Injectables

A facelift is a solution for anyone who has to deal with the effects of natural skin ageing. Skin ageing is also a consequence of exposure to, for example, the different weather influences, stress and smoking. Your skin starts to wrinkle and look older. With the help of a facelift, both the subcutaneous connective tissue, muscles and skin are tightened. Your face will then look more youthful. Most people who have a facelift are between 35 and 70 years old. At a younger age, it is advised to resolve the first signs of ageing with an alternative treatment. Fillers or injectables then offer a great solution.

The exact treatment duration of the procedure differs per person and depends, among other things, on the type of facelift that is performed. The average treatment times are ±

• Mini-lift or S-lift, 2 hours
• MACS lift, 2 to 3 hours
• Full Facelift, 2 to 4 hours
• Neck lift, 2 to 4 hours

With a combination of several treatments, the treatment time will be longer. This will be explained during the initial interview.

You will not experience any pain from the procedure itself as a result of the anaesthetic. The method of anaesthesia, local, sedation or narcosis, depends on the treatment method chosen. The anaesthesia process, by means of injections, can be perceived as feeling slightly painful or sensitive. After the facelift, and the anaesthetic has worn off, you may experience pain. Your face and/or neck will be painful. If desired, you can use a painkiller. You can also regularly cool the treated area to relieve the pain. The pain will have disappeared after two weeks.

In particular, during the first days after the procedure, your face will not be visible as you will be wearing a bandage. Your face will be swollen, your eyes may be closed, and blue and red skin discolouration will be visible. The worst of the swelling and discolouration will have disappeared after two weeks.

The recovery time differs per person and depends on the type of facelift that has been performed on you. Your face will be bound up for the first few days. Due to the swelling and discoloration, you will not feel like doing anything during the first few days. Physical exertion is discouraged in the first week and bending over is also not permitted in the two weeks following the procedure. Heavier efforts such as lifting and carrying are only allowed after a month has passed. Most people who undergo a facelift go back to work after about two weeks, if the work and working conditions allow for this.

The purpose of the facelift is to tighten your skin so that your face looks more youthful and rested. You will have the same facial expressions as before the facelift. The risk is that a nerve is damaged during the surgical procedure, so that your facial expressions are no longer as expressive as before. This is why it is always important to choose a plastic surgeon who has demonstrable experience in performing a facelift.

The plastic surgeon will make the incisions so that they fall into your hairline or skin fold. The scar falls away here later and is hardly visible. It is true that a fresh scar takes 12 to 18 months to fade. As the months pass you will see that the scar takes on the colour of the surrounding skin.

Parts of the earlier wrinkles become less deep as a result of the facelift. However, a facelift has no direct influence on wrinkling in the neck and/or your forehead. The wrinkles that are present in these places can possibly be treated with a different treatment, a neck lift or a forehead lift. Natural wrinkles that go with your facial expression while laughing and talking still remain visible.

The duration in which the effects are visible vary per person. On average you can expect to enjoy 10 to 15 years of good results. The natural ageing process, however, cannot be stopped. Your lifestyle will also influence the duration of the results.

No, a facelift is a purely cosmetic procedure for which there are no reimbursement options.

As a result of the procedure you may experience problems and pain with opening and closing your mouth for the first few days. Chewing therefore may feel extra sensitive. It is recommended that you adjust your diet for the first few days and drink through a straw. Choose soft or liquid food.

Yes. Smokers are advised to stop smoking six weeks before the scheduled facelift and to continue refraining from smoking until the skin is fully restored. Smoking has a negative influence on the blood flow to both your body and skin and is not advantageous for recovery. In addition, the risk of secondary bleeding, infections and poor wound healing is greater in smokers.

Plan a facelift well before or after a sun holiday. After the operation, it is better not to swim or sunbathe for the first six weeks. The heat from the sun can cause swelling and worse, the scars can burn. Protect your skin well against the sun. Starting to swim too early can soften the wounds, so the recovery may take longer than expected.

Yes, provided that the procedure is performed in a suitable environment and by an experienced surgeon, it is a safe treatment with an extremely small chance of complications.