You may be instructed to shampoo your hair the night before surgery. A Rhytidectomy can be performed under general anesthesia with you asleep or local anesthesia in which the area of your face is numbed and you remain awake. Premedication is administered for relaxation. Incisions are made inside the hairline at the temple, running in front of the ear then around the earlobe and behind the ear, ending in the hair of the scalp. The loose skin is separated from underlying tissue and is pulled up and back.
Excess skin is removed.
Sagging muscles and connective tissues are tightened. In some cases, fatty deposits are removed from beneath the chin and neck. Small sutures are used to close the incisions. The procedure may take up to two hours depending on whether any other procedures are performed at the same time. Post-Operative Care Loose bandages are applied to the area of surgery and are removed within a few days.