Surgical Procedures for Women

Face: Brow lift | Eyelids | Ears | Nose | Chin | Facelift | Neck lift

Facelift (Rhytidectomy)

With age our facial muscles become slacker and the skin loses its elasticity, creating folds and lines. A facelift, also known as rhytidectomy, is an operation to lift up the facial skin and underlying muscles, so that your face has a tighter and smoother appearance.

There are several different techniques used to perform a facelift. In a full facelift Mr Nduka will make a surgical cut right around your hairline, past the front of your ear and sometimes under your chin. Your skin is then carefully separated from the underlying muscles of your face, removing excess skin and fat and tightening the muscles.

Facelifts are sometimes performed on the brow area, lower face, or neck only. The cuts needed for these operations are less extensive than for a full facelift. Sometimes Mr Nduka will perform a facelift using small endoscopes ('keyhole surgery') that are inserted through tiny cuts. Another type of facelift surgery is minimal access cranial suspension or MACS. Endoscopic facelift and MACS have the advantages of smaller scars and usually a shorter recovery time.

A facelift is performed under a general anaesthetic and you will usually need to stay in hospital for one or two nights. You'll also need to plan time off work to rest and recover.

There is always some scarring after a facelift, but this will generally fade over the course of a year, and can often be well-disguised underneath your hair. Mr Nduka will discuss this with you prior to your facelift operation.

All operations carry risks as well as benefits. The chance of complications following facelift surgery depends on the type of procedure and other factors such as your general health. Mr Nduka will explain how the risks apply to you.