Can a Facelift Slow Down the Aging Process?

While a facelift cannot stop the aging process, it can often make a person appear to be a decade younger than their actual age. As we age, our facial skin loosens and wrinkles and the muscles of the neck may weaken as well.  Anything that can cause the skin to lose elasticity will hasten the aging process, including sun exposure, weight fluctuations, and heredity. A Facelift Cosmetic Surgery can address these problems by firming and tightening the skin of the face and neck all in one step. It is most effective for the lower face (jowls and neck). A double chin can also be improved at the same time by a surgical procedure called submental lipectomy.

To get the best results for facial rejuvenation, facelifts are frequently done in conjunction with other procedures such as upper eyelid blepharoplasty and lower eyelid blepharoplasty. Your surgeon may also recommend injections of cosmetic fillers for reducing fine lines, deep creases in your forehead or frown lines between your eyebrows.

Contrary to popular opinion, the texture of the skin will not be changed by a facelift, according to the information on a plastic surgeons site. Acne scars, age spots, fine lines, and smoker’s creases will soon return to their original texture, no matter how tight the skin is pulled. A facelift will not give someone beautiful skin unless they have beautiful skin, to begin with. If you have a skin issue that you would like to improve, it may be worth considering a skin treatment such as laser resurfacing in combination with a facelift to improve the texture of the skin and smooth skin wrinkles.

Best candidates for a facelift

Both men and women have facelifts, with the best candidates being those whose face and neck have excess fat, lines and has begun to sag. The average age for patients is 40-50 years, but older patients have also had successful facelifts.

In general, the best candidates for a facelift are:

And generally have:

Preparation for a Facelift

Before you undergo a facelift , it is important for you to discuss any medical conditions that you have and tell your surgeon about any medications that you are taking.  If your surgeon decides that you can have a facelift, discuss the procedure thoroughly with him or her before deciding if you want to go through with the procedure. You may still change your mind even after discussing the procedure with your surgeon.

By completing a firmquote request below your surgeon will be able to provide you with his feedback and a firmquote in advance of your arrival. When you arrive your surgeon will already be familiar with you and have a copy of your private medical file. 

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Your consultation with the surgeon will give you a detailed understanding of the treatment – the extent of surgery, your health evaluation, your expectations and exactly where the areas of the face will be treated. When you are happy with what has been discussed, you will sign a booking form for the operation.

Your surgeon should be able to answer any questions that you have about facelifts including questions about what to expect during and after a facelift and the complications or problems that sometimes occur with facelifts. You may also take information from this website to your appointment to discuss it with them.

You will have a physical evaluation of the areas to be treated. At this appointment, you and your surgeon will discuss your goals, and the last queries you have and finalize the plan for surgery. From this examination, he can determine the best procedure to use, and then explain it to you in detail, including the benefits and limitations. The surgeon may also recommend a combination of the facelift with eyelid blepharoplasty, browlift or submental liposuction, for a better facial profile.

It is important to stress the importance of not smoking before a facelift procedure. Smoking can cause problems with circulation and make complications more likely, including post-operative chest procedures.

Surgical Procedure

The classic facelift, or SMAS, is recommended by the surgeons. This is performed by making an incision at the temples behind the hairline. The incision typically extends downward, along the natural creases in the skin, in front or on the edge of the ear, in the crease of the ear lobe, and behind the ear. Making the incision in the natural creases helps hide scarring after surgery. The surgeon then separates the skin and muscles of the face from the deeper facial tissues.

In some cases the skin is removed, in others, the skin and muscle tissues are reshaped. The underlying muscle may be tightened with the skin, or separately. After the tightening or removal of excess skin, the skin is re-draped and sutured.

Facelift patients normally undergo general anesthesia. Time in surgery is approximately 4 to 6 hours. In some cases, drainage tubes are left in place under certain areas of the skin for about 2 days to reduce post-surgical swelling. Depending upon the extent of the procedure, a facelift may be performed under local anesthesia—while you are numbed and sedated, but awake, or a light general anesthetic, where you are lightly sleeping. You should discuss anesthesia options with your plastic surgeon and the anesthesiologist.  Some surgeons perform facelift under twilight sedation as a day case.  The benefit of this is that you will recover much faster and you will have less swelling and bruising than a general anesthetic. However, most surgeons do their facelifts with a GA and an overnight stay in the hospital.

Recovery and Post-op care

After surgery, patients may experience moderate swelling of the eyelids and other facial areas. Immediately after surgery, a large dressing is usually applied, but this will depend on which the surgeon is doing the surgery as they all work differently. It is removed typically within 2 days after surgery and may be replaced with an elastic wrap. Any stitches will be removed after 6 days unless you have dissolving sutures. There is normally some discomfort following facelift surgery, which can be managed with medications.

You will be moving around in a couple of days, but we advise you to relax for a week or so. Strenuous activity should be avoided until the bruising and swelling have subsided. This can take four to six weeks; however, within two weeks the swelling should be reduced enough to engage in some social activities. Many patients prefer to delay significant social activities for four weeks after surgery.

Recommended length of stay on holiday
2 weeks is the surgeon’s recommendation, and you will have regular check-ups throughout your holiday.

During your recovery time, and to achieve the best results we take special care of you to ensure you recover well. Depending on how you feel, you may also like to take a tour of the many sights available.

Other recommended procedures with a Facelift
Many people that travel overseas have more than one procedure because of the cost advantages and also for a more balanced look.

A facelift is often done with other treatments, such as nose reshaping and eyelid surgery.

Your new look

Your facelift will make you look younger and fresher, and turn back the clock between 10-20 years. The small scars that you will have will be hidden by your hair or in the natural creases of your face and ears.

However, having a facelift will not stop aging and gravity, and some people repeat the procedure (secondary facelift) sometime down the line.

A facelift is meant for folds and creases of laxity and not meant to improve the appearance of wrinkle lines. Wrinkle lines may be improved after plastic surgery by skin resurfacing techniques, such as laser skin resurfacing. Wrinkles may further improve with the use of injectables such as collagen or Injectables. Loss of volume and folds including nasolabial folds may be treated with injectables such as Restylane to produce a fully satisfactory outcome.

Preconditions and Risks

We minimize risks and complications by selecting patients carefully and always having the most skilled surgeons, physicians and nurses carry out procedures. However, despite the highest standards, complications can occur. They are rare, and most patients will not have complications, but if you have concerns about possible complications, please discuss these with your doctor.

Smoking reduces blood flow to areas of the facial skin, so you shouldn’t smoke a month before and a month after surgery. Stopping smoking will help with the healing process.