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Different Types of Facelift (Rhytidectomy) Procedures

Phone the plastic surgery clinic team for Dr Hunt or Dr Maryam on 02 9327 1733 to make an enquiry or book an appointment. For more information or to request a consultation with Dr Jeremy Hunt or Dr Maryam Seyedabadi, Please contact us and a member of the plastic surgery team will be in touch shortly.

Different types of facelifts have one common goal: address the signs of facial ageing. However, choosing a facelift (rhytidectomy) procedure can be confusing. The main difference between upper, middle, and lower facelift (rhytidectomy) is the part of the face each procedure targets. An upper facelift (rhytidectomy), also called a brow lift, lifts the forehead and flattens skin folds. A mid-facelift (rhytidectomy) focuses on your cheeks and nasolabial folds. A lower facelift (rhytidectomy) emphasises the jaw by addressing jowls and wrinkles in the lower one-third of the face.

Choosing a facelift (rhytidectomy), therefore, depends on where exactly the concerns are located. If you have extensive signs of ageing, with deep wrinkles, lax deflated cheeks, large jowls, and a double chin, then a full facelift (rhytidectomy) might be the most appropriate choice.

Specialist Plastic Surgeons Dr Hunt and Dr Maryam offer their patients in Sydney and Wollongong the full spectrum of facial rejuvenation surgery. They will thoroughly explain the difference between lower, middle, and upper facelift (rhytidectomy), and help you choose the procedure to meet your aspirations.

Why Undergo Facelift (Rhytidectomy) Surgery?

Getting a facelift (rhytidectomy) is a big decision. You should take your time to plan for your facelift (rhytidectomy) and choose an experienced plastic surgeon with a proven track record and the appropriate credentials to do your operation. Before embarking on this journey, you need to do thorough research. See how different types of facelifts (rhytidectomy) compare. Read about the difference between upper, lower, and middle facelifts (rhytidectomy) so that you can understand them better when your plastic surgeon explains them.

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Facial Rejuvenation Guide

The facial procedures guide has been created by Dr Hunt and his team as a useful tool to help you plan and consider these procedures. Throughout the guide, we will discuss the ins and outs of different types of surgery what makes a suitable candidate, pre-surgery planning answers to the most frequently asked questions received from patients.

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Facial Rejuvenation Guide

Facial Rejuvenation Guide

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Why Are There Different Types of Facelift (Rhytidectomy)?

Signs of facial ageing vary from one person to another. In some people, wrinkles and a loss of skin laxity might be less severe and appear at a later age. They might be localised to a specific part of the face. Maybe just around the jaw and cheeks. In others, however, signs of ageing can appear as early as in their 40s. The wrinkles, skin folds, and laxity can affect the whole face and not just a part of it.

This is why facelift (rhytidectomy) is a highly individual procedure to meet each patient’s specific aspirations. And this is why there are several different types of facelifts (rhytidectomy) to choose from.

Upper Facelift (Rhytidectomy) vs Mid Facelift (Rhytidectomy) vs Lower Facelift (Rhytidectomy)

The main difference between upper, middle, and lower facelift (rhytidectomy) is the part of the face each procedure targets. As mentioned above, facial ageing is not the same for everyone. If, for instance, you only have noticeable jowls, and you’re satisfied with the rest of your facial appearance, then a full facelift (rhytidectomy) might be unnecessary. A lower facelift (rhytidectomy) alone maybe able to address your concerns.

Upper Facelift (Brow Lift)

The outcomes shown are only relevant for this patient and do not necessarily reflect the results other patients may experience, as results may vary due to many factors including the individual’s genetics, diet and exercise.

brow lift before and after - real patient - front view - large

An upper facelift is also called a brow lift or forehead lift. As the name implies, it is surgery to address the forehead and wrinkles, including skin folds in the area.

An upper facelift may help you if the signs of ageing are localised to the upper one-third of the face (the forehead). These can include:

  • Forehead skin folds
  • Deep forehead wrinkles
  • Droopy forehead
  • Deflated temples
  • Droopy eyebrows

With a brow lift, the whole forehead can be addressed. The eyebrows will be surgically pulled upward to alter the appearance. Patients may opt for an upper facelift (rhytidectomy) for a number of different reasons, including:

  • Flattening the forehead
  • Removal of forehead wrinkles
  • Removal of forehead skin folds
  • Lifts the eyebrows up

Our surgeons usually perform the upper facelift (rhytidectomy) using endoscopic surgery. Through 4 small incisions along the hairline, and with the help of an endoscope, the deep forehead tissue is pulled up and tightened. If a lot of excess skin needs to be removed, then a larger incision along the hairline might be needed.

