Far from simply tightening the skin, successful facelifts involve volume rebalancing of the face in a layer by layer approach; defining key features and hiding scars to achieve perfectly natural results. Facelifts are a family of procedures and no one technique fits all – faces are bespoke and aims from facelift similarly so.
A facelift provides shape and definition to the face.
A facelift banishes the shadows and the restores light to the face.
A facelift re-tensions laxity and restores youthful form.
Facelifts are a ‘family’ of procedures, each targeted to the desired feature in the face. The human face is a layered structure. The skin (layer 1), the muscles of facial expression (layer III)) and the covering of bone (layer V) are the layers of the facelift surgeon. Jonathan’s craftsmanship in facial aesthetic surgery and reconstructive craniofacial surgery combine to manipulate these layers to restore facial features for form and function. Five layers of the face, in five ’zones’ of the face, and five signature facelift combinations to consider: the ‘Refresh’, the ‘Papillion’, the ‘J-Sculpt’, the ‘SMR’ and the ‘Comprehensive Deep Plane’.
However a facelift is not only about anatomy, design, and technique.
A facelift is an experience. It is a luxury event, a calming sojourn to be enjoyed. A time to be calm, to be rested, to breathe, so to emerge, re-empowered. A facelift restores confidence in appearance, to power confidence in performance. The medical professionalism of our team works underneath the surface. Deeply medical and surgical in delivery, but entirely gentle, ‘light – touch’, and luxury in the experience. Our expertise in twilight anaesthesia, lifestyle medicine, and skin health is the ‘wind beneath the wings’ of the facelift.
If your aim is a smooth, elevated, cheek without shadows, a defined cheekbone, a tight jawline, an angled defined neck without laxity; then a facelift is a likely option for you.
If you would also like to sculpt a shapely eyebrow, erase a double chin, or remodel a ‘fatty puffy lower face’ then there are specialised facelift options that will suit you.
The correct ‘diagnosis’ is achieved in conversation with Jonathan in consultation, and by together studying your photographs. Jonathan will identify the reasons why you may not have these features, and his ‘analysis’ will offer you a ‘roadmap’ to success. Jonathan gives clear and evidence–based advice for your options: which facelift, programme, and treatment will set the course to achieve your aims.
Your options are bespoke, and will address your fitness, your gender, your diary, and financial choices. Jonathan’s facelifts (and bespoke combination procedures) are offered as ‘daycase twilight’ (not general anaesthesia) surgeries, with a ‘Prepare & Repair’ plan to allow you home that day: comfortable, minimally bruised, for a rapid recovery with hidden scars.
Our patients’ results, in case histories, ‘QPROMs’, testimonials and reviews from men and women of all ages and cultures show the power of these procedures wrapped in holistic skin health and lifestyle medicine to enrich lives, lift confidence, and power performance in day-to-day life.
We understand that it is a big step to consider facelift surgery. It is your face, it is on show, it is deeply personal, and it matters.
The consultation is usually a 2-3 step ‘analysis phase’ at either our London or Essex clinics. Alternatively we can arrange a video consultation from the comfort of your own home.
1. Discretionary free-of-charge video-call
Jonathan will enjoy introducing himself to you in a free video-call to discuss your request. It would be very useful if you could send us some selfie photographs (to medsec@jonathanbritto.com; held securely as part of your medical record), which will help inform the conversation.
2. Face-to-face consultation
If you would like to receive a detailed written analysis, with a quote for treatment, Jonathan will meet you in clinic for a face-to-face appointment. You are welcome to bring a friend or family member for support. The medical history and physical analysis in the privacy of the consulting room is an essential part of making the treatment plan. After this meeting you will receive a detailed plan and a written quote, together with a suite of information about our ’twilight’ surgeries, relevant comments from prior patients, and some insights about the psychology and holistic care that is part of our commitment to you.
3. Face-to-face or remote catch up…
Jonathan recommends that you open a “procedure diary” on your phone, into which you can drop any questions that occur to you throughout the day, and after receiving the clinic letter and information from your face-to-face consultation.
This third conversation is to answer any questions you have, and to allow Jonathan to ask you about any reflections he has had to refine your care.
…. Step 4…..
In truth, our door is always open, and Jonathan will be very happy to see you face-to-face or remotely if you have further questions about your requested procedure.
Consultation fees: £295 is charged prior to Step 2
Data Security:
Please be aware we use a data security software to encrypt any correspondence that we send you which includes your personal data. These emails may fall into your junk folder, so following your consultations please keep a regular check on this folder.
If you wish to receive un-encryped, ‘open’ email to your inbox – please can be requested via an online, ‘one click’ consent form.
After facelift surgery, and combinations, Jonathan recommends a minimum of two weeks away from work. Many patients in today’s world will work partly from home and remotely, and may consider an early return starting with 2 to 3 hours per day. The repair phase is important, and rest is a vital part of this.
Swelling and bruising are an inherent part of facelift surgery and are usually not perceptible to regular social contacts after two weeks. Return to driving is at at 2 weeks. Stitches and staples are removed between two and three weeks. Return to the gym is between 4 to 6 weeks with a gentle increase, and return to swimming at six weeks. You can shower at 48 hours. Sleeping position is best on your back with three pillows for gentle elevation to reduce swelling.
