Dr Turner Answers your questions about Facelift Surgery

Facelift surgery can address deep wrinkles, jowls, and loss of facial volume. This surgical procedure involves lifting, tightening, and repositioning the skin and underlying tissues. It also removes excess skin if necessary.

Dr Scott Turner is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon in Sydney NSW. Here are his answers to common Facelift FAQs.

Different Types of Facelift FAQs

What is the best facelift procedure?

There’s no BEST facelift procedure as the right type of facelift for you will depend on the condition of your skin, facial anatomy, and desired results. During your initial consultation, Dr Turner will assess your skin condition and overall treatment goals to determine the best type of facelift for your needs. There are many, many different types of facelifts (see below) including a Lower Facelift, an Upper Facelift, and a Mini Facelift.

What are the different facelift procedures?

The best facelift for you can be determined once your surgeon conducts a detailed assessment. In general, your surgeon may perform one or a combination of the following types of facelifts:
Deep Plane Facelift: This procedure is recommended for the treatment of severe wrinkles on the cheek and neck. It involves making incisions along the hairline and in front of and behind the ear, then separating the deeper facial tissues to reposition and lift the muscles, fat, and skin.
Full Brow Lift: Also known as a forehead lift, this procedure reduces the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and creases on the area of your brow and forehead. It involves the creation of small incisions on each side of your scalp to move the skin upward.
Temporal Brow Lift: This procedure involves the creation of smaller incisions at the side of your face in order to tighten the skin outward toward your temples.
Mid-Face Lift: This procedure makes use of two small incisions under your lower eyelashes to lift the skin on your cheeks.
Eyelid Lift: Also known as blepharoplasty, it involves the removal of excess skin on your upper eyelid area. Aside from cosmetic purposes, this procedure is also used to address visual obstruction by removing excess skin in the eyelid area.
Lip Lift: This procedure usually involves the creation of a small incision beneath your nose and shortening the distance between the nose and the upper lip.
Corner of the Mouth Lift: This procedure lifts the skin on the corners of your mouth.

What is a deep plane facelift?

The deep plane facelift focuses on the release and movement of muscle and fat layers instead of pulling and removing the skin. Specifically, it releases the ligaments tethering the deep plane layer to create skin movements that are free from tension. This ensures that no tightness is produced by the surgery.

What is a short scar facelift?

This facelift technique uses shorter incisions to elevate the soft tissue layers of the deeper facial areas. If you have less skin redundancy or age-related changes in your neck area, then this procedure is suitable for you.

Is a facelift a good idea?

A facelift offers longer-lasting results than non-surgical treatments. The results typically last up to 7-10 years depending on the surgical techniques used, individual healing, and lifestyle factors.

What is the difference between a facelift and a neck lift?

A facelift targets the mid to lower part of the face such as the cheeks and jawline. A necklift on the other hand tightens the neck muscles and skin.

Does a facelift lift your neck?

While the primary focus of a facelift is to address signs of ageing on the lower face and jawline, other facelift techniques also involve tightening the neck muscles and removing excess skin in the neck region.

Does a lower facelift include the neck?

Yes. In most cases, a lower facelift targets your neck area.

Can you have a necklift without a facelift?

Yes. You can have a necklift as a separate procedure.

Facelift FAQs about an Ageing Face

How do you fix jowls?

A neck lift can address jowls (descending skin along the jawline).

At what age do jowls develop?

Jowls commonly appear once you reach the age of 50. However, due to several factors, it can develop as early as the age of 30.

Does a facelift get rid of wrinkles?

A facelift can reduce the appearance of wrinkles by stretching out your skin. However, it doesn’t completely eliminate them. A dermal peel, dermapen, or laser resurfacing can also help reduce minor wrinkles. For more Cosmetic Procedures and Plastic Surgery for Anti-Ageing, click here.

How can I tighten my neck and jowls?

Combining a facelift and a necklift can tighten your neck and jowls. A facelift will reduce the appearance of your jowls while a necklift will remove the excess skin on your neck.

