Poliklinika za estetsku kirurgiju Dr. Toncic

Facelift comprises tightening of the skin of the face and neck.

Surgical team headed by Dr Toncic has perfected the facelift surgery through years of experience. In our clinic, facelift and all other procedures are performed extremely carefully and minimally invasively while paying great attention to details.

Beside very precise and demanding surgical technique and immense surgical experience, a surgeon performing facelift must have well developed sense for shaping. For facelift surgery, Dr Toncic primarily relies on his eye for details and his sense of proportion.

Natural appearance and youthful face

A successful example of a facelift is a face that looks natural and fresh, without excess and loose skin, preserving its natural facial mimics.

During facelift, surgeon has to pay special attention to the degree of skin tightening, because over-tightening often results in unnatural “pulled” look, where facial mimics is more or less weakened and accordingly, the face has artificial “operated” look.

Another extremity is when the skin of the face and neck is not tightened enough, which leads to poor lifting effect.

Dr Toncic and his team follow their basic philosophy – achieving the most natural look possible, optimally tightening the skin of the face and neck, making the face fresh while maintaining its natural mimics.

Optimal tightening of the face and neck requires extensive surgical experience and sense of proportion.

Minimal scar technique

The success of a face lift can be measured by youthfulness and freshness of the face after the surgery, but it can also be measured by the scars left. Depending on the surgeon’s knowledge and experience, the technique used and patient’s cooperation, the scars can be bigger or smaller, or barely noticeable.

After the facelift, you can often find thick scars left in front of the ear and behind it, in the hairline.

To avoid these scars, Dr Toncic and his surgical team have developed so called minimal scar technique. It is a technique that comprises making surgical incisions according to the aesthetic surgery principles. The scar is hidden in the ear and in the hair. Using this technique, after the facelift, there is a tiny, well hidden scar left that is hardly noticeable.

Our extensive experience has enabled us to sum up some of the most frequently asked questions, with their answers:

1. WHAT IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE AGE FOR A FACE LIFT?

Since the aging process is different for each individual, the optimal age to do a face lift varies from one person to another. Generally, it is thought that people in their 40s to 60s are in the age group most likely to require this treatment.

2. WHAT ARE THE FIRST SIGNS THAT A FACE LIFT IS NECESSARY?

Most noticeable signs are the disappearance of a clear line on lower jaw – fading of the strict border between the lower jaw and neck, accompanied by the formation of pads and double chin. A clear line of the lower jaw is what gives firm form and youthful appearance to the face. Further indications are deepening of nasal-labial folds (wrinkles between the nose and lip angles) combined with lowering of the lip angles that give an expression of unhappiness to the face.

3. WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF AGING OF THE FOREHEAD AND EYE REGION AND HOW CAN THOSE BE REMOVED?

The signs of aging in the eye region are: pads below the eyes, lowered eyelids and lowered outer eye angles. They can be removed by BLEPHAROPLASTY– eyelid surgery.

Wrinkled forehead and lowered eyebrows can be rectified by a FOREHEAD LIFT. The forehead lift and blepharoplasty are two independent operations but can be done at the same time; combined with a face lift or they can be performed separately.

4. WHAT IS DEEP LIFT AND IS IT MORE EFFICIENT THAN CLASSIC LIFT?

Deep Lift is the most effective technique used in facelift surgery. It has been in use for the past 20 years. The operation is very demanding for the surgeon but the results are remarkable. Based on 15 years of experience, Dr Toncic and his team strongly recommend deep lift to their patients. Beside skin tightening, this operation involves lifting of facial muscles back into their natural position. This gives the face a more natural appearance and optimal rejuvenation effect that lasts much longer than the effect achieved by classical facelift.

5. HOW LONG WILL A FACE LIFT LAST?

It depends on the surgeon’s skill and experience, the particular characteristics of the patient (age, skin quality, quality of subcutaneous tissue) and technique used (deep lift or classic lift). With deep lift the effect lasts much longer (about 10 years). The operation can be repeated up to 3 times.

6. WHAT ARE SOME OTHER, MINOR TREATMENTS THAT COMPLETE THE EFFECT OF A FACELIFT?

As mentioned before, beside facelift, there is a range of smaller procedures that can significantly enhance a patient’s appearance.

Additional minor surgeries such as forehead lift, upper and lower eyelid surgery - blepharoplasty and mechanical dermabrasio of upper and lower lip to reduce fine lines around the lips can significantly enhance the effects of a facelift.

