The Different Types of Facelift

A facelift — rhytidectomy — addresses sagging skin, jowls and deep creases. It is most commonly performed between the ages of forty and sixty.

“Facelift” is not one procedure, though. Eight distinct things are described by that word, and they range from major surgery to a course of injections.

Surgical or not

Surgical facelifts require incisions, involve a longer recovery and are more invasive. Non-surgical approaches use radiofrequency or ultrasound to stimulate the skin, involve a shorter recovery and produce a less pronounced and less durable result. Neither is better; they treat different degrees of the same problem.

Mini facelift

Around an hour, sometimes described as a “weekend” or “lunchtime” lift. It targets the cheeks and jawline only, through shorter incisions along the hairline and in the creases around the ear. Suits early signs of ageing. Recovery is shorter than for a traditional lift.

Traditional facelift

The most commonly performed. Incisions run along the hairline, around the ears and sometimes under the chin. It addresses significant skin laxity and jowling and can remove excess fat from the neck and jowls. The result is the most pronounced and the longest-lasting of the options, and the recovery is correspondingly longer.

Mid facelift

Lifts the malar fat pad in the cheek, restoring fullness across the cheek and under the eye. More durable than injectable volume replacement, with a quicker recovery than a traditional lift.

Brow lift

Addresses the forehead and temples: horizontal forehead lines and a descended brow contributing to hooding of the upper eyelid. Incisions sit along the hairline above the ears.

Thread lift

A minimally invasive alternative using barbed dissolving sutures placed under the skin to reposition tissue. Results last approximately one year and are limited in extent. It suits patients who want to see what repositioning looks like before committing to surgery.

Liquid lift

Not a lift at all: dermal fillers used to address volume loss and soften wrinkles. Results last six to twelve months. Minimal recovery, and considerably less pronounced than surgery.

Non-surgical facial rejuvenation

Lasers, radiofrequency, ultrasound, chemical peels and microdermabrasion. These treat the quality and texture of the skin surface, with minimal downtime. They do not reposition tissue.

Endoscopic facelift

Minimally invasive, using small incisions hidden in the hairline, a camera and specialised instruments. Less scarring and a shorter recovery than an open approach.

Benefits and risks

Surgery produces durable results and addresses sagging and deep creases that non-surgical treatment cannot correct.

The risks are those of any surgical procedure: infection, bleeding, scarring, nerve injury, complications of anaesthesia, and an uneven or unsatisfactory result.

Recovery

• 24 to 48 hours — discomfort, swelling and bruising. Rest.
• One week — swelling reducing, sutures removed, light activity possible.
• Two to three weeks — most swelling resolved, the result becoming visible.
• Four to six weeks — tissue healing continues; strenuous activity can resume.
• Three to six months — the final result.

Preparing

1. Consultation: your goals, your medical history, and an examination.
2. Follow the pre-operative instructions — medications to avoid, smoking cessation, dietary adjustments.
3. Arrange transport home and someone to help for the first days.
4. Obtain what you will need in advance: prescribed analgesia, any garments, ice packs.
5. Book the time off. Do not plan to work through the first week.

Dr. Demetris Stavrou performs facelift surgery at the practice’s clinics in Nicosia, Limassol, Athens and Sliema.