Facelift

A facelift is a surgical procedure that improves visible signs of ageing in the face and neck, such as:

• Sagging skin
• Deepening of the lines between the nose and the corner of the mouth
• Subcutaneous fat that has diminished or disappeared
• Loose skin and excess fat in the neck that can appear as a double chin or “turkey neck”
• The loss of youthful contours in the face can be due to various factors, including thinned skin, loss of facial fat, gravity, sun damage, smoking, as well as heredity and stress.

Other procedures that can be performed in conjunction with a facelift include a brow lift and eyelid surgery. Fat transplantation or fillers may be suggested to replace lost fat volume. Skin treatments such as IPL, dermabrasion, peeling, or laser can help improve skin quality and texture.

What a Facelift Cannot Do A facelift does not change your fundamental appearance and cannot stop the ageing process.

A facelift can only be performed surgically; minimally invasive rejuvenation treatments cannot achieve the same results but can help delay the time until a facelift is appropriate and complement the results of surgery.

Who is a Good Candidate for a Facelift? In general, good candidates for a facelift are:

• Healthy patients who do not have medical conditions that impair healing
• Non-smokers
• Patients with a positive outlook and realistic expectations

What Can I Expect During a Consultation for a Facelift? During the consultation, be prepared to discuss:

• Your surgical goals
• Medical conditions, drug allergies, and medical treatments
• Current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use
• Previous surgeries

Your surgeon will also:

• Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
• Discuss your facelift options
• Examine and measure your face
• Recommend a treatment plan
• Discuss likely outcomes of a facelift and any risks or potential complications
• Discuss the type of anaesthesia to be used

Questions to Ask Your Plastic Surgeon About Facelift Prepare for the consultation by:

• Writing down all your symptoms with timeline, medications, and health history, so you can talk about your problems systematically.
• Write a list of your questions.
• Inform about your health and any health problems.
• Ask questions and demand answers.
• Read your medical records and bring a copy or ask for access to them.
• Bring a friend to support you.

Suggested questions to ask:

• Am I a good candidate?
• What is expected of me to get the best results?
• Where and how will you perform my procedure?
• Which surgical technique is recommended for me?
• How long can I expect a recovery period, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery?
• What are the risks and complications associated with a facelift?
• How are complications handled?
• How can I expect my face to look over time?
• What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of my facelift?
• Do you have before and after photos that I can look at for this procedure, and what results are reasonable for me?

Be sure to ask specific questions to your plastic surgeon about what you can expect during your recovery period.

• Where will I be taken after my surgery is complete?
• What medication will I be given or prescribed after the surgery?
• Will I have dressings/bandages after the surgery?
• When will they be removed?
• When will the stitches be removed?
• When can I wash my face and apply makeup?
• When can I resume normal activity and exercise?
• When can I dye my hair or get a haircut?

Risks of Facelift The decision to undergo plastic surgery is extremely personal, and you must weigh the potential benefits of achieving your goals against the risks and potential complications of surgery. Only you can make that decision for yourself.

Risks of facelift, although rare, include:

• Anesthesia risks
• Bleeding
• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
• Facial nerve damage with weakness
• Fluid accumulation
• Infection
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
• Persistent pain
• Poor wound healing and skin loss
• Prolonged swelling
• Skin irregularities and discolouration
• Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible, or cause irritation requiring removal
• Temporary or permanent hair loss at the incisions
• Unfavourable scarring
• Unsatisfactory results may include asymmetry, unsatisfactory surgical scar location, and unacceptable visible deformities at the ends of the incisions

These risks and others will be fully discussed. It’s important that you address all your questions directly with your plastic surgeon.

How Should I Prepare? When preparing for a facelift, you may be asked to:

• Stop smoking
• Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding and bruising
• Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
• Undergo lab testing or a medical evaluation

When you book surgery, you will receive written instructions with detailed information about the timing, our payment terms, and how to prepare.

You should arrange for a friend or family member to pick you up after the surgery and stay with you the first night.

Facelift – How is it Done? A facelift includes the following steps:

Step 1 – Anesthesia Medication is given for your comfort during the surgical procedure.

Step 2 – The Incision In a traditional facelift, the incision often begins in the hairline at the temples, continues around the ear, and ends behind the ear. Fat may be sculpted or redistributed from the face, jawline, and neck, and the underlying tissue repositioned, usually lifting also the deeper layers of the face and muscles. Excess skin is removed.

The incision is sutured.

Neck Lift In a neck lift, the skin under the chin is tightened.

Step 3 – Closing the Incisions The incisions will be sutured with stitches that may dissolve or may need to be removed after about a week. Once the scars from a facelift have healed, they are well hidden in the hairline and along the natural contours of the face and ear.

Step 4 – See the Results The visible improvements of a facelift will appear as swelling and bruising subside.

What Can I Expect After a Facelift? After a facelift, a bandage may be placed around your face to minimise swelling and bruising. Small tubes may be present to draw off excess blood or fluid.

You will receive specific instructions on how to care for your surgical site and any drainage, a pain relief schedule, information on specific problems to be aware of, and a time for a follow-up visit.

What Results Can I Expect After a Facelift? While most people are presentable to the public within 10-14 days, it will take 2-3 months for the face to feel “back to normal”.

Continued daily sun protection and a healthy lifestyle will help extend the results of your facelift.

As swelling and bruising subside, the visible improvements from the facelift will appear.

Although good results are expected, there can be no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure, and another operation or treatment may be needed.

Follow your doctor’s instructions to ensure that your surgery is successful.