McKeown Medical
202 W George St, Glasgow, G2 2PQ
Date posted — 12.06.24
Facelifts are often considered the gold standard in facial rejuvenation, yet the term encompasses a variety of procedures, each with distinct outcomes and implications. A surgical facelift typically focuses on the lower face and neck, aiming to remove loose skin and reposition facial tissues for a refreshed appearance.
Volumetric, full, and non-surgical facelifts, as well as lower face and neck lifts, are all part of the options, each addressing specific targets of the face. It’s essential to understand these variations to choose a treatment that aligns with your aesthetic goals, recognising that facelifts often target certain areas rather than the full face and may be combined with other procedures to achieve comprehensive facial rejuvenation.
Facial ageing is characterised by skin laxity, loss of collagen, and reduced facial fat, leading to wrinkles, sagging, and changes in facial contours. This natural process can be accelerated by lifestyle factors such as sun exposure and smoking. As the skin becomes lax and the facial structure alters as a result of bone resorption, the ageing signs become more pronounced, particularly in the face and neck.
Facelifts have evolved significantly, offering a range of options tailored to individual needs and aesthetic goals. Understanding these variations is crucial for selecting the most suitable procedure.
These non-surgical treatments focus on restoring lost facial volume, often using dermal fillers. They are ideal for those seeking subtle improvements without undergoing surgery.
Find out more about Volumetric Facelifts.
As the most comprehensive option, full facelifts address sagging skin and deep folds around the lower half of the face and neck. This surgical procedure involves repositioning underlying tissues and removing excess skin to achieve a more youthful contour.
Find out more about Full Facelifts.
These procedures use advanced technologies, like ultrasound or radio frequency, to tighten skin and stimulate collagen production. They are best suited for patients with mild to moderate skin laxity.
Find out more about Non-Surgical Facelifts.
Specifically targeting the jawline and neck, this surgery combats sagging in these areas, resulting in a more defined jawline and smoother neck.
Each type of facelift offers unique benefits and addresses different concerns, making it essential to discuss options with a qualified surgeon to determine the best approach for your facial rejuvenation.
Find out more about Lower Face and Necklifts.
Ideal for those who show early signs of aging, a mini facelift is less invasive than a full facelift. This procedure typically focuses on the lower face, addressing areas like the jawline and the upper neck. It involves smaller incisions and a shorter recovery time, making it a popular choice for younger patients or those seeking less dramatic changes.
A deep plane facelift goes deeper than the traditional facelift, targeting the layers beneath the SMAS (superficial musculo-aponeurotic system). This technique allows for more significant lifting and repositioning of facial tissues, leading to more natural-looking results, especially in the midface and neck regions. It is often recommended for patients with more pronounced aging signs who require comprehensive rejuvenation.
As well as the procedures we have gone through above, see some further additional facelift surgery variations:
The Vampire Facelift is a non-surgical cosmetic procedure that combines the use of hyaluronic acid dermal fillers with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) derived from the patient’s own blood. The process involves injecting the PRP into specific areas of the face, stimulating collagen production and cell turnover. This procedure is designed to restore facial volume, improve skin texture, and result in a rejuvenated, natural appearance. It’s particularly favored for its organic approach and minimal downtime.
The One Stitch Facelift, as the name suggests, is a minimally invasive procedure that involves a single stitch or suture on each side of the face. It’s designed for those seeking a subtle lift to counter early signs of aging, particularly around the jawline and neck. The procedure typically involves a local anesthetic and is known for its quick recovery time. Although the results are more modest compared to more extensive facelift surgeries, it’s an attractive option for individuals looking for immediate improvements with minimal intervention.
The journey towards a rejuvenated appearance begins well before the surgery. During the initial consultation, your surgeon will evaluate your facial structure, skin quality, and discuss your aesthetic goals. This conversation ensures that both you and your surgeon are aligned in expectations for the outcome.
On the day of the surgery, the procedure typically involves:
Anaesthesia is administered to ensure comfort and safety during the face lift surgery. Most of our surgical procedures are performed under local anaesthetic, which helps to reduce some of the risks associated with surgery. This means you are free to go home immediately after your treatment, although you will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult for the first 24 hours after your surgery
Strategic incisions are made, usually around the hairline and ears, to minimise visible scarring. The specific pattern of incisions will depend on the areas being targeted and the degree of change you’re looking for. These incisions allow the surgeon to access the underlying facial tissues.
Once the incisions are made, the surgeon will proceed to lift and tighten the underlying tissue. This step is crucial in addressing loose skin and reducing the appearance of excess fat. The surgeon carefully reshapes the deeper layers of the face, enhancing the bone structure and contour. During this process, great care is taken to avoid nerve injury, ensuring the facial muscles function properly post-surgery.
