How much skin will be removed at Facelift?

Thanks for your question. Although
earlier versions of facelift surgery relied heavily on skin removal and
tightening, today's technique is much more sophisticated. Instead of focusing
on the skin, we now reposition deeper layers of muscle (called SMAS) and fat to
reduce some of the "falling" that happens with age. This goes a long
way toward smoothing the skin without removing a significant amount of it.
However, most facelift surgeries do still require some degree of skin excision (1
to 3 centimeters per side, on average). Exactly how much depends on the
significance of your concerns, but it's likely less than you imagine,
especially with the mini facelift technique. An in-person consultation with a
qualified plastic surgeon near you can give you a better idea of what to
expect.

The amount of skin removed with a facelift depends on the type of technique and patient’s individual anatomy.  I have used a variety of approaches including mini lifts, SMAS techniques, and now finally a deep plane muscle lift.  Measuring the amount of skin with each I have found the following:
Minilifts- typically remove 2-3 cm per side
SMAS techniques- typically up to 4 cm per side
Deep plane muscle lift- as great as 10 cm per side
The amount of skin removal has been shown in several other research papers which have found similar results.  The reason for using a deep plane muscle technique is in part due to a larger amount of skin excised under lower tension (tension is placed on the deeper layer- NOT the skin). 

The amount of skin removed during a facelift will depend on the patient, the surgeon, and the surgical technique used.The patient: Every patient's skin elasticity and laxity are different. The smount of skin laxity will determine how much the skin has sagged and how much skin can be removed without tension.Surgeon and Surgical technique: During a facelift, the deep tissues are elevated including the SMAS layer and/or the facial ligaments. Once the deep structures are corrected, the skin is then removed. The amount of skin available will also depend upon the technique used to lift the deep tissues. Some techniques such as the deep plane facelift can allow for more advancement of the skin without tension then other techniques. Each surgeon also has a different style. Some will remove more skin. We prefer to not over tighten the skin in order to maintain the most natural looking and non-pulled results. To to best understand the results you can expect to achieve. Visit with facial plastic surgeons or plastic surgeons that frequently perform facelift surgery as a mainstay of their practice. Be certain to see before and after photos of their own patients to understand the results that they can achieve. Be sure that your expectations are realistic with what can be achieved. Being on the same page as your surgeon is of paramount importance in being happy with your results.