Facelift Surgery (Rhytidectomy)

As we age, the lower face and jawline can start to sag, and wrinkles or deep folds may appear around the cheeks and neck. Simple creams and non-surgical treatments often aren’t enough to reverse these changes, leaving many people feeling self-conscious about a tired or aged look. 

These changes can be emotionally taxing. You may find yourself avoiding photos, noticing that your face doesn’t match how energetic you feel inside, or wishing your jawline was more defined again. Ageing is natural — but when your reflection no longer reflects your confidence, it can affect how you show up in daily life.

Facelift surgery — also called rhytidectomy — is a surgical solution that helps rejuvenate your face by lifting sagging skin and underlying tissues, smoothing deep folds, and redefining facial contours.

What Facelift Surgery Includes

At WFY Plastic Surgery, our facelift procedure is tailored to your unique facial structure and ageing pattern. The surgery typically includes:

✔ Personalised Assessment:
A detailed evaluation of your facial muscles, skin laxity, and bone structure to choose the most suitable technique and extent of correction.

✔ Lifting Sagging Tissues:
Underlying muscles and connective layers are repositioned and tightened to restore youthful contours.

✔ Redraping & Trimming Excess Skin:
Loose skin is gently lifted and excess is trimmed to create a smoother, firmer appearance. 

✔ Optional Adjuncts:
In some cases, small changes in the brow, neck, or eyelids may be combined with the facelift to enhance overall harmony.

✔ Surgical Precision:
Our surgeons use meticulous techniques to minimise scarring, with incisions placed discreetly around the hairline and ears.

✔ Personal Aftercare Guidance:
Post-surgery care and follow-up plans are provided to ensure healing is smooth and comfortable.

This comprehensive approach helps achieve a refreshed but natural result that reflects your personality rather than a “stretched” look.

Who is Facelift Surgery For?

A facelift may be suitable if you notice one or more of the following:

• Sagging skin along the cheeks or jawline
   
• Deep folds from nose to mouth, or mouth to chin
   
• Loose skin below the chin or around the neck
   
• Facial contours that don’t reflect your inner confidence
   

Whether you want subtle refinement or more noticeable rejuvenation, WFY’s experienced surgeons will guide you in choosing the right approach.

Real Impact, Naturally

Facelift surgery doesn’t just tighten skin — it restores youthful contours that often boost confidence and help your outer appearance align with how you feel inside. Many patients notice:

• A firmer jawline
   
• Smoother lower face contours
   
• Reduction in deep facial folds
   
• A more rested and youthful overall look
   

Because facelift surgery works on deeper facial layers, its results can be longer-lasting than non-surgical treatments, helping you look naturally refreshed for years.

FAQs

1. How is facelift surgery performed?

As facial ageing progresses, the skin begins to sag, deeper tissues lose support, and the face can start looking tired or heavy despite good skincare. At this stage, non-surgical options may no longer give visible or lasting improvement.

Facelift surgery corrects ageing at a deeper level. The procedure is performed in a fully equipped operating theatre under general anaesthesia or deep sedation. Carefully planned incisions are placed around the ears and sometimes under the chin, where they blend naturally with facial contours. Through these incisions, the surgeon lifts and repositions the deeper facial tissues and muscles, removes excess fat if required, and smoothly redrapes the skin over the rejuvenated structure. The incisions are then closed using fine sutures or skin adhesives, followed by protective dressings.

Different techniques such as SMAS facelift, deep plane facelift, or mini facelift may be used based on facial anatomy and ageing patterns. Choosing the right approach with the best plastic surgeon in Gurgaon ensures natural-looking and long-lasting results.

If you are considering facelift surgery, book a personalised consultation with the best plastic surgeon in Gurgaon to understand which technique suits your face best.

2. What about scarring and incision placement?

One of the biggest concerns patients have is whether facelift surgery will leave visible scars that affect their appearance.

While any surgical procedure involves incisions, an experienced plastic surgeon places them in discreet locations such as behind the ears, along the hairline, or under the chin. These areas heal well and are usually not noticeable in daily life or with normal hairstyling.