After the lifting and tightening are completed, the facial skin is re-draped, and any excess skin is removed. The incisions are then meticulously closed with sutures. This step is crucial for minimising scarring and ensuring a natural-looking result. The incisions are typically closed in a way that follows the natural contours of your face, further enhancing the procedure’s aesthetic outcome.
1. Youthful Appearance
2. Improved Confidence
3. Long-Lasting Results
4. Reduction In Excess Skin
5. Reduction Of Deep Wrinkles
Recovery from a facelift is a critical phase. The initial recovery period typically spans 2 to 4 weeks, during which patients may experience swelling, bruising, and discomfort. Key guidelines for a smooth recovery include:
Most patients can return to work and normal activities within a few weeks, but it may take several months to see the full results of the surgery.
Like any surgical procedure, facelift surgery carries certain risks and potential complications. Patients may face risks such as infections, bleeding, or adverse reactions to anaesthesia. Specific to facelifts, there is a possibility of nerve injury, which can affect facial muscle movement or sensation. Scarring, although typically well-hidden, can vary in severity. Asymmetry in facial features and dissatisfaction with the aesthetic outcome are other potential risks. We will discuss these risks in depth to help you make an informed decision and understand the measures to mitigate them.
Facelift surgery is not the only option for facial rejuvenation. There are several non-surgical alternatives and complementary procedures that can enhance or, in some cases, substitute for a facelift:
The results of a facelift can significantly rejuvenate your appearance, but it’s important to have realistic expectations about longevity. Typically, a facelift can last about 10 years, but this varies depending on individual factors like skin quality, lifestyle, and genetics. Aging continues, so the effects of the facelift will gradually diminish over time. To maintain the results as long as possible:
Facelifts encompass a range of surgical and non-surgical options. Choosing the right procedure for you, whether it’s a full, deep plane, Vampire, or One Stitch Facelift, depends on individual ageing concerns and aesthetic goals. The process involves a detailed consultation, careful planning and understanding of each option. Post-operative care and recovery are crucial for achieving the best results, and maintaining these through a healthy lifestyle and skincare routine is essential. If you’re interested and wish to book a free no obligation consultation, our team of cosmetic surgeons in Glasgow are ready to help you with any questions or concerns relating to facelifts or any other treatments.
Medical Director
Our founder, Dr Darren McKeown, is renowned for his expertise and artistry with dermal fillers. As a peer-reviewed medical author, he is passionate about treatments that stand up to scientific scrutiny. Above all, Dr McKeown believes in a global approach; delivering flawless results – and rejuvenation that lasts.
Consultant Plastic Surgeon
Dr Russell Bramhall is regarded for his facelifts and blepharoplasties, our specialist plastic surgeon strives for an elegant, “invisible” result. His surgeries are complemented by the work of our non-surgical specialists: for a wholly holistic rejuvenation.
Aesthetic Doctor
Dr Rhona Cameron is a skilled injector who has been extensively trained in Dr McKeown’s signature intuitive technique. Her treatments blend advanced facial optimisation with powerful, energy-based devices – such as lasers, BBL and radio frequency – energising the appearance and enhancing skin health. approach; delivering flawless results – and rejuvenation that lasts.
Choosing McKeown Medical for a facelift offers a range of expertly tailored treatments designed to rejuvenate and restore a youthful appearance with a focus on natural results. Dr. McKeown’s approach to facelifts is informed by a deep understanding of facial anatomy and the ageing process, ensuring treatments that are both effective and harmonious with each individual’s unique features.
Let’s answer some of your frequently asked questions about facelifts.
A few weeks leading up to your facelift surgery is a good time to start ensuring your body is as healthy as possible. The best way to do so is to eat healthily, eat balanced, limit your alcohol intake, and drink plenty of water.
Typically, patients in their mid-40s to early 50s are most likely looking to get a facelift. However, the right time depends more on the individual’s skin condition and ageing signs, not just age alone. Consulting with our qualified surgeons can help you determine the ideal timing based on your needs.
Ten years after a facelift, you can still expect to see noticeable improvements in your facial appearance compared to if you hadn’t undergone the surgery. However, it’s important to remember that a facelift doesn’t halt the ageing process. Factors like skin care, lifestyle, and genetics can influence the longevity of results.
The best facelift procedure depends on individual concerns and desired outcomes. Surgical options like full and deep plane facelifts offer more comprehensive results for pronounced ageing signs. Procedures like the Vampire Facelift or One Stitch Facelift might be suitable for less invasive treatment. Discussing with a surgeon can help identify the most appropriate method for you.