Middle Facelift (Rhytidectomy)

The outcomes shown are only relevant for this patient and do not necessarily reflect the results other patients may experience, as results may vary due to many factors including the individual’s genetics, diet and exercise.

brow lift before and after - real patient - front view - large

A mid facelift (rhytidectomy), also called a cheek lift, targets the middle one-third of the face. That’s the area extending from the corner of your eyes to the corner of your mouth. The cosmetic concerns that a middle facelift generally targets are:

  • Deflated cheeks
  • Deep nasolabial folds (the line between the corner of the nose and the corner of the mouth on both sides)
  • Skin in the mid-face region
  • Wrinkles around the mouth

Why patients might consider a middle facelift (rhytidectomy):

  • Addresses the cheeks
  • Emphasizes your cheekbones
  • Addresses the middle face area
  • Flattens deep wrinkles
  • Reduces nasolabial folds/li>

In comparison with an upper facelift (rhytidectomy), the mid facelift (rhytidectomy) incisions are done on the sides of the face. Each incision starts a little above the ear and extends downward to the earlobe. The deeper facial layers are pulled up to restore the normal facial structure. The skin is tightened and any excess skin is cut.

Lower Facelift (Rhytidectomy)

The outcomes shown are only relevant for this patient and do not necessarily reflect the results other patients may experience, as results may vary due to many factors including the individual’s genetics, diet and exercise.

lower facelift Dr Jeremy Hunt

Compared to the upper and middle facelifts (rhytidectomy), a lower facelift (rhytidectomy) targets only the lower one-third of the face. That’s the area extending from your earlobes and down to your chin, and it includes the mouth and jaw.

The lower face is probably the most important area when it comes to facial aesthetics. A faded jawline and jowls are flagrant signs of ageing. The sharp demarcation between the jaw and face may blend together. The signs of ageing that affect the lower face include:

  • The presence of jowls
  • Faded and irregular jawline
  • Wrinkles around the mouth, chin, and jaw
  • Marionette lines (straight vertical skin lines going from the corner of the mouth to the chin)

Lifting the lower face can change the way you look. By addressing your jawline and altering its contour, the sharp edges of the lower face can be changed. The lower facelift (rhytidectomy) can:

  • Address the clear angle between your jaw and neck
  • Remove facial jowls
  • Get rid of marionette lines
  • Get rid of wrinkles around the corners of the mouth
  • Flatten wrinkles on the chin

A lower facelift (rhytidectomy) is done with an incision similar to that of a mid-facelift (rhytidectomy). However, the incision might be slightly lower and extend a little behind the ear. Through this incision, your surgeon will pull up the deep facial tissue (including muscles and connective tissue). They will then fix them in a higher position to straighten out any deep wrinkles and folds and flatten the jowls. Any excess skin is removed, and the remaining skin is tightened.

Why Patients Choose a Full Facelift (Rhytidectomy)?

If you have more extensive and non-localised signs of facial ageing, then a full facelift (rhytidectomy) might be a more suitable option for you.

A full SMAS facelift (rhytidectomy) or deep plane facelift (rhytidectomy) may the most appropriate option if you’re not satisfied with other parts of your face. If you have jowls and lax skin on the cheeks, then getting only a mid-facelift (rhytidectomy) may provide less-than-ideal results. A full facelift (rhytidectomy) can, in such cases, be a more appropriate solution.

Choosing a Facelift (Rhytidectomy)

Like other cosmetic procedures – the most appropriate procedure is the one you’re most comfortable with. Your surgeon will explain the differences between upper, middle, and lower facelifts (rhytidectomy) and compare the expected results with you. Together, you can choose the right type of facelift to meet your goals.

Further Reading about Facelift (Rhytidectomy) Surgery

Medical Resources


About Dr Jeremy Hunt – Specialist Plastic Surgeon

Dr Jeremy Hunt is a specialist plastic surgeon performing breast, body, face and nose surgery in Australia. He is a member of FRACS & ASPS and has over 20 years of experience providing plastic surgery in Sydney.

Dr Hunt’s personal, one-on-one service and attention to detail has ensured that thousands of women and men from the Sydney & Wollongong NSW area and across Australia have received high quality surgical care.

Dr Hunt’s qualifications and education

Dr Jeremy A Hunt MBBS FRACS graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine degree from Sydney University in 1990 and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and member of ASPS – the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. He completed a Fellowship at the prestigious University of Texas in the United States, where he learnt from some of the world’s very best plastic surgeons.

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