Full Facelift
When the sagging at your cheeks and jawline is lifted back to where it belongs, your face often looks more rested and more defined. Still you, only a less tired version.
Is this right for you?
A full facelift is surgery to lift the sagging tissue of the lower face and neck. It is not only about pulling skin. It lifts and repositions the layer of muscle and connective tissue beneath the skin (this layer is called the SMAS), and only then is the overlying skin adjusted. The aim is to restore the contour of your cheeks, jawline, and neck to a firmer position. Because this is a real change to the structure of your face, whether it suits you depends a great deal on your skin, your soft tissue, and your overall health. Here is how to tell whether this approach is a fit for you.
This may be a good fit if
- You notice your cheeks and jawline starting to drop, creating a fold from the side of your nose down to the corner of your mouth, or jowls (looseness along the jawline), and you want these areas lifted.
- Your skin and soft tissue still have some elasticity, so the tissue can heal well once it has been repositioned.
- Your general health is stable enough for surgery under anaesthesia, and any underlying conditions are well controlled.
- You do not smoke, or you are willing to stop before and after surgery as directed, because smoking clearly raises the risk of slow healing and skin loss.
- You hold realistic expectations: you understand that surgery improves the sagging but does not stop ageing going forward, and that results differ from one person to the next.
This may not be right if
- Your main concern is fine surface lines, pigmentation, or skin quality. These usually call for other approaches, such as skin care or surface treatments, and your doctor will talk this through with you.
- You smoke heavily and are not ready to stop, because the risk of slow wound healing and skin flap loss rises considerably.
- You have a condition that is not well controlled, a bleeding disorder, unstable blood pressure, or an active infection on the face that needs treating first.
- You are hoping to look exactly like a photo or like someone else, or your expectations are not yet clear and you need more time to consider.
How it works
Everything starts with a consultation. Your doctor listens to what concerns you, examines your facial skin, how much the tissue has dropped, the jawline, and the neck, and asks about your medical history, the medicines you take, and whether you smoke. From there your doctor discusses which areas should be lifted and by how much, the likely technique, and what surgery can and cannot do in your case. You also have routine pre-operative tests, and the anaesthetist sees you beforehand.
There are a few things to prepare before the day of surgery. You will be guided to stop certain medicines and substances that can cause bleeding, to stop smoking, and to fast as directed before your start time. Surgery is usually done under general anaesthesia, or under local anaesthesia with sedation depending on the case. The length of surgery varies with how much is involved.
The incision usually runs around the ear. It begins at the temple within the hairline, follows the crease in front of the ear, curves around the earlobe to behind the ear, and into the hairline at the back. Because of this, most of the scar sits hidden in the hair and along the natural creases around the ear. When the neck needs work, there may be a small extra incision under the chin. Through these openings, your doctor releases and lifts the SMAS layer underneath, repositions the tissue to a firmer place and secures it, and only then adjusts the overlying skin and removes the excess in measured amounts. A facelift done well tightens the deep layer beneath, not the skin pulled taut.
Throughout, your doctor works carefully around the branches of the facial nerve (which control the movement of your facial muscles) and the sensory nerves of the ear, because these are important structures within the surgical area. Once the shaping is complete, your doctor controls any bleeding thoroughly, closes the incision, and usually applies a supportive pressure dressing around the face and neck. In some cases a small drain is placed for a short time to let fluid escape. Whether you stay overnight for observation depends on the anaesthesia method and your condition.
Realistic expectations
The surgery aims to lift the sagging at your cheeks and jawline so your face looks more defined and rested, and for many people, more at ease when they look in the mirror. Swelling and bruising on the face are quite marked in the early stage, so the contours only become clear as the swelling settles, and the result is considered close to final after several months. There are things this surgery does not set out to do, and saying so plainly from the start will help you picture it correctly.
What this will not do
- It will not stop ageing. Surgery resets your starting point, but your skin and soft tissue keep changing over time.
- It will not do much for fine surface lines, pigmentation, or skin quality. Those need other care or treatments.
- It will not change the area around your eyes, your forehead, or your brows. If those areas concern you, your doctor can discuss separate procedures done alongside.
- It will not create a different face or one that matches a photo. The aim is to lift your own features in a way that looks balanced and natural.
Recovery
Recovery happens in stages, and everyone moves at their own pace. The first days usually bring swelling, bruising, and a feeling of tightness across the face and neck. Numbness around the surgical area and the ear is common too. Most people manage well with the medicines your doctor prescribes and proper rest. The points below are rough estimates to help you picture the path, not exact figures for you alone.
- The first few days
- Swelling and bruising on the face and neck usually build and peak somewhere around 3 to 5 days. Tightness and numbness around the ear are quite common. You wear the pressure dressing, rest with your head raised, apply cold compresses as directed, and take your medicines as prescribed. If a drain is in place, it is usually removed early in this stage.
- About 1 to 2 weeks
- The most obvious swelling and bruising begin to ease. Stitches or staples are checked and removed on schedule. Many people consider returning to office work in this stage if they feel comfortable, depending on how much swelling and bruising remains.
- About 3 to 6 weeks
- You gradually return to normal daily life. Strenuous activity, heavy lifting, and any impact to the face are usually limited until your doctor gives the go-ahead. Numbness and tightness keep improving.
