When is treatment recommended?
In cases of increasing looseness of neck and facial skin, a progressive formation of wrinkles around the nose and mouth or the development of “flabby cheeks”, only lifting operations can lead to the desired result.

Through recently refined operational procedures, we are in the position today of being able to achieve facial lifting without mask-like results. Your friends and acquaintances will comment on your young, fresh appearance, without suspecting that you have had an operation. Many of our patients have noticed a clearly improved self-confidence and sense of well-being in both their private and working lives and found that their problems are not as big as they were.

The different operational methods
The signs of ageing are more pronounced in some than in others. Likewise, each person sees himself or herself differently. The procedure of facial and/or neck lifting that can be chosen depends on both the anatomical condition and the wishes of the patient.

Wrinkles on the forehead or between the eyebrows are either openly (cut from ear to ear below the fringe) or endoscopically (with five small incisions) corrected by an incision in the area of the scalp. By doing this, a lifting of the eyebrows is possible. However, many of these wrinkles can be removed by injecting a specified substance.

Eyelid surgery can correct the formation of wrinkles and tear sacs on the upper and lower eyelids, where the surplus skin and fatty tissue is removed.

Lifting the cheeks not only tightens the skin, but also brings the underlying structures, which are attached to the superficial muscle and connective tissue supporting system (SMAS - superficial muscular aponeurotic system) into a proper position. This produces a much-improved result, without producing a mask-like face through excessive tension.

If necessary, during lifting of the neck, surplus fatty tissue will be removed via a small additional incision underneath the chin and the platysma margins (platysma; muscle in the neck) around the neck connected and restored to a normal lower-jaw angle.

During the operation, the lifting of different facial areas can be combined with alternative correctional measures such as the smoothing of wrinkles around the lips or can be supplemented with laser peeling.

Chances of success
By using the appropriate surgical procedure to suit you, you face will obtain a younger and fresher appearance. However, the natural ageing process will not be stopped by an operation, but your estimated age will definitely decrease. How long the result lasts, depends on your genetically determined skin structure. Your lifestyle and how you care for your skin will also play a substantial role. If desired, it is usually possible to have repeat surgery after a number of years.

The operation
Under general anaesthetic, surgery should last approximately four hours. Following a thorough discussion with you, we make the smallest possible incision into the thoroughly disinfected area. This means the area of the fringe if we are lifting the forehead, in front of, and behind the ears if we are lifting the cheeks or neck. We then remove the fatty tissue and surplus skin and reposition the SMAS. The direction of the incision will be discussed in detail with you before the operation.

One or two days after the operation, two to three soft silicone tubes, which draw out the blood and water, are inserted into the wound. This way is the best and quickest way of preventing any liquid accumulation, which can lead to further complications.

The time after surgery
In order to avoid excessive post-operative swelling, we recommend that you lay and sleep in a sitting position for a few days. In addition, we will provide you with a cooling-bandage. You may also spend a couple of nights in our clinic so that you can leave the hospital in a thoroughly clean state.

To enable the swelling and bruising to subside and the wound to recover fully, you will need between 3-10 days. However, you will only see the final results after a period of weeks or even months. After four days, you will be able shower with sterilizing soap solutions, but a bath is not recommended until after three weeks. After two weeks, we will change your bandaging and remove the stitching.

Depending on the opinion of the operating surgeon, you should refrain from intense sporting activities for approximately 6-12 weeks. Consequences of bending or carrying heavy objects include increased blood pressure or tearing of blood vessels. We also suggest that you avoid using the sauna for two months.

For a recovery free of complications, abstaining from alcohol and nicotine is necessary during the first four weeks after surgery.

Surgery-specific risks
Infections and healing disorders, lack of symmetry, irregularities, widened scar formations, post-operative haemorrhages and temporary loss of feeling are regarded as special risks of this surgery. With smokers in particular, there is an increased risk of tissue slippage. Since there are nerve branches, which feed the muscles in the operative area, the danger of injury to the nerves also exists. Because we possess accurate knowledge of the nervous system and our extensive preparation, injuries are extremely rare. All possible risks will be explained in detail in our first and secondary discussions.