A facelift (aka Rhytidectomy) is a surgical procedure that improves the appearance of aging in the face and neck. Skin and tissue naturally lose their elasticity which leads to sagging and wrinkles as we get older.

Excess skin is removed, wrinkles/folds are smoothed out, and facial tissue is tightened during a facelift. However, a facelift does not include a brow lift or an eye lift, these are separate surgeries, but they can be done simultaneously as a facelift procedure.

Usually, a facelift is focused on the bottom part of the face and, in most cases, includes the neck. A flap of skin is pulled back on each side of the face, and the tissue beneath the skin is changed to help restore the face’s natural contours and give it a more youthful appearance.

A facelift isn’t a treatment for superficial wrinkles, sun damage, creases around the nose and upper lip, or irregularities in skin color. These can be treated with non-surgical procedures such as Botox, filler, and microdermabrasion.

The following are examples of age-related changes in the face that can be decreased with a facelift:

• Sagging cheeks

• Excess skin at the lower jawline/jowls

• Deepening folds of skin at the side of the nose and corners of the mouth

• Sagging and excess fat in the neck

You will be sedated for your facelift, so you won’t feel any pain during the procedure itself. Afterwards, you can expect to experience mild to moderate pain and discomfort, as well as some swelling, bruising, and drainage. The level of pain experienced after facelift surgery will largely depend on your pain tolerance and the depth of procedures involved in your facelift. Your surgeon will share an overview of what to expect and discuss pain management options with you in advance of your surgery. Some ways to reduce discomfort during recovery include: 

• Sleeping on your back or with your head elevated. 

• Following a regular schedule of applying ice or a cold compress.

• Taking over-the-counter medications. 

• Getting plenty of rest to support healing and to minimize movement.

• Staying hydrated to reduce swelling. 

The soft tissues in your face and neck should sag with deep wrinkles, a double chin, and jowls to be a good candidate for a facelift.

In addition, you are generally a good candidate if you:

• Are in overall good health

• Are a non-smoker

• Have realistic expectations of the outcome

• Have sufficient skin elasticity

• Understand the recovery process

A facelift consult will start with a detailed discussion about your treatment areas, aesthetic goals, and your desired outcomes. Your surgeon will examine your face to understand factors such as skin laxity, skin type, texture, fat distribution, bone structure, and facial muscles.  They may take photographs to help check progress over time, as well as to help visualize the type of results that are realistically possible with a facelift. 

Your surgeon will provide an overview of surgical techniques to help determine which kind of facelift is right for your aesthetic goals. They will also explain any potential risks or complications, as well as what you can expect from recovery and aftercare. 

Finally, your facelift consult is a candid, open opportunity for you to ask any questions that you may have about the procedure. Write down any questions that you may have and bring them to your consult so that you can leave feeling confident in next steps. 

Preparation for facelift surgery will depend on the type of procedures involved, as well as your unique skin type and facial structure. Your surgeon will provide a detailed overview of the steps to prepare and may include any of the following: 

• Adjusting medications or supplements. 

• Abstaining from nicotine and/or alcohol.

• Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. 

• Drinking plenty of water and keeping skin moisturized. 

• Wearing comfortable, loose clothing on the day of your procedure. 

• Avoiding hair styling products or scented lotions on the day of your procedure. 

Part of your preparation for facelift surgery should also include a detailed recovery plan. Make sure that you have someone available to help with daily activities around the house and drive you to any follow-up appointments after surgery.

Step One – Anesthesia
The choices for anesthesia for this procedure include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Most of the time, general anesthesia is used.

Step Two – The Incision
Depending on the degree of change you want to see, there are three choices for a facelift – a traditional facelift, limited incision facelift, or a neck lift.

A traditional Facelift incision begins at the temples within the hairline, goes around the ear, and ends in the lower scalp by the nape of the neck. The fat in the face, jowls, and neck is then sculpted or redistributed, and the underlying tissue is relocated (usually, the deeper layers of the face and muscles are also lifted). Skin is then re-draped over the uplifted contours, and the excess skin is trimmed. Finally, there may be a second incision under the chin to improve an aging neck.

