Frequently Asked Qestions
Am I a good candidate for this type of surgery?
The best candidate for a facelift is a man or woman whose face and neck have begun to sag, but whose skin still has some elasticity and whose bone structure is strong and well-defined. Most patients are in their forties to sixties, but facelifts can be done successfully on people in their seventies or eighties as well. A facelift can make you look younger and fresher, and it may enhance your self-confidence in the process. But it can't give you a totally different look, nor can it restore the health and vitality of your youth.
If certain chronic conditions, such as hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, obesity or respiratory illnesses are poorly controlled, or you are immunocompromised, require anti-coagulants (blood thinners), or you are an active smoker, you may not be a safe candidate for this procedure. See also: Smoking and BMI.
What kind of scars will I have and where will they be located?
The scars from your facelift will be permanent, but if healing occurs as anticipated, the scars will not be noticeable. They are usually hidden by your hair and in the natural creases of your face and ears.
It is a common misconception that plastic surgeons have some medical magic that prevents scars. Scars will be present but the aim is to place them in the most inconspicuous location possible.
If your hair is very short, you might want to let it grow out before surgery, so that it's long enough to hide the scars while they heal.
How long is the operation?
A facelift usually takes several hours.
How long is the hospital stay?
A facelift is an outpatient procedure performed under general anaesthesia, meaning you can go home the same day once you have recovered from the anaesthetic.
How much pain should I expect?
This is a difficult question to answer definitively. Every patient has a different pain tolerance. Most patients experience very little pain after facelift surgery, however, we will prescribe sufficient pain medication throughout your recovery period to ensure the discomfort you feel is manageable.
In the unlikely event that you experience severe or persistent pain or a sudden swelling of your face, you should report this to us immediately.
Most people feel tender and bruised after surgery, but are not in a great deal of pain. Some numbness of the skin is quite normal, and it will disappear in a few weeks or months.
What happens after the surgery?
Following surgery, a small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin behind your ear to drain any blood that might collect there. Your head may be loosely wrapped in bandages to minimize bruising and swelling.
Bandages, when used, are usually removed after one to five days. Do not be surprised at the pale, bruised, and puffy face you see. Just keep in mind that in a few weeks you'll be looking normal.
At the beginning, do not be disappointed if your face may look and feel rather strange. Your features may be distorted from the swelling, your facial movements may be slightly stiff and you'll probably be self-conscious about your scars. Some bruising may persist for two or three weeks, and you may tire easily.
The chances are excellent that you'll be happy with your facelift - especially if you realize that the results may not be immediately apparent. Even after the swelling and bruises are gone, the hair around your temples may be thin and your skin may feel dry and rough for several months. Men may find they have to shave in new places where areas of beard-growing skin have been repositioned.
Most of your stitches will be removed after about five days. Your scalp may take longer to heal, and the stitches or metal clips in your hairline could be left in a few days longer.
Will I need to wear a support garment?
Your facial support garment will be placed on immediately after your second dressing change. You will need to wear it for six weeks at night, and during the daytime if you are at home. The garment helps to speed up the resolution of facial swelling.
Will I have drains?
Drains to remove excess fluid are often used. If they are used, they will be removed within two or three days.
Any drainage will be absorbed by gauze dressings, which you will need to change periodically, as needed.
When will I be able to go back to work and resume my normal activities?
You should be up and about in a day or two, but plan on taking it easy for the first week after surgery. Be especially gentle with your face and hair, since your skin will be both tender and numb at first.
We encourage you to start walking almost immediately after your surgery to diminish the risk of blood clots in your legs, as a result of immobilization from the anaesthetic. Even while you are resting, you should be moving your feet and ankles frequently to promote circulation in your legs. In our experience, this will help you will recover much faster, and with fewer complications.
You will be able to shower after your dressing change although you should avoid direct contact between the shower spray and your incisions. Depending on the thinness of your skin, you will have a variable amount of bruising. Most of this will be gone ten days post operatively.
Social activity involving large amounts of alcohol and sexual activity should be limited for approximately one month. During this period, avoid lifting objects heavier than 5 kg and strenuous aerobic activity. By and large, you should let your body be your guide. If it doesn’t hurt, go do it. If it does hurt, stop.
Sleep with your head and neck elevated until the majority of the swelling subsides, for example, use several pillows or a recliner. By and large, you should let your body be your guide. If it doesn’t hurt, go do it. If it does hurt, stop.
How many times can I have this procedure done?
There is no absolute limit to the number of facelifts that can be performed. However it is unusual to see patients having more than 3 procedures in a lifetime. Various minor procedures are often performed with the aim of improving certain localized areas that do not require a complete facelift.
When can I go in the sun?
You should avoid exposing your new scars to the sun for at least six months or until they have matured well. Sunlight can permanently affect the skin's pigmentation, causing the scar to turn dark. If sun exposure is unavoidable, use a strong sun block.
Exposure to ultraviolet light will irreversibly and prematurely age your skin in addition to increasing the chance of developing skin cancer. You should minimize exposure of your unprotected facial skin to prolonged sunlight.
When can I use a hairdryer?
Hair dryers can be used 3 weeks after surgery. You should not apply excess heat to your incisions but should use a cooler setting and hold the dryer further away from your head till you are at least 6 weeks post surgery.
How long do the swelling and numbness last?
Postoperative swelling is extremely variable. Several weeks are required for most of the swelling to subside. Most patients feel comfortable in a social setting within a month. There are individuals who require more time for the swelling to subside and if you have an important social or family affair, you should allow at least six weeks for the swelling and discolouration to spontaneously regress.
The reduction in sensation in the operative site will usually correct itself in three to four months but can take up to a full year to resolve. The lack of sensation is more of an issue for men who might find shaving to be more difficult in the immediate post operative period.
When can I colour my hair?
We prefer that you wait 4 weeks before using hair dyes, provided healing has occurred in a normal fashion.
Will a facelift remove my wrinkles?
It is important to understand that when the skin is tightened in any facelift procedure, this may reduce the effect of the wrinkles and creases but they are permanent in nature and cannot be completely eliminated.
How long will the results last?
This is difficult to answer. One answer might be that it will last forever in that the hands of the clock have been turned back. However, your lifted face will also age.
For example if you had an identical twin, and we operated on you but not your twin, a certain difference in your physical appearance would result. This difference would probably exist for the rest of your lives. The twin having had the facelift will always look younger than the twin who did not have the operation.
For our patients having secondary facelifts, the average time between the primary and secondary varies from as little as 5 years to as long as 15 years.
What is the best age to have a facelift?
The average age for a primary facelift has gradually moved downward over the years to approximately 50 years of age. Performing the procedure on people in a younger age group improves the long-term results. However, it is important to understand that while we can turn back the biological clock, we cannot stop it. The age of the patients having this procedure will vary with geographic differences as well as personal factors such as skin type and a familial tendency towards skin wrinkling.
