Facelift

A face lift is a restorative type of surgery that improves visible signs of aging such as:

• Sagging of the lower face due to relaxation of facial ligaments
• Sagging appearance of the cheeks and midface.
• Deepening of fold lines around the mouth/nose area
• Loose skin on neck which gives the appearance of a double chin or “turkey neck”

During a face-lift, a flap of skin on each side of the face is pulled back, and tissues below the skin are surgically altered to return the contour of the face to a more youthful shape. Before the flap is sutured closed, excess skin is removed.
Other procedures such as blepharolasty, platysmaplasty (neck lift), or brow lift may be performed at the time aslo for optimal results.

A face-lift can give your face and neck a more rejuvanted and youthful appearance. Face-lift results are not permanent. With age, the facial skin may begin to droop again. In general, a face-lift can be expected to last 7-10 years. A face lift will not address photodamage or change the fundamental appearance of your face.

Before any surgery is performed, a consultation with Mr Kambiz Golchin is required. This consultation will likely be a discussion including a full medical history and exam if necessary. A medication review and facial assessment will also be done on the day. Mr Golchin will answer any questions you may have during the consultation and will explain the procedure in greater details and what to expect before and after the procedure.

Face lift Ireland

As we age, our skin and tissues stop producing collagen and begin to lose their elasticity. Our skin thins and the face loses volume and fat. This aging process results in sagging skin and the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

Beacon Face and Dermatology, one of Dublin’s premier plastic surgery clinics, is proud to offer Dublin residents facelift surgery (rhytidectomy), a restorative type of surgery that reverses the appearance of aging. A facelift procedure can take years off you, giving your skin a fresh new look.

Face lift surgery lifts excess skin and tightens facial tissue around the lower half of the face, the neck and the jowls (the loose skin around the jaw line).

It improves the visible signs of aging such as:

• Sagging of the lower face due to relaxation of facial ligaments
• Sagging appearance of the cheeks and midface
• Deepening of fold lines around the mouth/nose area
• Loose skin on neck which gives the appearance of a double chin or “turkey neck”

During your face lift surgery, your surgeon will make an incision either in front of your ear and up into your hairline, or behind the ear and into the scalp. A flap of skin on each side of the face is pulled back, and fatty tissue below the skin is surgically altered. Any fat is removed or redistributed, any folds are smoothed out and wrinkles removed. Before the flap is sutured closed and the facial tissue is tightened, any excess skin is removed.

Other facelift procedures such as surgery to enhance the forehead, blepharoplasty (eye lift), platysmaplasty (neck lift), or brow lift may be performed at the same time for optimal results. These procedures aren’t routinely performed as part of the face lift itself because the face lift focuses on the lower two thirds of the face and around the neck. These are alternative, complementary surgeries that we recommend patients consider.

 

Face lift consultation

In order for you to have realistic expectations as to what your facelift surgery will entail, before any surgery is performed, a consultation with consultant plastic surgeon Mr Kambiz Golchin is required.

This consultation will likely be a discussion about your expectations and requirements, as well as taking a full medical history and carrying out an examination of your face and neck. A medication review and facial assessment will also be done on the day. Mr Golchin, or one of our consultant plastic surgeons, will answer any questions you may have during the consultation, and will explain the procedure in greater detail as well as what to expect before and after your surgery.

Your surgeon will also explain the other procedures that we offer, including a neck lift, eyelid surgery and implants in the cheeks.

 

How much does a facelift cost?

Each procedure that is carried out at Beacon Face and Dermatology is bespoke to you. We don’t have a standard price list because our procedures are tailored to each patient. Everyone’s requirements are different because everyone’s genetics and lifestyles are unique. A face lift Ireland cost can vary wildly so we like to evaluate your current facial definition to better understand what is required.

Our consultation fees are included in the cost of the procedure, contributing towards the overall cost of your treatment. Which, as well as the procedure itself, also covers pre- and post-operative care including your hospital stay and the general anaesthetic.

If you wish to include any other procedures to restore a more youthful appearance to your face and neck, these will be at extra cost to your face lift procedure. If you want to find out how much a mini face lift ireland will cost or a thread face lift cost – please enquire with us.

