Y Facelift

The surgery itself is complex but is performed seamlessly because of Dr Yannis’ experience and extensive knowledge of facial anatomy. This procedure is generally performed under general anaesthetic but can also be performed under sedation. The biggest difference between general and sedation is your degree of consciousness – with general anaesthesia you will be completely asleep, and with sedation, you will be in a state in-between being awake and asleep. Depending on some medical conditions, sedation is required but usually a Neck Lift is performed under general anaesthesia.

Dr Yannis often begins by cleaning the face and neck with an antibiotic wash and then numbing the areas with local anaesthetic. He’ll then begin by making the first incision which will often be infront of the ear, across the line where the ear and cheek meet which then continues behind the ear.

A Facelift and Neck Lift surgery can often be thought of in parts: first is the incision making, next the separation of the skin from the muscle (known as the SMAS), next the elevating and augmentation of the muscles beneath. Dr Yannis lifts the muscles so there is a structural lift from within rather than just a superficial one. The next part will be the removal of excess skin and the final part is the restitching. Sometimes an incision will be closed using stitches, sutures or surgical staples. All three are effective ways to close an incision and sometimes one is preferred over the other depending on size of the incision, and if the patient wants to reduce the amount of post-surgical scarring.

Once the stitching is done, Dr Yannis will then move onto the other side and begin this process again.

When the operation is over, Dr Yannis will bandage the area over the head and beneath the chin, he will also give you a course of antibiotics to minimise infection and help reduce pain. A lot of our patients only continue the course for three days as the recovery is considered quite smooth. Often Dr Yannis performs this procedure as a day case, meaning you should be able to return home after your operation. We always advise having a friend or loved one drive you home.

Below are some of the things you can expect after your Face and Neck Lift:

• It is advised to sleep with the head elevated
• You should keep the bandage on until your first post-op appointment which is usually around one week after your surgery
• We advise that you take around a week of work and during this time you should be taking it very easy. Short, easy walks can help to improve circulation
• Once our Surgical Nurse has removed the stitches you can keep the area clean with a gentle cleanser or mild soap
• We will give you some of Dr Yannis’ Dramatic Healing Serum to apply to the incision areas in the morning and night
• We may advise Endermologie or LED light treatments to help accelerate your recovery and reduce swelling

The outcome of the facelift depends on several variables. Gravity, ageing, and other external and lifestyle forces will play a pivotal role in how long your Facelift lasts.

Overall they can last around 10-20 years depending on the technique used.

How a Neck Lift is done can depend on the surgeon as some prefer to use different techniques, such as a Suture Suspension Neck Lift which involves making a stich beneath the chin. Dr Yannis, however, prefers to use an peri-auditory incision which is a more traditional Neck Lift approach.

The main areas you can expect to be affected during a surgery are the:

The epidermis: the outer layer of skin which is gently repositioned for a more taut appearance – that doesn’t look unnaturally stretched.

Subcutaneous fat: This is the layer of fat present between the skin and muscles that can contribute to laxity and fullness. Dr Yannis may remove some excess fat for a more contoured look, this is discussed in your consultation.

The SMAS: The name of the network of fibrous tissue composed of muscle and platysma that covers the cheek and is essential in producing a lower facial transformation. This muscle is often tightened.

Platysma: The broad muscles that covers the neck, gradually is prone to sagging and can cause a ‘turkey neck’ and more.

Whenever Dr Yannis performs a Facelift, whether that’s a Deep Plane, a Y Facelift, a Sculpting Facelift or Neck Lift, he always ensures any incisions made are as discrete as they can be. This means that the incisions made are behind the ear and along the side of the face, on the line where the cheek and the ears meet.

Read this for more comprehensive advice on scarring and where Facelift scars are.

With all surgeries there is a degree of risk involved, however, this degree is reduced when the surgeon and surgical team are extremely experienced.

During your operation, our Anaesthetist will be monitoring your vitals, adjusting anaesthetic levels and will be by your side thorough the procedure. Dr Yannis, who has over 30 years of experience performing Facial Surgeries is a Facelift specialist so you can be assured of his skill and expertise.

With the team’s combined experience, they are able to ensure your time in the theatre is nothing but smooth.

While Dr Yannis’ Y Facelift is one of the best Neck Lift treatments available at our Harley Street clinic, we do also offer a range of non-surgical treatments too.

However, it should be noted that the effectiveness of a non-surgical Neck Lift, or neck tightening treatment will be impacted by how advanced your skin laxity is.

Some of our popular skin tightening treatments are Potenza, Thermage and our Exosomes therapy. An injectable approach to consider can also be a Neck Thread Lift.

One rule of thumb when considering whether you need a Neck Lift would be by touching your neck and gently pulling the skin – if the skin feels quite taut, a non-surgical approach may be your best option. However, if you can feel a lot of excess skin that moves dynamically, a Neck Lift may be most suitable to tighten any dynamic movement.

The best way to find out if you need a Neck Lift is by getting in touch with our Patient Advisors or sending us some images of your neck at [email protected] or uploading them to a website like RealSelf. Here we will be able to assess if a surgical invention is right for you.

The best candidate for a Neck Lift, or any surgery in general, would be someone that displays clear thinking and is aware of the realistic results that can be achieved – this is something that Dr Yannis will discuss with you during your consultation.

Overall, a good Neck Lift patient would be someone that has:

• Advanced jowling and sagging skin
• Someone looking to rejuvenate their neck area and tone their jawline
• A person wanting to lift their lower face and neck skin

Of course, we think Dr Yannis is one of the best Neck Lift surgeons in the UK. Not only is he our Medical Director and Founder of 111 Harley St., but he is also a triple board-certified Plastic Surgeon with certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the GMC Specialist Register for Plastic Surgery and the European Board of Plastic Surgery.

The best Neck Lift London surgeons are the ones with expectational accreditations, positive patient reviews and exceptional surgery before and after photos.