Is facelift surgery safe?

Any surgical procedure comes with its risks and rewards, so when considering whether or not to book an appointment to speak to a surgeon, such as Coventry and Leamington facelift surgeon Mr Alan Park, it is sensible to have already considered the pros and cons.

As we age, our skin loses some of its natural elasticity and this causes the appearance of skin to sag. This is most noticeable in areas such as under the chin, around the eyes and the cheeks; and lines that are present when we smile or frown become more prominent.

The age in which this becomes more prominent differs from person to person, and is largely dependent on your genetics and how healthy your lifestyle is.

Facelifts are growing in popularity in the UK, as they are considered to be a relatively safe surgical procedure, with minimal risks and a quick recovery time. Depending on the extent of the lift that you choose, the operation can expect to last between two and four hours.

Recovery time from a facelift is also usually quick, with the swelling generally receding within the first 10-14 days and generally people able to go back to work within two weeks.

What are the risks with a facelift?

There is a small chance of patients developing an infection following the operation, although you can expect your surgeon to do everything possible to minimise the risk of this.

Very few patients develop infections following facelift surgery, although with any procedure that involves an incision into the skin, it is not 100% risk-free.

In the hours and days after the operation, patients may experience numbness in their face around the incision sites. This is due to temporary nerve damage, which usually rectifies itself as part of the natural healing process.

If you experience any numbness, it is important not to worry, but let your surgeon know the extent to which you are feeling numb and how this changes day-by-day. They will be able to monitor the progress and check that it is not anything more serious.

When to consider a facelift

Ideally, if you wish to get booked in for a facelift, you should be seeing some of the issues outlined above (sagging skin, increased/depended laughter/frown lines) but still have enough natural elasticity in the skin that the procedures will make a real difference. Some people will consider facelifts from their 40s right through into their 60s. Some surgeons will perform facelifts on patients in their 70s and 80s; however they will need to assess the elasticity of the skin in each of these cases to check the likelihood for a successful result.