Ultimate Guide to Facelift Surgery

What Procedures can be combined with a Facelift?

When considering a facelift, it’s essential to understand that the term can sometimes be a bit misleading. A facelift usually addresses the lower two-thirds of the face, concentrating on the cheeks and jowls, rather than the entire face. This is because the forehead, brow, and eyelids have distinct anatomical features that require different surgical techniques. To enhance the results of a facelift and to achieve a more comprehensive facial rejuvenation, patients often combine the facelift with additional procedures:

Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)

If you’re noticing that your eyelids are drooping, which not only makes you look tired but may also impede your vision, eyelid surgery could be beneficial. This procedure involves removing excess skin and can lift the eyelids, contributing to a more alert and youthful look. The incisions are usually hidden within the natural fold of the upper eyelids, making any scarring less noticeable.

Brow Lift

For those who find their eyebrows sagging or looking droopy, a brow lift can make a significant difference. Since the brow and temples are closely linked, elevating the brow can also reduce wrinkles in the temple area. During a brow lift, the surgeon typically makes an incision along the hairline, then lifts the skin and muscles, raising the brow’s position and smoothing the skin around the brows and forehead.

Neck Lift

Addressing the neck can be just as important as the face for a harmonious rejuvenated appearance. A neck lift removes excess skin and fat, defining the jawline and improving the contour between the face and neck. This procedure is especially useful for those looking to achieve a more defined profile and a smoother transition from their face to their neck.

Chin and Neck Liposuction

Ageing doesn’t limit its effects to the face; it also impacts the neck and jawline. Over time, excess fat can accumulate around the jaw, leading to a less defined appearance. Chin & neck liposuction in this area can help in sculpting a more defined jawline by removing this excess fat, resulting in a more youthful and contoured profile.

When these additional procedures are performed in conjunction with a facelift, it’s called a combined or comprehensive facial rejuvenation procedure. This multi-procedure approach allows the surgeon to create a balanced and natural-looking outcome, where the improvements to the facial features complement each other.

How Much Is a Facelift in London?

The cost of a facelift in London can indeed vary widely, influenced by the extent of the procedure, the surgeon’s experience, and the specific goals of the treatment. Facelift prices can range from approximately £8,000 to £20,000. In a city like London, with its high demand and concentration of top-tier plastic surgeons, prices may be on the higher end of this spectrum.

It’s crucial to consider the total cost, which includes not just the surgical fees but also ancillary expenses such as:

• Facility fees for the operating room or surgical centre
• Anaesthesia fees
• Post-operative care, which may include dressings, medications, and follow-up visits
• Any required medical tests or imaging pre-surgery

Given that the full cost of the surgery encompasses these various elements, during your consultation, it is advisable to request a comprehensive breakdown of all the costs involved. This will ensure that you have a clear understanding of the financial commitment required for the facelift surgery. Additionally, you should inquire about any available financing options or payment plans that can help manage the expense of the procedure.

When is the best time to get a Facelift?

Deciding on the optimal time for a facelift is a personal decision that varies widely among individuals. The right time is often when you begin to notice signs of ageing that are bothersome to you and you are healthy enough to undergo surgery. There is no specific age that is considered ideal since the ageing process is influenced by genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors.

RELATED: What is the Best Age for a Facelift?

Here are some considerations for determining the right time for a facelift:

Early Signs of Aging: For some individuals, addressing the early signs of ageing with less invasive treatments can be beneficial. Non-surgical procedures like fillers, anti wrinkle injections, or laser treatments might be the first steps. These can help to refresh the appearance and may postpone the need for a surgical facelift.

Mild to Moderate Sagging: If you notice mild to moderate sagging, especially in the lower face and neck, a facelift could be appropriate to correct these changes and restore a more youthful contour.

Overall Health: Good candidates for facelift surgery are generally healthy, without medical conditions that impair healing. It’s important to have realistic expectations and to undergo surgery for personal reasons, not pressure from others.

