Sue’s Full Facelift Case Study

A Full Facelift can seem like a daunting and scary procedure but there comes a time when a Mini Facelift and no surgical techniques like Botox® and fillers can keep up with the pace of change in your appearance and a good Facelift can be a way to turn the clock back 10 years. A Facelift that is done well will look natural and will reposition and secure the deep layers so that you have a long term improvement in areas like your jowls and your neck laxity. The following is a case study of a recent patient under my care to help you make a decision if this is the right procedure for you.

Background

Sue* was a married lady of 55 who had always looked after herself with regular beauty treatments and Botox® and a couple of treatments with fillers but she had become increasingly concerned about her increasing jowls that had changed the shape of her face from heart-shaped to quite square shaped. She had also noticed that she had developed laxity around her neck and wanted to know if a Mini Facelift or a thread lift would be able to improve this.

She was otherwise in very good health and was not overweight, smoking or diabetic. I explained that with the degree of sag in the tissues that she had that a thread lift would not be powerful enough to produce an improvement and even a Mini Facelift would be very short lived and so I discussed with her what a Full Facelift could achieve and why I believed this to be her best option in the long run.

Questions at Consultation 1

Sue wanted to know how long the operation took and I explained that I can usually do everything in 3 and half hours. She also wanted to know if the incisions would be visible and I explained how I very carefully tailor the incisions into the crease in front of and behind the ear and then up into the hairline. She wanted to know if she would be very bruised and swollen and I explained how I am very careful in my dissection to produce minimal bruising as I want my patients to look their best right away. She wanted to know if there would be stitches to remove and I explained how I always use dissolving stitches and I do not use painful drains – I use a special tissue glue that helps to eliminate the space where blood can collect

Second Consultation

At the second Consultation, we talked more about the site of the incisions and I drew them out on a special app on the computer so she could see exactly where they would be. She asked about driving and I explained that most people need about a week before they feel safe but that it was important to have someone to pick her up and drop her off at the hospital. I explained how the skin is often a bit numb for some weeks after the surgery but that this gradually returns and we covered how the improvement is not permanent but merely resets the clock.

Day of surgery

On the day of her surgery, she was first on the list and I took her pre-op pictures then we went to theatre where the procedure went to plan and very smoothly taking just 3 hrs. I did not need to use drains and I do not put heavy or bulky dressings in place so I can see the skin and observe for any swelling or wound problems. She slept head up that night and had minimal swelling and bruising in the morning.

Post-op care

I see my Facelift patients after one and 2 weeks post-op to check on healing and answer any questions they may have. I give advice about the use of Arnica for reducing bruising and when they can start washing hair again, usually after about 3 days.

Feedback

She was absolutely delighted with the result of surgery and had received many compliments on how fresh she was looking!

Mr Gerard Lambe  MD, FRCS (Plast)
Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Breast Surgeon