If you have started researching facelift surgery, you will quickly come across one detail that worries patients more than almost anything else: the drains. The thin tubes that were standard for decades, sitting under the bandages for the first day or two after surgery, have a reputation for being uncomfortable, inconvenient and just a bit confronting. For many patients, the idea of waking up with drains is the single biggest hesitation about moving forward.
Modern facelift surgery has moved on. A growing number of Sydney plastic surgeons, including Dr Jeremy Hunt, now use a technique called the hemostatic net to manage post-operative bleeding and fluid build-up without traditional drains. International commentary in 2026 has named the hemostatic net one of the most meaningful refinements in facelift surgery in recent years.
In this blog, we will explain what a drainless facelift actually involves, what the hemostatic net does, how it can change your first week of recovery, and where it fits within Dr Hunt’s overall approach to facelift surgery in Sydney and Wollongong.
What are facelift drains, and why have surgeons used them?
Facelift drains are thin, soft tubes placed under the skin at the end of the operation. One end sits in the surgical area, the other end exits through a tiny opening behind the ear and connects to a small collection bulb. Their job is simple: to draw away the small amounts of blood and tissue fluid that naturally collect underneath the skin in the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery.
The reason drains existed in the first place is to reduce the risk of hematoma, which is a collection of blood under the skin. Hematoma is the most common serious complication of facelift surgery, and surgeons have traditionally relied on drains, pressure dressings and overnight observation to keep that risk low.
From a patient’s point of view, drains add several layers of inconvenience to early recovery. They feel awkward, they restrict head and neck movement, they need to be emptied and measured, the bandaging is more visible, and removing them, while quick, is rarely anyone’s favourite moment of the recovery week. For many people, getting through the drain phase is the most disliked part of the entire process.
What is the hemostatic net?
The hemostatic net is a technique where the surgeon places a series of fine, temporary stitches across the surgical area at the end of the facelift. These stitches gently compress the lifted skin against the deeper tissue underneath, closing what surgeons call the dead space, which is the small gap between the skin flap and the deeper layers where blood and fluid would otherwise pool.
Two Brazilian plastic surgeons, Auersvald and Auersvald, first described this technique. Across hundreds of facelift cases, they noticed hematoma rates dropped sharply once they began using it. Further peer-reviewed work, including a five-year single-surgeon series in Aesthetic Surgery Journal, backs the net as a safe and reliable method for cutting down bleeding complications. It works through mechanics, not medicine. With the tissues held firmly together for the first day or two, fluid simply has nowhere to pool.
The net is left in place for roughly 24 to 48 hours, and is then removed in the rooms. Most patients describe the sensation while the net is in place as firm tightness rather than pain, similar to a snug compression dressing. After removal, the small entry points fade quickly and are not visible once healing settles. There are no drains, no bulbs and no daily emptying.
Hemostatic net versus traditional drains: a side-by-side comparison
The points below are the ones patients ask about most often. Every face heals a little differently, so what suits you should be decided in your consultation, not by reading a comparison online.
| Aspect | Traditional drains | Hemostatic net |
| What is in place at day 1 to 2 | Soft tubes exiting behind the ear, attached to collection bulbs. | Fine compression stitches under the skin, no external tubes. |
| Bruising | Variable; bruising can collect in dependent areas as fluid drains. | Often reported as more limited and contained, due to closed dead space. |
| Swelling | Common; can be uneven across the face. | Often described as more even, though all patients experience some swelling. |
| Hematoma risk | Drains try to manage fluid build-up; how well they work depends on the surgeon’s technique and on the patient. | Hematoma rates in published series are similar to, and at times below, those reported with drains. |
| Day-to-day comfort | The tubes feel awkward and limit how freely you can move. | Feels like firm tape; head and neck movement is generally easier. |
| Sleep | Sleeping upright with attached drains is harder. | Sleeping upright is still required, but without external tubes. |
| Mobility around the home | More cautious due to bulbs and tubing. | Generally easier from the morning after surgery. |
| Shower restrictions | Must keep drains and dressings dry until removed. | Same standard wound care; no drain bulbs to manage. |
| Day of removal | Drains usually removed at day 1 or 2, often the most disliked moment. | Net stitches usually removed at day 1 or 2 in the rooms. |
How the drainless approach impacts recovery week by week
Recovery after any facelift is still a recovery. The hemostatic net does not eliminate swelling, bruising or downtime. What it changes, in Dr Hunt’s experience, is how the first week feels. The early days are simpler, the dressings are less bulky, and patients tend to feel mobile around their home sooner.
