Face lift surgery is a facial rejuvenation procedure, designed to give you a younger looking face and neck, so that you can look as young as you feel inside. The face, cheek, chin and neck areas are tightened up, wrinkles and lines are smoothed out and any loose sagging skin is removed. By repositioning underlying support structures, facelift surgery can create a ‘lifted’ effect that significantly reduces the visible signs of ageing like no other non-surgical treatment or procedure can.
There are three main types of face lift surgery, and I’ll advise you on which method is most suitable and which will produce the best results.
- The traditional full face lift: This procedure, also known as “rhytidectomy,” lifts and tightens the face skin in order to create a smoother, more youthful appearance.
- A face lift combined with a neck lift: The face and neck age together, so to to harmonise the facial features and balance the results, for the most part a face lift should include elevation of the lower face, jaw line and neck. The effect is a smoother, wrinkle-free neck and jaw line and a rejuvenated appearance.
Neck lift surgery can be performed through a traditional complete face lift incision, but occasionally a neck lift scar is made across the front of the neck and disguised in the lines of the skin to reduce its appearance. This procedure is tailored to your desired outcome. In some cases, liposuction may be used to remove excess fat, while in slim patients, only the platysma muscle is usually tightened and excess skin removed (also known as cervicoplasty or platysmaplasty).
- The mini facelift: also known as ‘short-scar face lift’ (S-lift) or minimal access cranial suspension (MACS lift) uses short scars to tighten the facial muscles and remove of excess fat.
Both men and women consider facelift surgery as they get older and their face begins to lose its youthful shape. People who get the best results have loose skin and wrinkles around the cheek, mouth, jaw line and neck. Surgery is usually performed between the ages of 40 and 70 years, although there no minimum or maximum age limits. The mini-facelift is particularly suited to those aged 40-55.
Whilst non-surgical rejuvenation treatments may help delay the time at which a neck lift becomes appropriate they can’t achieve the same results in lifting and tightening the skin.
There are various personal reasons why people choose to have face and neck lift surgery:
- Wrinkles and creases on the face
- Deep lines in the corner of the mouth
- Visible jowls and sagging along the jaw-line
- Sagging skin and wrinkling to neck area or ‘turkey wattle’
- Loss of definition in the undercroft of the chin
- Excess fatty deposits under the chin
- Thick muscle bands running down the neck
- Horizontal lines running across the neck
- Your face and neck make you look older than you actually are
- Loss of self esteem with your changing appearance
- Prejudice based on your appearance
- Ageism and loss of career opportunities
- Loss of fullness in the face after losing weight, causing the skin to sag and wrinkle
- To look more youthful and attractive
Benefits of facelift surgery:
- A more youthful appearance
- Increased self-confidence and self-esteem
- Feeling rejuvenated and fresher
- Correct premature ageing
- Open up employment opportunities
- Ability to wear clothes with lower necklines
- Easier application of make-up
- Face lift surgery is performed under general anaesthetic (asleep) and involves being in hospital for 1 to 2 days afterwards.
- The skin of the neck, chin and cheek is pulled tight, and any excess facial skin is carefully removed. This leaves a discrete scar in front of and behind the ear.
- After surgery you have dressings on your face, and you may have small drainage tubes in place behind the ears. These drainage tubes are slid out before you go home. There is bruising and swelling of the face and neck area which settles over 2-3 weeks.
- Any discomfort is well controlled with basic painkillers such as paracetamol. Facelift is not regarded as a painful procedure, but you may have a ‘tight’ feeling in the face initially, which gradually relaxes over a few weeks.
- You’ll have an appointment to come to clinic 1-2 weeks after the procedure for the stitches to be removed.
- Recovery is usually relatively quick and it may be possible to return to your normal daily routine and work after 14 days.
The goal is a natural, healthy and realistic appearance. The neck, chin and cheek areas tightened up and wrinkles are smoothed out to hide the visible signs of ageing like no other treatment or procedure can.
A lift does not change your overall appearance or halt the ageing process, but people will comment on how good you look for your age.
After a traditional face lift there is a discrete scar running along your hairline, from the temple, down past the front of your ears and into the hairline behind the ears. With the careful positioning of the the scar it’ll be hidden and will fade quickly until it is barely visible.
If you are a smoker, you must give up before having facelift surgery. It is crucial that you do not smoke or use nicotine substitutes in the weeks before and after surgery, because this can cause serious wound healing problems.
If you take aspirin or blood-thinning medications, I’ll likely advise you discontinue these for a short period before and after surgery.
