Can a facelift last 20 years?

If you’re considering a facelift, there are several factors to carefully consider beforehand. How long will the results last is one of the key questions.

Highly distinguished consultant plastic surgeon, Mr Ayad Harb provides a comprehensive overview of facelift aesthetic surgery, ways to make a facelift procedure last longer and what can patients expect from a clinic offering such treatment.

How is a facelift surgery performed?

A type of plastic surgery, a facelift (or a rhytidectomy) is a surgical procedure that tightens and smooths out the skin on your face. Including the jowls and the neck, a facelift is commonly used to reduce the appearance of dropping or flabby skin, particularly around the lower part of the face.

Depending on the unique circumstances of the patient to be operated on, facelift surgeries in the UK are conducted in a variety of ways. Treated on a case-by-case basis, each patient receives a personalised treatment and surgery plan that is designed to keep risks to a minimum while achieving the individual’s desired aesthetic outcome. Due to the areas offering the most potential for recognisable results, the standard method for facelift surgeries usually involves strategically making incisions along the hairline, or near the ear. The surgeon chooses the type of anaesthesia and the location of the incisions when planning the operation.

Until your desired smoothness is achieved, the skin is pulled, stretched and secured in place, following the incision. This surgical treatment addresses most signs of ageing in the face, including skin sagging, wrinkles and lines, when it is done properly.

What type of patient benefits the most from a facelift?

Due to visible signs of ageing beginning to appear, in most cases, a facelift is most effective for individuals in their 40s, 50s and 60s. Deep lines, creases, fine lines, and sagging caused by the ageing process, are all common prompts for people to begin considering this form of treatment.

However, before undergoing any form of facial cosmetic surgery, such as a facelift, there are a number of factors to consider. First and foremost, you must be a good candidate for surgery. To be able to undergo a general anaesthetic, you should be in excellent general health. The procedure involves stretching the skin to reduce wrinkles during the surgery, so you must also have well-defined facial bones, as well as smooth and resilient skin. Optimal outcomes will be achieved for patients with a firm underlying bone structure.

Most importantly, so that you do not have unrealistic expectations, candidates for the operation should fully comprehend the limitations of the surgery. For the best results, patients who smoke should give up this habit for at least one or two weeks before the surgery, and at least a week or two afterwards.

Can I achieve a natural look with a facelift?

Helping you regain your youthful looks - to a certain extent - non-surgical facelift procedures can offer some of the most natural-looking results of any form of cosmetic surgery. Provided you use a first-class clinic for their procedure, surgical facelifts can also help with specific skin issues. For example, features like wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin can be eliminated with the help of a facelift procedure. With results that can last for longer than other non-surgical techniques, you may be able to reclaim your youthful looks with this treatment.

What exactly is a full facelift?

Generally including the brows, eyes, jawline, and neck, a full facelift entails the entire face being lifted: it’s more than a simple one-off operation. Various operations are required on separate occasions for each anatomical region, because the entire face is lifted.

What can I do to prolong the results of a facelift procedure?

Very long-lasting effects can be managed with facelifts, and if it wasn’t for the body’s natural ageing process, the results of treatment might as well be considered permanent.

You will never be able to stop the ageing process completely, although regular exercise, a healthy diet, and avoidance of bad habits can slow it down. In most cases, your age at the time of surgery tends to determine the length of time that you can expect to experience your new youthful look. Nevertheless, in some cases, the effects of facelifts can last for up to 20 years.

One thing you should do, is to adopt a good skincare routine. Especially after undergoing a facelift procedure, you should always consider what type of creams you put on your skin. Help yourself to achieve better results, and delay the natural ageing process for as long as possible, by investing in high-quality skincare products after your treatment.

Providing protection, professional skincare products will properly wash, moisturise, and nourish your skin. Just as you would do with any other skincare regime, you should be consistent in carrying out your new skincare routine, and carefully follow all instructions to benefit from the expected results. As well as prolonging the beneficial aspects of the procedure, the time you spend each day taking care of your skin will have a major impact on its appearance. In terms of time and money, this makes adopting a skincare routine worthwhile.

Staying out of the sun is the other thing you should do. Worldwide, sun exposure is the leading cause of premature ageing, although here are some things that can help, because it isn’t practical, or reasonable, to stay in the shade all of the time.

Using a good quality cream with a high sun protection factor (SPF), make sure you apply sunscreen before going outside, if you have no choice but to expose your skin to the sun. Always wear a hat and sunglasses, and wear clothing that will cover most of your skin. For the best possible effects, I always recommend you combine the above actions. Over time, any sun damage can be prevented, even in the UK’s not uncommon gloomy weather. Slowing down the ageing process will, in turn, allow you to enjoy the results of your facelift for longer.

How long does it take to see results after undergoing a facelift?

You’ll look your best from the six months point onwards, although typically, cosmetic results from your facelift will start to be visible about a month after the intervention. Usually for many years to come, a facelift will offer long-term benefits and many facelift patients don’t feel the need for additional work for a further 12-14 years, even though every individual’s ageing process is different.

What is the cost of a facelift surgery?

Don’t decide to have a facelift on the spur of the moment, but be sure about your reasons for wanting one if you’re considering undergoing a facelift. As well as risks, the operation is likely to be expensive and have uncertain outcomes.

Depending on the extent of the treatment, and ranging from clinic to clinic, facelift surgery in the UK can be very expensive. From a few thousand pounds for a minor makeover to £10,000 for a face and neck lift, are the usually expected prices for a facelift surgery.

The expense of any consultations or follow-up treatment that may be required should also be considered.

Can I get a facelift without undergoing surgery?

Being a surgical technique, a facelift comes with all of the risks associated with any surgery. There are two treatments that may appeal patients more if they prefer not to undergo surgery.

The first one is lip enhancing. As you get older, your lips become thinner. You can recapture the fuller appearance of the lips that you had in your youth with the use of a filler, such as hyaluronic acid, which also offers a protective lubricating function. The effects of this filler last around six months. However, your doctor may advise you against this type of injection if you often suffer from cold sores.

The second one is cheek plumping. Reducing creases and hollows, calcium hydroxylapatite is a filler that is administered through injections, to add fullness to your cheeks. It is sometimes referred to as a “volumiser”, because its effects include increasing the volume in this area of your face if this has diminished. Commonly known as the tear troughs, you could also consider inserting a filler into the half-moon depressions under your eyes.

How much does a non-surgical facelift cost in the UK?

Subject to the extent of the work being carried out, the price depends. For example, a comprehensive facelift might demand up to 20ml, but a small-scale procedure might only require 5ml of filler. The majority of facelifts lie somewhere in the middle. For a non-surgical facelift, the overall price range is usually between £1,200 and £6,400.

Mr Ayad Harb is a recognised consultant plastic and aesthetic surgeon with private clinics in London and Bicester, who specialises in non-surgical nose correction, facelifts, blepharoplasty and body lifts. If you’re considering a facelift, and would like to find out more about the possibilities of this surgery, make sure to visit Mr Harb’s Top Doctors profile today.