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Face Lift Surgery (Rhytidectomy)

Face lift surgery has become a popular procedure in recent years, not just with celebrities but also with women who are looking for a more permanent solution to an ageing appearance than non-surgical line and wrinkle treatments can offer.

As we get older, our skin loses its elasticity and instead of being taut, it can start to sag and wrinkle. When this happens to the skin on the face, it can make us look old and tired. Face lift surgery, also known as a rhytidectomy, offers a long-lasting solution to saggy skin and wrinkles, giving you a more youthful and fresh appearance. Our patients often combine face lift surgery with a neck lift to ensure that the overall results are as natural-looking as possible.

There are several options when it comes to having a face lift, you can have a full face lift, or a brow, lower face, or neck lift - you will be able to discuss the most effective option for you with your cosmetic surgeon. 

THE PROCEDURE FOR A FACE LIFT

Traditional facelift

A traditional face lift is performed under general anaesthetic and takes approximately 3.5 hours to complete. In this procedure, your surgeon will make an incision along the hairline, down the side of the face and in front of the ears, and then up behind the ears and into the hairline. He or she will then carefully separate your skin from the underlying tissue. Any excess fat will be removed or repositioned before the facial muscles are tightened using permanent sutures, and the skin pulled tight. Once the skin is in place, the surgeon will remove any excess and stitch it along the original incision. If necessary, thin surgical tubes will be put in place behind the ears to allow any excess fluids and blood to drain from the area.

After the procedure, your face will be wrapped in bandages to keep the area clean and sterile. These will be removed approximately one day before you leave hospital.

Minimal-access cranial suspension (MACS)

Minimal access cranial suspension (MACS) is performed under general anaesthetic and is a shorter procedure than the traditional rhytidectomy, taking approximately 2.5 hours to complete. If MACS is chosen as the best option for you, the procedure is as follows: Your cosmetic surgeon will make several incisions, at your temples and in front of your ears, and he or she will then remove excess fat and tighten muscles in exactly the same way as for the traditional face lift. Any scarring will be shorter and therefore easier to hide than that associated with a traditional facelift.

Keyhole surgery

Keyhole surgery is usually the preferred surgical procedure for those who are having a brow, or upper face lift, rather than a full face lift or neck lift. Keyhole surgery face lifts are carried out under general anaesthetic and tend to take much less time to complete than the traditional facelift or MACS. Your cosmetic surgeon will make several tiny incisions into your skin through which to insert a telescopic camera (called an endoscope) and specialist operating instruments. The surgeon will then carry out the operation by looking at a monitor which shows exactly what the endoscope can see.

Recovery time from keyhole surgery is usually much shorter and the scars much less noticeable than with the traditional face lift.

Watch our video to hear what is involved in having a face lift, to see ‘before and after’ photographs, and to hear a patient’s story.

Recovery from Face Lift & Neck Lift Surgery

Stitches will be removed between seven and 14 days after your operation and after this you should be able to resume your normal daily activities with no problems. You can expect some bruising and swelling of the face and neck following your face lift – this is completely normal and should go down within a couple of weeks, with a full recovery in between three and four weeks.

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