Should I get a facelift or fillers?

Whether to opt for a facelift or fillers depends on several factors, including your individual goals, concerns, budget, and the extent of ageing. Fillers work by adding volume to the skin while a facelift removes the excess skin on the face.

What is the best alternative to a facelift?

There are several alternatives to facelift if you do not want to consider having surgery just yet. Here are some examples of non-surgical treatments:

Anti Wrinkle Injections and dermal fillers
Laser skin treatments
Radio Frequency (RF) with microneedling
Tightening treatments like Ultherapy

Suitability for a Facelift FAQs – Am I a good candidate for Face Surgery?

How do I know if I need a facelift?

The common signs that you might need a facelift are excess skin in your lower jawline and the formation of deep lines on your face.

What age is best for a facelift?

In most cases, a mini facelift or facelift surgery is recommended if you are in your 40s, 50s, 60s, or 70s when signs of facial ageing such as wrinkles, fine lines, and creases become more noticeable. Find out What’s the Best Age for a Facelift.

Who is a good candidate for a facelift?

You are a good candidate for the procedure if:

You are willing to adhere to the postoperative instructions.
You don’t have any bleeding or clotting disorder that may delay the healing process.
You have realistic expectations about the procedure.
You have excess skin, wrinkles, lines, and creases in different parts of your face.

Preparing for a Facelift FAQs – Questions About preparing for a surgery

How do I prepare my face for a facelift?

Before the procedure, you should:

Avoid prolonged sun exposure.
Avoid taking medications or supplements that can increase your risk of bleeding and other complications.
Get laboratory testing or medical evaluation.
Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.

Should I lose weight before a facelift?

Yes. It is recommended that you’re near stable weight before the surgery as weight fluctuations can alter the results.

Surgery FAQs – Questions About Facelift Surgery

What are the steps in a facelift procedure?

First, you will receive anaesthesia to prevent discomfort associated with the procedure. Once it has taken effect, your surgeon will create incisions on your face to tighten the target area. The type and length of the incisions will depend on your skin condition and desired results. Typically, the incisions are hidden in existing creases, around the hairline, or behind the ear. Your surgeon will then reshape your face by removing excess skin and using sutures to lift the area. Your surgeon will then close the incisions using sutures.

What type of anaesthesia is used for facelifts?

You will receive general anaesthesia during the procedure. As a result, you will be asleep during the facelift procedure.

Where are facelift scars located?

This will depend on the type of facelift you have. To reduce the visibility of scars, your surgeon will conceal the incisions in your hairline and the natural contours of your face and behind the ear.

How many hours does a facelift take?

Depending on the type of facelift you had, the entire facial procedure can take 2 to 5 hours to complete.

Recovery after a FaceLift FAQs

What should I expect after a facelift?

After the procedure, you can expect bruising and swelling of the facial area. These are normal and part of your body’s natural healing process. Learn more about Recovery after Facelift – Post-op Timeline & Best Tips.

How do you take care of your face after a facelift?

After the procedure, you should do the following:

Apply ice packs to your face.
Avoid vigorous exercises and other activities that require bending, lifting, or straining.
Elevate your head using pillows when sleeping.
Wash your face with mild soap and water.

What is the fastest way to recover from a facelift?

To speed up your recovery:

Drink plenty of water.
Elevate your head using two pillows when sleeping.
Increase dietary protein intake.
Keep the surgical incisions clean and dry.
Protect the incisions from direct sunlight.
Wear your chin strap as instructed.

How long does it take to recover from a facelift?

The recovery time after a facelift varies depending on factors such as the extent of the procedure, individual healing ability, and adherence to post-operative care instructions. In general, the initial swelling and bruising will subside within 2-3 weeks and you can return to your daily activities during this time. You should see the final results after 6 months.

How long does the tightness last after a facelift?

After the procedure, you may feel tightness in your face that can last for 2 months.

How long do ears hurt after a facelift?

