What is a face lift?
Face lift surgery is the most effective method of treatment for stretched tissue in the face or neck area. The result of a face lift is typically a much more youthful appearance.
Face lift surgery can be done together with upper eyelid surgery, filling fat grafting, or a laser or exfoliating treatment to renew the skin. A facial filler treatment to fill and enliven the tissue can be done as well. This helps to correct the central facial area around the mouth and eyes and improve the condition and elasticity of the skin.
Face lift usually means correcting the lower facial area even though the term is used broadly when speaking of corrective surgery on various facial areas.
Mini face lift means correcting slight changes from aging at the saggy cheek and jowl area. This is a good option when prominent furrows and lines haven’t yet formed on the neck.
Face lift surgery is always a surgical operation. There are many surgical techniques, but the best results are achieved with “smash techniques”, in which the thin membrane layer under the skin is tightened.
Face lift surgery can for example include
- brow lift surgery
- lifting the middle facial area
- correcting the lower facial area and neck
- upper eyelid surgery
- lower eyelid surgery
- lip lift
- other smaller procedures.
All the aforementioned procedures can be done together or separately, lightly or more broadly.
A well-done face lift doesn’t leave prominent scars, and the result is natural.
The Aqua Face Lift technique, used by us, uses water assistance numbing and gently removing the tissue. This allows multiple procedures being done with local anesthesia, which reduces bruising and helps the recovery.
What kind of scar does a face lift leave?
A well-done face lift does not leave prominent scars. The scars are placed discreetly along the hairline and around the ear. As the scar heals, it is initially reddish, but it fades and softens over the following months. A well-made and properly cared-for scar blends into the natural skin folds over time and is usually difficult to notice. The patient image shows a real example of a healed face lift scar.
How long do the results of face lift surgery last?
The result of a face lift lasts for the rest of your life. However, all of us continue to age even after the very best face lift surgery.
A face lift doesn’t stop aging but turns the clock back in time. Face lift surgery corrects drooping of connective tissue and skin, looseness, and excess skin, but it doesn’t affect the condition of the skin itself nor its elasticity.
However, modern procedures can slow down the signs of aging coming. A good surgical result can be improved and maintained with complimentary face and skin care. This most often and primarily includes non-surgical options.
The surgery can be done again, but most Finnish clients are operated on only once.
Who does face lift surgery suit?
Face lift surgeries do not have age recommendations. Sometimes facial changes occur earlier in life because of genetic factors, lifestyle, or weight loss. In these cases, face lift surgery can be done already at 35 to 45 years of age.
The procedure strives to prevent and treat signs of aging before they are prominent as well. A non-surgical plan can be considered, especially with younger clients.
For clients under 50, the procedure strives to enhance facial features, making them appear more beautiful and fresher. The most common age to get face lift surgery is around 45 to 70 years. Face lift surgeries suit older people as well, if they are overall healthy.
More Information
Face Lift
The decision to proceed with surgery is made during an appointment with the surgeon. Photographs of the face are taken before surgery.
Face lift surgery does not require preparation. However, tell your doctor before surgery about any medications that may increase the tendency to bleed, the use of natural products, and smoking.
Use of Medication and Natural Products
The need to pause medications that increase bleeding, as well as blood-thinning medications, is assessed individually during the appointment. Any diabetes and other underlying medical conditions should be well managed before surgery.
Many natural products affect blood clotting factors and may interact with the medications used during surgery. Omega-3 fatty acid products and other natural products should be paused two weeks before surgery.
You will receive separate instructions regarding your own regular medications. As a general rule, medications can be taken on the morning of surgery with a small amount of water.
Smoking and Nicotine Products
Smoking and the use of nicotine products must be stopped completely six weeks before surgery. After surgery, you should avoid smoking and using nicotine products for four weeks.
The use of nicotine products interferes with the wound healing process and significantly increases the risk of complications.
Before the Procedure
Take a shower on the evening before the procedure or on the morning of surgery. Any piercings in the treatment area should be removed well in advance before the procedure.
