Facelift Surgery
Dr Rory Dower and his team of professionals understand that signs of ageing in the face typically culminate in a number of different areas. Youthful characteristics in the facial tissue can often be lost in the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, skin laxity, diminished facial volume or a combination of all of these factors. These developments can be accelerated by natural forces, such as genetics, ageing, sun exposure, weight fluctuation and others, making men and women look older than they actually feel. Our practice, in Cape Town, South Africa, wishes to provide effective, high-quality care for all of our patients’ unique aesthetic desires. For individuals seeking to thoroughly diminish signs of ageing, facelift surgery can be a powerful solution that addresses a wide range of cosmetic concerns, yielding results that both look and feel natural. The final cosmetic outcome provided by facelift surgery is unparalleled in both effectiveness of treatment and longevity, typically allowing patients a refreshed and rejuvenated appearance for longer than most other enhancement options currently available.
In general, a facelift is designed to firm, smooth and tighten facial skin for a younger-looking appearance. By reshaping and repositioning the soft tissue beneath the skin, prominent signs of ageing can be diminished, while the youthful contours of the face can become more visible. After intent discussion about your reasons for surgery, Dr Dower can develop a personalized treatment plan to address your concerns and provide beautiful, long-lasting results that are tailored to fulfill your aesthetic goals.
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Benefits of a Facelift
With a surgical facelift, the general approach taken by Dr Dower is to provide natural-looking facial enhancement without creating an overstated appearance. The potential benefits of a facelift vary according to the needs and skin tissue anatomy of each patient, but overall, a facelift can comprehensively reduce or improve the appearance of:
- Loose or sagging skin in the face or neck
- Prominent wrinkles
- Jowl formation
- Volume loss in the cheeks and/or mid-face
- Excess fat in the cheeks, neck and/or jowls
In order to ensure an outcome that is as natural-looking as possible, it is often helpful for patients to bring a photo of themselves from 10-15 years past to their consultation. This visual aid can give Dr Dower a clearer understanding of how to achieve your aesthetic ideal, while ensuring your surgical results align with your expectations.
No words can explain the care and kindness I experienced with Dr Dower and his team. Dr Dowers skills as a surgeon far exceeded my expectations, and I have never been happier. Having spent a few days after my facelift surgery at Dr Dowers clinic, I cannot begin to thank his team for all their sincere care and thoughtfulness. The aftercare made all the difference to my recovery. Thank you again to Dr Dower and his amazing team!
Candidates for a Facelift
Ideal candidates for facelift surgery have notable skin laxity, deep creases and/or volume loss in the face, and desire a long-lasting solution to these aesthetic facial concerns. While there are many preconceptions about the best age to undergo a facelift, age is not as much of a determining factor in facelift surgery as individual need. A facelift is a dynamic rejuvenative tool that can improve a variety of concerns at once, providing outstanding results unmatched by any other enhancement option. Therefore, many individuals who have the requisite cosmetic concerns and are seeking enduring results can be good candidates for a facelift. However, it is important for candidates to be in relatively good health prior to surgery. Smokers must be willing to temporarily abstain from tobacco before, during and after the operation to minimize the risk of possible complications.
Dr Dower can examine your medical history and unique anatomical features to help you determine whether a surgical facelift would be beneficial.
Individuals who are not candidates for surgery may be able to achieve their desired results with the range of non-surgical facial rejuvenation procedures offered at our medical spa in Somerset West, South Africa. Options such as injectables, chemical peels, dermal fillers and other conservative treatments can also provide natural-looking facial enhancement for many patients whose needs cannot be met with a surgical facelift.
About the Facelift Procedure
Facelift surgery typically addresses the lower two-thirds of the face, from the upper cheeks extending down to the neck. This area is often where signs of ageing, such as jowl formation or skin laxity in the cheeks, are most apparent. Depending on a patient’s needs, the surgery can be combined with other procedures offered by Dr Dower—such as eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) or a brow lift—in order to provide more comprehensive facial enhancement.
