Facelift (Meloplasty) Sunshine Coast

A facelift is a procedure designed to reverse the signs of facial ageing. It targets areas of the face where saggy skin, loss of volume, jowls, and frowning mouth lines can cause a tired and older appearance. The procedure aims to enhance a patient’s natural facial structure and contours to improve confidence. If you wish to bring back a brighter, youthful look, this may be the procedure for you.

Along with a facelift, fat grafting techniques can help restore volume loss around the face as well as remove unwanted fat deposits, bringing back the fullness the younger facial structure. Patients should be aware that a facelift cannot completely stop the natural process of ageing, and in five to ten years, you may notice that the results have faded. Facelifts focus on enriching the mid to lower face, and as a result, we often combine facelift surgeries with eyelid reductions, brow lifts, and neck lifts to enhance the entire face and neck.

What can a facelift achieve?

Both men and women can benefit from facelift surgery. The procedure aims to lift and tighten the facial skin, for a smoother and younger look. Sagging facial skin can be a result of many factors. It is often associated with signs of ageing but can also be impacted by lifestyle factors such as smoking, sun damage, and general skincare. Over time, this can make people feel that they look older than their age.

Surface level treatments can only do so much to reverse the signs of ageing, which means surgery is often a good option for many people. Although a facelift cannot stop the aging process entirely, it can provide lasting skin tightening and anti-ageing results. It can be a great option for people who wish to have younger and smoother skin whilst preserving their natural facial structure. The procedure can address a number of common concerns related to ageing, such as:

• Fine lines and wrinkles, creating smoother skin
• Loose or lax skin around the midface
• Undefined facial contours, for a slimmer look
• Excess skin caused by jowls, creating a sharper jawline
• Volume lossin the lips, cheeks, and brows, creating a plump and youthful appearance

The procedure removes excess skin in order to lift the skin and revive the facial features and contours. It offers long-lasting results for up to ten years, and many patients report feeling an improved sense of self-esteem. Dr Fraser-Kirk will tailor your procedure to your needs to help you achieve a naturally rejuvenated look that makes you feel confident.

Your facelift consultation

Prior to your procedure, we will need to speak to you to discuss your needs and aesthetic ideals. You will be able to express your goals and which areas you are most concerned about, allowing us to create a treatment plan that suits you. Also, we will ask you about your medical history to make sure you are a good candidate before proceeding. This means you will need to discuss your general health, past procedures, and any health issues that could interfere with your surgery.

Generally, a good candidate is someone who has moderate to severe facial wrinkles and skin laxity. They also do not smoke, since this can amplify risks, and do not have health risks that could impede healing. The better your health, the quicker your body will be able to recover after surgery. Suitable patients should also have a positive attitude and realistic hopes for the outcomes of their procedure.

During your consultation, Dr Fraser-Kirk will explain which options may be best to achieve the result you are looking for. He will explain the process in detail, including what you can do to prepare and what you can expect during recovery. You can ask any questions, and Dr Fraser-Kirk will aim to give you all the guidance you require to have a good experience and a successful outcome.

The procedure

Each facelift procedure is different, based on the patient’s requirements. Generally, surgeons perform facelifts with a general anaesthetic, which means you will not feel any pain during the surgery.

Dr Fraser-Kirk will mark out areas and make incisions, carefully to minimise scars. These are usually on the sides of the face near the hairline. He will then move the facial skin and tissue beneath to a more ideal position, pulling it up and towards the sides of the face. Following this, the excess skin is removed, along with excess fat around the lower face and neck, creating a more ideal shape. The exact techniques will depend on your needs and the factors you discussed in the consultation.

Once the surgeon has made these changes, he will use sutures to secure the skin in place. If fat grafting is part of your treatment plan, Dr Fraser-Kirk will remove the required fat from the donor site (the chosen area on a patient’s body where excess fat is present). This fat will then go through a purifying process, ready for injection into areas of the face where volume loss has occurred. Once the procedure is complete, your incisions will be dressed and bandaged.

