Facial Rejuvenation (Ritidoplasty)

“if the result is not natural, neither it looks well”

The natural step of the time usually affects the delicate face and neck tissues. The structural characteristics of the face, different in each human being, at the mercy of external factors as the sun exposition, stress and the regular contractions of facial muscles expression, they are used to look deteriorated by the tonicity loss. The bags around the eyes, the decrease of the elasticity, the lost of the muscular tone and the change in the bones context, with the course of the years is causing factors; like lowering and the redundancy of the skin of the jowl, and the deformation of the contour of the jaw. There are highly specialized procedures that can offer a great satisfaction to those who want to attenuate the effects of the time in their face and neck.

Surgery of facial rejuvenation is a procedure that can gather several interventions, all in one. And requires a detailed study of the patient's facial features to determine the type of technique that fits better to patient needs and particular characteristics.   The surgery of facial rejuvenation mitigates the image of fatigue substantially and it improves the general aspect of the face providing a more juvenile and more vital aspect. The changes caused by the age, don’t happen from a moment to, but rather they appear slowly in the face. The improvement on appearance can get accomplished through a set of smalls planned surgeries or just a big one.

Surgery and post - operatory

Techniques like endoscopic elevation of brows, correction of superior and inferior lids, rising of cheeks, definition of the mandible contour and treatment of the skin of the neck; all those can be used in an intervention under a careful anesthetic control and in a generally ambulatory way. Dr. Jorge Alberto Espinosa Reyes remains in constant communication with his patients for the correct observation of the postoperative one, which is successful if they follow the medical recommendations on time.

Frequent Questions

¿What is the Ritidoplasty?

Ritidoplasty is a new technique of facial surgery that includes all the necessary procedures to correct the facial muscles, to tighten the skin, to move away excesses and to give to the face and the neck bigger stability and bloom.

¿Am I a candidate for a Ritidoplasty?

In consultation with Dr. Jorge Alberto Espinosa Reyes you can clear out your doubts, to ask what type of procedures you needs and to specify what parts of your face want to improve. You should be the clearest thing possible with regard to your expectations. Don't doubt to ask all what you have in mind. Your frankness will wide the information and therefore, a better communication will be achieved between you and your surgeon. By means of a specialized software program you will be able to remark the changes that you want and to be given a better idea of the results. This way you and Dr. Espinosa will be able to define the pertinent technique.

¿Will I look natural or I’m going to look “stretched””?

Dr. Jorge Alberto Espinosa Reyes maintains the concept of the naturalness: "If the result doesn't look natural, neither it looks well" Although by means of the Ritidoplasty a facial stretching is made, this is carried out in such a way that the elasticity characteristic of its skin is conserved.  This technique generally goes accompanied by other procedures like endoscopic elevation of brows, correction of superior and inferior lids, rising of cheeks, definition of the mandible contour and treatment of the skin of the neck to achieve better results.  In consultation, the Dr. Espinosa will determine the procedures that are more adapted to your necessities. After the surgery you will shine substantially younger, circumstance that will become more visible and more evident as it lapses the time of the recovery. It is probable that your relatives ask if you changed your hairstyle style or make-up, but few will notice that you have been carried out some procedure. The surgery of facial rejuvenation is carried out in such a way that the results are the most natural possible.

¿What age can be carried out a Ritidoplasty from?

Although this is an intervention carried out fundamentally in 50 year-old grown-ups, there are many patients that opt for not waiting so much. If you look prematurely aged, you could prefer not to wait to that these symptoms are accentuated too much.  Many times a small intervention on time can avoid a surgery that with the time turns more complex.

¿Will there be left scars?

In a Ritidoplasty the objective is to achieve a very good result avoiding leaving exposed scars. The surgery of facial rejuvenating is actually carried out through very small incisions that are hidden in natural pleats of the skin of the face, like pavilion of ears or in hidden places under the hair, depending on the patient's necessities.  The last technologies like the use of endoscopies and laser allow that these smaller wounds heal in a very not very visible way to the eyes of other ones. The scaring is usually very good in the areas of the incisions and the prints attenuate with the time.

¿Is it painful this surgery

Usually the pain after Ritidoplasty is least than expected. Nevertheless, there are prescribed analgesics that will help to maintain controlled any possible nuisance.

¿Will I be awake during surgery?

This surgical procedure uses the last techniques of anesthesia as the intravenous sedation that depending on the procedure, it allows the patient to be awake during the surgery, without any pain and absolutely calm. However, some patients opt to be with general anesthesia. Both types of anesthesia are equally safe and in the two cases nothing is perceived during the intervention, the patient wakes up as soon as operation finished, feeling well and without pain

¿How much time will I be at Clinic?

