Everyone’s heard of facelifts, but few would actually know what it entails and what kind of change this procedure can create. As invasive procedures become more popular and commonplace in our society, it’s important to understand what you are considering so you can have all the facts and understand the risks.

What is a facelift?

The formal and medical term for a facelift is a rhytidectomy. A rhytidectomy is a cosmetic surgical procedure, which is undertaken to create a more youthful appearance. As we age, our skin naturally starts to sag as we have lost the collagen which is produced in higher volumes when we are young. As the name suggests, a facelift will literally lift the face in the areas that are experiencing significant sagging. A facelift will look different for each person, as the contours and appearance of our skin are different for every face, with lifestyle and genetics also influencing how our face changes with age.

Sagging is not the only reason people get a facelift, as they may also be wishing to treat deep lines and wrinkles. Lifting the skin can smooth the appearance of fine lines and in some cases, can remove some lines altogether. The skin gets temporarily pinned to the face (typically upwards), and when the skin heals (through stitched or surgical glue) the ‘new face’ has healed in that position.

What is the recovery time for a facelift?

The recovery duration of a facelift will vary from person to person, but generally speaking, you can expect to reach full recovery after four to six weeks. Significant bruising is standard with a procedure such as this, and parts of the face may also experience raised blood vessels. Ultimately, a facelift procedure will cause incisions at various points in the face so that it can be lifted and positioned into the new facelift. Once again, whether time off is needed from work will depend on the person, but if bruising and pressure create black eyes and vision obstruction, there may be an extended recovery time.

If you have a job or life that will prohibit a large stretch of downtime and recovery, be sure to discuss this with your health professional. There may be a way to have this treatment completed through several minor procedures rather than doing it all in one go.

Does a facelift last forever?

A facelift is a fantastic procedure in its results, but when the procedure is done the skin is healed and in its new position so it will age and transform like all skin over time. Skin will droop again over time, however, you can expect the benefits of your facelift to be visible for up to ten years. Increased exposure to the sun, poor skin care, dehydration and a lack of speed may speed your skin in its aging, so if you choose to have this procedure, you can assist in the success of your facelift by caring for your face. If you are expecting a facelift to last forever, you may want to reconsider.

When should someone be considering a facelift?

Is a facelift for everyone, or is there an ideal candidate for the cosmetic procedure? There is nothing stopping anyone from pursuing a facelift, but ideally, men and women who have skin to be lifted should seek this procedure. The average age of people looking for a facelift would range from the late-40s to 60s. People who would like their skin to look younger and plumper may not be right for this procedure, and may actually be able to correct their skin concerns through non-invasive treatments, skin care products and a change in lifestyles (less sun, more sleep and hydration).

Where do you get a facelift?

Booking in for a facelift is not as simple as making an appointment on Health Engine, or even an appointment with your beauty therapist. Typically you can get a facelift with a skin clinician or a cosmetic nurse, but there is a range of consultations before this occurs. The clinician needs to know that you are healthy enough to do this, have a knowledge of your medical history and know about your lifestyle to see if anything would impede your recovery. It is also likely that your procedure could happen in a day clinic, rather than your beauty clinic.

Facelifts are not for everyone, but they can be an effective procedure for men and women looking to address sagging skin and aged-lined skin. Assess whether this treatment is right for you and begin to research the procedure.