A meloplasty (facelift) aims to reduce the signs of ageing by focusing on the contours and proportions of the face and neck.
Combining the latest advances in facial techniques and modern understanding of facial anatomy and its contribution to facial ageing we can offer our patients optimal results with improved safety and the least downtime available.
General Anaesthesia
Overnight stay
4 hours
Most patients are back to work in approximately 3-4 weeks when swelling and bruising resolves. We advise our patients to avoid strenuous activity for 6 weeks.
Final results are seen within 3 months and the duration of those results vary from one person to another due to the quality of their skin, ageing and weight changes, but typically expect results to last 10 years.
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 meloplasty (facelift) surgery techniques. So, if you’re considering a meloplasty (facelift), ask yourself some of the following questions.
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you could benefit from a meloplasty (facelift). Unlike short-term solutions and remedies, a facelift can help achieve longer-lasting results. We will help you achieve results, without the ‘over pulled’ appearance, as you may have witnessed on other meloplasty (facelift) surgery patients in the past.
Making this decision is a major step, so we want you to feel comfortable about your decision. If you are interested in a meloplasty (facelift), but wondering whether or not you’re a good candidate, then here’s what you need to know.
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 meloplasty (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 comfortable in your decision.
Depending on what you’re looking to achieve, some candidates are better suited than others. A comprehensive meloplasty (facelift) and rhytidectomy (neck lift), for instance, is generally best for women in their 50s to 70s — while a mini meloplasty (facelift) is ideal for women in their 40s.
Modern facial techniques have come a long way, allowing patients to achieve optimal results 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 rhytidectomy (neck lift), others may desire a comprehensive meloplasty (facelift) procedure. Meloplasty (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.
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 an optimal 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.
This procedure is ideal for women in their 50s to 70s, seeking maximum correction — focusing on both the face and neck. Based on modern meloplasty (facelift) techniques of elevating and tightening the underlying SMAS, with minimal tension on the overlying skin, allowing us to achieve optimal results.
A full meloplasty (facelift) and rhytidectomy (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 meloplasty (facelift), restoring loose volume associated with facial ageing. This creates volume to your cheeks, lips, under eye areas, or anywhere else that require extra volume.
Ideal for women who are in their 40s with early signs of facial ageing and minimal need for adjustment 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 provides optimal result for younger patients.
A short scar meloplasty (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 meloplasty (facelift) surgery, a mini meloplasty (facelift) often combines fat grafting to give a volumetric meloplasty (facelift) to enhance the 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 meloplasty (facelift).
As you age, your cheeks lose volume 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 20s to 30s before other elements of facial ageing have occurred.
A mid-meloplasty (facelift) targets your lower eyelid, cheek (malar) and corner of your mouth. It is an option for younger patients, looking to prevent premature facial ageing and desire a fuller cheek prominence.
A mid-meloplasty (facelift) or concentric malar lift begins with an incision along the lower eyelid lash line extending into a lower eyelid crease (crow’s 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.
Improving some of the most visible signs of ageing, a rhytidectomy (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 with a meloplasty (facelift) as part of a comprehensive focus of the face and neck.
A rhytidectomy (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 adjusts 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 adjusting the 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.
A browplasty (brow lift) addresses deep wrinkles of the forehead, as well as loosening eyebrows which can lead to heavy eyelids. This is performed on women of all ages.
Also, known as blepharoplasty, this procedure eliminates excess skin folds and puffiness.
Often elevating and tightening the underlying structure of the face and the overlying skin is not sufficient to completely adjust the effects ageing. While in others they may have suffered with a weak cheek bone or jawline and would like this focused on during a facelift procedure. Facial implants are a great way to permanently adjust the cheeks, chin or jawline.
There are a comprehensive suite of non-surgical options available, from laser resurfacing, medical grade skin care, to cosmetic injectables which may aid the results of a meloplasty (facelift) procedure and its longevity. We can create a comprehensive and personalised treatment plan.
Our recommendation after a meloplasty (facelift) is to relax for two weeks to ensure optimum healing. Most people can resume normal routines after this time. Recovery is generally rapid; with dressings ‘debulked’ the next day after surgery and any drains are removed.
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.
As with any surgery, it is important that you are fully informed of the potential risks associated with meloplasty (facelift) surgery. While all care is taken to minimise these complications, they may and do occur despite the best medical care.
It is important that you carefully read and understand the potential risks and they will be discussed in further detail when you have your consultation with your surgeon.
Some risks are more likely to occur than others:
If you’re considering a meloplasty (facelift) procedure, the very first step will be to meet with our surgeons for a personal one on one consultation at one of his Sydney clinics. For many patients, we understand that this is a major decision, so we want to make the entire process as supportive as possible. We’re here to explain each procedure in detail, in the lead up to your final decision.
