As we age, sagging, under-eye bags, and deep wrinkles appear on the face due to factors such as aging, gravity, stress, smoking, alcohol, poor nutrition, and sun exposure.

With advancing age, the soft tissue on the face decreases and sags downward over the facial bones due to gravity. This can be described as the skin on the face becoming loose. The purpose of a facelift surgery is to eliminate this excess and create tighter, firmer skin.

Facelift surgery removes the sagging excess skin on the face, reshapes, and tightens the thin muscle layer under the skin.

How to recognize an aged facial appearance?

Changes caused by aging in the face include:

Deepening of forehead lines

Drooping eyebrows

Sagging eyelids

Crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes

Under-eye bags and lines

Sagging cheeks and reduced fullness in the cheekbones

Deepening folds around the mouth and nose

Loss of jawline contour

Sagging and fat accumulation in the neck and chin area

Neck folds and deep wrinkles

Increased sun spots on the facial skin

How is facelift surgery performed?

Facelift surgeries can be divided based on the affected area: upper face (forehead and eyebrows), midface (eye level and surrounding area), and lower face (mouth, chin, and neck). The goal is to lift the sagging and loose tissues in different areas of the face and remove excess skin to tighten it.

Incisions are hidden within the hairline at the temples and natural folds around the ears, so the scars are not very noticeable.

Combining facelift surgery with eyelid surgery, skin resurfacing, fillers, or Botox can increase success.

Duration of the surgery:

The surgery lasts 2–5 hours under general anesthesia. If combined with upper and lower eyelid surgery, forehead lift, or eyebrow lift, the duration increases.

Postoperative care:

The patient stays in the hospital for one night and is discharged afterward.

Pain is usually mild and manageable with painkillers. Drains may be placed in some cases and removed after 1–2 days. Swelling and bruising are common but almost completely resolve within 1–2 weeks. After this period, the patient can return to daily life.

For suitable patients, the effects of a proper facelift surgery can last 8–10 years, although aging continues after the procedure.