10 facts about facelifts you should know

10 facts about facelifts you should know

Have you been thinking about having a facelift? Are you looking for a treatment that will make you look like you, only a refreshed and rejuvenated version? Is it really necessary to go under the knife to lift and refresh your face?

In this week’s blog, let’s take a look at 10 facts about facelifts you should know before you make a decision.

1. Facelift surgery is called Rhytidectomy

Facelift surgery remains one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures but did you know that the medical term for the surgery is Rhytidectomy, which comes from the Ancient Greek for “wrinkle” and “excision”?

The first ever facelift was performed by Eugen Hollander in Berlin in 1901.

2. Surgical facelifts target the underlying structures of your face

There’s no doubt that surgical facelifts have evolved since they first became popular. Whereas a facelift was once characterised by skin that looked pulled back and trimmed, today’s specialists work on the underlying structures of the face to create a far more natural and long-lasting result.

Surgical facelifts can tighten and lift the jowls and jawline, lift the structures of the face and tighten the neck.

3. A surgical facelift concentrates on the lower to mid face

The term “facelift” is a really a misnomer for surgical facelifts as they don’t address the entire face. Instead, they tend to concentrate on the lower to mid face up to the cheeks.

If you want work done to lift the skin around your eyes or forehead, this would typically require a different procedure such as a brow lift or eyelid lift.

4. Facelifts can’t improve certain surface layer imperfections

Although a surgical facelift can help to rejuvenate your appearance by adding definition, it won’t address surface imperfections such as fine lines or hyperpigmentation.

If you decide to have a surgical facelift, you may want to follow-up the procedure with non-surgical treatments such as wrinkle relaxing injections, dermal fillers or dermaplaning to give your skin a refreshed glow or to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles.

Equally, a facelift may help to correct the changes in your face caused by gravity and skin loosening but it won’t have an effect on the quality of the soft tissues themselves.

5. A surgical facelift is usually performed under general anaesthetic

In most cases, surgical facelifts are performed under general anaesthetic or local anaesthetic with sedation.

There are different types of facelift but, generally speaking, the surgeon will need to make a series of cuts (incisions) into your skin, as well as removing surplus skin or redistributing facial fat and tissue.

The procedure takes around two to three hours to carry out. You may have visible bruising for several weeks and it can take six to nine months to see full effect of the facelift.

The NHS website has a good overview of the procedure.

6. Surgical facelifts can be more difficult to perform on men than on women

Evidence shows that surgical facelifts can be more difficult to perform on men than on women for a number of reasons.

Men tend to have thicker facial skin and are more likely to develop hematomas (a collection of blood outside of blood vessels) due to the vascularity of the beard area. Surgeons also have to consider how a facelift might displace a man’s facial hair.

7. More and more people are turning to non-surgical facelifts

People are increasingly opting to have non-surgical aesthetics treatments to help them address issues that might have required a facelift in the past.

There are many reasons for this.

Surgical facelifts tend to be expensive and can require up to a month of downtime, whereas non-surgical procedures are more affordable and need little to no time off afterwards. Also, any kind of surgery comes with the risks associated with using anaesthesia or contracting an infection.

Non-surgical facelift alternatives tend to be minimally invasive. Multiple treatments can be used together to create a treatment plan that’s fully adapted to the individual patient’s needs. The results may not be as dramatic and long-lasting as a surgical facelift but many people prefer the more natural, subtle results, especially because they can be tweaked and refined on an ongoing basis.

8. Non-surgical facelifts can include a range of treatments

Here at Medikaur, our leading treatment for lifting the skin without surgery is Profhilo. This injectable treatment adds firmness and elasticity, as well as hydrating your face. You can look beautifully refreshed within just three to five days of treatment.

Skin peels are another popular facelift alternative. They can help to address issues such as sun damage or fine lines and improve the skin’s texture, which can contribute to an overall impression of healthier, younger-looking skin.

A Nefertiti neck lift is an excellent treatment for lifting loose, jowly skin around your jawline without the need for surgery.

These are just a few examples of treatments that can be used alone or together to lift your look.

9. No facelift lasts forever

One of the downsides of non-surgical facelifts (depending on your perspective) is that the results are temporary. Some treatments might last for around six months before they need a top-up, while others might last nearer 18 months, e,g, some dermal fillers.

A surgical facelift cannot be reversed. However, your achieved look may deteriorate over time, simply because our skin becomes more lax as we age, so you may need a second procedure to address the ageing process.

10. You should always find a consultant you trust

Before you undergo any kind of facelift procedure, either surgical or minimally-invasive, it’s vital that you find a practitioner who you can trust.

You should be given information about the results that can realistically be achieved, as well as any potential pros and cons of each treatment.

You will need to feel confident about your individual treatment plan and should be encouraged to ask questions without any pressure.

If you’d love a non-surgical facelift and want to know more about your best treatment options, call us today at Medikaur on 020 7531 7121.