FACELIFT SURGERY (RHYTIDECTOMY)

Facelift Consultation

During your consultation, you and your plastic surgeon will discuss why you need the facelift surgery, and what you hope to achieve. You will also discuss the process of the surgery and everything that will be involved until your recovery period. We encourage you to be completely open with your doctor about your expectations, concerns and habits. Your medical history will also be evaluated to determine candidacy for the procedure. After your discussion, the doctor will also take photos of your face so that you can see the difference after the surgery.

There are also certain guidelines that the doctor will advise you to follow before the surgery, like maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly, stopping smoking at least three weeks before the surgery and strictly avoiding anti-inflammatory drugs or medicines that contain aspirin to reduce the risk of excess bleeding.

Facelift Surgery

The facelift procedure is performed in our hospital under local or general anaesthesia. The surgery takes around 2 to 4 hours and may vary depending upon the technique being used.

In general, during a facelift surgery, the skin is elevated and tightened through the underlying tissues and muscles. Fat in the face and neck may be sculpted, removed or redistributed. Facial skin is then re-draped over the newly repositioned contours of the face, excess skin is removed, and the wound is stitched or taped closed. 

The incisions for the procedure depend on the techniques that will be used and the patient's preferences. Incision options include:

• Traditional Facelift: A traditional facelift incision starts at the hairline of your temples, continues around your ears and ends behind your ears in your lower scalp. Fat may be sculpted or redistributed from the face, jowls and neck and underlying tissue is repositioned. Commonly, the deeper layers of the face and the muscles are also lifted. Skin is re-draped over the uplifted contours and excess skin is trimmed away. A second incision under the chin may be made to improve the ageing neck.
• Endoscopic Facelift: An endoscopic facelift is a modern alternative or complementary technique to a traditional facelift, utilising advanced technology with smaller, more targeted incisions, often placed in less visible areas such as the scalp. Using an endoscope (a tiny camera) and specialised instruments, this method allows for precise lifting and repositioning of the underlying facial tissues. It is particularly effective for patients with moderate signs of ageing, especially in the midface and upper facial areas. The endoscopic approach offers benefits such as smaller scars, less invasive surgery, and faster recovery times compared to traditional facelift techniques.
• Limited Incision: A limited incision is a shorter incision that begins in your hairline just above your ear, wraps around the front of your ear, but does not extend all the way into the lower scalp. Also known as a "Mini-lift", this procedure is usually reserved for patients with less skin relaxation, as the results are less rejuvenating than a full facelift.
• Neck Lift: In this technique, the incision starts in front of your earlobe and continues around your ear into your lower scalp. A small incision is also made under your chin. A neck lift addresses the sagging jowls, loose neck skin and fat accumulation under the chin.

The incisions will be closed with sutures that may dissolve or may need to be removed after a few days. Some surgeons use skin glues to seal the incisions. Once healed, the incision lines from a facelift are well concealed within the hairline and in the natural contours of the face and ear.

Facelift Post-Surgery

Following the facelift surgery, a bandage might be placed around your face to minimise swelling and bruising. Small tubes may be present to draw off any excess blood or fluid. You may experience mild to moderate pain, drainage from the incisions, swelling, bruising or numbness.

Your surgeon will prescribe medication for pain. The day after surgery, your surgeon will most likely remove your drainage tube, apply antibiotic ointment to your incisions and place new bandages on your face.

After 2 to 3 days, you may be able to switch from wearing bandages to wearing an elasticised facial sling. About a week after surgery, your doctor will remove your stitches and assess the wound. Subsequent visits will likely be scheduled to monitor your progress.

Facelift Recovery & Aftercare

Our expert medical team will guide you through every step of the aftercare process in detail. In order to have successful long-lasting results it is important to follow the below:

• Take pain medication and apply ointment as per prescription.
• Use cold compresses to reduce swelling.
• Keep your head elevated while resting or sleeping.
• Avoid strenuous activities.
• It is important to attend follow-up appointments with your doctor to keep track of your progress.