- Expert surgeons offering a variety of Facelift procedures including mini, one stitch, temporal, lower and full facelifts
- As seen in Harper’s Bazaar: Secret Facelift
- Results include a more rejuvenated and youthful appearance
- 0% Finance Available
What’s on this page
- About this Treatment
- Before & Afters
- What to Expect
- FAQs
- Our Clinics
- Things to Consider
- Why the Private Clinic
- Meet the Surgeons
- Related Blogs & News
Medically reviewed by Lorcan Sheppard BSc MBBS FRCA, Chief Medical Officer for The Private Clinic of Harley Street, London.
Last Reviewed April 30th 2025
Related Cosmetic Surgery
Facelift
Ageing, weight loss, smoking and genetics may cause the skin to lose volume, sag or pull away from the face and neck. People seek facelifts to remove this extra skin, creating a firm, youthful appearance.
As we age, our faces show the signs of ageing. A surgical face/neck lift, also known as rhytidoplasty, tightens the skin around your face, jawline and neck, resulting in a youthful, rejuvenated appearance.
With age comes loss of elasticity to the skin and loss of collagen or fat deposits. This creates loose-looking skin on the face and neck.
Areas a facelift can change:
- A sagging look on the cheeks
- Jowls from excess sagging skin in the lower jaw
- Deep nose-to-mouth lines
- Sagging skin in the neck and in some cases more fat
Depending on your facial structure and skin quality you will be assessed by our Consultant Reconstructive and Plastic Surgeons who will work with you to establish the best course of treatment and type of facelift procedure. Consultations are available in London and Northampton.
Face Lift at a glance
Procedure Time
1 – 3 hours
Anaesthetic Type
Local with sedation / General Anaesthetic
Hospital Stay
Daycase / Overnight
Support Garments
Compression garment
Washing
1 week
Driving
2 weeks
Up & Mobile
1 day
Sexual Activity
4 – 6 weeks
Back to Work
1 – 2 weeks
Exercise
4 – 6 weeks
Travel
6 weeks
Recovery Time
6 weeks
Sleeping
Elevated on back for 2 weeks
Final Results
6 – 12 months
What is the best type of Face lifts/neck lift procedure?
At The Private Clinic, our Cosmetic Surgeons will discuss the best options to suit your face and neck. They could be:
- Full Facelift (Rhytidectomy) – lifts the upper and lower face for total rejuvenation, removes excess skin and removes deep lines and folds. Deep Plane or SMAS techniques can be used to tighten underlying facial muscles and tissues.
- Mini Facelift (Lower Facelift) – lifts sagging jowls and the neck, and removes excess skin, resulting in a better-defined jaw and neckline.
- Forehead Lift (Browplasty) – lifts the forehead, to remove deep lines and elevate the brows. This will help to improve the overall look of the face as well.
- Temporal and One Stitch Facelift – Minimal downtime, performed under local anaesthetic with minimal hidden scarring within the hairline and a low risk of swelling and bruising. As featured in Harper’s Bazaar’s Cosmetic Tweakment Trends of 2019
- Mid-Face Lift (Cheek Lifting/ Malar Lift) – restores the deep nasolabial folds, sagging cheeks, the lower eyelid area and hollowing between the lower eyelid and cheeks. Tired and sagging cheeks are lifted as are the downward slanted corners of the mouth making the face look rejuvenated and creating a more youthful contour.
- Facelift and Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Surgery) – a combination procedure to completely rejuvenate the face and eyelids.
- Neck lift (lower rhytidectomy) – removes fat and tightens the sagging skin along the jaw and neck area. It results in a youthful, defined neck and jawline.
Ask us a question
What to Expect
The Private Clinic has been treating patients for over 40 years with thousands of people placing their trust in us each year. We pride ourselves on being able to offer a personalised service. We have a team of friendly nurses and expert surgeons who understand the importance of this decision and will support you throughout your journey with us.
The Consultation
The first stage of your Facelift treatment journey will be a consultation with one of our expert surgeons.
There are several techniques commonly used and it is very important to have a full consultation to assess each patient’s unique situation.
As each face is different, the procedures are tailor-made to each patient so the exact procedure differs from patient to patient. A consultation will be able to determine what is appropriate and effective in your situation.
At your consultation, your surgeon will go through the Facelift procedure in detail and examine the areas that you are concerned about.
Your surgeon will then discuss:
- Your medical history
- Your expectations from Facelift Surgery
- Risks and Complications of Facelift Surgery
- Aftercare
Following your consultation, you will be introduced to your dedicated patient coordinator who will be your point of contact should you wish to proceed with facelift surgery.
Pre-Operative Advice
In the interests of patient safety, all our patients are assessed against our patient selection criteria. Following your facelift consultation your medical history will be reviewed and the pre-operative nurse will choose which pre-operative tests to carry out which are going to be most appropriate to you. Most pre-operative assessments include a blood test, MRSA swabs, urine test and a blood pressure test.
Facelift Surgery
The procedures typically take 1-3 hours. The more complicated and extensive procedures can take longer.
For many of our facelift procedures, you will only need local anaesthesia. It is possible to have sedation along with it to help calm patients. Most patients will require general anaesthesia for the full facelift. Incisions are typically made behind and in front of the ears, carefully designed to minimise and conceal scarring. In some cases, the incisions extend onto the scalp.
