BACK TO BLOG

Will I have scars from a cosmetic facelift?

 

While we can’t turn back the clock, it is possible to reduce the physical signs of ageing through facelift surgery. Our expert facial surgeons have years of expertise performing cosmetic facelifts to rejuvenate the skin’s youthful appearance, resulting in smooth and full skin.

 

What is a facelift?

A facelift is a common cosmetic surgery treatment in which the skin is lifted and pulled back to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

 

Many patients who come to us seeking facial or neck rejuvenation have deep cheek folds, jowls, and loose skin around the neck. A facelift is particularly good for addressing these issues. There are three different types of facelifts which we offer here at Manchester Plastic Surgery: mini facelift, face and neck lift, extended facelift. 

 

When you’re researching the different types of surgical treatments, it can be common to have concerns with the risks, recovery time, and scarring. One question we often get asked is: ‘Will I have scars from a cosmetic facelift?’.

 

Many patients are concerned with scarring after a facelift. Here at Manchester Plastic Surgery, our experts do everything in their power to keep scarring to a minimum. Your scarring following your treatment will depend on which type of facelift you choose. 

 

A Mini Facelift

A mini facelift is the least invasive of the three treatments and therefore will leave the smallest scars. In fact, it is commonly referred to as a ‘short scar’ facelift for this reason. The mini facelift involves making small incisions in the front of the ear, the length of which will vary depending on your facial structure and requirements and which can be hidden within your natural hairline. 

 

Due to the fact it is a less invasive facelift procedure, a mini facelift also has a shorter recovery period than that of a face and neck lift or an extended facelift as there is less swelling and bruising. However, a mini facelift is more limited in scope and will only address the lower third of the face to give added definition to the jawline, combat cheek sagging, and remove the build-up of excess fat tissue.

 

A Face and Neck Lift

A face and neck lift is very similar to a mini facelift, though the incision extends further behind the ear than a mini facelift. This gives the surgeon more access to the neck area, allowing for enhanced corrections to the chin and jawline. 

 

Like a mini facelift, the incisions involved in a face and neck lift will be hidden within your natural hairline and behind your ear to ensure they are not visible after a couple of weeks post-treatment. 

 

Extended Facelift

An extended facelift is the most comprehensive of the three treatments. The incision will extend from the temple, down behind your ears, giving your surgeon greater access to your cheeks and forehead. This allows for the lifting of the lateral brow, crow’s feet, and upper cheek, for a rejuvenated appearance to the entire face. It is particularly effective for eliminating the folds of loose skin that can gather around the neck.

 

As with all facelift surgeries we perform at Manchester Plastic Surgery, your incisions will be hidden within your natural skin creases and hairline, so after the initial healing period, they will not be visible. 

 

However, the recovery time for an extended facelift is longer than both a mini facelift and a face and neck lift. Following an extended facelift, you will need to stay overnight in one of our private suites at Manchester Pines Hospital, where our expert after-care team will take great care of you.

 

An extended facelift is often coupled with a blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), a treatment which targets sagging eyelids, to give the entire face a more youthful and fresh appearance. Typically, in eyelid surgery, small incisions are made in the creases of your upper lids and just below the lashes on the lower lids. The incisions may extend to the crow’s feet or laugh lines at the outer corners of your eyes. Any incisions are closed with very fine sutures and hidden within the natural creases of your skin, to ensure there are no visible signs of eyelid surgery.

 

How we can help

No matter which type of facelift you choose, our expert surgeon, Mr Christopher Jones, will ensure that the site of the incision is hidden within your hairline or the natural creases of your skin, to guarantee that they won’t be visible.

 

As with any treatment, scars will heal and fade over time and will be very hard to see after just a couple of weeks. 

 

Feel free to browse our range of before and after pictures where you can see just how minimal the scarring is for our facelift surgery patients.

 

If you are considering any kind of cosmetic treatment and have concerns with regards to scarring, your consultation is the best place to ask any questions and express your fears. Our expert surgeons will give you their honest advice on which treatment would be right for you and what results to expect so you can feel confident that you’re in safe hands. You can book your consultation and start your facelift journey by completing the form below. 

If you would like to learn more about this procedure or are interested in a consultation, fill out the form below or call us on 0800 015 0622