Face
Facelift and neck lift
For a jaw and neck that have lost their line, not for a different face.
- Sample price
- $18,000 to $32,000
- Surgery
- 3 to 5 hours
- Back at a desk
- About 2 weeks
What it is
A facelift repositions the deeper tissue of the lower face and neck, then removes loose skin. A neck lift does the same below the jaw. The aim is the jaw and neck line you had, with your expressions left alone. Incisions sit around the ear and, for the neck, under the chin.
General anaesthesia or deep sedation. Done in an accredited surgical facility.
It may suit you if
- Jowls and a soft jaw line that skin care and injectables no longer change
- Loose skin or bands in the neck
- You are a non-smoker, or can stop for the weeks before and after
- Your health and blood pressure are well managed
It is not for
- Fine lines and skin texture on their own (a skin treatment suits those better)
- Wanting to look like a different person
Recovery, week by week
- Days 1 to 3Rest at home with your head raised. A drain may be removed at the first check.
- Week 1Swelling and bruising peak, then fade. Stitches out around day 7.
- Weeks 2 to 3Most people go back to desk work and are out in public with light make-up.
- Weeks 4 to 6Exercise returns in stages, with your surgeon's say-so.
- Months 3 to 12Swelling settles fully and scars fade. Final check at one year.
Typical timelines. Your surgeon writes your own plan and gives it to you at consult.
Risks to know about
Every operation carries risk. These are discussed in full, with how often they happen in the surgeon's own practice, at your consult:
- Bleeding under the skin (haematoma)
- Numbness around the ears and cheeks, usually temporary
- Nerve injury affecting movement, uncommon
- Visible scarring or changes in the hairline
- Risks of anaesthesia
Independent information: American Society of Plastic Surgeons, patient safety.
Your questions
Will I look pulled?
The deeper tissue is moved, not the skin pulled tight, which is what causes the wind-tunnel look. Your consult covers how much change is right for your face, and you can see examples from the surgeon's own consented patients.
How long does a facelift last?
Your face keeps ageing from its new starting point. Many people are pleased for years, but no one can promise a number. The surgeon talks through what is realistic for your skin.
Can I combine it with eyelids?
Often, yes. Combining changes the time under anaesthesia and the recovery, and both are written into your plan.
Talk facelift through with the surgeon.
A private 45 minute consult, in person or by video. You leave with a written plan and the full price.