Facelift

Who isn't a good candidate for the surgery?

Facelift surgery is not recommended for patients who have diabetes, high blood pressure, and other serious health conditions. Heavy smokers are included in this category as well – smoking can influence the recovery period and the result of the facelift procedure.

Healthy patients who do not have medical conditions that impair healing and have realistic expectations are generally accepted as good candidates for the facelift procedure. 

How long should you stay in the hospital after the surgery? 

You may spend one night in the hospital after the procedure to monitor your status. 

How long is the procedure? 

The surgery will take 2 to 4 hours.

What you should avoid before the surgery? 

The patient should avoid vitamins, herbal teas and blood thinners such as aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs for at least 2 weeks before the facelift surgery as those supplements and medications can increase bleeding and bruising during and after the surgery. The patient should also stop smoking, as it can have a negative effect on the healing process.

How is the surgery performed?

A facelift procedure is an effective way to help patients rejuvenate their facial appearance. The procedure is done under general anesthesia. Once the anesthesia is applied, the surgeon will create an incision behind the hairline and around the front of the ear.

The surgeon will then proceed to lift the skin and fatty tissue and separate it from the underlying muscle and tissue. The excess skin is then carefully removed, and once a satisfactory result is achieved, the surgeon will proceed to close the incision with sutures.

Drains may be applied in some cases, to help eliminate excess bodily fluid and facilitate the recovery process. 

The whole area is then bandaged in order to prevent infection, and the facelift recovery period can begin. The surgery usually takes 4 hours, and the patient will be required to spend a night in the hospital. Mini facelifts, which have more slender effects than the standard facelift procedure, use shorter incisions at the temples that continue around the ear.

The surgery recovery timeline

The facelift recovery period lasts around a week in most cases. During the facelift recovery period, the patient should not use makeup for at least 4-to 5 days after the surgery. Once the dressings are removed in around 7 days, the patient can return to normal activities.

It generally takes about two weeks to resume a normal level of daily activity same as the patient did before the surgery. For more strenuous activities, like exercise, patients should wait about four weeks.

Facelift Complications 

The patient may feel discomfort, pain, and nausea from the anesthesia for 1-2 days after the surgery. Patients also experience inflammation, problems with wound healing, prolonged swelling, and bruising, but these post-op effects will gradually pass in around 5 to 10 days after the facelift surgery.

If not, the patient should inform the doctor in case of any extraordinary condition. 

Facelift Success Rate

A facelift surgery review reports the satisfaction rate at 97%

While there are many non-surgical choices to get a more youthful look, such as Botox, dermal fillers, laser lifts, or face tape, facelift surgery provides the most permanent results with high satisfaction rates.

What should I expect before and after the surgery? 

Facelift surgery is a long-lasting solution for patients wishing for a more youthful appearance. The results of this procedure last for around 10 years.

A thread facelift or facelift threading is a safe and effective alternative to traditional facelift surgery in particular cases. This procedure is designed to be less invasive, more quickly, and with less risk than the standard approach. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are Facelift Scars Visible? 

Facelift scars are hidden in the hairline or the natural creases of the skin, so they are not visible.
If I Have Facelift Surgery, Will My Face Look Too Tight?
The patient will have a natural-looking facial appearance after facelift surgery. It’s a good idea to see a couple of facelifts before and after pictures in order to get a good idea of what the procedure can achieve. 
How Long Until The Permanent Facelift Surgery Results Are Noticeable?

 It can take up to a year before the permanent results of facelift surgery are visible. During this time, the swelling gradually subsides, and small changes take place.

There are also some long-term recommendations for the patients to keep the results long-lasting, such as maintaining a healthy weight and adopting a consistent and quality skincare regimen.

This content is written and reviewed by our content team in 2023.