Duration
80-120 min
Anaesthesia
General
Hospitalization
1 night
Return to society
7 days

Wrinkles, anelastic and loose skin may affect the aesthetics of the whole face, making it old and tired. This is often the result of prolonged sun exposure, aging and everyday stress.

Face lift aims to improve the appearance of the face, counteracting the effects of gravity, reducing wrinkles, reshaping volumes and addressing localized fat. The goal of modern facelift is a natural, healthy and young appearance avoiding stretched and unexpressive faces.

Preoperative evaluation and planning


The procedure is tailored on the preoperative situation and patient desires. The aim of the facelift is to achieve a natural effect, donate a youthful aspect, counteract the effect of gravity and remove wrinkles. Unnatural, unexpressive and stretched appearance should be proscribed.

Procedure


Surgery is planned according to severity of skin laxity and the target region (e.g. full facelift, cervico-facial, middle face, cervical lift). This surgery consists of several procedures:

  • Dissection and removal of cutaneous excess. Excessive force should be avoided, preferring contained excision, able to confer a natural and youthful appearance.
  • Reshaping of adipose tissue. Facelift is effectively associated to liposuction, critical to eliminate fat deposits that can accumulate with age, altering the natural face contour
  • Re-anchoring and tightening of the facial aponeurotic system. This step is fundamental to give a youth and dynamic appearance without excessive stretching of the skin. This procedure is able to tighten and lift the facial subcutaneous tissue and muscles, preserving the dynamicity of a natural face.
Scars

The scars are usually planned in the folds or where they are less visible (hair, anterior and posterior ear surface). The incision may vary according to the employed technique. In fact, when a mild facelift is needed, a limited access and reduced dissection are performed (mini-facelift). Conversely, moderate to severe cutaneous laxity and excess may benefit from a complete facelift.

Surgery and postoperative period


This surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Instead the surgeon could carry a mini-face lift under local anesthesia with or without sedation.

In selected cases the surgeon could decide to introduce two drains, one on each side. These are soft silicone tubes that can be removed painlessly one or two days after surgery.

The operation requires one-two days of hospitalization. An elastic bandage is performed after surgery and should be left in place for about five days.

The patient is able to return to everyday life in a week. Sports and intense physical excercise are allowed one month after surgery.

Minimally invasive facelift


This procedure, also known as “MACS-lift” does not require an extended facial dissection like the complete facelift and employs lifting wires to produce the “lifting effect”. Although minimally invasive, this procedure is able to maximize the results and give a natural effect. Moreover, this procedure allows a quicker recovery and reduced hospitalization (one day or less).