If you have looked at our information regarding facelift surgery, you will see that it addresses problems of a heavy cheek, jowling along the jawline, the neck, and under the chin.
If your problem is limited to flattening of the cheekbones and heaviness and jowling between the nose and mouth, but your jawline and neckline are fine then a Temporal Face lift may be the appropriate procedure for you.
This is not a commonly performed surgery, as most people that have heaviness in the cheek, also have some problems in the lower face and the neck and require a facelift.
A temporal face lift is a variation on a facelift and uses the same incisions placed in the hairline at the temples and may involve an incision down in front of your ear (in the crease). The tissues are moved to the side and diagonally up and away from the centre of the face. It basically the top half of a facelift.
Most patients presenting for this procedure are in their forties to sixties, but temporal facelifts can be done successfully on people in their seventies or eighties, as long as you are fit and healthy and the problem area does not include your lower face.
Temporal Facelifts are very individualised procedures. In your initial consultation, Dr. McGovern will evaluate your face, including the skin and underlying bone, and your pattern of facial aging, and discuss your goals for the surgery.
He will check for medical conditions that could cause problems during or after surgery, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood clotting problems, or the tendency to form excessive scars. Be sure to tell him if you smoke or are taking any drugs or medications, especially aspirin or other drugs that affect clotting.
Dr. McGovern will explain the surgical techniques and anaesthesia he will use, the hospital where the surgery will be performed, and the risks and costs involved. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions you may have, especially those regarding your expectations and concerns about the results.
Your surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. Carefully following these instructions will help your surgery go more smoothly.
If you smoke, it’s especially important to stop at least three weeks before and after surgery. Smoking inhibits blood flow to the skin, and can interfere with the healing of your incision areas.
If your hair is very short, you might want to let it grow out before surgery, so that it’s long enough to hide the scars while they heal. Get your hair coloured before surgery as you won’t want to do so for some weeks afterward.
Changing your hairstyle radically after your surgery will help to disguise your recent temporal lift. You should arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery, and to help you out for a day or two if needed.
Temporal Facelift surgery is sometimes done on an outpatient basis, under local anaesthesia and intravenous sedation. However considerable discomfort during this long procedure is the rule. Your anaesthetist will prefer you to have a General Anaesthetic. This operation can be performed as a day procedure at the Sunshine Coast Day Surgery, the Sunshine Coast Private Hospital and the Caloundra Private Hospital.
Your fully qualified anaesthetist will choose a general anaesthetic for your comfort and safety during a Temporal facelifting procedure.
A temporal facelift usually takes 2-3 hours and can be combined with other procedures.
Every surgeon approaches the procedure in his or her own way. The exact placement of incisions and the sequence of events depend on your facial structure and your surgeon’s technique.
Early facelifts simply pulled the skin tight, giving an unnatural “wind-swept” look to the face but taking only two hours or so to perform. Many “cosmetic surgeons” (general practitioners) use these simple techniques. Modern plastic surgeons elevate the “SMAS” (fat and fibrous tissue) layer to correct cheek jowling.
Incisions are hidden in the hair wherever possible. These usually begin above the hairline at the temples; extend in a natural line in front of the ear and just inside the cartilage at the front of your ear.
Your surgeon will separate the skin from the fat and muscle below. Your surgeon will then tighten the underlying muscle and SMAS membranes, pull the skin back, and remove any excess. Stitches secure the layers of tissue and close the incisions; metal clips may be used in incisions hidden in the hair.
Following surgery, a small, thin drainage tube will be temporarily placed under the skin behind your ear to drain any blood that might collect there. Your surgeon will also employ an elasticized compression garment over your cheeks and secured under your neck to minimize bruising and swelling.
Temporal facelift is not a painful procedure, though pain tolerance varies from person to person. Severe or persistent pain or a sudden swelling of your face should be reported to your surgeon immediately. Some numbness of the skin is quite normal; this will disappear in a few weeks or months.
Your surgeon will ask you to keep your head elevated for a couple of days after surgery, to keep swelling to a minimum. Ice packs applied frequently will also help to keep swelling and bruising to a minimum. We will provide Arnica pre-operatively to help minimize your bruising. This is a natural homeopathic remedy.
Your drainage tube will be removed the day after your surgery. All visible stitches will be removed at day 6 after the surgery and the clips used for hairline wound closure will be removed on day 10.
You should be up and about in a day or two, but plan on taking it easy for the first week after surgery. Be especially gentle with your face and hair, since your skin will be both tender and numb, and may not respond normally at first.
Your surgeon will give you more specific guidelines for gradually resuming your normal activities. Avoid strenuous activity, including heavy housework, for at least two weeks (walking and mild stretching are fine), limit your exposure to the sun for several months. Above all, get plenty of rest and allow your body heal.
At the beginning, your face may look and feel rather strange. Your features may be distorted from the swelling, your facial movements may be slightly stiff, and you’ll probably be self-conscious about the scars in front of your ears. Some bruising may persist for two or three weeks, and you may tire easily.
By the third week, you’ll look and feel much better. Most people take 2 weeks off work following a Temporal Facelift. Our nurses and beauty therapists can help you with makeup advice to cover any remaining bruising as well as skin care advice to ensure the results of your procedure are long lasting.
Swelling takes 4 or 5 weeks to settle before you will appreciate the results of your new facial contours. After the swelling and bruises are gone, the hair around your temples may be thin and your skin may feel dry and rough for several months. Men may find they have to shave in new places – behind the neck and ears where areas of beard-growing skin have been repositioned. This problem is easily addressed, once you are fully healed, using our state of the art hair removal laser.
You’ll have some scars from your Temporal Facelift, but they’re usually hidden by your hair or in the natural creases of your face and ears. In any case, they’ll fade with time and should be scarcely visible.
Having a Temporal Facelift doesn’t stop the clock. Your face will continue to age with time, and you may want to repeat the procedure one or more time – perhaps ten years or more down the line. However, the effects of your procedure are lasting – years later, you’ll continue to look much better than if you’d never had a lift at all.
If you have further questions, write them down and ask your surgeon at your consultation, or free call our highly qualified nurses on 18000 80001
