Face Lift ReviewThe effects of a facelift last for about 7 to 10 years so this is money well spent

A face lift can make the face tighter and smoother this can take years off your age but also make holes in your pockets.

A facelift (is also known as a rhytidectomy) this operation will lift up your facial skin and tissues or the underlying muscle, to make the face tighter and smoother, this will take years off your age but also make holes in your pockets.

Age can make your facial muscles become slacker and the skin on the face becomes less elastic and looser, which will create folds and lines. A facelift can reduce saggy skin and wrinkles to make you look younger.

Facelifts are sometimes performed on the whole face (a full facelift) and other just on the brow area, lower face, and neck only.

The effects of a facelift last for about 7 to 10 years. The best results are achieved in people who maintain a stable body weight and exercise more, as well as having skin with good levels of elasticity and a strong bone structure.

For people who spend a lot of time in the sun or abuse their body with UV light (also known as Ultraviolet Light), the effects are not long lasting so make sure you look after your skin as well as your new face.

It is important to discuss this with your surgeon before the operation and tell him/her what you want to achieve from having the operation, and the results you expect to see. A facelift will not affect the fine lines around the lips for example.

Other treatments may be used depending on how much you would like to spend. Some of the options available include the list below:

A chemical peel can also improve and smooth the texture of the facial skin by removing its damaged outer layers.

Tissue augmentation plumps out deep wrinkles with fillers, to make up for the loss of fullness to the skin that tends to occur with ageing.

Anti-wrinkle injections, where botulinum toxin (e.g. Botox) is injected into the facial muscles, which can flatten out skin wrinkles. This is particularly suitable for forehead wrinkles and "crows' feet".

Your surgeon will make a surgical cut around your hair line, past the front of your ears. Cuts may also be made under your chin, if you want to lift a sagging jaw line.

Your skin will then be carefully separated from the underlying muscles of your face. Then excess fat will be removed and the muscles will be tightened. The skin will then be lifted up, pulled back and any excess will be trimmed off. It will then be stitched back to the line where the cut was initially made.

A facelift operation generally requires one or two night stay in hospital. The operation lasts around three to four hours and will be performed under a general anaesthetic.

Your surgeon may ask you to give up smoking as smoking increases the risk of infection and slows the healing of wounds; and will increases the risk of blood clots in the legs.

Your surgeon will also ask you to stop taking any medication such as aspirin and anti inflammatory medicines two weeks before surgery as this may increase the risk of excessive bleeding.

For more information consult your doctor or the surgeon performing the operation.

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