Face lift surgery is ideal for any woman who wants to look younger, by reducing the lines and sagging skin that are an unfortunate byproduct of getting older.
Dr Hunt performs a range of specialist face lift procedures depending on his individual patients:
- SMAS face lift
- MACS face lift
- Midface lift
- Endoscopic face lift
- Sub-periosteal face lift
Dr Hunt will explain the type of face lift he feels is right for you during your one-on-one consultation.
Regardless of the face lift type, your surgery will be performed under a general anaesthetic administered by one of Dr Hunt’s preferred aneathetists in the hospital of your choice.
TRADITIONAL FACE LIFT
During a traditional face lift, Dr Hunt will generally make an incision along your hairline at the temple, following the natural line down past your ears and into your hairline. Thanks to the careful positioning of this incision, your scarring will be hidden within your hair and by the natural creases of your face. Your scar will fade quickly until it is barely visible.
Once your incision has been made, Dr Hunt will very gently and carefully separate your skin from the underlying tissue, allowing him to tighten your facial muscles and remove any unwanted fat before your skin is pulled back and the excess removed.
Dr Hunt will then wrap your face in bandages to prevent infection, minimise bruising and swelling and support your face while it heals.
MACS FACE LIFT
A MACS face lift (Minimal Access Cranial Suspension) is less invasive than traditional face lift techniques, and therefore offers much faster recovery times. The results achieved, however, are just as good as with its more invasive alternatives. The key difference is that the incisions required are much smaller, with the tightening of the facial muscles and removal of excess fat performed through these small incisions.
You will stay in hospital overnight after your surgery so that Dr Hunt’s team can keep an eye on you and ensure that you have adequate pain relief. You’ll be most uncomfortable during this time, up to 24 hours after surgery.
The following day, your dressings will be removed and replaced with a special bandage. You can then go home, taking a pain prescription with you. You should rest for the remainder of the day, minimising your movement.
You’ll see Dr Hunt five days to a week after your surgery, at which time around half of your sutures will be removed. You will then have another follow-up visit one week later, during which time Dr Hunt will remove the remainder of your sutures.
You should plan on taking at least 2 weeks off work.
A facelift is not considered a painful procedure – most patients instead report feeling uncomfortable due to the ‘tight’ feeling of their skin as it’s healing. However, it is important to allow your body the best chance possible of healing quickly and effectively. This means taking it easy for the two weeks after your surgery, with no heavy housework, exercise, long trips or other strenuous activities. You’ll be back normal at around the four to six week mark.
Just as you’ll be back to normal four to six weeks after your face lift surgery, this is when you can expect to see the full and final results of your fresh new face.
