Facelift

Surgical procedure to tighten and smooth slackened and loose facial and neck skin.

What does surgery involve?

Facelift surgery is carried out under a general anaesthetic and usually requires a one-night stay in hospital.

There are various techniques that surgeons can use to perform this operation. Your surgeon will advise which is the most appropriate in your case.

Typically, the surgeon makes an incision high in the temple area (hidden by your hair). The incision follows the curve in front of the ear, round the earlobe, and up behind the ear before gently curving back into the hair again. An incision may also be made under the chin if the operation includes lifting a sagging jawline. The facial skin is carefully separated from the muscles of the face and any excess fat is removed. The facial muscles are tightened and in some cases re-draped. The excess facial skin is then removed. Once the surgery is complete, all the incisions are closed – sutures are used around the ear and surgical clips are used in the hair.

Following the procedure, you will be taken from the operating theatre into the Recovery Suite where you will be looked after until you are fully awake. After this, you will return to your room, where the nursing staff will check your dressings and monitor your pulse and blood pressure at regular intervals.

The anaesthetist will prescribe painkillers and you should take these regularly for the first week or so. Pain can slow down your recovery, so it is important to discuss any discomfort with the nursing staff.

There may be a drip in one of your arms – this is to keep you well hydrated. This will be removed when you are able to drink a satisfactory amount.

You may have wound dressings in place.

When will I recover?

After a Facelift you are likely to have some pain/discomfort, swelling and bruising. These are temporary and should subside after the first few weeks.

You will receive a post-operative telephone call from the Specialist Nurse one to two days after your discharge home to ascertain your progress and well-being. You will also receive a follow-up appointment at which your surgeon will assess your progress and give advice on when you can resume your normal activities.

You must avoid strenuous exercise, heavy lifting and bending over/stooping for six weeks after surgery. You should only resume driving when you are confident that you can safely perform an emergency stop without experiencing discomfort.

The length of time you will need to take off work will depend on your type of employment but is usually a minimum of two weeks.

Excellence in healthcare

Our teams of world-class experts are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of medical care. Our highly-skilled consultant surgeons will take their time to listen and talk to you about what to expect from surgery. They use the most up-to-date technology and minimally invasive surgical techniques to keep scarring to a minimum and achieve natural results.