WHAT DOES IT TRY TO ACCOMPLISH
Reduces the size of large bulging tummy to make it more flat

HOW IS IT DONE
Removes excessive skin and fat from the front of the tummy and the muscles can be tightened at the same time.

HOW LONG DOES THE OPERATION TAKE
Approximately two hours

HOW LONG IS THE STAY IN THE HOSPITAL
Usually two nights

TYPE OF STITCHES
Mainly dissolvable, but with thin non dissolvable stitches around the belly button.

HOW LONG ARE THEY LEFT IN
Only the ones around belly button needs to come out i.e after one week.

TYPE OF DRESSING
Sticky paper tape and cotton gauze dressing

HOW LONG IS IT LEFT ON
Two weeks

BRUISING AND SWELLING PAIN
There will be moderate bruising, swelling and pain

WHERE ARE THE SCARS AND HOW BAD ARE THEY
Around the navel, and a long transverse scar in the bikini line from groin to groin

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECOVER, AND THE FINAL RESULT SEEN
Usually back to work in two or three weeks, continue to improve for up to two to three months.

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST
Permanent unless further pregnancy or gross weight gain.

COMMON COMPLICATIONS
Early: Bruising and swelling can be moderate, and 'tight' feeling due to repaired muscle.

Late:
1.Sometimes there is excessive fluid collection under the skin, it may need to be removed by syringe.
2. Slight bulging around the edges of the scar on either side may need to be removed on a latter
Your surgeon must be properly qualified to do the operation and he will advise you what can and what cannot be achieved in your case. Do take that advice.

Dr. Mirza Shehab Afzal Beg is a British trained plastic surgeon possessing the highest qualification of Plastic surgery in UK i.e. FRCS (Plast) which no other surgeon currently practicing in Pakistan has. He has also worked as a Consultant in Plastic Surgery in UK . On his return from UK he is based at Liaquat National Hospital and is also a honorary consultant at Aga Khan Hospital . He has his cosmetic surgery and hair transplant set up at Clifton , Karachi

As part of the ageing process, which happens to us all sooner or later, our skin progressively loses its elasticity and our muscles tend to slacken. The effect of this process on the face is to cause the folds in the smile lines to deepen, the corners of the mouth to droop, the jaw-line to sag and skin of the neck to fall into loose folds. Around the eyes, the eyebrows droop and skin in the eyelids gathers in loose folds. In the skin itself, fine wrinkles develop especially on the lips and lines of expression such as frown lines and forehead creases deepen. The rate at which this happens varies from one person to another and is probably determined by our genes. Whilst most people accept these changes in appearance, some people, for various reasons become self-conscious of them and, as a result begin to lose self-confidence.

Substantial weight loss in people who have been excessively over-weight can produce similar changes in facial appearance to those of the ageing process.

What can be done?

There are several operations that can be done to rejuvenate the ageing face. This fact sheet deals with the operation called FACELIFT (or RHITIDECTOMY) which is designed to correct the loose skin of the neck, the sagging jaw-line, the drooping corners of the mouth and the deeper smile lines. For further information on other operations you should read the other factsheets e.g "THE WRINKLES ON MY FACE AND LIPS" which deals with chemical peeling, dermabrasion and filler injections.

"MY FROWN LINES AND FOREHEAD CREASES" which deals with the operation called Brow Lift and Botox injections, "MY EYELIDS LOOK BAGGY" which deals with the operation called Blepharoplasty.

One or more of these operations can be combined with a facelift and Dr Shehab Beg will be able to discuss with you which combination of operations is best for your own individual problem.

In the FACELIFT operation, the skin is cut on each side of the head starting above the ears well behind the hairline, running down to the top of the ear, then in front of the ear where it joins the cheek, then round its lobe and up in the groove behind the ear and then backwards into the hairy scalp. The approximate course of this incision is illustrated in can be described to you by Dr. Shehab Beg. -The skin of the temples, cheeks and neck is freed like a sheet from the muscle-like tissue which lies underneath so that it can be tightened upwards and backwards. Surplus skin is cut away so that the tightened skin fits precisely to the shape of the original incision to which it is then stitched. Quite often, the layer of muscle-like tissue which lies underneath the skin is also treated in a similar way to give a more lasting result. If there is a problem of excess fat underneath the chin it can usually be cut away or sucked out during the operation.

WHAT DOES IT TRY TO ACCOMPLISH
Improves signs of aging around the eyes. It will not help crease lines which pass over the cheekbones, but the operation is often combined with a facelift which does.

HOW IS IT DONE
It is simply an upper and lower blepharoplasty combined.

HOW LONG DOES THE OPERATION TAKE
About two to three hours.

