Face Lift

Facelifts are usually performed in the early forties to mid-sixties. However, there is no typical age for a facelift. It’s all depends on the extent of skin ageing. Early signs of ageing like fine lines can be managed with other measures like Anti-wrinkle injections, fillers, ULTHERA and HIFU. For deep lines and loose hanging skin, facelifts are the best option.

 1. Skin lift: This is the simplest type of facelifts which involves excision of excess skin only without addressing the underlying muscles. The procedure is relatively quick and involves lesser downtime. However, the results may not be long lasting as the skin can get stretched again.

2. SMAS lift: This is a more refined version of the facelift which addresses the laxity of the underlying facial tissue. The SMAS (Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System) is the fibrous tissue between the subcutaneous fat and the facial muscles. In an SMAS lift, this is specifically tightened along with the overlying skin. This increases the strength of the repair and thereby the longevity of results over a skin-only.

 A facelift operation can perform as a day surgery under general anesthesia. It takes between two to six hours to perform. The incisions are placed in inconspicuous areas within your hairline and in the natural fold in front of the ear. The surgeon loosens the facial skin from the underlying fat and muscle, tightens the muscle and fascia underneath, and then re-drapes the skin, trimming and suturing or stapling it into position. This is a description of the procedure of facelift in its simplest form.

After a facelift, your face will be swollen, tender and bruised for several days. It will be covered with a dressing during initial two days. A compression garment is then worn for the next few weeks. Swelling will maximum over the first 3 to 5 days and gradually subsides over the next few weeks.

Facelift scars are hidden in the hairline, in the folds behind the ears or under the jawline, so they are not very noticeable. The procedure takes off many years from the patient’s appearance and most clients are very happy with the trade off.

Light activities and office can be resumed about a week to 10 days after your surgery, although you will likely need to conceal residual bruises with cosmetics. The final results do deserve appreciation and they will be in front of you over the next few weeks once the swelling completely subsides.