There are several techniques that can be utilised when performing a facelift, and this will depend upon what areas a patient wishes to enhance. These techniques include:

Mini Facelift
This involves smaller incisions, where sagging skin and wrinkles are present around the upper neck area. Some patients may not require or want a full facelift, and therefore, a mini facelift might be the best option for achieving a patient’s goals.

Mid-Facelift
This is a technique created for the mid-face area around the cheeks to target fat pockets inside a patient’s cheeks which can contribute to a sagging appearance.

S-Lift
Designed for patients with sagging skin in the lower areas of their face, the technique involves an s-shaped incision instead of a regular incision. This tightens the facial muscles and tissue.

Cutaneous Lift
This lift involves trimming excess fat deposits and sagging skin from the lower face and neck area.

Traditional Facelift
This is the most typical form of facelift surgery. It involves incisions around the hairline and in front of the ears to tighten facial tissue and muscles.

Recovery and aftercare

Straight after surgery, patients may have some bruising, swelling, and some pain, but these symptoms are normal side effects. Mild bleeding, changes in skin colour, and numbness to the surgical sites can also be common after surgery. These side effects are at their worst during the first 24 to 48 hours, but dressings placed on the surgical sites and prescribed pain relief can help to lessen the symptoms. Results can last between five to ten years, depending on the person’s health and wellbeing during that time. Your surgeon may give you instructions such as:

• Take time off work – around two to three weeks for most patients
• Keep your head elevated for one week
• Use cold compresses to reduce discomfort
• Take prescribed medications and creams
• Avoid strenuous activity for roughly two weeks
• Keep dressingsand surgical sites dry – patients are shown how to do this
• Avoid clothing that you must pull over yourhead
• Attend all post-op appointments

It is very important that patients follow their tailored recovery plan, as advised by Dr Fraser-Kirk. This will ensure an optimal outcome with lessened scarring where possible. As we believe in patients having access to their surgeon at our clinic, Dr Fraser-Kirk will aim to be available for any questions or concerns that may arise during this period.

Facelift cost on the Sunshine Coast

A facelift is a highly personal procedure. Due to this, it is hard to generalise costs. Therefore, an in-depth discussion with Dr Fraser-Kirk is essential in finding out if a patient is suitable. A discussion with you will help us assess your health and wellbeing, and ideal outcomes.

Once we have gathered this information, we will be able to create a treatment plan that will give us a better idea of what your procedure will cost. Treatment plans are customised to a patient’s needs. Based on the length and extent of your chosen surgery, we can then begin discussing the details and outlining costs.

Other things to consider include:

• Surgeon costs
• Hospital fees
• Anaesthetist fees
• Post-surgery care costs

Since facelift surgery is usually an elective surgery, Medicare will not offer rebates and you will have to pay for your own costs. We can offer further clarity on costs during your initial meeting with us.

Risks and complications

In any procedure, there is always a degree of risk involved. If you are thinking about having facelift surgery, you should make sure you are aware of the risks before going ahead. This will help you manage expectations and make a decision that is right for you. The risks involved in this procedure include:

• Anaesthesia risks
• Reactions to dressings, sutures, or medicine
• Blood clots aroundthe surgical sites
• Poor scarring
• Nerve damage
• Temporary numbness of the surgical sites
• Hair loss around the scars
• Excessive bleeding
• Infection
• Facial asymmetry
• Skin loss

If you follow the recovery plans laid out by Dr Fraser-Kirk, this will give you the best possible chance of a successful recovery. It will also help your wounds heal quickly and reduce the resulting scars. In the case that you experience a severe or lasting side effect, you should contact us immediately as you may require further treatment.

How to choose the best facelift surgeon on the Sunshine Coast

A facelift is a popular cosmetic surgery for both men and women that can significantly improve a person’s outward confidence. There are many surgical options available, and it can be difficult to decide on a path to treatment that will best suit your needs. For this reason, Dr Fraser-Kirk takes an empathetic approach to surgery, helping each patient achieve their individual goals.

If you are thinking about undergoing this procedure, it is important to do your research and make sure you choose a qualified surgeon. Choosing a skilled and experienced surgeon such as Dr Fraser-Kirk will give you the best chance of success.

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