While it is possible for a facelift to be performed on an outpatient basis, Dr Dower’s advanced technique performing the surgery typically requires an overnight stay. In general, a surgical facelift involves reshaping the layer of soft tissue covering the facial muscles—termed the SMAS layer—to restore the youthful characteristics of your facial skin. Dr Dower uses the high-SMAS technique in facelift surgery, a procedure requiring greater levels of surgical proficiency than other approaches. This method involves an expert repositioning of the deep SMAS layer in such a way that generally allows the cosmetic result to look incredibly natural. By opting for this technique over others, the appearance of an “overdone” or “tightened” aesthetic can be avoided. General anaesthesia is utilized. Depending on your needs, Dr Dower may recommend combining a facelift with other non-surgical rejuvenation treatments to optimize the overall outcome.
Real Patient Results
Recovery from a Facelift
Following surgery, patients may notice some degree of bruising or swelling. These reactions can be managed with oral pain medication and typically diminish as healing progresses. Specific recovery information is based on the complexity of an individual’s treatment plan, and Dr Dower will provide detailed post-operative instructions prior to or after the operation. Generally, plenty of rest is essential to facilitate the healing process. Many patients can engage in light activity the day after surgery, with a full return to normal activity expected in one to two weeks.
Results from a Facelift
After surgery, patients generally report smoother and tighter facial skin for a reinvigorated and more youthful aesthetic. Dr Dower’s surgical expertise and prioritization of patient care typically allow any residual scarring from incisions to be hidden within an individual’s hairline. The ultimate results of a facelift typically improve within six to eight weeks while swelling continues to dissipate.
While a facelift can provide exceptional results, proper skin care and protection from sun exposure is of the utmost importance to prolong the cosmetic outcome. The natural ageing process will continue, but individuals can maintain their rejuvenated facial appearance with non-surgical “touch-up” treatments from our medical spa.
FAQs about Facelift Surgery
What other procedures can be done during facelift surgery?
Harmony and balance are important in facelift surgery and for this reason the best results are achieved when all the facial units are addressed.
The high-SMAS facelift addresses many of the components of facial ageing, not only around the lower face (jowls, jawline and neck) but also the mid-face (cheeks and nasolabial folds). It does not however address the upper face (forehead and eyes) or volume loss. To address these concerns, many patients opt to have eyelid surgery and/or a brow lift, as well as fat grafting at the time of their facelift surgery.
Fat grafting helps to restore volume to the areas that need it most, such as the forehead, temples, around the eyes, cheeks, jaw line and lips. A gentle liposuction technique is used to remove fat from the thighs, abdomen or flanks, and once processed, this fat is injected into various areas of the face, as needed.
What can I expect post-operatively?
Your stitches will usually be removed a week after surgery. You can expect a fair amount of swelling and bruising, but the bruising should resolve after two to three weeks. Swelling usually takes a little longer to go away. You can expect to look better at four weeks than you did before surgery, and you can plan to make an appearance at a big event or special occasion roughly six weeks after your surgery.
How young will I look and how long does it last?
You can expect a facelift to make you look at least 10 years younger. Although one’s face continues to age, with time, you will still look younger in 10 years than your contemporaries who have never had surgery.
What can I do to prepare for a facelift?
Optimising skin health before a Facelift is one of the best ways to prepare for surgery and ensure a beautiful result. Dr Dower’s aestheticians are trained to advise his patients on a personalised treatment plan leading up to surgery. If you would like to learn more about this, please let us know and we will advise you further.
What are the risks of facelift surgery?
As with all surgeries, a high SMAS facelift carries with it some risks, which Dr. Dower will discuss with you at your consultation prior to your surgery. Recovery time after surgery can vary, depending on your own healing process as well as the number of additional procedures you’ve opted for.
For more information about our facial rejuvenation options, or to schedule a consultation, please contact our practice today to speak to a friendly member of our team.