Every surgical procedure carries inherent risk, and risk events may happen despite every person in the team performing without error. In the ‘analysis phase’, Jonathan will discuss matters of risk for each type of procedure, backed up with a concise and clearly written document of risk. Jonathan is proud to run a practice that is low risk for patients, and, when a risk event rarely occurs, to provide a comprehensive open – door service to resolve matters.
At the end of the surgical procedure a gentle compression bandage like a Balaclava is applied after the on – table salon style hair wash. This is kept in place for two days, and then replaced with a Velcro style removable support garment, which is gentle against the skin. It is worn day and night for a few days after the surgery as long as it is comfortable. It is removed for showering. Thereafter, it is one according to come on an individual basis.
All facelift scars are hidden in natural crease lines of the face. Depending upon the bespoke facelift technique, these scars might be under the eyelash line, in the crease around the ear and up into the hair of the temple and behind the ear, or under the chin crease. Much depends on the detail. Scars are controlled by good planning, good surgical technique, (which Jonathan can control) and the individual patients genetics of healing (which we can modify but cannot control completely).
Yes.
Much depends upon how well the original surgery was done. This will be discussed with Jonathan in the “analysis phase”. He would point out what the original facelift surgery has achieved well, and what has deteriorated, or was not done well in the first surgery. The impact of all this on the aims and indications of the proposed facelift, on the alternatives available, and on the risks and responsibilities and expectations of outcome all the comprehensively discussed. Jonathan has undertaken many secondary facelifts, and we are happy to discuss the various risks and the happy outcomes that have been achieved for our patients.
In contemporary practice, about 50% of the patients that seek facelift from Jonathan have had previous fillers to their faces. With a well conducted “analysis phase” Jonathan will explain how the filler has benefited the face and what it will have done to the underlying facial layers. Those patients will go on to have successful and happy face lift results.There is no doubt that previous filler therapy may introduce increased risk for subsequent facelift surgery. If the previous fillers have been done well, with a light touch, in sensible parts of the face, then the risk is reduced. Jonathan will always urge patients to keep a “filler diary” of the product they have received, and the area of the face that has been treated.
Other non-surgical therapies such as energy-based topical applications will also change the way that the skin of the face behaves, this may bring challenges during surgery, which is why Jonathan’s experience with a wide range of facelift techniques is particularly valuable for these challenging situations.
The cost of facelift surgery is divided into surgical fee, which includes a schedule of follow-up for one year (in practice unlimited), the anaesthetic fee, and the facility fees (hospital or clinic). A full explanation of terms and conditions, including fees for secondary surgery or return to theatre is provided during the ‘analysis phase’.
Smooth contours, soft definition, natural pigmentation, and bespoke facial expression!
That is the ‘quality quad’ of facial features that make for natural faces. These features apply to men and women, of all cultures, ethnicities, and ages. Human beings react well to other human beings with welcoming faces. This means great skin health, but also facial shape and facial expression. Note: digital symmetry is not natural! We warm to faces that reflect light, we are cautious to faces that collect shadow. In art as in life this is also true.
Jonathan’s craftsmanship arises from his study of the human face in all its forms, male and female, from around the world, animated and in repose, studied in life and depicted in art. This is combined with his published academic study of human anatomy, structure, and function of the layers of the face; how the face works at rest and in animated emotion.
The face is, of course, not static. Our dynamic expression is unique. This is born in science – your brain instructs the facial muscles to contract via the facial nerve – but it is appreciated in art. Your facial expression at the mirror, in film, and photograph, is the playing of an orchestra. Each section of muscles is like the strings, the reeds, the percussion sections of an orchestra conducted unconsciously by your facial nerves (layer IV of the face). Jonathan’s facelifting ‘analytics’ go on as we meet in conversation in the ‘JBC Suite’, continue in the examination chair and at the mirror in natural light, and are refined in 3D surface scans and photograph galleries.
Jonathan will restore and rejuvenate in a bespoke manner – preserving your personality, your myriad unique facial expressions (and that beautiful dimple!), to the appearance which brings happiness and confidence in appearance.
The natural rejuvenated face comes from the harmony of the ‘five layers of the face’ in the ‘five zones of the face’ moving naturally with each other to create something greater than the sum of the parts. Look at your favourite photos of your face – Jonathan will restore the light reflex from your midface, banish the under – eye shadows and ski slope contours, and bring back the jawline definition and sharp contours of the neck.
At the Jonathan Britto Clinic, we offer a facelift experience where precision meets compassion, and empathy aligns with expertise. We emphasise patient-centred care combined with luxury service, all grounded in professionalism, ethics, and value. Our approach ensures natural, bespoke restoration of facial features, avoiding unnatural results and poorly placed scars.
With meticulous analysis, technique, and care delivered with warmth, we take time to build a trusting relationship between the patient and our team.
Our process includes a comprehensive pre-surgical analysis, personalised skin health advice, and tailored preparation and recovery strategies. Led by Jonathan Britto, our multidisciplinary team prioritises the patient’s goals and concerns, delivering results.
– Jonathan Britto –
