Face and Neck lift

To many men and women, facial ageing is a very real concern. There are several reasons for someone desiring corrective facial surgery and thus many factors a cosmetic surgeon must take into consideration when evaluating a patient for surgery. These can be discussed in a consultation with the surgeon, but the following can answer a few basic questions generally sought after by someone considering this type of surgery.

The face is considered to be divided into three segments:

1. The upper face
2. The mid face
3. The lower face and neck

The upper face consists of forehead, eyebrow and eyelid area. Dropping brows and deep furrows in the forehead area can be corrected by an incision behind the hairline followed by elevation of the skin, which is then pulled tight and excess trimmed away. This tightens the forehead and widens the eye opening, muscles can be freed to release wrinkles and frown lines. Only a fine scar is left behind the hairline.

The mid face involves eyelids, nose and cheeks, down to the jaw line. The lax skin and muscle in this area produce deep wrinkles and folds running down from the nose and jowl formation. An incision extends from the temple downwards over the small cartilage bump in front of the ear to the earlobe. The skin is then freed and gently pulled back to give a youthful appearance.

An SMAS procedure can be performed which combines tightening of sagging facial muscles with the overlying skin which gives a more natural, longer lasting appearance. The scars are again hidden in the temple hair around the ear.

The lower face and neck ageing problems include formation of jowls (‘turkey neck’), double chins and fatty deposits in the neck area. The incision begins around the earlobe and extends behind the ear and in the hairline without being evident even with the hair pulled back. Liposuction to the neck and jowls is possible to remove the fatty deposits.