As you get older, skin and tissues naturally lose their elasticity. This leads to sagging and wrinkles. A facelift, (also known as a rhytidectomy) is a general term for any surgical procedure that improves signs of ageing in your face and/or neck by repositioning or removing skin, fat and/or fascia. What are some essentials about facelift surgery you should know?

One of the best female plastic surgeons in London, Dr Rozina Ali, is very passionate about the practice of elegant 3-D facial sculpting and using facelifts to make you look better, younger and more yourself. Not the old facelifts of yesteryear which could make you look pulled, tight, or unnatural.

Rozina enjoys the artistry of offering beautiful, nuanced, 3-dimensional facelifts that reposition sagging underlying structures, remove excess skin and mould retained tissues to add curves to your cheeks. In this article, we will have a look at what are the types and procedures for facelift surgery, its benefits and why is the recovery period from a facelift almost as important as the procedure itself.

Why have a facelift?

The most important aspect you need to remember is that you are not alone in considering a facelift procedure. As we get older, skin and tissues naturally lose their elasticity, which leads to sagging and wrinkles. While this is a natural part of growing older, patients who are bothered by these signs of ageing may find a facelift to be a good solution.

If you are frustrated with the extra skin or excess fat that has formed around your neck, a facelift may help to reduce or even eliminate it. Moreover, this procedure is also about tightening the firm tissue layer covering the underlying muscles (SMAS layer), repositioning the soft tissue and gently redraping the skin to leave a natural-looking rejuvenated face.

What are the different kinds of facelifts?

Facelifts are designed to deal with sagging and excess skin. They don’t necessarily address youthful curves or filling of deflated areas - that require fat transfer or fillers. There are many kinds of facelift surgeries. Only an experienced and expert facial aesthetics plastic surgeon can help you through the options that best suit each individual plastic surgery patient:

MACS lift: minimal access cranial suspension lift is a facelift achieved through an incision in front of the temple/ear only, not behind the ear. It utilises 2-3 long looped sutures inserted under direct vision to tighten (plicate) the SMAS layer.
SMAS facelift: SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system, the tough fascia layer covering the outer muscles of the face). This facelift acts to cut out, tighten or plicate the tough fascial layer to reposition the tissues of the lower face and neck. Once the underlying tissues are lifted, the excess skin is trimmed.
Deep Plane facelift. This is a more modern facelift, designed to address the most sagging central tissues and works on deeper layers. It results in less bruising/swelling and a more natural upward curve of sagging tissues. The tough fibrous SMAS layer is still used to secure the facelift and again excess skin is trimmed
Skin only facelift- if the underlying fascia is tight, there may sometimes be a time and a place for a skin-only uncrumpling of the face and trimming of excess skin
Mini-facelift: This is more misnomer than fact but it refers to those requiring only minimal tightening around the lower face that can be achieved through a scar in front of the ear (not around the back) and does not, therefore, address the neck significantly. A mini-facelift is less invasive than other kinds of facelift surgery, allowing the surgeon to tighten loose skin through much smaller incisions, again cures and central facial creases will require filler or fat to rejuvenate appearance.
Liquid facelift - this was originally referred to as a non-surgical facial rejuvenation protocol that uses various types of filler to address wrinkles and lines. No surgery is required and excess, inelastic skin is not removed.
Fat transfer to the face The most facial rejuvenating process that Rozina can deliver is the use of fat transfer to the face. This includes milli and microfat for volumising droopy or hollow areas such as the cheeks and temple, nano fat to improve dermal quality and SVF injected and microneedled into the skin to regenerate tissues. Facial fat transfer can be used with any or all facelift procedures and also in those without excess skin, just a tired, older looking face or poor skin quality.

What to expect during the facelift recovery period?

A facelift is a complex procedure requiring meticulous attention to detail and exceptional surgical skill. It also requires realistic expectations and no far-fetched fantasies of looking like someone else after the procedure. Just a fresher version of yourself!

The recovery process is usually swift and smooth for most patients. The average recovery time is about 2 weeks following a traditional facelift. If drains are used (necklift) they are removed the morning after surgery. A facelift compression garment is supplied that can be applied and removed as required. About 2 days after surgery there will normally be some bruising and swelling, but this gradually resolves over 10-14 days in conjunction with a soft diet and sustained use of the facelift bandage. Do keep in mind that is especially important to wear sunscreen every day as you ease back into your daily routine.

In the hands of a skilled, FRCS (Plast) plastic surgeon, you don't have to leave your youthful good looks behind as you age. Rozina’s facial aesthetics practice is founded on accurate knowledge of facial anatomy and a keen understanding of the effects of ageing on separate components. Book a private consultation, talk with your surgeon and learn how you can counteract the effects of time and gravity and restore your naturally vibrant appearance.

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