Facelift: Which incisions do we need?

A Facelift is a proven method for reducing the signs of aging and restoring a fresh, youthful appearance to the face. Incisions are an important part of the procedure to tighten the skin and remove excess tissue.

Different incisions are used depending on the extent of skin aging and the desired tightening procedure. For individuals whose skin is not damaged by sun exposure or smoking, and who do not have significant excess skin but only sagging subcutaneous tissue in the cheek and where jowls are beginning to sag, a limited incision facelift is often sufficient. The incision runs from the temple to in front of the ear and is placed behind the anterior ear cartilage (tragus) so that it remains invisible. This allows us to permanently tighten the subcutaneous tissue (SMAS) in the face (cheek, jawline) without having to remove skin. Excess skin may be visible on the temple for the first few weeks after the facelift, but this area will even out over time.

Patients with sunken subcutaneous tissue and facial skin require not only a SMAS lift but also a tightening of excess skin. For these patients, we use the short scar facelift incision technique. This tightens the subcutaneous tissue (SMAS) in the cheek and jawline area while simultaneously removing excess skin. The incision is similar to that of a limited incision facelift: It begins at the temple, extends in front of the ear (behind the ear cartilage), encircles the earlobe, and ends behind the auricle.

For people with sagging facial skin and subcutaneous tissue, as well as a sagging neck, we also need to tighten the neck. In this case, we require an Extended Face and Neck Lift – this tightens the subcutaneous tissue (SMAS) in the face (cheek, jawline) and neck and removes excess skin from the face and neck. In addition to the incisions for the Short Scar Lift, we also make incisions behind the earlobe toward the hairline. In some cases, we also need a small incision hidden under the chin.

The tension during the facelift acts exclusively on the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system), so scars generally heal well and are rarely visible. We would be happy to provide you with detailed information about the facelift technique that's right for you during a personal consultation. Here go to the contact page.