- About 3 to 6 months
- The deeper swelling that remains fades away, the contours of your cheeks and jaw show more clearly, and the scars begin to soften and lighten. This is when the result comes close to its final look.
- About 6 months to 1 year
- Scars keep fading and flattening. Any remaining change in the feeling of the skin in the surgical area usually settles during this stage.
Risks & safety
Every surgery carries risk, and you deserve to hear it straight. Most of these problems do not happen to most people, but you need to know them so you can weigh your choice and recognise them early if they do occur. Your doctor will discuss the specifics based on your situation.
- Haematoma — blood collecting under the skin that needs treating, sometimes requiring a return to surgery to remove the clot. This is one of the more common early complications, and it tends to happen more in men and when blood pressure is not well controlled.
- Injury to the facial nerve, causing temporary weakness or paralysis of some facial muscles (for example, difficulty lifting the corner of the mouth or closing the eye). Most recover gradually, but rarely it can last longer or become long-standing.
- Numbness or changed sensation in the facial skin, around the ear, and in the earlobe, from effects on the sensory nerves. This is usually temporary but can sometimes persist.
- Slow wound healing or partial loss of skin (a flap that does not get enough blood supply). The risk rises clearly in smokers and in people with underlying blood vessel disease.
- Poor scarring, raised or keloid scars, widened scars, or changes to the hairline and the shape of the earlobe around the surgical area.
- Infection, bleeding, swelling that lasts longer than expected, or temporary hair loss around the incision.
- Asymmetry between the two sides, a result that is not what you hoped for, or the need for further corrective surgery. There are also the risks of anaesthesia, which the anaesthetist assesses separately before surgery.
How we do it
A full facelift is surgery in an area with many important structures, especially the branches of the facial nerve. So it calls for a clear understanding of the anatomy and a plan built around your own skin and tissue. For this reason, the surgery should be performed by a specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, at a hospital licensed for cosmetic surgery. At The Gioi Dep, every case starts with a careful examination and plan, so the direction of the lift and the extent of the surgery suit your real structure rather than fitting a single template.
Because this is surgery under anaesthesia with deeper work involved, every case has a pre-operative anaesthesia review by an anaesthesia and critical care doctor, with monitoring and an inpatient stay after surgery to hospital standards. The doctors talk through your anaesthesia options, the likely technique, and the after-surgery monitoring. You are guided on wound care, wearing the pressure dressing, follow-up visits, and how to reach us when you need to. The doctors are also honest about what your skin and tissue allow, and what they do not, before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the surgery very painful?
During surgery you feel no pain, thanks to anaesthesia. Afterward, the more common feeling is tightness, swelling, and soreness in the face and neck rather than severe pain. Pain relief taken as directed helps keep this in check. The discomfort eases as the swelling starts to settle over the first days.
Will the scars show?
The incision usually runs around the ear and stays hidden in the hairline, following the natural creases, so most of the scar sits in a discreet place. Scars are usually red and noticeable early on, then fade and flatten over many months. Healing differs from one person to the next, and your doctor will explain this carefully at your consultation.
How much time off work do I need?
Many people consider returning to office work after about 1 to 2 weeks, once the swelling and bruising have eased and they feel comfortable. Because swelling and bruising on the face are fairly noticeable in the early stage, you should plan for a comfortable amount of time off. Heavier work takes longer. This is a rough estimate, not a fixed figure.
Will the result look natural?
The aim is to lift your own features so your face looks more defined and rested while still being you, not a stiff face or a copy of a photo. A natural result comes from lifting the deep layer underneath rather than pulling the skin taut. No one promises a specific result, and outcomes differ from one person to the next.
How long does the effect last?
The surgery lifts tissue that has already sagged, but it does not stop ageing. Your skin and soft tissue keep changing over time, so your face will age naturally from a new starting point. How long it holds differs from one person to the next, depending on your body, your lifestyle, and your care.
Am I too old for a facelift?
There is no rigid age limit. What matters more is your general health, the quality of your skin and tissue, and what you want. Your doctor and the anaesthetist will assess you before surgery to see whether it is safe for you. Please share your full medical history at the consultation.
Will the numbness in my face and around my ear go away?
Numbness or changed sensation in the facial skin and around the ear is quite common after surgery, because it involves the sensory nerves in the area. Most improves gradually over weeks to months, but it can sometimes persist. You should talk this through with your doctor.
Does smoking affect the surgery?
Yes, and this matters. Smoking reduces the blood supply to the skin flap, which clearly raises the risk of slow wound healing and skin loss. For this reason you are usually asked to stop smoking before and after surgery. Your doctor will give you specific guidance.
Is there a risk to the movement of my facial muscles?
The surgery works near the branches of the facial nerve that control facial movement, so there is a risk of temporary weakness or paralysis of some muscles, though it is not common. Most cases recover gradually, but rarely it can last longer. Your doctor will discuss this risk clearly with you beforehand.
How long until I see the final result?
The most obvious swelling eases over the first few weeks, but the deeper swelling and the scars take much longer. The contours of your cheeks and jaw usually only become clear after several months, and scars keep fading toward about a year. This is something that asks for patience.
The next step
The next step is a conversation - book a consultation.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.