Face Lift / Neck Lift
A facelift is designed to give you a fresher look and to improve the appearance of your neck and jawline.
A facelift helps to address the effects of ageing on the neck and lower face. It involves tightening and removal of loose skin from the neck and cheek areas while also tightening the muscles underneath. There are different ways of performing facelift surgery and the method chosen depends on the pattern of ageing.
Facelift overview
Facelift surgery/ Neck lift
TYPE OF ANAESTHETIC
General or Local with Sedation
LENGTH OF SURGERY
2-3 hours (longer when combined with other procedures)
HOSPITAL STAY
1 night
RECOVERY
2 weeks off work, 6-8 weeks before strenuous exercise
Procedures
Short scar or mini facelift
Short scar or mini facelift
You may be suitable for this type of facelift if your main concern is your jawline and you do not have much loose skin affecting your neck. It is crucial that you understand that a “mini facelift” still leaves scars in the visible areas in front of the ears. Correctly performed surgery will leave these scars well hidden.
Neck lift alone
Neck lift alone
A neck lift can be performed in isolation to deal with loose neck skin. A pure neck lift will not, however, deal with jowls and therefore few patients are suitable for this. Additionally, a neck lift on its own may leave some loose skin around the earlobes and for this reason, it is usually performed as part of a lower face/ neck lift. In younger patients, a neck lift can be carried out using liposuction rather than surgery.
Other procedures
Other procedures
A facelift is often combined with other procedures depending on your needs. These procedures include liposuction to the neck, fat transfer to the cheeks (to give fullness to the cheeks), lower and upper eyelid surgery and a brow lift to address ageing to the upper part of the face. Laser resurfacing can also be carried out at the same time to treat fine wrinkles/ sun spots.
What to expect
General
General
You will be up and about the day after your surgery, but it will be a few weeks before you are entirely up to speed.
Your mood may fluctuate after surgery – this is normal.
Discomfort/ Pain
Discomfort/ Pain
Pain after surgery is not usually an issue for most patients.
You are likely to feel a sensation of tightness, especially when turning your head.
Bruising/ swelling
Bruising/ swelling
After surgery, particularly during the first few days, your face will feel puffy.
Most swelling and bruising should disappear within two weeks. Some subtle swelling and bruising can remain for a couple of months.
Appearance
Appearance
Your scars may feel tight and itchy as the healing process progresses. It may take several months for the scars behind the ears and the hairline to settle down. The scars in front of the ears usually heal quicker.
What are the risks?
Bleeding
Bleeding
Less than 5% risk and may require a return to theatre to stop any bleeding and relieve any pressure on the skin.
Bruising
Bruising
To be expected and varies between patients. Usually resolved by ten days
Unfavourable scarring
Unfavourable scarring
It is not unusual for the scars in the hairline to stretch a little as most of the tension when pulling the skin is concentrated in these areas. The visible scars in front of the ears usually settle very well and in most patients are inconspicuous.
Nerve damage
Nerve damage
There is a risk of damaging the facial nerve which is responsible for the movement of the face. If permanent this is a serious complication, but the risk of this happening has been reported as being under 1%. Such an injury can result in weakness of the facial muscles of expression.
Numbness
Numbness
Patches of numbness are typical initially and tend to recover with time. Very rarely there is a risk of numbness to the lower part of the ear.
Delayed healing and skin loss
Delayed healing and skin loss
This can occur secondary to bleeding or if too much pull is placed on the skin when closing the wounds.
Revision surgery
Revision surgery
A small number of patients may require revision surgery to deal with complications or unsatisfactory cosmetic outcomes.
Asymmetry
Asymmetry
Minor degrees of facial asymmetry are often present before surgery and are likely to persist after surgery.
Facelift surgery – I found a great surgeon!
Having never forayed into the world of cosmetic surgery, I feel I was very fortunate to find Mr Quaba.
Murrayfield Hospital supplied me with a list of surgeons upon my initial query regarding a neck/lower facelift and I looked through each of their profiles and kept coming back to the Quaba practice.
From my first consultation, Mr Quaba put me at ease and gave me very realistic expectations of the outcome if I chose to go for surgery. He explained all the risks involved and confirmed everything we discussed in writing, which gave me the time and the opportunity to fully consider if this was the right choice for me.
I went ahead with the neck and lower facelift a few months later and felt completely safe in Mr Quaba’s hands. He has an excellent gentle manner. I also love the fact that he and his father work together. I would highly recommend his services to anyone.
I am so glad I opted for my surgery and am very happy with the results.
ShirleyMcN
