Full Face Lift (Rhytidectomy)

A full face lift is also known as a rhytidectomy.

A full facelift is the top of the scale in terms of results for preventing the signs of ageing. The incisions usually go from your temple, in the hairline to behind your ears so the scarring can be hidden in your hair. To eliminate a sagging jaw an incision is made underneath your chin, after incisions, the skin is lifted and pulled into its new position leaving any excess being able to be trimmed away.

There are different types of facelift, so a full facelift may not always be the correct solution for you, but it certainly has the most dramatic and noticeable results. The main age range for this procedure is around 40-70 but you can have one done at any time, this is just a rough guideline of the ages of our previous patients. If you are in good health and have sufficient excess skin for the operation to be performed then you are an ideal candidate for a full facelift, whatever your age. If you aren’t an ideal candidate for a full facelift, during your consultation you will be made aware of this and advised the best procedure for you, which will be either a mini or MACS facelift, both of which our expert surgeons perform here at Aurora.

The recovery time is roughly 3-6 weeks but it can vary from patient to patient. For a few days after your surgery you will be tightly bandaged and it is perfectly normal for there to be bruising and swelling and this should settle down at around the 3 week mark. You will receive regular follow up appointments to monitor your healing progress and aftercare. This will give the surgeon a chance to advise you on what you can and can’t do e.g. exercise. This is also an opportunity for you to discuss your results and also your potential concerns.