Scar quality depends on skin type, genetics, surgical technique, and post-operative care. Advanced methods focus on lifting deeper muscle layers instead of pulling the skin tightly, which allows scars to heal more naturally. If needed, treatments like laser or microneedling can further improve scar appearance once healing is complete.

Speak to the best plastic surgeon in Gurgaon to understand how incision planning and modern techniques help keep scars minimal and well hidden.

3. What is the recovery process and timeline?

Many people delay facelift surgery due to concerns about prolonged downtime or difficulty returning to work and social life.

Facelift surgery is usually performed as a day-care procedure, allowing you to return home the same day. A light compression dressing is worn for the first 24 hours, after which dressings are removed during a follow-up visit. Swelling and bruising are normal and typically peak within the first few days.

Most patients can resume light work and daily activities within one to two weeks. Strenuous exercise and heavy lifting should be avoided for at least three weeks. While early improvement is visible soon after surgery, swelling continues to settle over the following weeks. The face usually feels completely natural again within two to three months.

Consult the best plastic surgeon in Gurgaon to receive a clear recovery plan that fits your lifestyle and work schedule.

4. How long do facelift results last?

Patients often wonder whether facelift surgery offers temporary improvement or a long-term solution to facial ageing.

The longevity of results depends on age, skin quality, lifestyle, and the surgical technique used. In general, facelift results can last anywhere between 5 and 15 years. Mini facelifts usually last around 5 to 7 years, SMAS facelifts around 7 to 10 years, and deep plane facelifts can last up to 15 years.

Many patients choose to have their first facelift in their 40s or early 50s and may opt for a maintenance procedure later in life. Working with the best plastic surgeon in Gurgaon helps ensure balanced and age-appropriate results that last.

Meet the best plastic surgeon in Gurgaon to discuss which facelift technique can give you the most durable and natural results.

5. What are the risks and potential complications?

Every surgical procedure carries some level of risk, and it is important to be well informed before making a decision.

Facelift surgery is generally safe when performed by a qualified plastic surgeon. Possible risks include infection, bleeding, hematoma, swelling, temporary numbness, changes in skin sensation, scarring, and delayed wound healing. Hematoma is the most commonly reported complication and occurs in a small percentage of patients.

Rare complications may include nerve weakness or anaesthesia-related issues. A thorough medical evaluation, honest discussion of medical history, and strict adherence to post-operative instructions significantly reduce risks.

Schedule a consultation with the best plastic surgeon in Gurgaon to understand your individual risk profile and how safety is prioritised.

6. Are there non-surgical alternatives to consider?

Some individuals prefer non-surgical treatments or may not yet require a surgical facelift.

Options such as dermal fillers, Botox, thread lifts, laser treatments, ultrasound-based skin tightening, and chemical peels can improve skin texture, restore volume, and soften wrinkles with minimal downtime. These treatments are suitable for early or mild signs of ageing.

However, non-surgical treatments do not address deeper facial sagging and their results are temporary, typically lasting from a few months to two years. For moderate to advanced ageing, surgical facelift remains the most effective and long-lasting option when planned with the best plastic surgeon in Gurgaon.

Consult the best plastic surgeon in Gurgaon to understand whether non-surgical treatments or a facelift will suit your ageing concerns better.

7. How can I optimise my results and what should I expect after surgery?

The success of a facelift depends not only on surgery but also on proper recovery and long-term care.

In the initial phase, following your surgeon’s instructions regarding wound care, medications, compression garments, and follow-up visits is essential. Adequate rest, hydration, and avoiding strain help support healing.

Long-term maintenance includes sun protection, healthy nutrition, regular exercise, avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol intake, and using medical-grade skincare products. Most patients take two to three weeks off work after a full facelift and about one week after a mini facelift. Final results continue to refine naturally over several months.

Book a post-surgery planning consultation with the best plastic surgeon in Gurgaon to maximise your facelift results and maintain them long term.