The Ritidoplasty is an ambulatory procedure. Later to the surgery you pass to a recovery room where you will be controlled by our professional personnel while recover of the anesthesia. It is important that you have a person of all your trusts that accompany you back to home and can take care of you during the postoperative time.

¿How much time will take recovering?

The time of recovery varies among each patient. But you should be prepared to rest for a period of time. Initially it will be used a bandage. It is natural the appearance of a minimum inflammation that will go diminishing with the days. It’s advisable to sleep with the head lifted and to decrease activities a little with the purpose of favoring the recovery. The diet is usually normal. It is recommended to drink enough liquids and to rest, to rest and to rest

¿In how long will I be able to restart my daily works?

The recovery of a surgery of facial rejuvenating is quick and generally one will be able to return to the habitual works after one or two weeks. It’s recommended, not to work out intense physical activities at least during this time and to plan with time your surgery, for if you would need of some days more to recovery. This rest will allow your body to elaborate its improvement appropriately. The exercise and the sports will wait a little more.

¿How many years can I rejuvenate with this surgery?

The purpose of a Ritidoplasty is the one of restoring youth's appearance. Nevertheless, for the surgeon it is impossible to calculate how young will be able to look a patient after the intervention. On the average, someone can rejuvenate between 7 and 15 years, however this depends on the characteristics of the skin, of the muscles, of the patient's bony structure and of the grade of the person's aging. When keeping in mind the entirety of face and the volumes that have changed with the time and that need to recover, astonishing results are achieved. It is for this reason that this procedure accompanies of other surgical techniques as the endoscopic elevation of brows, the correction of superior and inferior lids, the rising of cheeks, the definition of the mandible contour and the treatment of the neck, which guarantees a change substantially positive and the most important thing: very natural. In any event you will be able not only to evidence that you looks younger, but feel also younger

¿How much will the results of the surgery last?

It is impossible to stop the step of the time, however the results are durable. The repositioning of fatty deposits and the re-adaptation of the skin that it is achieved in a facial rejuvenating allow that many of the aging signs diminish substantially and others can even be minimized totally. This way it is helped to speed down the natural process of aging and therefore, you will feel that the natural process of the step of time and their consequences can be slower. A person that has been subject of a Ritidoplasty and gets a 10 year-old average rejuvenating, certainly will always looks as if he/she was less 10 years old.

¿How is the surgery practiced in men?

One of each three patients that opt for a surgery of facial rejuvenating is man. And this number goes in growth. More and more men worry about their appearance and they consider the option of being carried out a surgery of facial rejuvenating. The same as in the treatment carried out to women, the Ritidoplasty or facial lifting consists on the rising of the face’s tissues and their replacement, respecting the musculature and natural expression of the face. This technique mixes the purely surgical aspect with other smaller procedures as the endoscopic elevation of brows, the correction of superior and inferior lids, the rising of cheeks, the definition of the mandible contour and the treatment of the neck. The combination of these techniques allow the patient to obtain better results that are also optimized with the use of other non surgical procedures as the later application of Botox and facial fillers. The last anesthetic techniques are extremely safe and they allow a short recovery of minimum labor inability and with absolutely natural results.

¿Is there any pain alter surgery?

No. The surgery of facial rejuvenating doesn't produce pain. The patient will feel a slight annoyance for the bandage that usually is retired the following day to the procedure. Nevertheless, Dr. Espinosa prescribes the analgesic ones that will help to reduce any possible nuisance

I would like to operate me but I am very nervous. How can I overcome this?

It is normal to feel some anxiety for a surgery. The anxiety is a natural reaction in front of a new situation. But don't worry, you can confront your surgery with the help of the Dr. Espinosa who will facilitate you the information with respect to the whole procedure that will be carried out, the sensations that could be experienced and who will support you in the whole process. One way of releasing this anxiety can be to use the consultation with Dr. Espinosa like a moment to solve their restlessness. You like patient can elaborate a list of questions and to listen to your doctor. With all security you will feel calmer after discussing your concerns and to determine a good plan of treatment. It can also be helpful, looking at pictures of before and after the surgery in other patients, as well as their testimonies. Even, if the patient wants it, can contact another person that has gone already by this procedure, to listen his/her experience and to feel calmer.