From there the surgeon will reach the deeper layers of the face which will be repositioned and ‘lifted’. Depending on the procedure, muscle tightening and liposuction to the neck may be performed to enhance the effect of the facelift.
Depending on the procedure, you may require an overnight stay in the hospital. Tubes may be attached to the incision sites to collect fluid – a natural response to invasive surgery of this kind. Some facelifts will not require such extensive care and hospital stays and this will be discussed fully at your initial consultation.
It is important to choose a qualified and experienced surgeon to perform your procedure to ensure you achieve the best possible results and minimise scarring and downtime.
Alternative Treatments for those unsuitable for a facelift:
- Upper and/or Lower Eyebag Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
- Fat Grafting
- Ultherapy Skin Tightening
- CoolSculpting to the chin/neck
The Results
The soft tissue of the face will be tightened, resulting in a tightened, more youthful appearance. However, the ageing process doesn’t stop after a facelift, so you may wish to maintain your ‘new’ appearance with aesthetic and rejuvenating treatments.
After your Facelift procedure
It is recommended that you take 1-2 weeks off work. You may need more downtime for more extensive procedures. Exercise and carrying heavy loads are unsuitable during the initial healing period. You will be prescribed painkiller medication to help with any discomfort experienced. Swelling is significantly reduced within a few days, whilst bruising will subside within a few weeks.
Elevation of the head is recommended to reduce the amount of swelling. It is important to avoid smoking to help the full healing process. We will always aim to see you back in the clinic in the days following your procedure to ensure that you are recovering well and then again at around 6 weeks.
The Private Clinic have collaborated with Chrysalis Finance to offer 0% finance for our patients.*
*Acceptance is subject to status. Terms and conditions apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
A facelift is best suited to patients who have sagging skin around their face and find that they are looking tired or upset when they are not.
A consultation with one of our expert consultant plastic surgeons is a great place to start your journey. You will be able to find out more about the procedure as well as seeing if you would be suitable and what results you can expect to achieve.
Contradictions may include high blood pressure, diabetes, lung or heart disease and bleeding disorders as these can increase your risk for complications. A full medical history will be taken at your consultation and your full suitability will be discussed with your surgeon.
Scarring is all dependent on the Surgeon’s skills and experience, and with the most advanced facelift techniques available today, scarring is kept to a minimum. Incision sites will be carefully considered to reduce visibility during recovery and in the long term. They are also very well concealed for both women and men.
The scars following a facelift are usually found along the hairline and around the ears. This means that the scars can be hidden by your hair. Overtime, with proper care your scars will fade and become flat making them almost unnoticeable.
The majority of our patients undergoing a facelift procedure are over the age of 40. There is no upper age limit but being realistic of your expectations is important. Ideally, the best results are seen on patients who still have elasticity left in their skin, have good bone structure and most importantly; are fit and well.
An initial consultation with one of our expert facial plastic surgeons is the best way to find out your suitability for surgery and what you can expect to achieve.
Your consultation is your time with the surgeon to discuss your desired outcome of surgery, ask any questions you may have prepared and go through the surgical procedure talking through any concerns that you might have.
We recommend bringing along some photographs of your younger self as many of our patients do not want to look different, just younger and this is the best way for your surgeon to physically see how your face has changed as you have got older and work out the best way to give you the results that you want.
Facelift surgery is Available in these Clinics
Things to Consider
Our advice on what to consider when deciding to have a facelift procedure:
1. When choosing a clinic, you should always do your research, and only go to an established, reputable clinic.
The Private Clinic has been in the cosmetic surgery industry for over 40 years. We are here to answer all of your questions and give you peace of mind.
2. When choosing a surgeon, make sure you know who you’ll be seeing. Their expertise, qualifications and patient satisfaction rate are important factors to take into consideration.
At The Private Clinic, we only source the most experienced and specialised surgeons. Find out more about our plastic surgeons here.
3. Price should never be the deciding factor when choosing where to have your treatment. Safety should be your number one priority and feeling confident that they will look after you – not only before, but also after your procedure
4. When it sounds too good to be true, it often is. Always find out what your clinic’s reputation is.
Our excellent reputation for patient safety and satisfaction, honest advice and outstanding care means your journey with The Private Clinic will be an exciting experience to a newfound shape.
Why Choose The Private Clinic
- The Private Clinic are a multi-award-winning Cosmetic Surgery provider with over 40 years’ experience.
- We have world-class top specialist facial plastic surgeons.
- Dedicated care with your expert surgeon and nursing team, and a 24 hour help line.
- We have state of the art hospital facilities.
- Competitively priced for our expertise and experience.
- As many post-operative care appointments with your surgeon and nursing team as required.
- Comprehensive patient information, every step of the way.
- 5 Star Trustpilot Rating.
Meet our Surgeons
We have a dedicated Plastic Surgeon and medical team who will be with you throughout your journey. At The Private Clinic, Facelift surgery is performed by some of the UK’s top consultant plastic surgeons who have decades of experience.
Consultant Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
Consultant Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
Consultant Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon
Related Blogs & News
- British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) – Face and Brow Lift
- British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) – Facelift and Necklift
- NHS – Facelift (rhytidectomy)
- National Institute of Health (NIH) – StatPearls – Deep Plane Facelift – Raggio BS, Patel BC. Deep Plane Facelift. [Updated 2023 Apr 3]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-.
