Facelift

What does it involve?

A facelift is usually carried out under general anaesthetic. It may sometimes be performed using a local anaesthetic and sedation.

There are many different kinds of facelift, but generally the surgeon will:

• make cuts (incisions) above the hairline at the temples that extend down in front of your ear, underneath your earlobe and behind the ear
• make cuts under the chin if the jawline is also being lifted
• remove the surplus facial skin
• pull the remaining skin backwards and upwards before stitching it into its new position
• sometimes redistribute facial fat and tissue or add fat to the face
• bandage the face to minimise bruising and swelling

It usually takes 2 to 3 hours, and most people need to stay in hospital overnight.

Pain relief is provided if you experience any discomfort afterwards.

Recovery

It takes about 2 to 4 weeks to fully recover from a facelift. You need to take this time off work.

Bruising is visible for at least 2 weeks. It could take up to 6 to 9 months to see the full effect of the facelift.

You will not be able to drive for a number of days after the operation – your surgeon would advise about this.

You will have to avoid showering and getting the bandages wet for the first 2 days, and avoid strenuous activity, saunas and massages for at least 2 weeks.

You also need to keep your head propped up with pillows for a couple of days while resting to reduce the swelling.

After about 7 to 14 days: stitches are removed (unless you had dissolvable stitches).

After several weeks: bruises, scars and changes to your skin colour should have faded.

After 6 to 9 months: you should be able to see the final results of the facelift.

Side effects to expect

After a facelift, it’s common to have:

• a swollen or numb face, which may last for a few weeks or months
• a stiff feeling in your face an mouth, which usually goes away within 6 weeks
• bruising – this can last for a few weeks
• pain
• low mood for a few days
• scars – these should fade, but will not completely disappear
• a raised hairline or sideburns
• reduced hair growth at the sides of the forehead (temples)

What could go wrong

A facelift can occasionally result in problems, including:

• nerve injury and loss of sensation or movement in the face
• asymmetrical facial features – including the position of the earlobe
• hair loss or a small but permanent reduction in hair growth around the scars
• thick, obvious scars developing
• problems healing

Any type of operation also carries a small risk of:

• excessive bleeding
• developing a blood clot in a vein
• infection
• an allergic reaction to the anaesthetic

The surgeon should explain how likely these risks and complications are, and how they would be treated if they occurred.