Day 1 to 2
The net is in place under a soft head dressing. The dominant sensation is firm tightness rather than pain, and prescription pain relief is used as needed. You will be sleeping upright on extra pillows or in a recliner.
Day 3 to 7
The net comes out in the rooms, usually around day 1 or 2. Through that first week, most patients say their bruising and swelling feel milder than what they had pictured from older accounts of facelift recovery. Some numbness and tightness are perfectly normal while the nerves and tissues settle down.
Week 2
Skin sensation begins to normalise. Many patients are comfortable returning to quiet social activities by the end of week two, though strenuous exercise is still off the cards.
Week 3 to 4
Residual swelling continues to settle. For more details on what each phase looks like and how to manage swelling and bruising at home, you can read Dr Hunt’s existing guides on facelift recovery and reducing bruising and swelling, and recovery after a deep plane facelift.
Is the drainless facelift safer?
The honest answer is: it depends on what is being compared. Published research, including peer-reviewed studies in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Surgery Journal, suggests that hematoma rates with the hemostatic net are comparable to, or in some series lower than, those reported with traditional drained techniques. A cadaveric study has also examined skin perfusion under the net and found no compromise to facial blood supply when the technique is applied appropriately.
That said, the safest facelift is the one performed by an experienced, appropriately credentialled surgeon working in an accredited hospital. The technique itself does not replace careful patient selection, blood pressure control, anaesthetic management and meticulous surgical technique. Surgeon experience and case selection matter more than any single device or stitch.
All surgery carries risk, including bleeding, infection, scarring, asymmetry, prolonged swelling, nerve injury and reactions to anaesthesia. These risks are discussed in detail at the consultation.
Which facelift techniques can use the hemostatic net?
The hemostatic net is technique-agnostic in the sense that it can be combined with several modern facelift approaches. In Dr Hunt’s practice, it is most commonly used with:
- Deep plane facelift, where deeper tissues are released and repositioned. The net is particularly well suited to the larger dissection involved. Dr Hunt’s deep plane facelift in Sydney page explains the technique in detail.
- Extended SMAS facelift, where the SMAS layer is lifted and reshaped to support the lower face and jawline.
- Mini facelift, when indicated for early to moderate laxity. The net is used selectively in these cases, depending on the extent of dissection.
How a SMAS approach compares with a deep plane approach is covered in more detail in our blog: SMAS facelift versus deep plane facelift comparison.
What the drainless approach does NOT change
It is worth being clear about what the hemostatic net is not. It is not a way to skip recovery, and it is not a shortcut to a better result. The fundamentals of facelift healing have not changed.
You will still need to:
- Manage realistic expectations on bruising and swelling timelines.
- Sleep upright for the first couple of weeks.
- Avoid strenuous exercise, heavy lifting and bending forward.
- Stay out of direct sun, particularly while incisions are still settling.
- Avoid smoking, vaping and nicotine before and after surgery.
For practical guidance on these areas, you can read Dr Hunt’s blogs on
how to sleep after facelift surgery, sun exposure in the first weeks after a facelift, and what not to do after a facelift.
Which facelift technique does Dr Hunt recommend?
Dr Hunt’s preferred technique for moderate to significant facial ageing is the deep plane facelift, performed in an accredited private hospital with a specialist anaesthetist. The hemostatic net is used as an adjunct on a case-by-case basis, alongside other modern recovery aids, where it is clinically appropriate.
Just as importantly, the technique is matched to the patient. Not every face needs a deep plane procedure, and not every patient needs a hemostatic net. Some patients are better suited to an extended SMAS facelift or a mini facelift, with or without a net, depending on the extent of the dissection. The decision is made together at consultation, based on your facial anatomy, skin quality, medical history and goals, never on what is fashionable in the marketing of facelift surgery in any given year.
Cosmetic surgery in Australia is regulated under updated AHPRA guidance. Dr Hunt’s practice complies with the mandatory cooling-off period and 7-day reflection requirements, and any procedure recommended for you will only be scheduled after appropriate consultation and reflection.
Frequently asked questions
Do facelifts still use drains in 2026?
