails.

6) Any occurrence such as diseases (flu, fever, infection) or other reasons that may cause the suspension of the surgery must be related to the surgeon ahead of time.

Care:

1) Fasting for at least 6 hours before the surgery

2) Medication for hypertension and other diseases must be related to the surgeon for later orientation.

3) Do not take any medicine that contains acetyl acid (ex. Aas, Rhonal, Bufferin, Aspirin), one week before and one week after the surgery, because it increases the bleeding.

4) Stop all appetite suppressant medicine 15 days before the surgery.

5) Do not smoke 15 days before and 15 days after the surgery. Why not stop smoking now?

Post-Operatory:

1) Pain: The evolution of the aesthetic surgeries is usually painless. It rarely presents slight pain, which can be solved with common painkillers.

2) 2) Hospital time: Generally, from 24 to 48 hours.

3) First dressings: The patient will leave the surgery room with a dressing in the shape of a helmet. After it is removed, the hair is washed normally (take shampoo and conditioning to the clinic) and may be dried with a manual hair drier slightly warm and delicately combed. The eyes are not closed, and cold compresses are recommended for 48 hours.

4) Bathing: After removing the drains, the hair may be washed (shower).

5) Food: Light, liquid and pasty.

6) Edema (swelling): The swelling is progressive during the first 48 hours. After this it will be stable for a while, starting to regress, rapidly on the eyelids and slower on the rest of the face. The treatment of the neck muscles results in a feeling of “stiff neck”. This may be aggravated by the edema and tends to improve, mainly after the start of the massages.

7) Bruises: These are the purple spots on the skin, which may be more or less intense, depending on the personal characteristics and on the compresses after the surgery (very important). The use of Arnica before the surgery avoids bruises.

8) Itching, insensibility or a burning sensation: These may eventually occur on the scars, which are reddish at the beginning. This is temporary and tends to disappear.

9) Physical effort : Wait 15 days.

10) Removal of the stitches : The stitches on the eyelids are removed around 5 to 7 days and the rest, normally, are not removed.

11) Dressings after leaving the hospital : Only hygiene around the scars.

12) Sun: It is not allowed for at least 2 months. We recommend the use of sun block (factor 30 or higher), applied every 3 hours, rigorously, for 2 months.

13) Massage: Facial and lymphatic massage during the first 2 months accelerates the regression of the edema.

14) Make up and hair dyeing: Allowed after 3 weeks.

15) Depression: A short period of emotional depression may occur in the first days, due to the initial aspect. This is temporary, and generally is caused by the anxiety of obtaining the final result as soon as possible. Be patient. Remember that no result of aesthetic surgery on the face should be evaluated before 3 months.

16) Sensibility: Normally, there is a decrease of the sensibility in the region. The recovery is gradual, and a small area may remain less sensitive.

Will this disappear?

Every surgery involves a certain recovery period. Be patient because your organism will take care of some little problems that invariably will call attention of some people who will ask: "Will this disappear?" Always share with us any type of concern. We will give the necessary explanations for your tranquility.

Final result:

During the first four months after the surgery the region will be a little swollen, but, with time, there will be a gradual accommodation of the tissues.
The scar will be reddish and hard at the beginning, but later on it will become paler and thinner. This process is slow and may take several months. However, we cannot predict exactly how long it will take, since this process does not depend only on the technique used and on the care before the surgery, but also on the individual factors.
After the four initial months, new pictures are taken for an evaluation of the results. If this reevaluation shows the need for some retouching, procedure considered common in plastic surgery, it will be done after the 6th month and at the most 10 months after the surgery.