Psychological Readiness: Being mentally prepared for the surgery and the recovery process is crucial. Understanding the implications, having realistic expectations, and being ready for the change in your appearance is important.

Lifestyle Considerations: You should be able to take the necessary time off from work and other activities to recover. It’s also helpful to have a support system in place for your post-operative care.

Consultation with a Plastic Surgeon: Meeting with a plastic surgeon is the best way to determine if it’s the right time for a facelift. They can assess your skin’s quality, the degree of ageing, and your overall health to advise you on the best timing and approach for your facelift.

A Comprehensive Guide to Non-Surgical Facelift Alternatives in the UK

Are you contemplating enhancing your facial aesthetics yet hesitant to undergo surgical interventions? Fortunately, non-surgical cosmetic enhancements offer a viable alternative for those seeking to mitigate the visible effects of ageing without the commitment of surgery.

The ‘non-surgical facelift’ is an umbrella term denoting a suite of minimally invasive procedures aimed at revitalising and rejuvenating one’s visage. These interventions boast several advantages over their surgical counterparts, including negligible recovery periods, absence of extensive hospital stays, non-reliance on general anaesthesia, and a lack of substantial incisions.

Such treatments are not only swift, often fitting conveniently into the span of a lunch break, but also carry minimal downtime. You can typically resume your daily activities without the need to account for a significant post-procedural recuperation. Furthermore, the financial outlay for non-surgical options is considerably lower when contrasted with the cumulative expenses associated with surgical facelifts.

It is, however, important to note that non-surgical treatments may not yield results as transformative as those achieved through surgical means. Additionally, these treatments are not permanent; they require ongoing sessions to maintain the desired effects, which could contribute to a higher overall cost in the long term.

Below, we explore various non-surgical facelift alternatives:

Anti-Wrinkle Injections

Utilising a neurotoxic agent, anti wrinkle injections temporarily paralyse facial muscles, thereby diminishing the prominence of wrinkles. Particularly efficacious for dynamic lines that arise from repetitive facial movements, these injections can soften crow’s feet, glabellar lines, and forehead furrows. The skin-smoothing effects become noticeable immediately and continue to develop over a fortnight, with results potentially enduring up to three months.

Dermal Fillers

By replenishing volume to the face, dermal fillers counteract the hollowing that can occur with age. Commonly applied to the cheeks, temples, lips, and under-eye region, they not only eliminate dark shadows but also soften creases such as nasolabial folds, lending a more defined contour to the facial structure. Typically comprising Hyaluronic Acid (HA), the enhancements from these fillers can persist for six months to a year.

Liquid Facelift

This method synergises the benefits of both dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle injections. The ‘liquid facelift‘ can volumise, diminish sagging, and smooth out wrinkles by concurrently utilising different injectables. While the anti-wrinkle injections relax muscles to smooth over lines, dermal fillers contribute fullness, which also aids in reducing the appearance of sagging and fine lines.

Fotona4D

Fotona4D is an advanced laser treatment designed to combat facial ageing without the need for invasive surgery. This innovative procedure utilises a series of synergistic, non-invasive laser treatments of the interior oral cavity as well as the face’s exterior, aimed at increasing collagen contraction and production, which in turn promotes tightening and volumisation without the use of injectables.

The ‘4D’ refers to four distinct laser treatment modes that address ageing signs at multiple levels:

1. SmoothLiftin™: An intraoral treatment that targets volume through collagen induction. It works from the inside-out to enhance tightness, reduce nasolabial folds, and improve the structure around the mouth, leading to a plumping effect similar to a filler.
2. FRAC3®: This mode uses a fractional laser to target deeper imperfections and restore a youthful texture and tone to the skin, improving its overall condition and reducing imperfections like spots and vascular components.
3. PIANO®: Through the delivery of a safe and fast bulk tissue heating from the outside in, PIANO® mode complements the other Fotona 4D components by providing an additional tightening to the skin, enhancing the firmness and density at a deeper level.
4. SupErficial™: Finally, a light cold ablation is used to give a pearl finish to the skin, improving its appearance by reducing superficial imperfections, resulting in a smoother and brighter skin tone.

