Face Lift

About Face Lift

A face lift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that addresses sagging skin, deep folds, and loss of definition along the lower face, jawline, and neck that develop with age. Through incisions typically placed along the hairline and around the ear, the surgeon lifts and repositions the underlying facial muscle and connective tissue (the SMAS layer), removes excess skin, and redrapes the remaining skin over the new contour. It is often combined with a neck lift or fat grafting to address related changes. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation and generally takes three to five hours. Good candidates are typically in reasonably good health with realistic expectations about the degree of improvement a lift can provide, since it addresses sagging rather than fine lines or sun damage. Recovery includes swelling, bruising, and tightness for one to two weeks, with sutures removed within that period and most patients returning to normal activity within two to three weeks. Because the procedure requires a period of in-person follow-up to check on healing and remove sutures, patients traveling to India for a face lift generally plan a stay of around two weeks.