To begin, our surgeons will help you determine what procedure would be best, based on a number of key factors. Of course, every patient is unique, not only in terms of their skin and facial structure, but also their expectations. Our surgeons will guide you, discussing the options available from non-surgical techniques to improve your facial appearance, to mini-meloplasty (facelift) techniques through to full-meloplasty (facelift) for the maximum benefit so that you can achieve optimal, realistic results.
Your surgeon and our team will:
There are a wide range of non-surgical skin procedures that can help you navigate the ageing process with regular treatment. Non-surgical techniques include cosmetic injections, laser rejuvenation, skin tightening devices and medical grade skin care. When performed regularly, they can assist, however if you have moderate ageing they only have limited success and short term benefits. If you are trying to reduce, loss of facial volume, and other significant aspects of skin ageing, then you may benefit from a meloplasty (facelift).
To maximise results and support the healing process, your surgeon will advise you if any special treatments are required prior to surgery. This will be covered in your initial consultation. It’s critical that your medical status is maximised, so that you can recover as quickly and effectively as possible.
Some of the factors that we may cover, include:
When performing a meloplasty (facelift), the mid and lower portion of your face, including your cheeks and jowls, as well as the neck will be corrected. If you would like to enhance the upper portion of your face, including your forehead, eyes and brows, then additional procedures will need to be performed.
The mid and lower portion of the face including the cheeks and jowls, as well as the neck are what a traditional meloplasty (facelift) surgery corrects. A meloplasty (facelift) will not enhance the upper portion of the face, such as the eyes, eyebrows or forehead, unless a browplasty (brow lift) or blepharoplasty is performed. The surgery cannot rid wrinkles around the mouth and will not do much for the smile lines.
There is no defined age that is best to undergo meloplasty (facelift) surgery – we all age differently according to our genetics and environmental experiences such as sun exposure, skin care and smoking. A meloplasty (facelift) can be performed from early 40s to late 70s. Benefits usually last longer when a meloplasty (facelift) is performed on a younger person who still has good skin elasticity.
Due to the natural ageing process and the effects of gravity facial ageing will unfortunately continue. With that being said, your face will always look younger than it did if you had never had a meloplasty (facelift) done. Overall, this procedure tends to reset the clock, leading to a 10+ year advantage over individuals of the same age. If, over time, you would like an additional meloplasty (facelift), it is generally not as comprehensive as the initial surgery.
There is no characteristic look of a meloplasty (facelift). Modern procedures are undetectable. The procedure simply adjusts your look and no one will be able to tell you’ve had anything done.
Fat transfer is an integral component of any meloplasty (facelift) surgery, to give optimal results to the face. The concept of the volumetric meloplasty (facelift), combines the benefit of restoring facial volume associated with ageing with fat injections combined with lifting and tightening the deeper facial structures with a SMAS facelift procedure. There are very few patients that don’t benefit from the addition of fat grafting as part of a meloplasty (facelift) procedure.
The incisions used during a meloplasty (facelift), will depend on the procedure and the technique used. For instance, the incisions made for a traditional meloplasty (facelift) will differ from a short-scar meloplasty (facelift) or mid-meloplasty (facelift). With incisions made in natural borders, hairlines, and folds, once fully healed, they will be barely noticeable. At first, they may be pink and slightly raised, but within the first few months, they will begin to quickly fade.
Once you leave the hospital, a follow-up appointment will be made within the first seven days. At this time, your surgeon will assess your wounds and remove stitches. After this step is completed, it’s recommended that you commence topical silicone ointment along the incision line. Overall, most patients look presentable after the first two weeks. The full healing time for soft tissue and skin will be around six months. Although scaring may be red and itchy at first, within the first few months, they’ll begin to lighten. After one to two years, they will soften and be barely noticeable.
Most patients can return to work after two weeks following surgery. Within the first three days, you’ll likely experience swelling, which then settles after approximately one week. Overall, the healing process is rapid, and you will be able to return to your regular routine within two to three weeks. At two weeks, for instance, you can generally begin to perform light exercise, gently increasing activity levels over six weeks.
Yes, in most cases. Drains are used to gather excessive fluid after a meloplasty (facelift) procedure. Your drain will be removed the day after your procedure. If you’re having a short scar meloplasty (facelift) in a limited area, you might not need a drain. Your surgeon will advise you before the procedure so you know exactly what to expect.
During your consultation with your surgeon, we evaluate which incision placement is best suited for you. If you require a large amount of skin removal then an incision placed along the hairline will minimise any hairline shifts which are an unfortunate stigma of having a poorly executed meloplasty (facelift) surgery.
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