It’s true that we all have a different attitude to ageing. We tell ourselves at a young age that we’ll grow old gracefully; we’ll leave our hair to go grey and embrace our smile lines. But as the years pass by, most of us find ourselves trying to fight the visible signs of ageing, wishing to retain a more youthful appearance.
While there are plenty of natural ways to stay young-looking, such as avoiding the sun and keeping hydrated, for many, wrinkles and fine lines will still appear. Facial surgery is an increasingly popular way to transform not only to how you look, but also how you feel.
What is a facelift?
A cosmetic facelift is a treatment that involves loose skin being lifted and tightened to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. At Manchester Plastic Surgery, we offer you the choice between three different types of facelift: a mini facelift, a face and neck lift, and an extended facelift – the right approach will depend on the condition of your skin and the results you would like to see.
Once you’ve decided a cosmetic facelift is right for you, we’ll arrange a consultation at our clinic in state-of-the-art Spire Hospital Manchester. At your consultation, Adam Goodwin, our specialist in all aspects of surgical and non-surgical facial rejuvenation, will help you decide which type of facial surgery would suit you best.
The mini facelift
A mini facelift, sometimes referred to as a ‘short scar’ facelift, is the least invasive form of facial surgery. It involves making small incisions from the front of the ear, which can generally be hidden within your natural hairline. The incisions will vary in length depending on your facial structure and requirements, though will usually run from the ear just up into the hairline.
From these incisions, the focus is on the lower third of your face, where excess fat will be removed from your chin and lower jawline. The surgeon will gently pull the underlying tissue upwards towards the ear where it is secured in place, any excess skin will then be carefully removed. This works to tighten the appearance of the jaw and chin, restoring a more youthful look and removing jowls.
One of the great benefits of a mini facelift is that it can often be carried out under local anaesthetic, reducing your stay in hospital post-op. Similarly, this form of cosmetic facelift has the quickest recovery time, with limited bruising and swelling.
Face and Neck Lift
Like a mini facelift, this kind of facial surgery concentrates on the lower section of the face and extends down into the neck. The centre of the neck is an area which people commonly wish to target as it can be a key location for loose skin to gather or deep wrinkles to form.
A face and neck lift involves creating an incision behind the ear, up into the hairline. This provides access to the neck, allowing your surgeon to correct any problems you’ve identified beneath your chin and jawline.
It is common to combine this type of cosmetic facelift with liposuction or fat removal. Occasionally, people combine the face and neck lift with a procedure called platysma, which works to tighten the neck muscles under the chin to improve skin elasticity, bringing a youthful tightness back to the lower face and neck regions.
The Extended Face Lift
The extended face lift is the longest of the three facial surgeries. It involves the same procedure as a face and neck lift, though the incision extends from behind the ear, up into the temples, to give your surgeon access to your cheeks and forehead. This type of cosmetic facelift is a perfect solution for those concerned with the appearance of their brow, forehead, or crow’s feet, and is great for helping to smooth out deeper wrinkles.
If you are concerned with the appearance of your chin, an incision may also be made there to tighten skin and remove any excess fat from the area. It is also common for an extended facelift to be combined with a blepharoplasty, a procedure which targets sagging eyelids. Addressing all of these areas of concern works to bring a youthful, rejuvenated appearance to the entire face.
Unlike a mini-facelift, an extended facelift is often performed under general anaesthetic and requires an overnight stay in our private clinic, where you will receive the ultimate standard of care from our expert aftercare team.
What to do next?
If you’re longing to turn back time and reverse the signs of ageing, please do get in touch to arrange an initial consultation where we will be happy to explain each procedure in more detail and help you decide which one is right for you.
