Facelifts are among the most popular surgical procedures. In fact, according to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) annual audit, face and neck Lift surgery increased in popularity in 2023, making it the sixth most popular aesthetic surgery.
Mr Jonathan Britto has an international reputation for his expertise in this area. He offers a wide range of options in each layer and zone of the face, including mini, micro and one-stitch options where indicated. He is at the forefront of developing twilight day case surgery, avoiding general anaesthesia with short downtime, minimal bruising, hidden scars, and lasting results. Which option is right for you will depend on a bespoke analysis of your face and features.
This blog answers some of the most common questions about facelifts and explores the latest advances in low downtime procedures.
Is there an optimal age for facelifts?
It is a misconception that facelifts are only for people of a certain age. Facelifts are independent of age!
Whether in your early 40s or late 60s, a facelift can address facial laxity in the skin and deeper layers, repositioning the facial fat pads and sculpting the face for a refreshed appearance. For patients with no laxity, deeper structures can be sculpted to enhance definition. This is particularly true in younger patients.
A facelift restores the ‘shape’ and ‘definition’ of the face and to ‘banish the shadows’ in favour of ‘reflecting the light’.
Am I too young for a facelift?
There is a bespoke facelift for every patient – male or female – if anatomy, fitness and ethics allow. The aim of the facelift surgeon is to “make the correct diagnosis” to find out what facial feature is causing concern and to understand facial anatomy and physiology so as to make a natural, ethical, and effective change.
Am I too old for a facelift?
If you are fit, well-motivated, and well-supported, there’s a facelift for you. The key is to have consistent aims. With our guidance, we can help you find a safe, ethical, and effective facelift for you.
When is the right time for a facelift?
The right time for a facelift is when you are emotionally ready, have clear goals, and are fit in your mind and body. Being free from stress and in a calm state enhances the experience.
The key is to have consistent aims. There is a range of safe, ethical, and effective facelift options to suit all appropriately indicated patients.
How do I know when I will be ready for a facelift vs. short-term fixes?
Short-term fixes may offer temporary improvements, but they are rarely short-term—they work in 3D but have lasting effects in ‘4D’, the legacy of time. Facelifts will always be more natural on the face than any short-term fix because they are fabulous in 3D and 4D. A facelift will always be natural because it restores natural tissues to youthful positions with soft, flat, and hidden scars.
How do I know if I need a mini or a real facelift?
Your surgeon will decide which is the most appropriate facelift for you following a consultation and bespoke analysis.
The attractiveness of “mini” facelift is that they are done as day case surgery, without a general anaesthetic need, with low downtime, rapid recovery, minimum risk, and maximum result. This applies to all “Twilight facelift” procedures. We find out which “twilight facelift” procedure suits you, come and find out more from Jonathan and the team.
Ideal candidates are those seeking less invasive procedures with maximum results.
How long do facelifts last?
Facelifts can last a long time with good maintenance of health, fitness, weight, exercise, and skin health. Natural ageing continues, but maintaining overall health can prolong the facelift’s effectiveness. Good health practices also support longevity; regular follow-ups with your surgeon can ensure optimal results. The better we maintain our facelifts, the longer they will serve us. Ill health, bereavement, and life’s challenges can all have an impact, but the better we maintain the generalities of health and fitness, the longer the facelift result will last.
What are some possible side effects of a facelift?
We measure success in facelifting in ‘appearance, function and emotion’. Potential ’side effects’ or adverse events may occur in any of these areas. We improve appearance in many measurable ways, in photography and 3D photography. We enhance function and comfort and can measure those outcomes in independently validated ways. Most of all, the ‘emotional response’ – to be happy – is one of the great benefits of this surgery. The better the preparation in conversation and analysis, the better the outcome will be. The avoidance of ’side effects’ depends upon the quality of the preparation and the skills and experience of our team.
When you get a facelift, does your neck get lifted too?
The neck can be included in the facelift procedure if necessary for balanced, youthful, and natural-flowing results. If the neck needs to be included in the surgery plan to achieve that, then that will be the advice given.
