Purpose:
To reduce flabby jowls and smooth the jawline.

The procedure:
This procedure should be carried out by a surgeon with relevant skills and experience in an establishment registered with the Healthcare Commission.

Facelift surgery can take up to six hours and usually takes place under general anaesthetic.

There are many different kinds of facelift, but generally, the surgeon frees the skin by making an incision in the hairline from the temple, round and behind the ear and into the hairline. He or she then pulls the skin up and backwards into its new position and removes any excess fat.

At the end of the operation, the surgeon closes up the incisions with stitches and applies a dressing to protect the area where the cuts were made. Some types of facelift can be performed without leaving visible external scars - ask the surgeon about endoscopic techniques, where the surgeon will make several smaller cuts and insert an endoscope (a metal tube with a camera attached to the end) so that they can see the tissues underneath the skin on a television screen.

You will be required to stay in hospital overnight and to take two weeks off work to rest. The sutures will be removed at 5-14 days. It is important to minimise irritation to the sutures and so you should use a baby shampoo daily and avoid styling products. You should avoid facials for 6 weeks and use a high factor sun block.

The results:
Most people find that they look about ten years younger after a facelift. The scars of the operation will be permanent although they are generally hidden, usually by your hair.

The risks:
There are risks associated with facelifts including hair loss, scarring, and rough skin. Risks also include nerve damage which can cause paralysis of part or all of the movement of the facial muscles, or numbness of the face, both of which may be temporary or - rarely - permanent. Additionally the results of the surgery may be uneven. Eyes can look asymmetrical, or features do not seem to be lined up symmetrically. Infections after the surgery are rare.