Facelift

What a Facelift Won’t Do

As a restorative surgery, a facelift does not change your fundamental appearance or stop the aging process.

​

Is Facelift Surgery Right for You?

A facelift is a surgical procedure—non-surgical treatments cannot achieve the same results but can help improve skin quality and complement facelift outcomes. This surgery is highly individualized and should be done for yourself, not to meet someone else’s expectations or conform to an ideal image.

​

Facelift surgery may be a good option if:

• You are physically healthy

• You do not smoke

• You have a positive outlook and realistic goals for improving your appearance

 

As people age, gravity, sun exposure, and daily life stressors impact their faces. Deep creases may form between the nose and mouth, the jawline can lose definition, and folds or fat deposits may develop around the neck.

 

A facelift does not stop aging but can "set back the clock" by removing excess fat, tightening underlying muscles, and re-draping the skin of the face and neck. It can be performed alone or in combination with procedures like a forehead lift, eyelid surgery, or nose reshaping.

​

Ideal Candidates for a Facelift

The best candidates are individuals whose face and neck have begun to sag but still have some skin elasticity and strong bone structure. While most patients are in their 40s to 60s, facelifts can be successfully performed on individuals in their 70s or 80s.

​

A facelift can make you look younger and refreshed, potentially boosting self-confidence. However, it will not give you a completely different look or restore the vitality of youth. It’s important to have realistic expectations and discuss them thoroughly with your surgeon.

​

Understanding the Risks

When performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications from a facelift are infrequent and typically minor. However, individual anatomy, physical reactions, and healing abilities vary, making outcomes somewhat unpredictable.

Possible complications include:

​

• Hematoma (a collection of blood under the skin that may require removal)

• Temporary nerve injury affecting facial muscles

• Infection

• Reactions to anesthesia

• Poor healing, which is more common in smokers

 

Following pre- and post-operative instructions carefully can help minimize risks.

 

Planning Your Surgery

During your consultation, your surgeon will evaluate your face, skin condition, and bone structure while discussing your goals for surgery. Your medical history, including conditions like high blood pressure or blood clotting disorders, will be reviewed to assess any potential risks. Be sure to disclose any medications you take, especially aspirin or blood-thinning drugs.

​

Your surgeon will explain:

• The techniques and anesthesia to be used

• The type of facility where the surgery will take place

• Potential risks and costs involved

 

Don't hesitate to ask questions, particularly about your expectations and any concerns.

 

The Facelift Procedure

A facelift typically takes several hours, but more extensive procedures may require multiple sessions.

Incisions usually:

• Begin above the hairline at the temples

• Extend in front of the ear (or just inside the cartilage at the front of the ear)

• Continue behind the earlobe to the lower scalp

• For neck improvements, a small incision may be made under the chin

 

During the procedure:

• The skin is separated from underlying fat and muscle

• Fat may be trimmed or suctioned to improve contour

• Underlying muscles and tissues are tightened

• Skin is repositioned, and excess skin is removed

• Stitches secure tissue layers, and metal clips may be used in the scalp

 

After surgery, a small drain may be placed behind the ear to remove excess fluid, and bandages may be applied to reduce swelling and bruising.

​

Recovery and Results

Most patients experience minimal discomfort, which can be managed with prescribed pain medication. Some numbness of the skin is normal and will gradually resolve. Keeping your head elevated and avoiding excessive movement for the first few days can help reduce swelling.

​

Post-surgery care includes:

• Removal of drainage tubes within one to two days

• Bandage removal within one to five days

• Stitches removed after about a week (scalp sutures may take longer)

 

Bruising and swelling are expected but will subside over time. Initial results may take a few weeks to become visible.

 

Your New Look

While a facelift won’t stop the aging process, it can significantly refresh your appearance. Scars are typically hidden within hairlines or natural facial creases and will fade over time. Men may need to adjust shaving habits due to repositioned beard-growing areas.

​

Good skincare, sun protection, and complementary treatments can help extend the benefits of your facelift. While some patients choose to undergo another facelift in five to ten years, the results of even one procedure can provide long-lasting improvements.