Fotona 4D treatments typically require no downtime, allowing patients to return to their daily activities immediately. The full effect builds gradually over several months and a series of treatments is usually recommended for optimal results.

Morpheus8

Morpheus8 is a fractional skin treatment that stimulates collagen production of the underlying layers of the dermis. By targeting the deeper layers of the skin, the building blocks will reorganize themselves in a natural anti-ageing process. What makes Morpheus8 unique is its combination of microneedling and radiofrequency (RF) energy.

The treatment involves a device that penetrates the skin and fat with microneedles before directing RF energy into the targeted areas. This dual-action process allows for the remodelling of both skin and fat for a more dramatic rejuvenation. Morpheus8 effectively remodels and contours the face and body, penetrating deep into the skin and fat for a smoother and sleeker appearance.

Key benefits of Morpheus8 include:

1. Subdermal Adipose Remodelling: This refers to the morphing and remodelling of the fat tissue, which helps to address concerns such as jowling or excess fat under the chin.
2. Collagen Production: The RF energy promotes collagen and elastin production, leading to firmer, more youthful-looking skin.
3. Versatility: Morpheus8 can be used on any areas that can benefit from sub-dermal renewal. Common areas include the lower face and neck, but it can also be used on other parts of the body that exhibit wrinkles, discolouration or acne scarring.
4. Minimal Downtime: Patients can expect to see micro lesions a few days after treatment and slight redness for up to one week, depending on treatment parameters.
5. Safe on Skin Types: The Morpheus8 can be used on all skin types, offering a broad utility range.

Results from Morpheus8 can be seen within a few days, but typically are most noticeable after three weeks, with improvements continuing up to three months after treatment. For comprehensive results, a series of 1-3 sessions spaced 4-6 weeks apart may be advised.

Face Fat Transfer

A slightly more invasive option, fat transfer to the face involves harvesting adipose cells from another body region through liposuction. These cells are then purified and reintroduced into the face to enhance volume. This method provides immediate volumisation and can integrate seamlessly with existing facial tissues, with the potential for results that span several years.

RELATED: Micro & Nano Fat Grafting

Creating a Tailored Long-Term Facial Rejuvenation Strategy

The journey to maintaining a youthful visage is a continuous one, and the intervention of a facelift, whether surgical or non-surgical, represents just one chapter in this ongoing narrative. It is crucial to acknowledge that ageing is an inexorable process, and the requirements for skin care are dynamically evolving. In light of this, establishing a rapport with a proficient plastic surgeon becomes invaluable. They will serve as your ally, dispensing bespoke counsel tailored to the unique trajectory of your skin’s ageing, thus ensuring that you consistently embody the youthfulness you seek.

Commencing with non-invasive measures, such as non-surgical injections or state-of-the-art Fotona4D laser treatments, may serve your current needs. Yet, with the passage of time and changes in your skin, you might find these approaches no longer yield the effects you once cherished. At this juncture, your surgeon can guide you through the decision-making process, contemplating whether it is appropriate to transition to more definitive surgical solutions.

The advantage of a bespoke treatment strategy lies in its fluidity—it adapts to your skin’s requirements at each stage of life. A skilled surgeon can seamlessly integrate a variety of treatments, from pioneering non-surgical techniques that deliver a subtle uplift and combat early signs of ageing to surgical procedures that offer more significant and enduring transformations.

In this partnership, the goal is not just to react to the signs of ageing as they appear but to anticipate and pre-empt them. By crafting a personalised treatment plan that evolves with you, your surgeon ensures that each step you take on this journey is considered strategic and wholly attuned to the singular narrative of your skin’s ageing process. This proactive and tailored approach not only enhances your appearance but also nurtures a profound sense of confidence that radiates from within.