You can look in the mirror and see a fresher, more rested face looking back, still you, but carrying fewer of the tired marks that time leaves behind.
Over the years, the skin and muscle of the face and neck stretch and begin to droop. This is a normal part of aging. A face and neck lift is surgery that returns this sagging soft tissue closer to where it sat when you were younger. The point is not only to pull the skin tighter; it is to reposition the deeper layers underneath. A consultation helps you and your surgeon see whether this approach fits what you hope for.
First, you are examined and counseled by a plastic and aesthetic surgeon, who is also the same person who will perform your surgery. The surgeon assesses your general health, the shape of your face, the nerves of the face, and how much the skin and muscle have sagged. You also have routine pre-operative tests and are seen by the anesthesiologist.
There are two ways to manage comfort, depending on your situation: general anesthesia, or local anesthesia combined with sedation (medicine that helps you relax and feel less anxious). Your surgeon will talk it through with you to choose what suits you.
The incision usually follows the hairline at the temple or sits fully within the hair-bearing scalp, then runs along the edge of the ear and curves around behind it. Placing the incision this way helps keep the scar more discreet. Your surgeon may work on the skin layer alone, or also tighten the soft-tissue layer underneath (the SMAS and platysma, the muscle-and-fascia layer that supports the face and neck). Tightening the deeper layer is more involved and takes more time, but it gives a more natural result that holds longer.
If you have excess skin and fat on the eyelids, your surgeon may combine removing the extra skin and the eyelid fat pads during the same operation. Depending on the surgeon's practice, a small drain may be placed in the incision to let fluid escape, usually removed within 24 hours. The surgery takes about 2 hours.
A face and neck lift helps your face and neck look more youthful and natural by addressing sagging soft tissue. Understanding the limits of the surgery helps you set the right expectations.
Most people heal smoothly after surgery. You will take pain medicine in the first days, and the mild swelling and bruising will fade over time. Below is a common timeline; everyone moves at their own pace.
Most face and neck lifts done correctly go smoothly. But as with any surgery, there are risks you should know about beforehand. In general, these complications are uncommon.
At The Gioi Dep, the person who examines you, counsels you, and performs your surgery is a plastic and aesthetic surgeon experienced in face and neck lifts. This is a procedure that calls for high technical skill and precision, along with a deep understanding of the anatomy of the face and neck, so having your surgeon follow you from the start is something we value.
Before surgery, you have routine tests and a pre-anesthesia exam by the anesthesiologist. The operation is carried out at a hospital licensed for aesthetic surgery, with full anesthesia and recovery facilities. Depending on your case, your surgeon chooses the method that suits you, favoring the technique that gives a more natural and longer-lasting result.
The operation is done under general anesthesia, or local anesthesia combined with sedation, so you do not feel pain during surgery. Afterward, you take pain medicine for about the first 3 to 5 days.
The incision is usually placed along the hairline at the temple or within the hair-bearing scalp, along the edge of the ear and curving behind it, to keep the scar more discreet. The incisions become more discreet over time and are clearly assessed after about 2 to 3 months. Poor scarring is a possible risk, though uncommon.
You return to your normal daily activities the very next day, and you can usually go back to work after 3 to 5 days, depending on the nature of your job.
The goal is to return sagging soft tissue to a more youthful place so your face and neck look fresher and natural, still you. The technique of tightening the deeper soft-tissue layer usually gives a more natural result than tightening the skin alone.
You usually stay in the hospital for about 1 day.
The surgery takes about 2 hours.
The final result is assessed after about 2 to 3 months. This is the time needed for the facial skin to return to its normal softness and for the incisions to become more discreet.
You are examined and counseled by your surgeon, have routine tests, and are seen by the anesthesiologist. You stop any medicines containing Aspirin for 10 days before surgery and fast for 6 hours beforehand.
Surgery improves your current situation, but it does not stop aging. Your skin and muscle continue to change over time. The technique of tightening the deeper soft-tissue layer usually holds its effect longer than tightening the skin alone.
Book a consultation to find out if this is right for you.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.