While early improvements are visible soon after surgery, results continue to refine as swelling resolves and tissues settle. Final outcomes are usually apparent around 3–4 months post-surgery, allowing for a gradual, natural-looking improvement.
Facelift Surgery
A facelift is designed to restore a more youthful and refreshed appearance by addressing sagging skin, jowls, and age-related changes to the face and neck. At Merchant Group Medical, our experienced plastic surgeons provide advanced facelift techniques to patients across Scotland, delivering natural-looking results with a personalised and supportive approach to care.
Procedure overview
TYPE OF ANAESTHETIC
Local with Sedation or General
LENGTH OF SURGERY
2–3 Hours
HOSPITAL STAY
A night
RECOVERY
2 weeks off work, 6 to 8 weeks before strenuous exercise
Facelift Procedures
This is our most commonly performed facelift procedure, treating the lower face and neck as a single functional unit. The SMAS facelift involves tightening the deeper supportive layer beneath the skin while removing excess skin where necessary. This approach delivers long-lasting improvement to the jawline, jowls, and neck contour, creating natural-looking results by addressing the deeper tissues rather than simply tightening the skin.
A deep plane facelift may be recommended for patients with more advanced facial ageing or those seeking longer-lasting correction. This technique repositions the facial tissues as a single unit, allowing for more effective treatment of deep folds and midface descent, alongside lower face and neck ageing. Recovery is similar to a standard facelift, although some patients may experience slightly increased swelling initially.
A short-scar or mini facelift may be suitable for patients with early jowl formation and mild midface descent, without significant neck laxity. This procedure focuses on repositioning deeper facial structures using a less extensive approach. While scars are still present in front of the ears, they are carefully placed within natural contours to minimise visibility.
For patients whose primary concern is neck laxity with good facial definition, a neck lift alone may be appropriate. This procedure addresses sagging platysma muscles and excess skin, improving neck contour and, in some cases, relieving functional discomfort caused by skin redundancy or muscle banding.
Facelift surgery is often combined with other procedures to achieve balanced and comprehensive rejuvenation. These may include neck liposuction, fat transfer to the cheeks to restore volume, upper or lower eyelid surgery, brow lift, or laser resurfacing to improve fine lines and sun damage.
The Medical and Psychological Significance of Facial Rejuvenation
Facelift and neck lift procedures are often viewed as cosmetic, but they can also address important functional and psychological concerns supported by clinical research:
- Functional Support of Facial Structures: Age-related loss of muscle tone and tissue laxity in the lower face and neck can affect facial expression, communication, and comfort. Surgical repositioning of deeper tissues can restore support and improve function in more advanced cases.
- Improved Comfort and Mobility: Significant neck laxity and platysmal banding may cause physical discomfort or functional limitation. Neck lift surgery can alleviate these issues by tightening underlying muscles and removing excess skin.
- Psychological Wellbeing: Clinical studies have demonstrated improvements in quality of life, self-confidence, and reduced anxiety following appropriately selected facial rejuvenation procedures.
- Social and Professional Perception: Research has shown that individuals who undergo facial rejuvenation may be perceived as healthier, more confident, and more capable in social and professional settings, which can positively influence interactions and opportunities.
At Merchant Group Medical, we carefully consider both the functional and aesthetic aspects of facial ageing to develop a personalised treatment plan that supports physical comfort, confidence, and overall wellbeing.
SMAS vs Deep Plane Facelifts: A Comparative Approach
As facelift techniques have evolved, patients often ask about the differences between SMAS and deep plane facelifts. Both approaches are effective but differ in surgical depth, recovery, and suitability depending on individual facial anatomy and ageing patterns.
SMAS Facelift
- Targets the supportive fibrous layer overlying the facial muscles
- Repositions deeper tissues rather than tightening skin alone
- Improves jawline definition, jowls, and neck contour
- Allows precise customisation based on individual ageing patterns
- Offers a more controlled and predictable recovery
- Can be combined with fat transfer to restore facial volume
Deep Plane Facelift
- Releases and repositions facial tissues as a single unit beneath the SMAS layer
- Involves deeper surgical dissection near critical facial structures
- Addresses deeper fat compartments and pronounced tissue descent
- Typically results in more initial swelling and a longer recovery
- Best suited for significant lower face and neck laxity or pronounced jowling
Why Choose Merchant Medical Group for Your Eyelid Surgery?
You will usually be mobile the day after surgery, although full recovery takes time. Most patients return to light activities within 10–14 days, with energy levels gradually improving over 3–4 weeks. Temporary emotional ups and downs are common during recovery and typically settle as healing progresses and you adjust to facial changes.
Discomfort is generally mild to moderate rather than severe. This is usually well controlled with prescribed pain relief in the first few days, followed by over-the-counter medication as recovery continues.
Bruising and swelling typically peak around days 3–4 and begin to settle by the end of the first week. Some residual swelling, particularly around the jawline, may persist for several weeks but is usually not noticeable to others after 2–3 weeks
What are the risks?
Temporary numbness or altered sensation is very common after surgery and usually improves gradually over 6–12 months as nerve endings recover.
All surgery results in scars, which are carefully placed within natural contours and typically fade significantly over 6–12 months. Scar quality varies depending on genetics, aftercare, and sun protection.
Short-term weakness or asymmetry in facial movement can occur due to swelling and nerve irritation. This usually resolves within 3–6 weeks. Permanent nerve injury is extremely rare.
Delayed wound healing occurs in approximately 2% of patients, more commonly in smokers or those with circulation-related medical conditions. Rarely, small areas may require additional wound care.
Occurs in fewer than 5% of cases and may require surgical treatment to relieve pressure on healing tissues. The risk is reduced with meticulous surgical technique and careful blood pressure management.
Approximately 5–10% of patients may benefit from minor refinements after healing to optimise balance or address residual asymmetry.
Very rarely, numbness affecting the lower part of the ear or surrounding area may persist long term.
Perfect facial symmetry does not occur naturally. The goal of surgery is improved balance and harmony rather than absolute symmetry.
Facelift aftercare
If you have undergone or are considering a facelift or neck lift, following proper aftercare is essential for optimal recovery and results
Excellence Record
Merchant City Medical Group is proud to be one of the leading providers of Hair Transplant Surgeries and Medical Aesthetics within the UK and Europe. With our extensive team of expert surgeons, nurse practitioners and consultants, you will be met with the utmost dedication and compassion throughout your journey with us.
- 30+ Years of combined experience
- 10 + Experts
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