Cosmetic Facelift Surgery
Considering Facelift Plastic Surgery
Cosmetic facelift surgery in Glasgow by Elanic is used to counter the ageing effects on the face. With age skin tends to become slack and prone to the effects of gravity. Lines appear on the face, grooves on the cheeks and folds on the neck. A facelift can improve all these problems by setting back the clock and giving a more youthful appearance.
Would a facelift be good for me?
If you look back at a photo taken a decade or so ago and notice that your face has started to sag and your neck has lost definition then a facelift may be the best procedure for you to regain a more youthful appearance.
Traditionally patients tended to be between the ages of 40 to 60 but older patients frequently benefit and there are newer techniques that can help even younger patients.
What type of facelift do I need?
All people differ in the way they age. Some have more pronounced cheek folds, others obvious jowls and some lots of loose skin on their necks. Different types of facelift can be used to combat different problems. By examining you and discussing your desires from the procedure we will discuss with you the options and plan an individualised treatment for you.
The more traditional type of facelift leaves a long scar behind the ear but is very good at improving neck skin. Newer techniques use shorter scars but are not suitable for all patients. Only following a consultation and also considering factors such as your general health and whether you smoke or not, can a plan be made for you.
Is a Facelift all I will need?
Quite often other procedures are required to give the best results following a facelift. A facelift may highlight other areas of your face, such as your eyelid bags or droopy eyebrows which were not so obvious prior to your facelift. In many cases correcting the eyebrows and eyelids, as well as the face, means that the improvements are much better balanced.
We may also often advise a facial peel or laser treatment around the mouth to give a more youthful skin texture, removing fine lines, red marks and age spots.
What are the risks from carrying out cosmetic Facelift surgery?
Facelifts carry a very low risk of complications. However, rarely complications can occur such as blood clots under the skin, skin healing problems and nerve damage. Choosing a surgeon who is fully trained and accredited should reassure you that your operation will be carried out with the greatest care and attention. Our lead surgeon Vivek currently undertakes all the plastic surgery himself and will not allow a trainee to undertake any part of the operation.
Smoking increases your chances of complications, though by stopping for six weeks before and after your operation you can greatly reduce the risk of having a problem. You would, however, still be considered for a facelift if you smoked, but only if you understand that the risks are increased: we may recommend less involved surgery in patients who smoke.
The Facelift Surgery
A facelift usually takes several hours-or somewhat longer if you're having more than one procedure done.
An incision is used in front of the ear and the skin lifted off the face. The underlying SMAS tissue layer is then tightened to lift the sagging face and the skin redraped in its new position. The skin is the stitched in place to leave a scar hidden in the fold in front of the ear.
If you also require work on you neck a second small incision is placed under the chin and fat can be removed, sometimes with liposuction, and the muscle tightened.
After your Facelift Surgery
In most cases you will have a small drain behind your ear which is removed the day after surgery, and you are allowed home. It is common to have a little swelling and bruising after the surgery: this tends to settle after a few days. The skin on your cheek and neck will be numb for a few weeks or months, which is normal. Pain does not tend to be severe after a facelift and you will be given ample medication to combat any pain you may feel, with regular check ups to help you through the recovery phase.
Results after Facelift Surgery
For the first few weeks after your facelift you will feel your face is tight. By three weeks you should be able to go back to a non physical job. You will notice that your face slackens slightly around six weeks and your face will feel more normal. As this stage you can resume exercise and swimming. Your scars will be hidden either at your hair line or along the edge of your ear. The scars will be red initially but will fade over the first year, and can be disguised with make-up whilst they fade.
Having a facelift sets back the ageing clock, however, it does still continue to tick! The benefits of a facelift will continue for years, but in the future you may want to consider repeating the process.
Vivek's Philosophy
"At the Consultation I like to understand what the patient is trying to achieve from their facelift and match this with the type of lift I perform. After examining the patient I will be able to tell which areas need the most correcting and in which direction the 'age drop' has occurred. This then allows me to recommend either a MACS type lift using stitches, a SMASectomy through a short scar or a full SMASectomy and neck lift. Also some patients may want corrections to areas that don't usually respond to a facelift and may need other procedures such as fat grafting, botox or eyelid surgery. By combining procedures it is often possible to get the best overall rejuvenation."