Aging of the face affects each patient individually and therefore, consideration of any facial rejuvenation or recountoring is a very personal decision. The facelift procedure, or rhytidectomy, addresses many aspects of the aging face in order to restore a refreshed, more youthful appearance.

Commonly, the regions of the jowls and cheeks are of particular interest to patients. With age, there is a loss of the youthful volume in the mid-face region in most patients. There also may be a concern regarding the definition of the jaw line, or excess tissue of the neck that can be seen as fullness, vertical bands, or the blunting of the angle below the jaw. The appearance of lines near your eyelids or around the mouth, or a lowering of the position of your brow may also be evident. The facelift operation must be specifically customized to each and every patient.

The 21 century approach to facial rejuvenation and face lift involve more than tightening of the skin and deep tissue. It is a comprehensive strategy to produce youthful appearance. It involves minimal scaring, skin resurfacing, liposuction, targeted liposuction, volumetric restoration, laser and synergistic surgical approach. It is specific knowledge of facial anatomy, combined with a breadth of surgical techniques and latest technology in Plastic Surgery that enable us to create an individualized approach for facial rejuvenation to achieve a youthful appearance. The 21st century approach of facial beauty emphysis on the importance of shifting facial volumes rather than applying traction on the skin. The restoration of facial volumes is more important than the amount of skin resected and the tension on the skin and superficial musculo-aponeurotic system (SMAS).

Being one of the most technically demanding areas in Plastic surgery, Drs Kohout and Barnouti take pride in subspecialising in a 21century approach to face lift, rejuvenation and recontouring surgery.

At Australia Plastic Surgery, we advise you to bring with you images of yourself, preferably not smiling, of when you were younger (20-30 years of age), we will study these photographs to determine the volumes and shapes needed to restore the healthy, desirable structure of youth

Planning your treatment

The Consultation

When considering a facelift procedure, careful assessment must involve evaluation of your facial balance. Your skin quality, the appearance and position of facial lines, and the bony facial structure. The meticulous analysis of the patient's facial form is one of the most interesting and complex aspects of plastic surgery. Dr Barnouti will take you through all of your facial issues that needs to be addressed and thoroughly explains the treatment available for your specific condition. You will find the consultation very informative and educational. One of the most important issues in facial surgery is to establish patients expectations, and distinguish between facial rejuvenation and facial recontouring.

Facial rejuvenation: is when the patient wants to look

Facial recontouring is this sometimes can be complex issues

It is of paramount significance to establish this so we can carefully plan the right surgery.

Options for facial rejuvenations and recontouring range from mini face lift, laser, chemical peel, dermabrasion, liposuction, lipofilling, soft treatments or a combined synergistic approach.

The Surgery

The difference between mini, short scar and full face lift

Mini face lift: The incision/scar will be totally invisible hidden above the hairline, short recovery2-5 days, and lower cost.

Short Scar face lift: The incision/scar is at the junction of the ear and the side of the cheek, finishes at the earlobe and does not extend behind the ear, average cost, and average recovery 5-8 days.

Full face lift: The incision/scar is at the junction of the cheek and the side of the cheek and extends behind the ear and reaches the scalp, higher cost, longer procedure, longer recovery 8-14days

After making the right incision, the surgeon then separates the skin from the fat and muscle below.

Fat may be trimmed or suctioned from around the neck and chin to improve the contour.

The surgeon then tightens the underlying muscle and membrane, pulls the skin back, and trims the excess.

Volume usually added for certain areas to enhance it, e.g. cheek bone areas

Liposuction usually done for the neck and targeted facial area

Other synergistic procedures, e.g. tear trough, eyelids and cheek enhancement surgery will often be done to optimise the results.

Finally, the incisions are secured with resorbable stitches, so you do not need to go through the inconvenience of removing them.

Between 90 minutes and 6hours depend on the extent of face lift, rejuvenation or contouring procedure. It can be done under General Anaesthetic or Local anaesthetics with some sedation.

After surgery

If a general anaesthetic is used, you will need to stay in hospital overnight. If only Local aesthetic and sedation used then we help you to arrange to go home at the same day with some support.

A bandage covering the whole treated area must be worn for 24 hours.

Routinely, we will be seeing you twice within the first week to review the wound and make sure that you are comfortable. The stiches are usually resorbable so do not need to be taken away, they usually fall apart by themselves.

Temporary bruising under the eyes is common and subsides gradually after the first week.

Initially, your face will feel stiff and appear artificially tightened.

This subsides naturally and the process can be accelerated by the application of cold compresses to the affected areas.

Getting you back to work and normal activities:

You will need to rest completely for the first 48 hours and should be careful to avoid sudden head movements.

Normal activity can be resumed in about 5 days after miniface lift, 8 days after Short scar face lift and 14 days after full face lift.

Ancillary synergistic procedures that may be utilized to achieve optimal results:

Eyelid surgery (Upper and/or lower eyelids), also known as blepharoplasty

Neck lift, fat suction and recountoring

Brow elevation,

Lip lifting, augmentation, resurfacing or combination

Tear trough (the displeasing groove under the eyes) procedure

Cheek bone enhancement

Smoothening the Nasolabial folds and marionette lines.

Nose reshaping (rhinoplasty)

Chin Reshaping

Cheek bone enhancement

Laser

Soft treatments

Lipofilling

Liposuction

Plastic Surgery Costs

Short Scar Facelift

Total Cost - $11,900 (including Surgeon’s fee, Assistant Surgeons fee, Hospital, operating theatre and all follow up visits cost).

Full SMAS facelift/ necklift

Total Cost - $16,900 (including Surgeon’s fee, Assistant Surgeons fee, Anaesthetist’s fee, Hospital, operating theatre and all follow up visits cost).

Total Facial rejuvenation

(Includes facelift, neck lift, upper eyelid, lower eyelid surgery, browlift, skin resurfacing/ rejuvenation.)

Total Cost: $29,900 (including Surgeon’s fee, Assistant Surgeons fee, Anaesthetist’s fee, Hospital, operating theatre and all follow up visits cost).