Facelift

What does this involve?

There are various techniques that surgeons can use and your surgeon will advise which is the most appropriate in your case, and will explain how your face will appear afterwards.

For a typical facelift, the surgeon makes an incision high in your temple area (hidden by your hair). The incision follows the curves in front of your ear, round your earlobe and up behind your ear before gently curving back into the hair again. An incision may also be made under your chin if the operation includes lifting a sagging jawline. Your facial skin is carefully separated from the muscles of your face and any excess fat is removed. Your facial muscles are then tightened and re-draped with skin.  Once surgery is complete, all incisions are closed and stitches 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 following the anaesthetic. After this, you will return to your room, where nursing staff will check your dressings and monitor your pulse and blood pressure at regular intervals.

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

You may have drainage tubes under the skin of your face for a short period of time after the procedure. They are attached to bottles attached to drain away any excess fluid. These are removed before you are discharged home.

There may also be a drip in one of your arms which is to ensure that you are kept well hydrated so that your recovery is as quick as possible. The drip will be removed once you are able to drink a satisfactory amount.  Providing you are not feeling nauseous, you may start to drink and eat as soon as you feel ready.

You will also have wound dressings in place and tightly wrapped bandages around the head. These bandages will also be removed before you go home.

Until the affects of the anaesthetic have passed, you will need to rest. In the meantime you will be visited by your surgeon who will assess your progress and answer any questions or concerns you may have. You will also be visited by the Cosmetic Surgery Specialist Nurse before you are discharged home who will give you advice about caring for your wounds and dressings, the wearing of your supportive compression garment and support stockings, and discuss your post-operative activity. 

Hospital contact details will be provided should you require any advice once you have returned home, and a post-operative follow-up appointment with your surgeon will be arranged.

When will I recover?

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

You should follow your surgeon's advice regarding how long to avoid driving but you certainly should not begin driving again until you are confident that you can safely perform an emergency stop without experiencing any discomfort.

Your surgeon will also advise you on how long you are required to wear your supportive compression garment and whether it is to be worn day and night.

You will receive a post-operative telephone call from the Cosmetic Surgery Specialist Nurse 1 - 2 days after your discharge home to ascertain your progress and well being.

At your post-operative follow-up appointment your surgeon will assess your progress and give advice on when you can resume your normal activities.

The length of time you will need to take off work will completely depend on your type of employment.

What risks should I know about?

A Facelift is a commonly performed and generally safe procedure. However, all surgery carries an element of risk.

The possible complications of any surgery can include an unexpected reaction to a general anaesthetic, excessive bleeding, developing a blood clot (usually in a vein in the lower leg, known as a DVT - deep vein thrombosis) and infection. 

Occasionally, bleeding under the skin causes further swelling and pain - this is known as a haematoma. In rare cases further surgery is required to remove the haematoma and to stop the bleeding.

You will be left with visible scars following your surgery. Initially they will be red and slightly raised, but they should gradually soften and fade over the following months.

There are facial nerves that run from the ear across to the muscles of the face - these may be damaged during surgery, causing numbness and muscle weakness. These symptoms may resolve themselves, but occasionally are permanent. In some cases there is also hair loss near the temples following a facelift - this isn't usually permanent, but it can sometimes be difficult to disguise if you have short hair.

Circle care

Facelifts are carried out at CircleBath, our state of the art hospital, which provides you with the best facilities and superb patient care.  We have a dedicated team of Cosmetic Surgeons and Nurses who will guide you through the process from first consultation to after-care and will be available to answer any questions or queries you may have.