FACE AND NECK LIFT (RHYTIDECTOMY)

With advancing age the facial skin becomes too big! This is the result of gradual loss of elasticity so that the skin begins to sag. The appearance therefore is of sagging jowls with loose skin under the chin and around the neck. The treatment is to tailor the facial skin to fit in a way that you would tailor a garment to fit.

The incision for a full face/neck lift starts in the hairline above the ear and descends in front of the ear, turns backwards under the ear and then upwards into the hairline. This operation is usually performed under general anaesthesia and requires one night in hospital. Because most of the incision is in the hairline the scars should heal to be invisible.

The operating is often combined with eyelid surgery details of which are on a separate information sheet.

There is normally quite a lot of bruising and swelling associated with this procedure and we would advise patients not to work for a period of two weeks. The operation is usually performed on patients that are over the age of 40.

Quite often there is also an accumulation of fatty tissue under the chin and this is simultaneously dealt with by Liposculpture.

Results of a face lift surgery can be very dramatic and have a significant rejuvenating effect taking years of the apparent age of the patient.

S-Lift

This procedure is undertaken when there is lax facial skin only and with no neck involvement. The incision therefore is limited and usually confined to the front of the ear only; as a result it can be performed at our clinic at Chiswick under local anaesthetic with sedation. Although there will be post-operative swelling this is usually less than a full face and neck lift. Accordingly recovery time is quicker although we advise at least 7 – 10 days away from work.