Overview of Procedure

The face lift procedure removes excess skin and wrinkles in the face and neck, creating a better defined jaw line and highlighted cheek bones. Many people choose to combine this procedure with eyelid lift procedure, cheek implants, nose reshaping (rhinoplasty), or a chin implant.

The Right Candidates

Any healthy person over the age of 40 who is unhappy with his or her sagging, loose skin, or “jowls,” loss of a well-defined jaw-line could be a candidate for face lift surgery.


Risks and Side Effects

Allergic reaction to anaesthesia, bleeding, unwanted scarring, infection, temporary numbness, facial nerve injury, crusting or lifting of the incision area.


Surgery

The first step is a detailed consultation with your surgeon, who will discuss with you the method he will use and your goals and desired end result. After an anaesthesia is administered, an incision is made in a place that is very discreet, like above the hairline or just along the hairline, and continues behind the ears, all the way to the back of the neck. Facial skin is then separated from underlying tissue and excess skin is removed. After the surgeon tightens the muscles in the face and neck and removes any excess skin or fat, he or she will red rape the skin on your facial area and close the incisions with either dissolving or removable stitches. This procedure is outpatient, which means that the patient can return home the same day. Your surgeon will inform you otherwise.

Average Duration of Face Lift Surgery: 1-2 hours

Recovery

Patients are typically under general anaesthesia during this procedure. Your doctor may put a bandage around your face that you will have to keep on for a few days until the swelling goes down. Also, you may be given a thin tube to use for draining out excess blood under the skin. This is not always the case though. Recovery may take several weeks.

If your job requires strenuous activity, your doctor will request that you rest until you have completely recovered. Otherwise, you should be able to return to work in about 10 days, if your appearance is not a weighing factor.


Results

Sometimes it takes several months for the swelling to go down after a face lift. Although the incision lines are usually in a place that is not visible, it will take approximately 6 months for the surgery scars to fade. Once this passes, the results are long-lasting.