Face and neck lift
As we age, our face also starts to change. Deeper wrinkles appear, the skin loses its elasticity and sags more due to gravity, and the volume at the level of the cheeks and cheekbones disappears. Furthermore, the skin at the level of the neck can also start to slack.
A facelift can counteract these changes. If there’s only sagging skin at the level of the face, a facelift will be sufficient. If there’s also some slackness at the level of the neck, it can be combined with a neck lift. Sometimes there’s a big loss in volume and these procedures are combined with lipofilling in the face to recreate a beautiful volume in the centre of the face.
The scar is placed at the level of the hairline and in front of the ear, and eventually won’t be visible after recovery. For a neck lift, the scar will be extended behind the ear towards the hairline. This way, the slack skin and the subcutaneous adipose tissue will be lifted and the excessive skin will be removed.
Preparation
- You must be fasting for this procedure under general anaesthetic.
- Timely smoking cessation is very important to prevent wound healing problems.
- When taking blood thinners, you should stop them in time. Be sure to discuss this with the surgeon during the consultation.
Postoperative course
- You’re not allowed to exert yourself or lift heavy loads for one week.
- The first week your face may be swollen or discoloured (blue), this disappear relatively quickly.
Possible complications
As with any surgery, this procedure carries a risk of bleeding, infection or impaired wound healing. Specifically for the face- and neck lift, there’s a risk of a (temporary) injury at the level of the facial nerve.