No amount of diet, exercise or beauty products can stop the natural ageing process. Over time, the skin of the face and neck progressively lose its elasticity, combined with loss of fat in the mid face as well as the loss of support from the underlying facial skeleton, this leads to descent of the soft tissues. The cheeks become flatter, lines around the mouth deepen, the jawline loses definition with jowl formation and the skin on the neck falls into loose folds.

These changes are effectively and safely treated by modern facelift surgery techniques. So if you’re considering a facelift, ask yourself some of the following questions.

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you could benefit from a facelift. Unlike short-term solutions and remedies, a facelift can help you feel refreshed, leaving you younger looking than you have felt in years. We will help you achieve a natural look, without the ‘over pulled’ appearance, as you may have witnessed on other facelift surgery patients within the past.

Healthy women who are non-smokers are ideal candidates for this surgery. If you suffer from skin laxity around the jowls and neck, loss of facial definition or just feel you look tired, then a facelift can help remedy these concerns. The very first step will be confirming whether or not you’re a good candidate. After all, you need to be confident in your decision.

Depending on what you’re looking to achieve, some candidates are better suited than others. A comprehensive face and neck lift, for instance, is generally best for women in their 50’s to 70’s — while a mini facelift is ideal for women in their 40’s.

Modern facial rejuvenation techniques have come a long way, allowing patients to achieve a natural, youthful appearance with improved safety and longevity. How exactly this procedure will be performed, will be based on your individual needs. While some patients may only require a mid-face or neck lift, others may desire a comprehensive facelift procedure. Facelift surgery is performed under general anaesthesia in a fully accredited hospital with the assistance of a qualified anaesthetist. The operation will take anywhere from three to six hours, while you may be discharged the same day, an overnight stay is recommended.

WHAT IS THE SMAS?

The superficial muscular aponeurotic system, or SMAS, is a thin continuous layer of fibromuscular tissue that covers your face and neck. This tissue anchors the facial skin to the underlying skeleton and works with underlying facial muscles to create facial expressions.

The SMAS is the facial supportive tissue that is the key in tightening the underlying tissue for a long lasting, natural, ‘refreshed’ result – the hallmark of modern facelift surgery – not the skin tightened stigmata of years past. All modern facelift surgery techniques modify the SMAS layer by either elevating the SMAS – High SMAS, SMASectomy or tightening the SMAS – SMAS plication.

FACE & NECK LIFT SURGERY

This procedure is ideal for women in their 50’s to 70’s, seeking maximum correction — focusing on both the face and neck. Based on modern facelift techniques of elevating and tightening the underlying SMAS, with minimal tension on the overlying skin, allowing us to achieve longer-lasting, more natural-looking results.

A full face and neck lift begins with an incision within the temporal hair and extends along the natural contours of the ear and into the posterior hairline. A separate small incision is frequently made under the chin. Once the incisions are made, the skin and superficial fat is separated from the underlying SMAS and the neck platysma muscles.

The neck is lifted first, by suturing the platysma muscle together in the midline and then lifting the sides of the platysma muscle back to its natural position, recreating a youthful neck sling (platysmaplasty). Next, the SMAS is elevated by a high SMAS technique and the excess skin of the face and neck is trimmed and redraped under no tension to give the finest scar possible.

An integral component of modern facelift surgery is the combination of fat grafting or facial implants to give a volumetric facelift, restoring loose volume associated with facial ageing. This creates natural looking volume to your cheeks, lips, under eye areas, or anywhere else that needs extra volume.

MINI (SHORT-SCAR) FACELIFT

Ideal for women who are in their 40’s with early signs of facial ageing and minimal need for correction of the neck region. A short-scar facelift or S-Lift surgery uses a smaller incision, located in front of the ear and temporal hairline only. While a traditional facelift is still the most effective option for lifting and smoothing ageing skin, a short scar procedure creates an incredible result for younger patients.

A short scar facelift begins with an incision made at your temporal hairline and extended along the natural contour of your ear. Once these incisions are made, the skin and superficial fat is carefully separated from the underlying SMAS. Next, the SMAS is tightened by a SMAS plication technique and a small amount of the overlying cheek excess skin removed. You will have minimal visible scars, so you can still wear your hair ‘up’ after healing.
As with the traditional facelift surgery, a mini facelift often combines fat grafting to give a volumetric facelift to enhance the youthful contours of the cheeks and jowls. To address minor excess fat under the jawline (submental fat), we frequently add neck liposuction with a short-scar facelift.

MIDFACE LIFT

As you age, your cheeks sag and the lower eyelid becomes more elongated with prominent bulges. For some women with less prominent cheekbones, this may occur when they are in their 20’s to 30’s before other elements of facial ageing has occurred and can make you look older than you are.

A midface lift targets your lower eyelid, cheek (malar) and corner of your mouth to create a more youthful and natural look. It is ideal for younger patients, looking to enhance their midface to prevent premature facial ageing and desire a fuller cheek prominence.

A midface lift or concentric malar lift begins with an incision along the lower eyelid lash line extending into a lower eyelid crease (crows feet line). We often use a combination of cheek implants and fat grafting to improve the midface contours. This procedure has been specifically designed to keep scars minimal and help reduce potential complications.

NECK LIFT

Improving some of the most visible signs of ageing, a neck lift will not only remove excess fat, but also tighten loose, wrinkled skin to improve the neck and jawline. This procedure is rarely performed alone, and is generally performed in combination with a facelift as part of a comprehensive rejuvenation of the face and neck.

A neck lift procedure begins with a small incision made under your chin and another in front and behind your ears. Once the incisions are made, the skin is separated from the underlying neck muscle (platysma) and any excess fatty tissue is removed directly or with liposuction. The neck muscle is repaired and suspended back to its original youthful position. This lifting and tightening of the neck muscle restores its natural shape and function to support the neck skin tautly.

In those with a weak or receded chin, a chin implant can be placed to improve the chin projection to enhance facial symmetry and create a stronger jawline. After restoring the original look of your neck, the skin is then draped back over the new neck contour. Any excess skin is then removed and the area is closed with minimal tension, leaving a small, fine scar.

BROW LIFT

A Brow lift addresses deep wrinkles of the forehead, as well as dropping eyebrows which can lead to heavy eyelids. This is performed on women of all ages and helps create a natural boost and opens up your face for a more youthful look.

EYELID SURGERY

Also, known as blepharoplasty, this procedure eliminates excess skin folds and puffiness. This will help you look less tired, enhancing the benefit of any facelift procedure to make you look and feel years younger.

FACIAL IMPLANTS

Often elevating and tightening the underlying structure of the face and the overlying skin is not sufficient to completely restore the effects of facial aging. While in others they may have suffered with a weak cheek bone or jawline and would like this enhanced during a facelift procedure. Facial implants are a great way to create facial harmony and permanently enhance the cheeks, chin or jawline.

SKIN REJUVENATION

There are some incredible non-surgical options available, from laser resurfacing, medical grade skin care, to cosmetic injectables which not only enhance the results of any facelift procedure but boosts its longevity. We can create a comprehensive treatment plan that will make you look and feel your best.

Expect to wear an elastic support for two weeks or so, to minimise swelling and help maximise your new neck contour. Skin stitches are removed between five to seven days after surgery. At two weeks, swelling should have subsided considerably. Remember, it will be several months before the final result can be fully appreciated.

The sensation of numbness and tightness subsides with healing. Any discomfort can usually be controlled with medication.

We will discuss your recovery in detail at your second consultation. After assessment of any individual health risks, such as high blood pressure and personal scarring tendencies, you will be given a tailored recovery treatment plan to follow after surgery.