Surgical face lifts

Who should carry out the operation?

Like all cosmetic operations facelifts should be performed by fully trained and qualified cosmetic or plastic surgeons. The aim of the operation is to produce a more youthful, smoother appearance. Face lifts are often performed in conjunction with other cosmetic surgery procedures such as eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), liposuction and brow lift.

Face lifts are just as much an art as science and your surgeon should carefully consider your needs and expectations to determine the right procedure for you. The effectiveness and safety of your surgery depends heavily upon the skill of your surgeon. However, an experienced plastic surgeon can usually give you a very clear idea of what to expect after surgery.

As with other cosmetic procedures, you are more likely to be happy with the results of your face-lift if you have clear, realistic expectations about what the surgery can achieve and you share these with your plastic surgeon. So your surgeon should take the time to listen to you and answer your questions.

Overnight hospital stay?

Face lifts are a surgical procedure and as with all operations your overall health and ability to tolerate anaesthesia will be assessed. Some face lifts are performed as same-day surgery, and you can go home on the same day.

After most facelift operations you need a one or two night stay in hospital, although your surgeon will go through the whole process in detail from arriving at the hospital or clinic to leaving after the operation.

The best candidates for facelifts are those who are over 40, with skin that is visibly loose on the neck and face. Ideally you’ll be a non-smoker and reasonably fit although it’s not essential. However smoking ages faces rapidly so stopping is best.

The operation

Many face lifts are performed using local anaesthesia, which numbs the face combined with a sedative, which will make you feel drowsy and relaxed. They are also performed under a general anaesthetic so you'll sleep through the entire operation. Both techniques work well for both surgeon and patient.

The incision usually follows along or just above the hairline or in a place where the skin would naturally crease so that it does not show after the surgery. Your face will be bandaged after the surgery and you may have a drainage tube (often behind your ear). If so it will be removed 1 to 2 days after the surgery. Any dressings are removed a few days after surgery.

After the operation

Most people have very little pain after the surgery, but your doctor may prescribe pain medication for you in case you do have pain. It is also important to avoid smoking for 2 to 4 weeks before and after surgery as smoking can slow down healing.

Your face will be bruised and swollen for 2 – 3 weeks at least, sometimes longer. You may get some numbness of your face but the numbness of the facial skin may last for weeks or months after the surgery.

Face-lifts are becoming commonplace these days. It is a proven cosmetic procedure that leaves most patients very satisfied. They remain one of the few definite ways to reverse signs of aging in the face.