Facelift surgery

A facelift (also known as rhytidectomy or facial rejuvenation surgery) is a surgical procedure aimed at correcting aging changes in the face and/or neck.

The surgery can target one or more of the following areas:

• Midface, cheeks
• Lower face and jawline
• Neck

Facelift and other facial surgeries

Traditional facelift surgeries are usually distinguished from procedures focusing on the upper face, such as forehead and eyebrow lift surgeries. Eyelid surgery is also almost always considered separately when discussing facelift surgeries. However, it’s common to combine upper and lower eyelid surgeries, neck lift surgery, forehead lift, or eyebrow lift surgery with a facelift.

Facial fat transfers are also a separate technique. Very often, fat transfer and facelift surgeries are combined. In such cases, the facelift lifts sagging tissues while the fat transfer improves skin quality, smoothens wrinkles, and enhances features. Skin quality and appearance can also be improved with various types of laser resurfacing.

A facelift, or facial rejuvenation surgery, does not halt future aging processes. It also does not affect the quality or structure of the skin. Instead, as the name suggests, the lift surgery elevates sagging facial features. During the surgery, the skin can be lifted, or it can be targeted at both the skin and subcutaneous tissues. As features are lifted, the contours of the face become clearer. Cheeks are raised, and the sagging of the jawline is corrected.

On average, a facelift can turn back the clock by about ten years. According to the latest research, a facelift can make a person appear around 12 years younger. (The study involved 122 facelift patients with an average age of 57 years.)

Facelift surgery is very often performed under general anesthesia, meaning the patient is asleep. In some cases, the surgery can also be done under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation. Of course, the patient does not need to choose the type of anesthesia themselves. The differences between various anesthesia methods are discussed during the consultation.

When the surface of the skin is pierced, some degree of scar will always form. The scar can be visible or invisible. In facelift surgery, the incisions are made in inconspicuous locations. After the recovery phase, outsiders will not detect any scars or other signs of the surgery.

After a facelift surgery, the patient will need assistance for a couple of days. It is advisable to arrange for transportation home well in advance before the day of surgery.

The first night after the surgery may be slightly uncomfortable because of pain in the surgical area, and the patient will need to keep their head elevated with pillows. There will be swelling and bruising on the face. Additionally, mood swings may occur during the first few days.

When assessing pain on a scale of 1–10, facelift patients typically rate their pain as 5 on average. Some degree of pain is experienced by surgical patients for an average of 10 days.

It’s recommended to start moving around as soon as possible. Gentle walks promote healing, but strenuous exercise should be avoided for several weeks. Patients can usually return to work and other daily activities about two weeks after the surgery. Generally, surgical patients feel “presentation-ready” one month after the surgery. A complete return to the hustle and bustle of normal life typically begins for surgical patients about 2.5 months after the surgery date.

According to an American study, almost all facelift patients are extremely satisfied with the results of the surgery. The study participants reported that the surgery made them look younger, boosted their self-esteem, and improved their quality of life.

Complications following facelift surgery are rare. However, it is important to remember that every surgery carries risks. Possible complications include:

• bleeding
• scar formation
• infection
• slow recovery
• nerve damage

These risks are discussed before making the decision to undergo surgery.

Yes and no.

The surgical outcome is permanent, but the aging process continues entirely normally in the years following the surgery. Thanks to the surgery, the patient appears about ten years younger than their actual age. This change lasts a lifetime. If you are 50 years old on the day of surgery, after the surgery and recovery period, you will look about 40 years old. The clock has been turned back ten years, but time continues to pass after the procedure.