What is a surgical facelift, and what can it improve?
A facelift surgically repositions sagging facial tissues and may include the neck. It can improve jawline definition and laxity but does not stop ageing or correct every pigment change or surface wrinkle. Technique depends on anatomy, goals and health rather than a marketing name alone.
Details
Define the goal at consultation
Discuss which areas bother you, incision locations, scars, anaesthesia and recovery. Additional procedures may or may not be useful; a more extensive operation is not automatically better. Disclose smoking, medicines and previous surgery.
Balance benefits and risks
Possible complications include haematoma, infection, poor healing, altered sensation, nerve injury affecting movement and asymmetry. Further treatment may be needed. Results cannot be guaranteed for a fixed number of years as ageing, habits and tissues change.
Plan recovery and follow-up
Arrange home support, activity restrictions and review appointments. Promptly report sudden one-sided swelling, escalating pain, bleeding or fever. Breathing difficulty or rapidly increasing neck swelling requires emergency care.
Related reading: How effective is a thread lift, and can it replace facelift surgery?.