clinical history and to analyze the patient's antecedents, and this way to prevent any possible complication. Later on  will be carried out a previous anesthetic evaluation to value the rules of sedation handling and to inform you on the anesthetic act that will be practiced. The day of the surgery, the specialist in charge revises the information with you. It is recommended to be very clear and to inform previously if you are allergic to some medication. Our clinic has all the monitoring systems that will allow a sure handling of all your corporal functions.
Once concluded the surgery, you will pass to our room of posterior anesthetic care, where you will be supervised and controlled for personal competent. Some moments later you will be passed to a recovery room adapted especially to the patient's necessities. Dr. Espinosa will wait your complete recovery to prescribe the appropriate medication and to discharge you to go out. You should have a person of all your trust that helps you to move to your house and takes care of you at least the first day of the post -surgery.

¿How much cost the surgery?

The costs of a surgery vary according to the case. In the decision of being carried out a surgery should weigh more the fact of trusting the personal integrity to a professional of the health than the costs. All surgical intervention, for minimum that is, it should have the best conditions with the purpose of not to put in risk the patient's health and to reach the wanted results. Dr. Jorge Espinosa Reyes has a highly professional team and of great experience that attended him in all his procedures.

Dr. Espinosa recommends:

Befote Surgery:

1. Not to consume medications that contains salicylic acid (Aspirin) and derivates.

2. Not to have smoked at least one month before the surgery.

3. To inform from possible allergies to medications.

4. To maintain realistic expectations with regard to the results of the surgery

After Surgery:

1. Check on exit that the formula, disability order and date of medical control order has been delivered.

2. The feeding after first day can be normal.

3. Although the pain is usually minimal, inside the formulated medications an analgesic is included. Take it according to the indications scored in the formula. If you ends up noticing severe or persistent pain communicates immediately with us. Avoid taking Aspirin or medications that contain acetylsalicylic acid.

4. You can use cold compresses on the face and the lids for 20 minutes 6 times a day the first two days.

5. You can use your eyes to read or match tv as frequently as you wish.

6. Don’t use any kind of make up for two weeks ( eyes liner, eyes shadows, etc).

7. You will be able to present something of fatigue the first three days, this is normal due to the usual effects of the anesthesia and of the surgery.

8. A bigger surgery has been carried out, you will maintain rest at home during the first ones 3 to 5 days.

9. When you move, get up or change position, make it carefully the first 7 days. When turning the head, move it at the same time that shoulders as if they were a single unit.

10. Don’t do exercise neither to lift things weighed by 15 days. You will be able to work out light aerobics after three weeks and intense exercise after 6 weeks.

11. In general terms you will be able to return to your normal activity in a lapse from 8 to 15 days, if it is not exposed to drastic changes of environmental temperature, severe physical efforts or high risk of traumas or blows in the face. Avoid the lingering exhibition to low temperatures.

12. You should sleep semi seated (at least with two pillows) during the first 14 days to facilitate the decrease of the inflammation; sleep of side or face up, never face down.

13. As it has been worked around the ears, you won’t be able to use heavy earrings during at least 6 weeks.

14. To avoid undesirable changes of the appearance of your face, you should not be exposed in the sun directly during the first 2 months. Nasal solar protector will be used too during this whole time. When in outdoors, you should use protection like umbrella or hat.

15. To avoid any blow in the face, don’t carry small children or pets after the surgery.

16. Clean the wounds of face twice a day with applicators impregnated in oxygenated water, later apply the cream that has been formulated over the wound to avoid the excess of scabs and to accelerate the disappearance of the reddish coloration.

17. You will be able to wash your hair with shampoo 72 hours after the surgery avoiding strong massages. Be careful not to injure with the brush the wounds of the hairy skin or those that are around the ears. Don't use dryer for 5 days and postpone any wavy or permanent dye of the hair at least during one month after the surgery.

18. It is normal that in some occasions is presented inflammation and purples marks in the face and the neck that will disappear in a lapse of 8 a15 days. If it presents any inflammation, pain or fever without explanation contacts us immediately. Any reddish coloration of the white part of the eyes or of the lids it is only the normal process of inflammation and it will improve during the period of recovery.

19. The lobes of your ears and some portions of your face can be feels slept by some weeks; this will disappear as the tissues heal.

20. It is very important that you follow the instructions given in the clinic and that attend the planned controls. In the event of needing additional information, don't doubt to communicate with us to solve any restlessness as soon as possible.

21. The previous ones are general indications; don't doubt to call us if you need some explanation. Remembers that the success of the surgery depends in large part of the post surgery cares.