Limited incision Facelift is an alternative to a traditional facelift, also known as a “Mini-lift,” this method uses shorter incisions at the temple and continuing around the ear. This method is usually used for patients with less skin relaxation, as the results are lesser than a full facelift.

A Neck Lift is performed to address sagging jowls, loose neck skin, and fat accumulation under the chin (double chin). The incision for a neck lift begins at the front of the ear lobe and wraps behind the ear, and ends within the hair behind the ear.

Step Three – Closing the Incision
To close the incisions, sutures or skin adhesives are used. Depending on the sutures used, they may need to be removed after a few days, and others dissolve independently. Once the incisions are healed, the incision lines are concealed within the contours of the face or in the hairline.

Step Four – Results
Once bruising and swelling subside, the results will be visible. Your appearance should appear more youthful and rested.

Depending on the complexity of your surgery, a facelift can take two to four hours to complete, but if it is combined with more procedures such as a brow, eye, or neck lift, it can take up to six hours.

Day 1: When you wake up after surgery, you will feel groggy and sleepy. Someone will have to drive you home and care for you for the first night after surgery.

Day 2: You will most likely have a follow-up visit with your surgeon. They will change any dressings and evaluate your incision sites and swelling.

Day 3: You should start to see an improvement in how you feel. Bruising and swelling are usually at their worst at this time and will most likely be around for a couple of weeks.

Days 4-6: By this time, you should no longer need pain medication, and you should start to see the swelling go down significantly. Doing light housework is permitted if you feel well enough to do so.

Days 7-14: Some swelling and bruising will remain, and you may experience some numbness, tingling sensations, and tightness around the affected areas – this is all normal. At around the 3-4 week mark, you should be able to begin to see the improvements to their facial contour. Exercise can be resumed.

Day 30: By the end of the month, you should see the full effect of your new face. Although, minor swelling, bruising, numbness, and tightness can last for up to one year after your procedure.

A facelift is a surgical procedure that will leave scars from incisions. However, the incisions for a facelift are typically placed in areas that are easily hidden, such as behind the ears, along the hairline, and even below the chin. Choosing a skilled surgeon with proven facelift experience will help ensure that any scarring is strategically placed to minimize visibility. 

Scarring will naturally diminish over time as your body heals and can depend on your body’s natural healing rate and your skin type. You can help support better healing with proper aftercare, such as icing, moisturizing, and drinking plenty of water. 

A facelift provides long-lasting results, but it does not stop the aging process altogether, and it is essential to have realistic expectations. Once you undergo this procedure, you can enjoy a more youthful appearance for up to 20 years. The total length of your results depends on your age at the time of the surgery and how your body ages over time.

If you don’t get the desired results from your first facelift, you can reverse or correct the procedure with a revision facelift. This secondary facelift can help correct issues such as:

• Visible or thick scarring

• Asymmetry or distortion

• Skin that is too tight

• Skin that is too loose or hanging

• Not enough lift 

• Hairline changes

• Elongated ears

A revision facelift can be a more complicated procedure, as your surgeon will need to work around any existing scars. They will also need to navigate surgical alterations, which may mean a longer recovery process when compared to an initial facelift. 

You should be fully healed from your original facelift before undergoing any revisions. This can vary from one patient to the next, as it depends largely on individual healing rates, but most surgeons recommend waiting at least six months before scheduling a revision facelift. 

Because no two patients are identical, the average cost of a facelift in Canada varies greatly. In the same way, no two facelift procedures are performed in the same way. The cost of a facelift in Canada can range between $6,000-25,000. The extent of the procedure and where the procedure is performed will heavily influence the price.

As with any surgical procedure, there is some risk of complications. Facelift risks, while rare, include:

• Bleeding

• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications

• Facial nerve injuries

• Fluid accumulation

• Infection

• Numbness

• Persistent pain

• Poor wound healing

• Prolonged swelling

• Hair loss at incisions

• Scarring

• Asymmetry of the face

2,030/2,183 people who have undergone a Facelift procedure have rated the procedure “Worth It” (92%)

• Source – Realself.com