Facelift

When is a facelift warranted?

From the early 40s it can be shown that the facial skin can be pulled back for the younger, more youthful and firmer facial features to reappear. If the difference is visible, or deep wrinkles have become aesthetically distracting to you, perhaps reducing self-confidence and self-esteem, you may want to turn to a plastic surgeon who, by removing excess skin and restoring facial muscles, can recover your facial features. There is no need to worry about scars as they remain completely hidden. The result of a facelift lasts a long time, but its durability depends on individual attributes.

What happens at the first consultation?

During your personal consultation, our plastic surgeon will examine you and introduce you to the applicable techniques and, based on their references, show you what your expected best outcome will be if you decide to have a facelift. You will also be informed about the corrections the surgeon suggests to you, as there are several types of facelift interventions. Exactly which method is needed varies from individual to individual, depending on the structure and condition of the skin, your age and also the problem to be solved.

Preparing for surgery

As with all surgeries, you will need to have a full examination before a facelift, which includes laboratory tests and if necessary, other tests (e.g., ECG and x-ray). In our private hospital we perform all the necessary tests at the same time to save you time and make your preparations for surgery more convenient. You will then receive some lifestyle tips to help you prepare for surgery and to speed up your recovery. These include quitting smoking - at least temporarily - as nicotine slows the healing processes, consuming adequate amounts of fluids, vitamins and trace elements (vitamin C, selenium, zinc) and avoiding the use of aspirin, ginkgo biloba and other natural remedies, because these affect blood clotting.

What happens during surgery?

Since the facelift surgery’s chosen technique depends on the patient's age, skin condition, and the depth of their wrinkles, we can generally say that between the ages of 35-55 we only use a ’mini facelift’ for the mid-face area called a MACS Lift, and over the age of 55, a full face and neck plastic surgery will probably be needed. During the MACS Lift, the plastic surgeon makes the incisions in front of the ear and on the temples, then corrects the sagged soft tissues, adjusting the lax facial muscles as well.
For a complete facelift, an incision is made not only in front of the ear but behind it, as well as along the side in the scalp. The muscles of the middle half of the face are then repositioned and fixed and the excess skin removed. This procedure can also be combined with eyelid surgery and the filling of wrinkles. The procedure under anesthesia - in the case of complete facelift - takes a minimum of 3 hours, or if combined with eyelid surgery, 4 hours. Our plastic surgeon uses only absorbable sutures throughout, sparing you the inconvenience of a later suture removal.

Recovery, regeneration

After facelift surgery, you will need to spend a day in our private hospital, where you can relax in pleasant and comfortable surroundings. You will need to wear the special compression dressing for the next seven days. During the first two weeks, it is important to avoid all strenuous physical activity, then you can gradually resume your previous rhythm of life, and after three weeks light exercise is allowed. Neither the solarium, sunbathing nor the sauna are allowed for two months. The visible scars heal in approximately 6 months, those under the skin within about 2 years. Although we try to filter out all risk factors during preoperative facelift examinations, unforeseen complications can occur. At the first consultation your plastic surgeon will inform you about these and how to avoid them.