Do neck wrinkles go away after facelift surgery?
Vertical neck wrinkles improve with a facelift, while transverse wrinkles benefit from skin conditioning treatments like chemical peels or polynucleotide injections. Combining surgical and non-surgical approaches yields the best results.
How long does it take for skin to heal after a facelift?
Recovery timelines vary. It can be two weeks for stitch removal, six weeks for stability, 12 weeks for softness and one year for full maturity.
How many times can you have a facelift?
As many times as you need. All that is required is sensible aims, healthy tissues, general health, and a skilled and sensible surgeon who is empathetic, ethical, experienced, and expert.
What is a mid-face lift?
The midface is the part of the face between the lower eyelash line and the corner of the mouth, the nose, and the cheekbone. A midface lift addresses age-related changes in this region, including the descent of malar fat pads, deepening of nasolabial folds, and loss of skin elasticity. Midface lifts treat this specialised area of the face to shape, lift, project, and contour the midface and lower eyelid—to banish the shadows and introduce the light!
What are the different types of facelift procedures?
Facelift procedures vary based on facial zones and layers. The face consists of five layers and zones, each requiring specific techniques to restore youthful relationships between these layers, tailored to the patient’s desired changes. The type of facelift you have depends on which of the five zones the patient wants to change, whether it’s the forehead/brow, eyelids, cheek, jawline, or neck; there are lifts for all of these.
There are many different types of face and neck lift, all of which can be combined according to request and indication. Much depends upon the analysis, and the aims of the patient. All neck lifts can be combined with all facelift types under day case “Twilight” anaesthesia.
What is the most natural facelift?
The most natural facelift is one that has been designed with the patient’s aims in mind and conducted with skill and artistry. The main layers in the face are the skin, SMAS muscle (the deep plane), and the subperiosteal plane. The skilled surgeon can incorporate all of these, if necessary, to create a beautiful natural result.
How does a facelift enhance appearance?
A facelift enhances appearance by restoring shape, contour, and definition, as well as by banishing the shadows in the face to restore the reflection of light. These are the defining principles of all facelifts. The aim is to do this with soft hidden scars and enhance appearance, function, and emotion.
How is a deep plane facelift different from a regular facelift?
A deep plane facelift focuses on the muscle layer (SMAS) of the face, which is essential for reshaping and removing laxity. This technique offers powerful results by addressing the deeper structural layers and enhancing appearance by restoring shape, contour, and definition. The release, elevation, and fixation of the deep plane are very powerful tools for reshaping the face and restoring the shape by removing the laxity.
What precautions should be taken after facelift surgery?
Day-case twilight facelift surgery is stress-free. Recovery is swift and easy. You can even go out for a walk the next day, although you will need to wait six weeks to get back in the gym.
Post-surgery care includes showering after 48 hours, prescribed pain relief, and antibiotics. Comforting face garments and loose-fitting clothes aid recovery, with a gentle return to exercise and everyday activities.
Patients are also advised to bend at the hip and knee with a straight back and sleep with two pillows on their back.
At the Jonathan Britto Clinic all our patients receive advice and if they choose, bespoke mentorship, on “prepare and repair” techniques to make the best of the preparation for surgery and the recovery period afterwards. This minimises risk and maximises the facelift experience.
Mr Jonathan Britto’s approach
Jonathan Britto emphasises the natural rejuvenation of facial features, combining his extensive study of the human face with his surgical expertise. His approach involves comprehensive analysis, meticulous planning, and personalised care. The goal is to achieve a natural, youthful appearance with minimally visible scars. The Jonathan Britto Clinic offers bespoke treatments tailored to individual needs, with skin health and lifestyle medicine advice, ensuring a balanced and harmonious result. The use of twilight anaesthesia and a multidisciplinary team approach further enhances patient comfort and satisfaction. Regular follow-ups and a strong patient-surgeon relationship are key to his practice, ensuring the best possible outcomes.
You can find out more about the facelifts we offer on our facelifts page.