HOW LONG IS THE STAY IN THE CLINIC
Out patient

TYPE OF STITCHES
Thin plastic stitches

HOW LONG ARE THEY LEFT IN
3 days.

TYPE OF DRESSING
Steristrips (sticky paper tape) and eye ointment

BRUISING
Very variable, Very occasionally quite marked.

SWELLING
Very variable, usually mild.

PAIN
Not usually painful. Some soreness.

WHERE ARE THE SCARS AND HOW BAD ARE THEY
In the crease lines around the eyes, usually inconspicuous

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECOVER
10 days.

WHEN IS THE FINAL RESULT SEEN
Up to 6 weeks

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST
Permanent, but the wrinkles may recur depending on how quickly the patient is in aging.

COMMON COMPLICATIONS
Early: Severe bruising and swelling and soreness in the eye. Sometimes the skin pulls down away from the eye but this corrects itself when the swelling improves.

WHAT DOES IT TRY TO ACCOMPLISH
Increase the size of small droopy breasts to more normal proportion

HOW IS IT DONE
Through a small cut under the breast a silicone implant of the choosen size is put in under the breast tissue.

HOW LONG DOES THE OPERATION TAKE
Approximately one hour.

HOW LONG IS THE STAY IN THE CLINIC
Usually one nights

TYPE OF STITCHES:
Mainly Dissolvable,

TYPE OF DRESSING
Sticky paper tape and cotton gauze dressing then a support bra

HOW LONG IS IT LEFT ON
Wear support bra for six weeks

BRUISING, SWELLING AND PAIN
There will be moderate bruising, swelling with slight pain

WHERE ARE THE SCARS AND HOW BAD ARE THEY
Hidden under the breast and do not show even with out the bra.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECOVER, AND THE FINAL RESULT SEEN
Usually back to work in two weeks, continue to improve for up to six weeks.

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST
Permanent

COMMON COMPLICATIONS:
Early: Bruising and swelling and sometimes there is neuralgic pain. Healing may take longer than usual. Infection usually treatable

WHAT DOES IT TRY TO ACCOMPLISH
Reduces the size of large droopy breasts to more normal proportion

HOW IS IT DONE
The nipples are moved upwards and the excess breast tissue and skin is removed. The skin is then brought together below the nipple.

HOW LONG DOES THE OPERATION TAKE
Approximately two to three hours.

HOW LONG IS THE STAY IN THE CLINIC
Usually two nights

TYPE OF STITCHES:
Mainly dissolvable, but with thin nondissolving stitches around the nipples

HOW LONG ARE THEY LEFT IN
Up to one weeks around the nipple

TYPE OF DRESSING
Sticky paper tape and cotton gauze dressing then a support bra

HOW LONG IS IT LEFT ON
Wear support bra for six weeks

BRUISING, SWELLING AND PAIN
There will be moderate bruising, swelling with slight pain

WHERE ARE THE SCARS AND HOW BAD ARE THEY
Around the nipple then straight down to the breast crease and a long scar in the crease, forms an inverted T shape. Scarring is usually well hidden by any ordinary bra

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECOVER, AND THE FINAL RESULT SEEN
Usually back to work in two or three weeks, continue to improve for up to three months.

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST
Permanent

COMMON COMPLICATIONS:
Early: Bruising and swelling and sometimes there is neuralgic pain. Healing may take longer than usual.

WHAT DOES IT TRY TO ACCOMPLISH
Improves the shape of a droopy breast without altering the size.

HOW IS IT DONE
The nipple is raised to a more normal position and the excess skin is removed.

HOW LONG DOES THE OPERATION TAKE
2 or 3 hours

HOW LONG IS THE STAY IN THE HOSPITAL
1 or 2 nights

TYPE OF STITCHES
Mainly dissolvable but thin nondissolving stitches around the nipple.

HOW LONG ARE THEY LEFT IN
Up to 2 weeks

TYPE OF DRESSING
Sticky paper tape and a bulky padded bandage, then a supporting bra

HOW LONG IS IT LEFT ON
The bandage is removed the following day and a bra is fitted which is worn for 6 weeks.

The paper tape is removed at 2 weeks.
BRUISING

Usually slight.

SWELLING
Usually slight.

PAIN
Moderate.

WHERE ARE THE SCARS AND HOW BAD ARE THEY
Around the nipple, then vertically from the nipple to the crease and then a variable length in the crease. Scars would be hidden by an ordinary bra.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECOVER
2 or 3 weeks

WHEN IS THE FINAL RESULT SEEN
At about 6 months, although the scar improves over a long period

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST
Permanent, although if a bra is not worn the breasts will probably sag again

COMMON COMPLICA TIONS
EARLY: Swelling and bruising can be severe