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Facelift Sydney

A facelift, also known as meloplasty, is a cosmetic plastic surgery procedure aimed at rejuvenating the face, cheeks, and jowls.

Facelifts can be combined with other procedures such as eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), brow lifts, and neck lifts. It all depends on what a patient needs to produce full facial rejuvenation and improve signs of ageing on the neck and face.

As we age, the face undergoes several changes – nobody can escape the natural ageing process. These include the loss of volume in the upper and mid-face and descent of the soft tissues of the face.

Facelift Sydney - Dr André Safvat - Plastic Surgeon Sydney

Every patient is affected differently. There are many other factors that also affect these changes, including smoking, weight gain or loss, genetics, excess sun exposure and excessive facial animation.

Facelift Techniques

A facelift is performed under general anaesthetic in fully accredited hospitals. Dr Safvat only works with highly trained anaesthetists accredited with the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. The operation time varies depending on the number of procedures needed to rejuvenate the face. This can range from three to six hours.

Early facelifts just focused on tightening the skin. Unfortunately, the skin stretches, so the results of these skin-only facelifts were very short-lived. Dr Safvat only utilises the most modern facelift techniques. These involve repositioning the supporting structures under the skin, the SMAS (Superficial Musculo Aponeurotic System), to a more youthful position.

Excess skin is then resected without any tension on the suture line, ensuring better healing and longer-lasting, more natural results. The incisions are hidden and quite inconspicuous. They’re placed either just around the ear (short scar/mini facelift) or extend to the hairline above and behind the ear (long scar). The choice of the incision technique generally depends on the amount and the site of excess skin that requires removal.

Restoring volume to the mid-face sometimes requires fat injection (fat grafting). It involves the removal of fat from other areas of the body and placing it in the face, resulting in a more youthful appearance. A bonus side effect of fat grafting is its high concentration of stem cells, which also improves the quality and texture of the surrounding skin and tissues.

Often, multiple procedures are combined to address the different effects of ageing on the whole face and neck. This helps achieve overall facial harmony and youthfulness. For example, upper and lower blepharoplasties are undertaken to rejuvenate the tired look of the eyes. The mid-face can be improved with fat injections or a facelift to produce more dramatic results. A neck lift can be performed with or without liposuction and platysma tightening to address the neck.

The most appropriate procedure or combination of procedures required will be decided on during a personalised consultation with Dr Safvat. The aim is to produce youthful, yet natural results.

Recovery

Following a facelift, patients often need to spend a night or two in hospital. This is followed by two to three weeks at home to rest and recover.

Swelling and bruising will be quite significant during the first two weeks. A compression garment will need to be worn during this time to reduce swelling.

Any activities that would increase blood pressure should be avoided for at least a month, if not longer. Even taking short walks too soon could affect your recovery and results. To be safe, it’s best to avoid exercise for at least six weeks.

Patients need to wait several months to see the final results of their surgery. Results will last at least five to ten years before the natural ageing process starts taking effect again.

Facelift FAQs

How much does a facelift cost?

Since a facelift is a cosmetic procedure, it is not covered by Medicare or Health Funds. There are several factors that contribute to the final cost of a facelift, including whether or not it’s paired with additional procedures. Surgeon, anaesthetist and hospital fees will make up the bulk of the cost. Once Dr Safvat has discussed your requirements with you, his team will provide you with a more accurate cost.

What facelift complications should I be aware of?

Any surgical procedure can be associated with some general complications. This includes risks associated with general anaesthetics, collection of blood (haematoma) or other fluids (seroma), and mild to severe infection. Having your procedure done in an accredited hospital minimises risks. Dr Safvat prescribes antibiotics upon discharge to minimise infection risks.
Dr Safvat will go through the risks with his patients in detail.

What should I do before a facelift?

Smoking has been shown to cause more complications after facelifts, particularly in men. Patients will need to stop smoking at least four weeks before their surgery and continue to do so to at least one-week post-surgery. There are also specific types of medications and supplements that could cause excess bleeding and bruising.

You will need to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and you may need some help at home for a few days after your procedure. 

What can I expect in terms of scarring after a facelift?

How the incisions are made and where they are placed will determine how visible scarring is. Unfortunately, scarring can’t be avoided but it can be kept to a minimum. Dr Safvat does everything possible to keep scarring hidden in the natural creases of the skin and the hairline. We will also provide you with wound care and scar management tips to ensure they fade correctly. After a year, most facelift scarring is hardly visible.

Who is the ideal candidate for facelift surgery?

A facelift candidate is a man or woman who wants to reverse the signs of ageing in a more dramatic way. Patients younger than 45 can still benefit from other non-surgical treatments to address common signs of ageing. However, after a certain age, it’s more effective to tighten and lift the skin to create a more youthful appearance. The majority of facelift patients are 50 years and older. With this being said, everyone ages at a different rate. There are also other factors such as genetics, weight loss and lifestyle that play a role in how quickly someone ages.

Is it necessary for me to combine my facelift with a neck lift?

A neck lift and facelift are very often combined to achieve a more harmonious final result. By undergoing a facelift and forgoing a neck lift, your neck may end up looking much older. However, if there are no clear signs of ageing on the neck, a lift isn’t necessary. Combining procedures is beneficial in the sense that it can lower costs and you’ll only need to plan for one recovery. Dr Safvat can tell you whether it’s necessary to undergo both procedures. There’s also no need to undergo both procedures at the same time. However, it does make more sense to do so. A facelift can be combined with other procedures too – it all depends on your specific needs.