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The mouth area is one of the most prominent signs of ageing. The changes that happen around the mouth are complex, not just the loss of volume which is why over-relying on fillers can result in an unnatural appearance.
This patient had one of the very common signs of ageing around the mouth - lengthening of the top lip, which is the whole space between the base of the nose to the mouth. This patient had an upper lip lift, with an incision around the base of her nose to remove skin and lift the muscle. She also had a lip corner lift, with an incision around the edge of the lip at the sides. Finally she had a little filler in her top lip and mouth corners for a comprehensive rejuvenation. You can see where the incisions were made and the areas removed in the second image.
The surgical procedures were performed by the one and only @bramhallplasticsurgery. The patient is over the moon with her results! What do you think?
Thank you to our lovely patient for allowing us to share her pictures with you. This patient had full laser resurfacing three months ago and was back in the clinic for a follow up appointment absolutely loving life with her new skin.
She hated the lines and wrinkles around her mouth as well as the darkness and wrinkles under her eyes. She had previously tried to correct these issues with fillers although that wasn’t the best treatment option for these issues, so she decided to bite the bullet and come to the clinic for a full resurface.
It’s a big procedure, but she said she would do it again in a heartbeat for the results she has achieved. What do you think?
And in even more exciting news I am delighted to tell you that Dr Rhona Cameron has been promoted to the role of Medical Director.
Rhona has been with us for over 5 years now and in that time has become a tremendous asset to the business. As we continue to grow and expand our services, Rhona will have a managerial role alongside her fabulous clinical work, ensuring we are always at the forefront of medicine and doing all we can to improve the lives of our patients.
Three cheers for the legendary Dr Rhona! Hip-hip!
Big news! We`ve just launched a new online resource for all of our patients at drdarrenmckeown.com.
We could call it a new website, but that wouldn`t really do it justice.
This is the product of almost four years of work painstakingly listening to the questions our patients ask us over and over again and piecing together a resource that should answer almost every question you might possibly have about aesthetic treatment options.
We’re very thankful to all of the patients who have allowed us to use their pictures to extensively illustrate what the best treatment options are for each feature.
We`ve also included video content to almost every page so you can watch for yourself and see how the treatments work alongside the results, as well as in depth videos from our team, with more to come!
I really hope you find the new site to be informative and helpful in educating you on your best treatment options.
Here`s a quick whistlestop tour of the new site and the link is in our bio. If you have the time to take a look, I’d love to hear your feedback - particularly if there is anything you think we’ve missed or would like to see added. Let me know in the comments.
The deep plane face and neck lift is now accepted the gold standard technique of facelifting. There are still not many surgeons who can perform this technique and our exceptionally talented @bramhallplasticsurgery is one of the few who can. The procedure goes deeper under the muscles of the face to release the retaining ligaments and truly reposition the soft tissues, rather than simply placing tension on them. It`s a much more intricate technique that demands more time and attention to detail, but we believe our patients deserve this. This patient is nearly 3 months out from her procedure. You can see the scars have started to fade already and she is delighted with the improvement so far. Thank you so much to her and to all of our patients who allow us to share their pictures to show you how we do what we do!
Upper eyelid surgery is one of the most popular procedures we do in the clinic. The key to making it look great is not just in removing enough skin, but leaving enough behind too so that the result looks soft and natural - the art of which our resident eyelid surgery expert @bramhallplasticsurgery is excellent! This patient is over the moon with her results. What do you think?
Sometimes it’s hard to appreciate the full impact volume loss contributes to the ageing process. Loss of bone from the lower jaw can be a significant cause of sagging not only in the jowls, but in the neck too.
This patient was a classic example of just how important volume loss is in the jaw. As well as treating her jaw we also treated her cheeks and chin too, to achieve this improvement. She was delighted with the improvement.
What do you think?
Dermal fillers are some of our most versatile tools when it comes to treating the signs of ageing, but we hear plenty of myths in the clinic about how they work.
Here’s our dermal fillers expert Dr Rhona Cameron with the facts v fiction, tackling:
· Do dermal fillers look natural?
· How long do dermal fillers last?
· Can dermal fillers migrate?
Do you have questions about dermal fillers, or any treatment? Let us know in the comments and we’ll cover it next!
And this is why we talk so much about skin quality in the clinic! You can reduce lines and wrinkles with injectables, and achieve youthful facial contours, but to truly look youthful the skin needs to be in optimal condition too.
This patient opted for full laser resurfacing. She didn`t have too many wrinkles, but did have a lot of sun damage - especially a lot of dark pigmentation below the eye.
As well as reducing the lines and wrinkles, we were able to clear almost all of this pigment for her and her skin is glowing as a result. This is her two months out from her treatment, loving life with her new skin.
What do you think?