You may feel ear pain that can last less than 6 weeks.

How do you sleep after a facelift?

You should sleep with the back of your head on the pillow to avoid putting pressure on the incision sites.

How long after a facelift can I sleep on my side?

You can sleep on your side after 2 to 4 weeks.

Should you massage your face after a facelift?

Yes. You can perform gentle, upward facial massage to improve the flexibility of the area. Seek your surgeon’s advice.

How long should I ice after a facelift?

You should apply an ice pack on your face for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Be careful of an ice burn (wrap in a towel).

How do you reduce swelling after a facelift?

To reduce swelling, you should elevate your head when sleeping and apply an ice pack to your face during the day.

How long is the face swollen after a facelift?

The swelling should subside after 1 to 2 weeks.

How long should you wear a compression bandage after a facelift?

You should wear it for 1 to 3 weeks.

What happens if you don’t wear a compression garment after a facelift?

The swelling can take several weeks if you don’t wear a compression garment.

How long should you wear the chin strap after a facelift?

You need to wear the chin strap religiously for the first two weeks after the surgery.

How do you clean facelift stitches?

You should use mild soap and water to wash your incision sites when the incision has healed.

How do you wash your hair after a facelift?

You may shower using a mild shampoo 48 hours after a facelift.

How do you get rid of a lump after a facelift?

Before you go home, your surgeon will teach you a special type of massage known as manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) to remove any lumps associated with a facelift.

How soon can I wear makeup after a facelift?

You need to wait at least 10 days before wearing makeup.

When can I wash my hair after a facelift?

You can wash your hair after 48 hours.

What can you eat after a facelift?

It is recommended that you consume lean proteins to speed up your healing. This includes white meat, fish, beans, peas, and dairy products.

Longer term Results of Facelift FAQs – Q & A About Results

How long do the effects of a facelift last?

The effects of a facelift can last up to 10 years.

Is a facelift permanent?

While the effects of the procedure can last for 10 years, it is not designed to last a lifetime. You may need another facelift surgery in the future once the signs of facial ageing begin to reappear.

How often should you get a facelift?

Many patients have a facelift in their 40s to early 50s. A second facelift may be performed once you are in your mid-to-late 60’s.

Can you get a facelift twice?

You will need a follow-up facelift 10 years after the first one. In some cases, you may want to have another facelift after 5 years. You can further discuss this matter with your surgeon.

Concerns & Risks of Facelift FAQs

Does a facelift affect your ears?

The procedure can lead to the development of pulled-down earlobes.

What is a pixie ear after a facelift?

A pixie ear is characterized by a “stuck on” or “pulled” appearance. This occurs because the medial cheek and jawline skin flaps create a pulling effect at the attachment point of the earlobe.

Does a facelift change your earlobes?

Over time, the medial cheek and jawline skin flaps can pull your earlobes, resulting in a pulled-down appearance.

Next Steps

Always Do Your Research

Download a Procedure Guides to find out more about your surgery.
Please read our website to learn more about your intended procedure.

Do you need a Medical Referral to see Dr Turner?

A medical referral is helpful but NOT essential for purely cosmetic consultations.
Please obtain a referral from your GP or Specialist if you want a consultation for an MBS item number surgery.
Please note that your Medicare Rebates will NOT be claimable without a valid recent Medical Referral.

Making The Most of Your Consultation

Please arrive early for your in-person consultation.
You are welcome to bring a friend or relative to help consider the information and discuss your options.
Ensure you also take a lot of notes during the consultation and thoroughly examine all the documents provided.

Want more information before scheduling your consultation?

Find out more about pricing and payment plans
Request more information about the procedure – call or contact us

How to Book Your Consultation

You can book your initial consultation by paying the $350 cosmetic consultation fee in advance – when you make your appointment.

Book a Phone Call for More Info

To find out more information about surgery you can book a FREE 15-minute phone conversation with our Friendly Patient Care team via Calendly- Book Consultant 1 or Book Consultant 2.

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