Facelift 
 

The Operation


Day of Facelift Surgery

Important factors to be fully aware of before a facelift operation are:

1. Driving
Do not drive home after a facelift operation because it is against the law to drive within 24 hours of a general anaesthetic. You will need to arrange for transport to take you to and from the hospital.

2. Eating & Drinking
Abstain from all food and drink (including sweets and water) for at least 8 hours before your facelift operation.

3. Body Jewellery
Ensure all body piercings and jewellery are removed before you leave home.
You will need to bring with you:

• All necessary personal items for a short hospital stay (e.g. dressing gown, slippers, toothbrush, etc).
• All medications that you are currently taking including any/all alternative medicine/preparations/tablets/capsules.

When you arrive at the hospital you will be met by the admitting officer who will confirm your personal details (e.g. name, address, next of kin, etc) before escorting you to your room. 
Once you have changed into an operating gown, you will then be required to complete a questionnaire to ascertain your current medical status.

A nurse will then complete final routine preoperative checks measuring your temperature, blood pressure and heart rate. Patients over 40 years of age will have an ECG (electrocardiogram) which monitors your heart and evaluates your fitness for surgery. Any medication/s you are currently taking must be given to the nurse.

The operating surgeon will then see you to answer any final questions/queries you may have about the facelift procedure before taking preoperative photographs of your face and making the necessary skin markings.

Finally, the anaesthetist will see you to complete the final checks before he administers the general anaesthetic. You will then be taken into the operating theatre for your facelift operation

The Facelift Operation

A facelift operation usually takes between two and three hours to complete and is performed under general anaesthetic although some patients prefer to have local anaesthetic with sedation (twilight anaesthetic).

Before any incisions are made the surgeon will inject local anaesthetic and adrenaline solution beneath the skin. This decreases bleeding, and therefore bruising afterwards, and hence reduces postoperative discomfort.

The incision begins in the temple behind the hairline, curves downwards to the top of the ear and then follows the crease in front of the ear. It then proceeds underneath the earlobe and turns upwards in the groove behind the ear to finally extend horizontally inside the hairline towards the back of the head.

The skin of the face and neck is gently lifted from the underlying deeper tissues to free it and allow it to be stretched and pulled upwards.  Any excess fat in the neck that causes a double chin is removed by liposuction. The superficial muscles of the lower two thirds of the face and neck are tightened to produce a rejuvenation of the jaw line, cheek and mid- face.

Once the lifted skin is suitably pulled and stretched upwards, the excess is trimmed and the skin edges are then stitched or stapled appropriately to give the rejuvenated look.

Prior to closure of the incisions, drains (thin plastic tubes with small holes) are duly positioned under the skin flaps to suck out any secretions of blood or serum which can otherwise collect under the skin. The purpose of these drains is to reduce bruising and facilitate healing.

Finally, dressings are applied over the incision lines and the face is bandaged.


To find out more about Facelift Surgery, click on any of the links below:

Facelift - Before The Operation
Facelift - After The Operation
Facelift FAQs
Facelift Gallery

or

Click here to download London Cosmetic Surgery Centre's "Guide to The Facelift"


Further Information about Facelift Surgery can be obtained by reading our senior surgeon's latest book "Every Woman's Guide to Cosmetic Surgery". If you would like to purchase a copy, please click here.