 

What is the best age for a facelift?

The decision to have a facelift carried out is a personal one to make. There is no best age as each person’s skin is different and individual lifestyle choices will impact each patient differently. Our bodies stop producing collagen in our 30s, which make initial anti-aging options like Botox or dermal fillers a popular choice for younger people. But when these non-invasive procedures have been exhausted, a surgical procedure can be necessary to achieve the same aesthetic results you’re after.

However, saying that, we believe here at Beacon Face and Dermatology, that to get the best results, having the procedure carried out sooner rather than later, i.e. in your early to mid 40s will result in a longer, better outcome, than if you choose to leave it until you’re older.

The reason it’s recommended to have facelifts carried out as you reach 40+ is because the elasticity in skin begins to reduce as we age. But in our 40s, there is still sufficient elasticity to help achieve the desired outcome.

As well as a facelift, you might consider benefiting from other skin rejuvenation treatments alongside your facelift, to enhance and prolong it. Side note – if you’re concerned about the lasting effects of the sun on your skin, face lift surgery won’t remove fine lines.

 

How long do face lifts last?

Let’s start with the question – is a facelift worth it? Is a younger, more youthful appearance worth it? Our clients would categorically say yes.

A face lift removes sagging skin, tightening it where appropriate. It reduces the droopy appearance of aging cheeks, restoring them to their former glory. It lifts the corners of the mouth, reversing the aging process. It removes deep creases around the mouth. Healing only takes a few short weeks but the results last a long time, and surgical scars won’t be apparent to the casual observer.

While a face-lift can give your face and neck a more rejuvenated and youthful appearance, facelifts are not a permanent solution to the aging process. With further aging, the facial skin may begin to droop again.

In general, a face-lift can be expected to last 7-10 years. However, even as the skin begins to sag again, people who have undergone face lift surgery will still look younger than their actual age.

To maximise a face lift, we recommend alternative procedures are carried out alongside it, including a neck lift, eyelid surgery, chemical peels, cheek implants, forehead lift or a brow lift.

A face lift will not address photodamage i.e. sun damage caused to your face from sun exposure, or change the fundamental appearance of your face.

 

How painful is a face lift?

A face lift is a surgical procedure and shouldn’t be entered into lightly. During your procedure, your surgeon will carry out your facelift under a general anaesthetic because the surgery involves making numerous incisions to your face, usually starting behind the ear. You’ll be under general anaesthetic throughout the surgery, which could take between 2-3 hours. We will provide pain relief post-operatively to relieve any discomfort.

Your surgeon will apply bandages to the incisions behind the ear, providing gentle pressure to help reduce swelling and keep bruising to a minimum. They’ll also place a small tube under your skin or behind the ear, around the incisions, to allow any blood or fluid to drain out. These will be removed the following day and antibiotics will be administered to prevent infection.

Your bandages will remain in place for the first few days. They will be changed regularly. These will then be replaced with an elastic facial sling.

As a result of your surgery, you should expect to experience mild to moderate pain after your face lift. It will take between 2-4 weeks for your face to heal fully. Following your face lift, you’ll likely have visible bruising in the first two weeks. It’s incredibly common to experience a stiff, swollen and numb face in the weeks or months after your procedure. You might also find you have temporary bruising on your cheeks, but these will fade with time. Your scars will also fade, but they won’t become invisible.

The upside to this discomfort, however, is that your youthful appearance will become more apparent with each passing day. We tell our patients to expect to begin to see the positive effects of their surgery between 8-12 weeks post-operatively.

To maximise your face lift and to help you feel and look younger, for longer, there are ways to take care of your face after your surgery, that will prolong your face lift results, ensuring you remain beautifully young, beyond the lifespan of the facelift.

• Use sun protection when leaving the house, or better yet if you can, avoid sun exposure all together. Patients who protect their skin when exposed to the sun will enjoy their facelift for longer, as well as slow the re-appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
• Drink plenty of water to keep skin hydrated and plump.
• Consider non-invasive treatments to complement your facelift. Your plastic surgeon will work with you to decide the most appropriate non-surgical treatments that will enhance your facelift surgery.