Facelift | Neck Lift | Brow Lift
(Rhytidectomy, Meloplasty, Platysmaplasty)Understanding face and neck lifts
The facelift is a surgical procedure developed to address the changes that occur in the face as we age.
Early facelift techniques attempted to create ‘lift’ by pulling on the skin in isolation of other tissue structures. Unsurprisingly, excessive and unnatural skin tension often occurred resulting in a wind-swept appearance that looked unnatural.
Advances in facelift techniques have now led to significant improvements in aesthetic outcomes. The deep plane facelift, performed by Dr Cleland, mobilises and tightens a layer of tissue beneath the skin known as the SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system). When this layer of tissue is tightened, the skin moves with it, without transferring any tension to the surface of the skin. This means post-operatively that the skin does not look pulled, stretched or artificial.
A neck lift is often performed at the same time as a facelift but can also be performed in isolation for select patients. As we age the muscles of the neck can become loose beneath the skin. Platysmal bands are a common complaint and appear as prominent vertical lines in the midline of the neck. To correct this, the muscle (platysma) beneath the skin can be retightened as part of the neck lift procedure.
Brow and Forehead Ageing
The eyebrow and forehead play an important role in communicating emotion to those around us through facial expression. An appreciation of brow position and its effect on the facial aesthetic is, therefore, an important part of the facial analysis. The brow may become heavy with ageing (brow ptosis) and the changes in brow position which occur with ageing should be considered in all patients seeking facial plastic surgery, particularly those undergoing upper eyelid surgery. Here the concurrent management of the brow and upper lid may be necessary to maximise the cosmetic results.
Forehead & Brow Lift – Types of Surgery
Brow and/or forehead surgery can be performed with a variety of techniques all of which have a role in certain circumstances:
1) Direct brow lift – the incision is placed just above eyebrow
2) Midforehead lift – incisions placed in naturally occurring forehead skin creases
3) Trichophytic forehead lift – incision at the hairline
4) Coronal forehead lift – incision placed further back behind the hairline
An endoscope (video camera) is also often utilised in brow lift surgery to allow for smaller incisions and clearer visualisation of the important anatomy in this region.
How these techniques are deployed in female and male patients varies. In addition to adjustments to the height of the brow, changes made to the contour of the eyebrow must also be carefully controlled. Dr Cleland employs techniques which improve the tone of the forehead skin whilst only causing subtle changes in brow position.
FACELIFT & NECKLIFT FAQs
WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO HAVE A FACELIFT?
The progression of facial ageing takes place differently for each of us. Natural ageing can be compounded by environmental factors, including sun damage and smoking. Our facelift patients are typically aged between 40 – 75 years old.
Patients with less advanced ageing will typically see more subtle results whilst those with advanced facial ageing will feel that the changes are more dramatic.
WHO IS THE IDEAL CANDIDATE FOR FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY?
The ideal facelift candidate is an adult man or woman who has visible signs of ageing (eg. facial skin laxity or redundant skin in the neck). The ideal candidate should also be a non-smoker with a stable weight. Patients should also have a positive outlook and realistic expectations from the surgery.
HOW LONG WILL THE PROCEDURE TAKE?
Every surgery is different. The average face and neck lift surgery will take between 4-6 hours. A brow lift can take anywhere between 1-3 hours. Your individual surgery time is based upon the type of work that you are having done and may be longer if additional procedures are performed at the same time.
WHAT ANESTHESIA IS USED FOR SURGERY?
Surgery may be performed under general anaesthesia. Dr Cleland will discuss your options with you.
WILL I NEED A HOSPITAL STAY?
Most patients will stay in hospital overnight.
WHAT TYPE OF INCISIONS AND SCARS WILL I HAVE?
Facelift incisions are placed at or behind the hairline and are hidden in the natural folds around the ear. Once scars are healed and fully matured they are difficult to see. Patients can also optimise the healing of their scars by following postoperative wound care instructions.
Depending on the brow lift technique used, the incisions are placed either above the eyebrow, in forehead skin creases, at the hairline or behind the hairline.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER SURGERY?
You will leave the hospital with a facial compression garment (provided at your pre-op clinic appointment) which Dr Cleland or the nurses will teach you how to use while at the hospital. You will also leave with any medication that is prescribed to you. You can expect to feel some tightness and discomfort. Pain medication and ice packs can help to manage the discomfort felt. You may feel fatigue after surgery and should listen to your body when it’s time to rest.
AVERAGE RECOVERY TIME
Patients typically return to work after 2 weeks. Patients can resume light activity after 2 weeks and return to normal activities after 4 weeks.
WHEN ARE RESULTS NOTICEABLE?
After surgery, there is typically mild bruising and swelling in the face and neck. Some changes are apparent immediately but as the swelling subsides over the first 2 weeks your final results will begin to emerge. More subtle changes will occur for up to 3 months and patients will continue to see their new refreshed face emerge during this time.
WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS I COULD FACE?
Even with a highly skilled surgeon, there is always the risk for complications with any type of surgical procedure. The below risks are rare and are listed to inform you, not scare you. During a consultation Dr Cleland will discuss your medical history, current health status/medications and the surgical risks in general and also specific to you. It is then your decision to weigh up the risk vs benefit of proceeding with surgery.
General risks relating to surgery and anaesthesia are: Infection, bleeding that may require a return to the operating room, lung collapse, heart attack or stroke, blood clot, pain, scarring, prolonged healing, further surgery, death.
Specific risks relating to facelift, neck lift and brow lift surgery are: Unfavourable scarring, keloid formation, dry eyes, turning-out of the lower eyelid, eye injury, ear changes (position), hairline changes and hair loss, numbness/altered sensation of head and face, motor nerve and sensory nerve injury, changes in skin colour, prolonged skin redness, skin death, asymmetry.
WHAT KIND OF POST-OP FOLLOW-UP WILL I NEED?
The needs of each patient can vary. Typically speaking, we will see you at 1 week, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months, or as needed if there are any concerns.
quick enquiry
Fill in the form below and someone will contact you shortly to answer your questions.