What is a facelift?

As we get older, the skin loses the elasticity and the underlying tissues like fat compartments also sag down due to weaknesses in the ligaments that support them. This leads to sagging and wrinkles. A facelift, also known as rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that lifts, tightens these facial tissues and removes the excess skin.

Traditional facelifts is only focused on the bottom two-thirds of the face and often the neck. It can be combined with a browlift or eye lid surgery (blepharoplasty), or fat transfer to restore volume.  

People get facelifts for a lot of different reasons:

1. Ageing
2. Asymmetries in the face
3. Volume restoration
4. Removal excess skin
5. Improve skin wrinkles
6. Jowl lifting

Who is a Good candidates for facelifts?

• Healthy individuals who don’t have medical conditions that can interfere with wound healing.
• Those who don’t smoke. Smoking impairs wound healing.

How much does a facelift cost? 

Our prices are below, and range from £2999 to £6999. The price of a facelift varies if it is combined with a necklift, if it is a mini or a full facelift or if other procedures are done at the same time. Prices include all the pre-operative and post-operative care.

How is a facelift procedure done? 

There are many ways to perform a facelift. An incision is made in the hairline near the temples that continues down to infront of the ear, around the earlobe and back towards the scalp.

After lifting the skin, fat is either restores or removed if in excess, the deep layer under the skin called (SMAS) is tightened with sutures usually, and then the excess skin is removed.  

If there’s minimal skin sagging, a “mini” facelift may be done. This involves shorter incisions.

If a neck lift is needed, it can be accessed through the same incision, however sometimes another incision is needed under the chin to correct the platysmal bands that cause what is called a “turkey neck”.

The skin is often closed with a combination of non-dissolving and dissolving sutures. Non-dissolving sutures need to be removed in 7 days. You’ll often have a surgical drainage tube after surgery as well as bandages wrapping your face.

How long is the hide away time for a facelift or a necklift?

The hideaway time for a facelift and necklift is between 10 to 14 days. Arnica cream can minimize bruising after a facelift. Cold compressions reduce swelling after a facelift.

Are there any risks or side effects associated with a facelift or necklift? 

There are risks to any medical procedure, including a facelift. Risks:

• Anaesthetic risk
• bleeding
• infection
• cardiac events
• blood clots
• pain or scarring
• hair loss at the incision sites
• prolonged swelling
• problems with wound healing

 What to expect after a facelift

After the surgery, you will be given pain medications and antibiotics to take for a few days. Expect a degree of swelling, bruising and pain. This is normal. If anything you are worried about you should contact us.

We will arrange the follow up to remove the sutures and the dressings.

How much time off work or exercise do I need after a facelift or a necklift?

Typically, give yourself about two weeks off work. You should be resuming a normal level of daily activity in around 5 days. For more strenuous activity, like exercise, wait about four weeks.

Should I have a non-surgical or a surgical facelift?

The decision whether to have a non-surgical or surgical facelift or necklift depends on several factors. The most important being your expectations, the degree of laxity, the underlying facial support and the amount of downtime you can afford to have.