Some say that the surgical face lift, as we know it, will be dead by the end of the next decade. And some experts agree. ‘The need for the surgical face lift will possibly diminish because non-surgical treatments are now so effective in restoring volume loss and improving skin laxity’, explains cosmetic doctor, Dr Tracy Mountford, founder and director of the Cosmetic Skin Clinic . ‘Even with a surgical face lift, Botulinum toxins and fillers are still needed as traditional face lifts simply tighten the skin, while fillers volumise and Botox smoothes out frown lines and crow’s feet’.
Given the wind-tunnel results of plastic surgery as seen on the likes of Joan Rivers, not to mention the prospect of a general anaesthetic, scars and months of recovery, it’s not surprising that a full-on facelift is about as popular as last year’s It-bag. And according to the Harley Medical Group, the number of women over 50 – prime plastic surgery candidates – now having non-surgical cosmetic procedures has risen by 70% since 2009.
However, the facelift has been fighting back. But this time it’s different.
The ‘One Stitch Face Lift’
The feather lift or ‘one stitch face lift’, also known as a thread, contour, or Aptos lift, is a minimally-invasive cosmetic procedure that tightens and smoothes out the skin. It is a super-sneaky way to lift cheeks and jowls, reduce double chins and tighten saggy necks. It really is an ‘instant face lift’. It is a less expensive and potentially less risky alternative to a surgical face or brow lift, is done under local anaesthetic and involves having just one stitch on each side of the head, buried in the hair.
A long, fine needle is inserted under the skin to guide threads through the dermal fat layer. The thread is then pulled upwards to tighten the loose skin before being secured with a suture (stitch) in the hairline. The threads hold the skin in a ‘lifted’ position while the body forms a desirable type of scar tissue around it over a period of 3-4 months. Because the procedure is minimally invasive and lasts from 30 minutes to an hour, you should be able to return home within a few hours. Your face may be swollen and bruised for several days.
The results look natural and the procedure is ideal, say surgeons, for women from around 40 onwards, who don’t need the full works, but feel their sagging skin is making their face look tired and old. The effects last between four to seven years – similar to that of a surgical face lift – depending on the elasticity of the skin and how you naturally age.
As with all procedures there are risks such as swelling, bruising, and infection, although they are minor compared to surgery. ‘It is a very technically demanding procedure’, explains Dr Mountford, ‘and mistakes can be made if the thread is over stretched or pulled as puckering can take place’. However, the treatment is reversible and the threads can be cut so that the face will go back to how it used to be.
Prices start at £1,750 (www.thehospitalgroup.org; www.cosmetic-solutions.co.uk)
The ‘Local Anaesthetic’ Surgical Face Lift
According to cosmetic surgeon, Mr Azhar Aslam, the potential risks and added recovery time that come with a general anaesthesia, is what often puts patients off a surgical face lift. ‘Even if you are fit and healthy, the whole body suffers from the effects of anaesthetic and it can delay recovery’, he explains. ‘Everyone is different but some people have a real fear of it’.
As a result, Mr Aslam, is the pioneer of the surgical face lift under local anaesthetic. It may sound like a horrifying prospect, but in fact, it makes complete sense. ‘The patient is ready to go home in a couple of hours after surgery, but one of the crucial elements is that they won’t feel ill and will feel more in control’, he explains. ‘The patient can also look in the mirror straight away and see a huge improvement before the majority of the bruising and swelling has kicked in, and this is a major boost in terms of recovery.’
Technically, it also makes sense. ‘I can ask the patient to move or smile, and when you have a dynamic face it makes life much easier.’ But how do Mr Aslam’s patients feel about being aware, literally, of every nip and tuck? ‘All patients are anxious at the time of surgery, but our job is to relax them’, he says. ‘They always have a fear of pain, but it just doesn’t happen. Usually they ask when I’m going to start, and I already have’.
Mr Aslam uses a specially prepared local anaesthetic solution that doesn’t sting, and then waits for 20 minutes to be sure of a deep anaesthesia. And is this technique proving popular? ‘The majority of my work is done this way. I have patients coming from all around the world as I am now known for this’.
Prices from £4,950 (www.liniacosmeticsurgery.com)
Facelift in a bottle?
If both the knife and the needle are not an option, can a skincare product deliver similar results? Of course not, but what it can do is tighten the skin and give it a youthful glow, albeit temporarily. Our favourite of the moment is Perricone MD Cosmeceuticals High Potency Amine Complex Face Lift, £80 (www.perriconemd.co.uk for stockists), has a brilliant name and has been created by US dermatologist, Dr Nicholas Perricone. It is packed with skin tightening ingredients designed for firm, define and lift the skin.
