The ‘R’ Facelift

Overview

The R Facelift method was developed in a particular patient who had Ehler’s Danlos Syndrome (EDS). These patients have a tendency of severe bleeding and bruising and poor healing. This technique involves a pre-operative assessment for skin laxity, and the area of skin to be excised is assessed and marked.

This technique has a similar scar as in the Minimal Access Cranial Suspension (MACS) facelift, which is around the sideburn, in front of the ear and stops behind the ear.

Conventional facelift procedures are invasive and need long and complex surgical steps, involve long recovery times and can be disfiguring in the early post-operative period due to severe swelling and bruising. The non-surgical modalities or options for facelift tend to yield a weaker, less noticeable, lift and may require early revision.

Mr Riaz developed the R face and neck lift which is without much skin undermining and no deep or extensive surgical steps and responds to growing demand for long lasting effective facelift procedures associated with minimal down time and lower risk of complications. The resulting scar from the R face and neck lift starts around the sideburn and goes in front of the ear and stops two thirds of the length of the posterior surface of the ear in the crease. The only resulting swelling and bruising is close to the suture line for a few days.

The rest of the face and neck does not show any swelling or bruising. There is no risk of collection of blood or haematoma. In technical terms there is a composite lift of face and neck and the effect on the neck is very pronounced. Mr Riaz has been performing the R face and neck lift for the last four years with very good and satisfactory outcomes. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW PROCEDURES WORK >
LEARN MORE ON HOW FACE AND NECK PROCEDURES WORK >

INTRODUCTION

A facelift is used to address age-related problems with the lower half of the face, from the eyes and ears downwards. Anything above the eyes is treated with a brow-lift. A facelift involves elevating and repositioning the skin and soft tissue of the face. During the procedure, cuts are made in front of the ear, extending up and forwards along the hairline; redundant skin is then removed, and the remaining skin is hitched and re-draped over its new foundations and sewn into position. Fat and tissue is redistributed and sometimes added to the face.

Facelifts are generally successful procedures and can have dramatic results, often setting the clock back about ten years. However, patients need to be aware that no facelift will ever make them look 18 again, and you should be aware of the limitations before you agree to undertake surgery. Brow-lifts, for example, which use the same surgical principles and techniques as craniofacial surgery, allow access to the upper face and have different effects. Facelifts are commonly performed under general anaesthetic, or with local anaesthetic and sedation.

The operation takes between two to five hours, and patients are likely to need to stay in hospital overnight.

Pain is not a major problem with facial surgery, and complications arising from facelifts are never usually very serious. However, all patients need to be aware that there is the chance of sustaining damage to the facial nerves.

This can cause weakened movement of the eyebrow and lip, although such repercussions are not common and generally improve over several weeks. Following surgery, patients commonly experience:

  • Feelings of tightness when opening the mouth

  • Swelling and bruising

  • Feeling low and depressed in the first week

  • Discomfort at night (sleeping upright with ice packs applied to cheeks is recommended)

Stitches can be removed and after ten to fourteen days and patients can think about returning to work or going out in public. Within four weeks, you will be feeling more like yourself, albeit a younger looking version. However, patients are advised not to judge the final result of a face-lift for about six to nine months. 

 WHAT A FACELIFT DOES NOT DO?

A facelift works better for the lower half of the face and particularly the jaw line and neck. If you have sagging eyebrows and wrinkles of the forehead then you should perhaps consider an endoscopic brow lift. Loose skin with fine wrinkles, freckles and rough areas will benefit more by chemical peel or laser resurfacing.

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