Many modern facelifts no longer use drains, because the hemostatic net achieves the same goal of preventing blood and fluid build-up using gentle compression stitches placed under the skin. The choice still depends on surgeon preference, surgical technique and individual patient factors. In Dr Hunt’s Sydney practice, drains have largely been replaced by the hemostatic net for suitable cases.
What is a hemostatic net in a facelift?
A hemostatic net is a short-term arrangement of fine compression stitches laid over the surgical area during your facelift, used to keep fluid from gathering and to limit bruising. They come out within 24 to 48 hours, leave no lasting marks, and give the surgeon a mechanical way to manage bleeding without external drains.
Is recovery faster with a drainless facelift?
Recovery from a drainless facelift tends to feel more comfortable rather than radically quicker, with most patients describing less bruising, less swelling and easier movement during the first week than they would have had with traditional drains. Social downtime is still about 2 to 3 weeks, and full settling of swelling takes several months no matter which method is used.
Does the hemostatic net hurt?
Most patients describe the hemostatic net as a feeling of firm tightness rather than pain, and any discomfort is usually managed with standard post-operative pain relief. The stitches are removed at 1 to 2 days in the rooms, and normal sensation returns to the area as the skin and nerves settle over the following weeks.
Is a drainless facelift safer than a traditional facelift?
A drainless facelift using the hemostatic net is considered at least as safe as a traditional drained facelift, with comparable hematoma rates reported in published studies. Surgeon experience, patient selection and operating environment matter more than the drain method itself, so the safest facelift is one performed by an appropriately credentialled specialist plastic surgeon.
Can the hemostatic net be used in a deep plane facelift?
Yes, the hemostatic net is commonly used with a deep plane facelift, where a larger surgical dissection is performed beneath the SMAS layer. The net helps close the dead space created by the deeper lift, reduces fluid accumulation, and allows the technique to be performed without traditional drains in suitable patients.
Why choose Dr Hunt for a facelift in Sydney
Dr Jeremy Hunt has been performing facelift surgery in Sydney for over 25 years, with a practice committed to integrating evidence-based modern techniques such as deep plane dissection and the hemostatic net into every appropriate case.
Dr Jeremy Hunt is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS) based in Sydney, with consulting rooms in Woollahra (175 Edgecliff Road, Woollahra NSW 2027) and Wollongong (Suite 6, 174 Gipps Road, Gwynneville NSW 2500). He has over 25 years of experience in aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, with particular expertise in deep plane facelift, mini facelift, jowl lift, neck lift and complementary facial rejuvenation procedures.
Dr Hunt holds a Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in Plastic Surgery (FRACS) and is registered as a Specialist Plastic Surgeon by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). He is an active member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
All facelift surgery with Dr Hunt is performed in fully accredited private hospitals with specialist anaesthetists, never in office-based settings.
Dr Hunt sees patients from across Sydney, including Double Bay, Woollahra, Bondi Junction, the Eastern Suburbs and the wider Sydney metropolitan area, as well as from Wollongong and the Illawarra.
To discuss whether a drainless facelift is right for you, you can request a consultation with Dr Hunt at his Sydney or Wollongong practice using the form on this page or by calling our team.
Further reading
- Deep Plane Facelift in Sydney (procedure page)
- SMAS Facelift versus Deep Plane Facelift: Which Is Right for You?
- Facelift Recovery: How to Reduce Bruising and Swelling
- Recovery After Deep Plane Facelift
Medical references
- Auersvald A, Auersvald LA. Hemostatic net in rhytidoplasty: an efficient and safe method for preventing hematoma in 405 consecutive patients. Aesthetic Plast Surg, 2014. PubMed listing
- Janssen TJ, Maheshwari K, Sivadasan A, Waterhouse N. Hemostatic Net in Facelift Surgery: A 5-Year Single-Surgeon Experience. Aesthet Surg J, 2023. PubMed listing
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Facelift Safety. Society guidance on facelift complications,including hematoma.
- Limited incision facelifts: a systematic review (peer-reviewed). PMC article
- Healthdirect Australia, Cosmetic surgery. Australian government-funded health information on cosmetic surgery considerations and patient rights.
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), Cosmetic Surgery Hub. Current AHPRA guidance and patient information on cosmetic surgery in Australia.
Disclaimer: This blog is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice. All surgical and invasive procedures carry risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. Individual results vary, and suitability for any procedure can only be determined at a consultation with Dr Jeremy Hunt.