Also, there are dermal filler treatments, such as Restylane - leading filler these days, Botox treatments, and chemical peel.

In the recovery period, we can offer our patients a full dental treatment, which completes the makeover effect.

All those procedures can be done at the same time; combined with a facelift surgery. They can also be performed while in recovery phase or completely separately, independent of all other procedures.

Our philosophy is to achieve youthful and fresh appearance, without excess skin on the face and neck, allowing natural mimics, with open eyes and a smile reflecting self confidence.

USEFUL INSTRUCTIONS FOR OUR PATIENTS:

Prior to the operation – patient’s preparation:

Although this operation is preformed regularly in our clinic, the professionalism of our surgical team headed by Dr Toncic makes us pay special attention to the preoperative preparation of our patient.

• Prior to the facelift surgery, the patient goes through a routine preoperative analysis, which comprises the internal specialist examination with ECG and a blood test analysis.
• We have a special arrangement with our foreign patients. Prior to the operation and preoperative examination, we hold consultation through emails, photos and by phone. This way, our surgeons get a deeper insight into the individual case, according to which they can estimate whether the patient is a suitable candidate for the desired operation. This procedure allows our patient to come to Zagreb for the operation one time only. When our patient arrives, we hold final preoperative consultation and medical examination (including blood test and internal specialist examination with ECG), where we discuss the details of the operation together with the patient. After the consultation, we perform the surgery.
• To ensure the success of the facelift procedure, during the final preoperative examination, the surgeon makes a detailed and precise drawing on the patient’s face. This is the point where Dr Toncic’s artistic experience and meticulousness are best shown. The drawing itself is an important orientation factor for the surgeon during the surgery, and as such it represents quite a big step on the way to the final success of the operation.
• Before the operation, in our correspondence and detailed conversation, we instruct our patients to discontinue painkillers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, containing acetylsalicylic acid like Aspirin, Andol or Acisal. This is very important factor in patient’s preparation for the surgery, as this way we prevent possible bleeding and haematoma during and after the procedure. Following this instruction makes the recovery quicker and more successful, and the result of the operation is improved.

Anesthesia and the procedure:

• This operation is done under general anesthesia given by a top anesthesiologist. The patient is asleep during the operation and the whole procedure is painless.
• The patient stays in the clinic for 24 hours. It takes about an hour for preoperative preparations, and around three hours for the operation itself after which the patient rests. Once discharged from the surgery the patient is sent to home care.

Postoperative period and recovery:

• Great success of the operations in Dr Toncic’s clinic is largely due not only to the experience of our surgical team, precise and enhanced techniques, but also to well organized professional postoperative care.
• To be sure of the success of the operation and wellbeing of the patient, Dr Toncic and his team insist on regular check ups and everyday contact with the patient.
• For our patients’ safety, successful recovery and postoperative monitoring, we recommend optimal length of stay in Zagreb. This way, we leave nothing to chance. We monitor our patient’s recovery completely, which is crucial for our patient’s health and the result of the operation.
• Postoperative recovery after facelift is individual, usually lasting around 10 days after the operation. The stitches are removed 7 days after the surgery, and our patients can resume their personal and professional activities, having in mind, though, to avoid harder physical activities for 30 days after the operation.
• In order to have the least noticeable scar possible, it would be best to avoid sun exposure for six to twelve months after the operation.
• Very important factor in the postoperative recovery after facelift surgery is for smokers to stop smoking at least a week before the operation and two weeks after the operation. We insist that our patients follow the instructions, as it has major influence on the result of the facelift operation.

Required stay in Zagreb:

• Required stay in Zagreb is 10 to 14 days, so we can remove the stitches and monitor the early postoperative period completely. We indeed require that our patients stay in Zagreb after the facelift procedure for the optimal time, as this period is of crucial importance for our patient’s health and for the result of the operation. Having followed all the instructions, our patient can safely go home without risking the possible postoperative complications.
• Sick leave lasts 14 days for facelift surgery. 7 days following the operation, we remove the stitches. 14 days after home care and recovery, the patient can resume her personal and professional activities.

Complete service – let us take care of everything

• Beside the operation, we can arrange travel and accommodation for our foreign patients. We are here to assist you in every step of the way. Therefore, we can book your flight, and private or hotel accommodation in Zagreb. Our driver will welcome you at Zagreb airport and take you to your accommodation.

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