Does a Facelift Remove Wrinkles?
A facelift repositions descended tissue and removes excess skin, which softens moderate to severe wrinkles. It does not stop new ones forming. This page explains what the operation changes and how long the change lasts.
A facelift — rhytidectomy — lifts the skin flap, tightens the underlying muscles, redrapes the skin over the repositioned tissue and removes the excess. The aim is to restore the natural contours of the face and reduce sagging in the cheeks, jawline and neck. It is frequently combined with a neck lift.
Which type of facelift is appropriate depends on the extent of the wrinkling and sagging, which is a matter for examination rather than preference.
Why wrinkles form in the first place
Collagen production begins to decline from around the age of twenty. Less collagen means thinner, less elastic skin, and skin that no longer springs back creases where it folds.
Three external factors accelerate it:
- UV exposure, which damages the fibres responsible for elasticity.
- Smoking, which breaks down both elastin and collagen.
- Poor diet, which shows in the skin as dryness and dullness.
What the operation changes
Moderate to severe wrinkles are significantly softened, and some are removed. The incisions follow the hairline and the creases around the ears, and how far they extend depends on how much excess skin and tissue there is. Underlying fat may be sculpted or redistributed at the same time.
What it does not do is stop the ageing process. New lines will form, and non-invasive treatments are commonly used afterwards to maintain the result.
How long it lasts
Results typically last in the region of ten years, though that varies considerably with skin type, age at surgery, lifestyle and aftercare.
What prolongs it: sun protection with SPF 30 or above, not smoking, a diet that supports skin health, and general good health.
When people have one
There is no correct age. In practice, women most often have a first facelift in their forties or fifties, and some have a second, lesser procedure in their sixties or seventies. Men tend to come later, typically in their fifties or sixties, with a secondary lift in their seventies — a difference that reflects how male facial ageing differs in pattern and timing.
The decision is personal. What matters clinically is that there is enough change to address and that your expectations of the result match what the operation does.
Dr. Demetris Stavrou performs facelift surgery at the practice’s clinics in Nicosia, Limassol, Athens and Sliema.
The procedure this relates to
Rhytidectomy — surgery that addresses the descent of the face and neck by repositioning the deeper tissues, tightening the underlying muscle and removing the skin that is left over. Results typically last up to ten years.
Before you act on this
Everything here is general. What applies to you depends on your anatomy, your history and what you are trying to achieve, and none of that can be assessed from a page. If a question here is yours, bring it to a consultation.