A facelift is a surgical procedure aimed to target signs of ageing the face by potentially reducing loose skin and wrinkles. However, some individuals may notice residual or returning loose skin after the procedure. Understanding the potential causes and exploring available solutions can help manage expectations and guide post-operative care.

Why Might You Still Have Loose Skin After a Facelift?

Several factors can contribute to the persistence or recurrence of loose skin following a facelift:

1. Skin Elasticity: Individuals with reduced skin elasticity, often due to ageing or significant weight fluctuations, may lead to remaining or returning sagging skin.
2. Surgical Technique: The specific methods employed during surgery play a crucial role in the outcome. Techniques that focus solely on tightening the skin without adequately addressing the underlying structures can result in a less durable lift, causing the skin to loosen over time.
3. Healing Process: Individual variations in healing can affect the final appearance. Factors such as smoking, poor nutrition, or certain medical conditions can impair healing, potentially contributing to the perception of loose skin.
4. Ageing: While a facelift can turn back the clock, it doesn’t stop the natural ageing process. Over time, the skin continues to lose collagen and elastin, which can eventually lead to new loose skin.

What Happens to Your Face 10 Years After a Facelift?

A decade after a facelift, the face will have naturally aged further. The longevity of the facelift results varies among individuals, but generally, the procedure can be expected to last about 10 years. Factors such as genetics, lifestyle choices, and skin care routines influence the ageing process. 

Let’s dive deeper about the ageing process and how it affects facelift results:

Some might ask, “Why do you still look old after a facelift?” This can happen due to factors like ongoing ageing, genetics, and skincare habits. After age 35, we gradually lose some of the face’s foundation every seven years. As the five layers of tissue shift downward, it leads to changes like hollowing under the eyes, marionette lines, jowls, and loose skin on the neck.

Pot Plant: A Facelift Analogy

The ageing process can be likened to a pot plant or tree gradually losing its structure over time. The skin is like the leaves, which become less vibrant and sag as the plant ages. Superficial fat resembles the fine branches that thin and weaken, while the muscle layer acts as the large branches, providing foundational support. Beneath that, the ligaments and nerves mirror the sturdy root system that anchors the structure, and the bone represents the very base or vase holding it all together. 

As we age, these layers shift and descend at different rates, leading to facial sagging. Just as lifting a fallen plant from the roots provides a more stable and lasting result than tugging on the leaves, facelift focuses on deep structural lifting at the root level. This is why surgical facelifts often provide more significant results than other facial treatments, as they target the deeper layers for a comprehensive and long-lasting lift. While some may wonder, “Can loose skin be fixed without surgery?” Although non-surgical treatments can help maintain skin firmness, they often work best as complementary solutions to surgery.

What Facelift Is Best for Loose Skin?

The choice of facelift technique depends on the severity and location of the loose skin:

• Traditional Facelift: Removes excess skin and tightens underlying tissues to address significant loose skin.
• SMAS (Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System) Lift: Tightens both the skin and deeper facial structures.
• Deep Plane Facelift: Lifts and repositions the deeper layers of the face, including the muscle and ligaments.
• Mini-Facelift: Targets mild to moderate loose skin with smaller incisions and shorter recovery times.

It is important to remember that all surgical procedures carry potential risks and complications. A thorough consultation with a qualified plastic surgeon is essential to determine the most appropriate approach based on individual anatomy and aesthetic goals.

In conclusion, while a facelift can significantly make changes on one’s appearance, various factors can influence the presence of loose skin post-procedure and the longevity of results. A GP referral and consultation with a qualified surgeon may provide you with tailored advice based on your needs. At Artiste Plastic Surgery, our Specialist Plastic Surgeon, Dr Jack Zoumaras, understands the anatomy of facial ageing, he can assess your facial skin and decide the suitable technique for your unique situation. Schedule a consultation today.

Disclaimer: At Artiste Plastic Surgery, our Plastic Surgeons led by Dr Jack Zoumaras have been trained to the highest possible degree. All surgery has risks and it is always advised to get a second opinion. Risks are very real and we cannot guarantee any result. Results are illustrated as a guide only. All risks are managed and any need for revision surgery or complications (1-5%) can be managed by our specialist plastic surgeons.

Any statements on how you will feel is based on Level V Evidence:

Level V:  How you will feel after plastic surgery varies between individuals, depending on psychological and physical factors. Our internal research is based on how patients in our practice feel after surgery.

The blogs are not a substitute for a medical consultation and do not form as part of the doctor to patient relationship.