What results can I expect after a facelift?
If you are planning on taking a surgical step to improve your facial features, this article from Coventry and Leamington cosmetic surgeon Mr Alan Park gives you an insight about what to expect from the procedure, and the problem areas that a facelift is designed to tackle.
Facelift aims
A facelift primarily targets skin that, through the aging process or weight gain/loss, has lost some of its natural elasticity and is has changed in appearance.
The skin may look as if it is drooping and you may have more wrinkles than you are prepared to accept. The facelift procedure is designed to help address these aesthetic complaints, and the areas of the face that are most typically improved by a facelift are the cheeks and neck areas.
During the operation, the surgeon will lift the skin around the cheeks, neck and temples, pulling it backwards and tightening it. Alongside this, the surgeon may also lift the layer of tissue underneath the skin, which compounds the effect and makes the result look more natural – and likely to last longer.
The outcome will be that the skin appears firmer and tighter (although not unnaturally so). Many women believe that the procedure gives a more youthful appearance and helps restore lost confidence, which can be caused by the appearance of aging or saggy skin.
What can’t a facelift do?
One common misconception is that a facelift will help address sagging skin around the forehead and the eyes – this is actually not the case.
If these areas are troubling you, then you need to speak to your surgeon about a brow lift (which tackles the forehead) or a blepharoplasty (which tackles the eyelids). These can often be performed in tandem with other operations, such as a facelift.
In terms of scarring, the good news is that the incision sites from a facelift are usually concealed within the hairline, so you can be confident that there will be hardly any negative tell-tale signs that you have undergone surgery. Over time the scars will fade and will be very difficult to see, so eventually you will be able to wear your hair in any style you wish.
Facelifts are typically expected to last between five and ten years. They are subject to the continuity of the aging process, so over time they will start to gradually soften and nature will once again take control. When, or if, you feel you are ready to talk to your surgeon again, book a consultation to understand whether any follow up work is necessary.