Face lifts are popular with both men and women and the best candidates for this type of surgery are those with realistic expectations; a face lift can’t make you look 18 again!  There is no set age for having this type of surgery, in fact, skin condition and texture are more important than age.  Ideal candidates are in good health and do not smoke.

The operation takes between two to five hours to perform and you are likely to be in hospital overnight.  A face-lift is commonly performed under a general anaesthetic, or with local anaesthetic and sedation.

Cuts (incisions) are made in front of the ear, extending up and forward along the hairline and, if necessary, up along the natural curve of the ear and back along the hairline. Mr Henley then restores the soft tissues to where they once were, contours them, redistributing and adding fat as necessary. Finally, your skin is redraped over its new foundation, with any surplus being carefully removed before closing the incisions.

Complications are usually minor, but all surgery carries a degree of risk. Mr Henley will discuss these risks with you in detail at your consultation.

A specific risk of which you must be aware is damage to the nerves of the face. This can cause weakness of movement of your eyebrow and lip. This is an uncommon complication, getting better over three to six weeks. However, permanent weakness has been reported by some surgeons.

Whilst not considered a complication, you will normally have numbness in your cheeks for three to six months. Other risks include bleeding or a collection of fluid forming underneath the skin. Wound healing can be slow, particularly if the area becomes infected, although infection is uncommon.  If identified and treated promptly at an early stage, infection is a minor complication with very little or no long-term consequences.

You will be provided with detailed written information to help you make an informed decision about any surgery.

There will be some discomfort following surgery and your face may feel tight when opening your mouth. Most people say that it is not a painful operation. Swelling and bruising is at its worst two or three days after surgery and you will look quite unpleasant. Sleeping upright in bed and the use of ice packs will help with this.

During the first week you may feel quite low, but this feeling should quickly pass over. Make sure that you have a good friend or relative around to lend support.

Within a week, stitches can be removed and after ten to fourteen days, you can think about returning to work or going out in public as most of the swelling and bruising will have settled down by this time. Within four weeks, you will be feeling more like yourself, albeit a younger looking version.

The results produced by a face lift are generally long lasting; it will turn the clock back but the face will continue to age naturally over time.