Before surgery, you must not eat or drink for six hours. Before surgery, the surgeon makes the necessary markings on the skin with a marker while the patient is standing upright.
The Procedure
The procedure takes approximately 3–6 hours, depending on its extent.
A face lift of one or two areas is usually performed as day surgery, meaning the client can return home in the evening. During the following night, cold compresses are applied to the cheeks.
The surgery can be performed under local anesthesia with calming medication. More extensive face lift surgeries, however, require general anesthesia and an overnight stay at the hospital. This ensures good early recovery and aftercare.
Recovering from Face Lift Surgery
Recovery from face lift surgery takes a couple of weeks.
After surgery, you are not bedridden, but recovering, which means that you can carefully do light everyday activities immediately after surgery. However, it is advisable to take it easy during the first week of recovery.
The required length of sick leave is from two weeks to approximately one month.
Swelling
After surgery, the face swells, and bruising develops on the cheeks and neck. The cheeks are numb at first, but sensation returns fully.
The disappearance of swelling is individual and usually takes 1–3 weeks. Facial lymphatic drainage can help speed up the reduction of swelling.
During the first few days, straining and bending down should be avoided, as this increases pressure and therefore swelling in the operated area. It is also advisable to keep the head of the bed slightly elevated.
Using a Facial Support Garment
A facial support garment is used around the clock for one week. After that, the facial support garment is used at night for 1–2 weeks. The duration depends on the extent of the surgery. A facial support garment is not used after a brow lift.
Follow-Up Appointment
The postoperative situation is checked, and the stitches are removed approximately one week after surgery. Visible swelling lasts for one to two weeks, but mild swelling may last longer. The duration depends on the extent of the surgery and the healing properties of the tissues.
The final result of face lift surgery can be assessed after 3–6 months, once final tissue healing has taken place.
After Face Lift Surgery
- Keep the wound dry for 24 hours.
- Medication
- Panadol 1 g: 1 tablet 4 times/day together with Burana.
- Burana 600–800 mg: 1 tablet max. 3 times/day.
- Targiniq 5 mg: 1 tablet if needed before going to sleep.
- Probiotics are recommended during a possible course of antibiotics.
- Washing and compression garment
- You may shower on the day after surgery.
- Washing products can be used as normal. However, they should not come into contact with the surgical wound.
- The wounds should be rinsed 2 times/day with lukewarm water. Allow the area to dry carefully before putting on the compression garment.
- Compression garment
- For the first three days, the compression garment should be worn 23 hours/day. After this, the garment should be worn for one week at least at night and, if possible, also during the day. Further instructions on the use of the compression garment will be given at the follow-up appointment if needed.
- Restrictions
- Swimming, sauna, and bathing are prohibited for 1 month after surgery.
- Strenuous exercise should be avoided for approximately 6 weeks after the procedure.
- Stitches
- Any removable stitches will be removed at the surgeon’s appointment approximately 1–2 weeks after the procedure.
- Compression stockings
- It is important to wear compression stockings for 2 weeks after surgery. Their use significantly reduces swelling and the risk of complications.
- No smoking
Possible Complications of Face Lift Surgery
Face lift surgery is usually a relatively extensive surgery, and every surgery involves risks. Face lift surgery involves the same possible complications as other surgeries: bleeding, bruising, unattractive scarring or excess scar growth, wound infection, or necrosis of the wound edge.
The most significant risks of face lift surgery are bleeding, which often occurs during the first hours in the recovery room and has an incidence of 1–2%, wound healing problems, for which you will always receive help from us, and nerve damage.
Mild numbness on the sides of the cheeks and in front of the ear occurs in almost every patient for several weeks. Sensory changes will resolve, but damage to the motor facial nerve can be permanent, especially in the forehead area. Fortunately, the risk of this complication is only approximately 1%.
In experienced hands, complications are rare, and the result is good and long-lasting.
