Is it high time to give yourself a lift?

Perhaps you think you need a facelift because wrinkles and sagging skin are ageing your face. Perhaps you want a facelift to maintain your youthful face and stave off facial ageing problems. Whatever your age, whatever your goals, Costhetics wants you to find the best facelift for you.

Everybody’s Doing It in Australia

Facelifts are a popular cosmetic procedure in Australia. According to the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), there were 2,283 facelifts performed in Australia in 2020. This represents a 2.5% increase from the previous year, and the enthusiasm for nips and tucks is expected to continue to grow.

You may be wondering if you’re the right age for a face lift. Age is a factor in facelifts, but not the deciding one. The ASPS reports that the average age of people who get facelifts in Australia is 55 … but that’s an average. In truth, facelifts are popular (and beneficial) for people in their 40s through their 70s.

Are you thinking about a facelift? If so, we hope you will join us on an informative stroll through the Garden of Surgical and Non-Surgical Face Lifts …

The Top 10 Techniques

There are literally dozens of ways to rejuvenate the face. Surgery, minimally invasive surgery, injectables, and other techniques, continue to be popular. Here’s a quick look at the current top ten:

• Liquid facelift
• Jaw line rejuvenation
• Mini facelift
• S Lift
• Mid facelift
• Cutaneous skin (only) lift
• Temporal facelift or browlift
• MACS lift/quick lift
• Deep plane facelift
• Traditional facelift

Not yet available in Australia, the Y Lift is gaining popularity in the USA. It offers a unique injection technique that proponents say delivers a more natural-looking lift. This is because the filler material is placed deep into the skin, on top of the bone, to replicate the structure that the bone itself produces naturally.

We’ll talk more in a moment about some of the most popular of these face-saving procedures. But first …

Great Expectations: Why Do YOU Want a Facelift?

There are as many different reasons people give for wanting a facelift as there are people. Some of the most common physical reasons include:

• Improve the shape of the face
• Reduce jowls
• Lift the eyebrows
• Correct sun damage
• Improve the appearance of scars

From a psychological standpoint, men and women alike want facelifts:

• To look as young as they feel – As we age, our skin loses elasticity and begins to sag, making us look tired, and frankly, old. A facelift can help to lift and tighten the skin, giving the face a more youthful appearance.
• To live their best life at every age – Sagging skin and wrinkles can lead to a loss of self-confidence in some. A facelift can help to improve self-esteem and make people feel more confident in their appearance in business and social settings.

Let’s be real for a moment. It is important to note that a facelift is not a cure for ageing. It is a surgical procedure that can help to improve the appearance of the face, but it will not make you look like you did when you were 20.

The Traditional Facelift

The first recorded facelift was performed in 1901 in Berlin. Over the years, it made its way around the world to Australia, where it is the most common type of surgical facelift performed today.

A traditional facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that is used to lift and tighten the skin of the face and neck. The procedure involves making incisions behind the ears, in the hairline, and sometimes in front of the ear. The surgeon then lifts the skin and underlying tissues of the face, and then tightens and repositions them. Excess skin and fat may also be removed.

The recovery time for a traditional facelift is typically two to four weeks. You will experience some swelling and bruising, but this will usually go away within a few weeks. You will also need to wear a bandage for a few weeks to help reduce swelling.

Pros:

• Can improve the appearance of wrinkles, sagging skin, and jowls
• Can make you look younger and more refreshed
• Can boost your self-confidence
• Can last for several years

Cons:

• Involves surgery, which carries some risks
• Recovery time can be two to four weeks
• May require general anaesthesia
• Can cause scarring
• May not be suitable for everyone

According to 2020 statistics, the average cost of this procedure is $15,000.

The Deep Plane Facelift

In a facelift time warp, we’re going to jump from 1907 to 1970 when the term deep plane facelift entered the vocabulary of the aesthetics industry and changed the game. The procedure itself had already been around for 20 years, having been developed by a plastic surgeon in Sweden. Dr George Marcells was the first surgeon in Australia to offer the deep plane facelift.

