Who is a good candidate for facelift?

Anyone with skin laxity or wrinkles in the midface, lower face or neck

Is there an ideal age to have a facelift?

This depends on the way you are ageing, as people age at different rates – the right time is when the skin laxity and wrinkles are bothering you. Most people have facelifts between 45-65 years old, although ages vary from people in their 30s to 70s

What does a facelift do?

With ageing the skin, fat, and muscles of the cheeks and neck become loose and sag, resulting in lines and folds between the cheeks and lips, over the jawline, and in the neck. Facelift surgery “turns back the clock“, improving the visible signs of ageing by removing excess skin and fat and tightening the underlying muscles of the face and neck.

What technique of facelift does Dr Charles Cope use?

There are many techniques of facelifts, but full facelifts involve tightening the muscle/supporting structure of the face & neck, which gives a longer-lasting result with better scars compared to skin-only or mini-facelifts. Many patients also have facial fat transfer at the same time as a full facelift, which gives a better result in the midface. Dr Charles Cope will discuss options with you and be able to provide you with an individualised plan of what will fgive you the best result.

How do I avoid an obvious ‘facelifted‘ look?

No one should be able to tell that you have had a facelift – this comes down to skill & experience of the surgeon – a facelift performed by Dr Charles Cope will not look obvious or strange

How long does a facelift last?

A full facelift ‘turns back the clock’’ 10 years or more, while mini-facelifts may only last 3-4 years. However, you continue to age and develop more skin laxity and wrinkles with time. Many people have a second facelift 10-20 years later, and occasionally a third time, depending on your age when you first have surgery.

Do people have other procedures done at the time of facelift surgery?

Many people have other procedures performed at the same time as facelift surgery, the commonest being facial fat transfer, upper or lower eyelid surgery, perioral dermabrasion to improve lines around the mouth, and browlift.

Are there alternatives to a full facelift?

Mini-facelifts can be performed under local anaesthetic in the rooms, with quicker recovery, but do not produce as good a result and are not as long-lasting as full facelifts, which tighten the muscle layer of the face & neck. There are also non-surgical skin tightening lasers such as SkinTyteTM and Ultraformer IIITM, which improve skin laxity and wrinkles.

Are there any non-surgical alternatives to facelift surgery?

There are good skin-tightening devices such as SkinTyteTM and Ultraformer IIITM, which lifts and tightens by heating collagen causing immediate collagen contraction, followed by progressive collagen remodelling and tightening over the 6 months following the treatment. These are simple office treatments with no downtime. However, these treatments do not remove all skin laxity (are not as good as surgery) and need multiple treatments, but are options if you are not ready for surgery.

When is the best time of year to have a facelift?

While people have facelifts at any time of the year you need to wear a compression garment for 7-10 days – this is more comfortable in the cooler winter months. It is also easier to disguise the garment and bruising with scarves during winter. However, people often organise facelift surgery when they can best take time off work, at other times such as just before Christmas or in January if work is quiet then.

Where is the surgery performed?

A facelift is performed under general anaesthetic in an accredited hospital, with nearly all patients staying in hospital overnight to recover from the anaesthetic as the operation takes 2-3hours

Where will the scars be?

Incisions are hidden mainly within the hairline, starting in the natural crease in front of the ear, going under and behind the earlobe and back into the scalp, and usually there is also a small incision under the chin. Facial scars fade well and are rarely obvious long-term.

What will I be able to do in the first week after surgery?

During the first 7-10 days after surgery you need to rest and take things quietly at home. When you go home you need to wear a compression garment at all times except showering. The wounds need to be cleaned and have antiseptic ointment applied a few times a day. You need to come into the office a few times in the first 10 days for Manual Lymphatic Drainage & Omnilux (LED light) treatments to help the healing process.

When can I return to work and be able to play sport?