Michigan Esthetician State Board Practice Exam

What is one primary goal of a rhytidectomy?

1. Enhance skin color

2. Reduce hair loss

3. Tighten sagging skin

4. Correct vision

The correct answer is: Tighten sagging skin

A primary goal of a rhytidectomy, commonly known as a facelift, is to tighten sagging skin. As individuals age, their skin loses elasticity and may begin to droop, resulting in what is often referred to as sagging. The procedure involves removing excess skin and tightening the underlying tissues and muscles to create a more youthful and lifted appearance. This goal is essential for restoring facial contours and rejuvenating the overall look of the skin. Enhancing skin color is more related to treatments such as chemical peels or laser therapies, which focus on skin tone rather than the structural aspects addressed in a rhytidectomy. Reducing hair loss may involve entirely different methods or treatments, such as hair transplants or medications targeted at stimulating hair growth, which are not within the scope of a facelift procedure. Correcting vision clearly pertains to ophthalmological procedures, not aesthetic surgical operations aimed at improving facial appearance. Thus, the correct answer effectively highlights the core aim of a rhytidectomy.