A deep plane facelift, say advocates, makes a good thing better. It lifts the skin and underlying tissues of the face, but on a deeper plane than a traditional facelift. Going deep in this way allows the surgeon to reposition the tissues more effectively, which can result in a more natural looking and long-lasting result.

The incision for a deep plane facelift is typically made in the same location as a traditional facelift, behind the ears and in the hairline. However, the surgeon will also make an incision in front of the ear, which allows them to access the deeper tissues of the face.

The procedure for a deep plane facelift is more complex than a traditional facelift. The surgeon will lift the skin and underlying tissues of the face, and then separate them from the underlying muscles. The surgeon will then reposition the tissues and tighten them. Excess skin and fat may also be removed.

The recovery time for a deep plane facelift is typically longer than that for a traditional facelift. You may experience some swelling and bruising, but this will usually go away within a few weeks. You will also need to wear a bandage for a few weeks to help reduce swelling.

Pros:

• Natural-looking results
• Lifts the midface, neck, and jowls
• Can last for several years
• Less visible scarring than traditional facelifts

Cons:

• More invasive than traditional facelifts
• Longer recovery time
• More expensive than traditional facelifts

The results of a deep plane facelift can last for several years. However, the effects of ageing will eventually catch up, and you may need to have the procedure repeated. The cost for this surgery varies widely based on a variety of factors including the surgeon’s experience and expertise, as well as location. In Sydney, for example, the cost ranges from $19,000 to $35,000.

The Ponytail Facelift

“Remember when everyone was pulling their hair back into high, tight ponytails Bella Hadid-style to create a more sculptured look?” asks Allure Magazine in a recent online article. “That desire for a lifted, tightening effect has now been translated into a cosmetic surgery aptly coined the ponytail lift,” they report.

A ponytail facelift is a minimally invasive surgical procedure also known as a mini facelift, short scar lift, or endoscopic facelift. The incisions are made behind the ears and in the hairline, so they are hidden when the hair is pulled back into a ponytail.

The surgeon uses an endoscope, a thin, tube-like instrument with a camera at the end, to see inside the face. The surgeon then uses sutures to lift and tighten the muscles and tissues of the face.

The recovery time for a ponytail facelift is typically about two weeks. You will experience some swelling and bruising, but this will go away within a few days. You will also need to wear a bandage for a few weeks to help reduce swelling.

Pros:

• Less invasive than traditional facelifts
• Shorter recovery time
• Less scarring

Cons:

• Less dramatic results
• Not suitable for everyone
• May not last as long as traditional facelifts

The results of a ponytail facelift can last for several years. However, the effects of ageing will eventually catch up, and you may need to have the procedure repeated. The procedure may be out of reach for some, costing upwards of $30,000.

S Facelift

An S facelift, also known as a mini facelift, or short scar facelift, is a type of facelift that is less invasive than a traditional facelift. The incision is made in the shape of an S, starting in front of the ear and extending down the side of the face to the jawline.

The incision is smaller than the incision for a traditional facelift, which typically extends around the ear and down the side of the face to the neck. The surgeon lifts the skin and underlying tissues of the face, and then tightens and repositions them. Excess skin and fat may also be removed.

The recovery time for an S facelift is typically shorter than that for a traditional facelift. You may experience some swelling and bruising, but this will usually go away within a few weeks. You will also need to wear a bandage for a few weeks to help reduce swelling.

Pros:

• Natural-looking results
• Lifts the midface and neck

Cons:

• Longer recovery time than ponytail facelift
• More potential for scarring
• Less expensive that other facelifts

The results of an S facelift can last for several years. However, the effects of ageing will eventually catch up, and you may need to have the procedure repeated. The cost of an S-lift varies but starts at approximately $10,500.

A Word to the Wise Facelift Fan

If you are considering a facial rejuvenation treatment, whether it’s a traditional facelift or one of the newer, less invasive options, it is important to talk to a qualified surgeon to discuss your individual needs and goals. The surgeon can help you determine if this procedure is right for you and can answer any questions you have.

Don’t know a doctor or practice to contact? Costhetics does! Let us help you find a trusted professional in your area.