What is the facelift surgery procedure?

You will be given a general anaesthetic or in some cases, a local anaesthetic with sedation.

There are three types of facelift surgery:

• Standard facelift
• Mid facelift
• Mini (‘weekend’) facelift

The standard facelift is as the name says: it is performed to improve the whole of the face, whereas the other two focus upon specific areas of the face.

A facelift can take two to three hours but if you are having complimentary procedures such as a brow lift or rhinoplasty then it will take longer.

There is the option to have an ‘endoscopic’ facelift: this is a relatively new approach and one in which the surgeon uses an endoscope (a small camera mounted on a slim tube) to help him/her modify and reshape soft tissues under the skin.

This camera is inserted through several small incisions behind the hairline. It tends to work better for younger patients and those with a small amount of sagging skin. The incisions are closed with small stitches and metal clips are used on the scalp. A small drainage tube will be used to collect an excess blood which may collect behind the ears.

The surgery itself involves the surgeon making a series of incisions above the hairline, which pass down in front of the ear and continue behind the earlobe to the lower scalp.

A small incision may also be made underneath your chin to reshape the skin around the neck.

Your surgeon will then trim or suction off any fat to help improve facial contours and give you a clearly defined look. He or she will separate this fat from the skin and muscle below which will tighten both of these.

The facial skin is lifted and re-draped. The skin is pulled back which tightens and smoothes it and helps to remove any excess. This will give you that younger looking appearance.

The incisions are closed with a series of sutures (stitches). A bandage may be applied around your head to reduce the risk of bruising and swelling afterwards.

Facelift Surgery Guide Index:

• What is a ‘rhytidectomy’?
• Who should consider a facelift ?
• Who is not suitable for facelift surgery ?
• Why shouldn’t I have facelift surgery?
• How much does a facelift surgery cost?
• Can I get help towards paying for my facelift?
• Can I have a facelift on the NHS?
• Can I have facelift surgery abroad?
• I am interested in a facelift what do I do next?
• How do I find a reputable facelift surgeon?
• What questions should I ask my surgeon?

• I have decided to go ahead so what happens next?
• How do I prepare for my facelift surgery?
• What will happen on the day of my facelift surgery?
• What is the facelift surgery procedure?
• What will happen after my facelift surgery?
• What does recovery from facelift surgery involve?
• What are the benefits of facelift surgery?
• What are the risks of facelift surgery?
• Is there an ‘aftercare’ service for facelift surgery?
• How long does a facelift surgery last?