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Need a lift?
Face and neck lift surgery has come a long way in recent years. But it’s important you understand both procedures before making any decisions.
With age comes a loss of volume in the cheeks and a general descent of facial tissues. The external signs of this are hollows below the cheek bones, jowls, a chin that drops, a loss of the chin to neck angle and banding in the neck. Fatty tissue may accumulate in the neck adding to the loss of angles.
The first facelifts were a skin only excision that improved skin for a short while before recurring, as skin can stretch very easily (think of pregnancy). However, more recent and longer lasting techniques move and tighten the structural layers below the skin. There is a strong fibrous sheet that, when repositioned, allows the skin to be redraped over the repositioned face and excess skin is removed. Less tension on the skin also reduces the likelihood od stretched scars.
There are many techniques that are tailored to the individual to optimize the outcome and degree of lift. There are newer, limited access techniques that rely on stitches or sutures to lift and hold these structural layers.
Incisions run from the hairline, down in front of the ears, around the ear lobes, into the fold behind the ears and then across to the hairline. An additional incision, hidden under the chin allows neck correction.
Neck lift surgery involves removing excess fat, repositioning and tightening the neck muscles and removing excess skin. Near the earlobes, the neck lift and face lift surgery overlaps.
Most surgeons will need two consultations to fully explain the surgery, assess a medical history, carefully complete an examination and plan the surgery. This also allows plenty of time for questions and to fully understand the procedure, outcomes and possible complications. It is important to see before and after photographs, both early and late. And close up pictures of scars.
All surgery includes the risks of bleeding, bruising, swelling, scars, infection and is painful. Particular to facelift surgery is numbness of the skin flaps near the ears but it may also extend to the scalp. This is usually temporary, but may take 12 months to resolve. Earlobes and the hairline may be altered. Lumps under the skin and delayed healing can occur. A rare complication is damage to the facial nerve, which is a nerve that moves facial muscles. Despite this long list, the surgery is usually very well tolerated with good outcomes.
Face and neck lift surgery does no address the horizontal neck lines, lines around the mouth and the lines above and below the corners of the mouth. Additional procedures are needed for these and are often performed at the same time.
Surgery is usually performed with a combination of local anaesthetic and sedation or general anaesthetic. The local anaesthetic contains adrenaline which limits bleeding and bruising, reduces the requirement for sedation or general anaesthetic and reduces waking pain.
Before the surgery stop smoking. Most surgeons will no operate if you are smoking and this incluses nicotine patches. Nicotine causes small blood vessels to shut down, which interferes with healing. Aspirin containing medications and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories can increase the risk of bleeding and bruising.
After surgery each surgeon will have their own care plan. This includes dressings, scar management, face washes, return to work or exercise, driving and appointment schedules. This will be carefully explained during the consultation and with each follow up appointment.
This is meant to serve as an introduction to face and neck lift surgery. Always choose your Plastic Surgeon carefully, making sure they are Members of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons and have full surgical training. This is guaranteed by being Fellows of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons (the only organization recognized for training surgeons) and having letters FRACS after their names.