FACELIFT (RHYTIDOPLASTY) MISTAKES: MARYLAND MED. MAL. ATTORNEY UPDATE

www.CharlesJeromeWare.com. 
[This information is not intended nor designed to be legal advice]
Cosmetic or plastic surgery is enormously popular in the United States.  However, the public should be reminded that cosmetic/plastic surgery is serious surgery, not just a cute hobby.  Recipients of cosmetic/plastic surgery are "patients," not just customers.
Cosmetic/plastic surgery is in fact risky surgery, subject to complications as well as medical mistakes.
Facelifts ("Rhytidoplasty") are in fact cosmetic/plastic surgery procedures, and are by definition therefore risky surgical procedures.

I. What is a Face Lift?

The technical name for a facelift is "rhytidectomy." In this surgical procedure, excess face and neck skin are removed and the tissues under the skin are tightened. Activities such as smoking, sunbathing, outdoor activities, and stress can alter the appearance of the face. Additionally, as we age deep creases may form between the nose and mouth, the jawline may grow slack and sag, and folds and fat deposits may appear around the neck.

II. Who is a Good Candidate for a Face Lift?

Candidates must be in good health, have no active diseases or serious, pre-existing medical conditions, and must have realistic expectations of the outcome of the surgery. Facelifts are most commonly performed on patients between 40 to 60 years old.
You may not be a candidate for surgery if you smoke, have recently quit smoking, or if you are exposed to second-hand smoke. Primary and secondary smoking decreases blood flow to the body's tissues. This can result in prolonged wound healing, skin loss, infection, increased scarring, and a number of other complications depending on the kind of procedure performed.

III. How is the Procedure Performed?

The type and size of facelift depends on location and extent of skin laxity. Sizes range from "mini" to "standard". Usually, an incision is made in the hair near the temple and continues to the front of the ear, around the ear lobe, behind the ear and into the hair. The muscles and sagging tissue are tightened and excess skin is removed. The remaining skin is repositioned to create a more youthful look. The incision is closed with sutures, or with metal clips on the scalp. A small incision may be made under the chin if a neck lift is needed.

IV. The Bad Facelift (Rhytidoplastic) Surgery

As the popularity of plastic surgery and other cosmetic procedures has increased, so too has the incidence of complications, mistakes, and clear examples of medical malpractice. There are numerous reasons for this trend, some natural and others of a more concerning nature. For example, with more surgeries being performed it is expected that the number of total complications experienced will increase – this is only natural considering a fixed rate of incidents.
It is not entirely unexpected that rate of complications would increase as well, since having more people enter the field of plastic surgery means that, on average, the later entrants will not be as drawn to the practice out of a love for cosmetic procedures or particular skill in that area, but by the money that can be earned.
However, according to numerous news reports and regional studies, the number and rate of complications is rising out of proportion to the increase in procedures. Evidence is accumulating that due to a relative lack of regulation with respect to licensing of cosmetic surgeons coupled with the incentive for marginally qualified individuals to claim experience in order to cash in on a lucrative, booming business, many plastic surgeons are simple not qualified to offer services. With ads for plastic surgeons and all manner of cosmetic procedures filling television print media and the airwaves, the issue of receiving a face lift gone horribly bad is on the minds of many who are close to the industry.
Certainly, even someone undergoing an elective cosmetic procedure for the worst possible reasons has a right to be treated by someone who is competent in performing cosmetic operations. No one should suffer the physical and mental scars of being damaged under the knife of someone who should not be holding it. Understanding your rights if you are a victim of malpractice is critical.
[Charles Jerome Ware is a widely-respected medical malpractice trial lawyer with a national law firm based in the Maryland/D.C. area.  For an initial courtesy consultation, call him at (410) 720-6129 or (410) 730-5016; or email Attorney Charles Ware at charlesjeromeware@msn.com]