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). 

Hi Janos983Thanks for your question, it is difficult to be specific as there are no photo's. However here is some information that may help.If your skin is loose, sagging or creating the appearance of jowls you may be a good candidate for Concept™ Facelift Surgery. This type of Rhytidectomy is unique as the facelift is performed under local anaesthetic, and is less invasive than traditional methods, meaning the cosmetic surgery has a significantly faster recovery time.The cosmetic procedure is similar to a mini facelift as it is performed with a short scar that runs in front of the ear, down to the ear lobe and tucked behind the ear. There will be no dressings or drains afterwards. This is performed as a day case, walk in-walk out procedure with minimal bruising and downtime.The amount of skin removed is very individualized and would be discussed at a consult. All the best.

Dear Janos983Thank you for your question!  The 'facelift' is performed to give a more youthful appearance.  If a 'mini' is being done, generally not much skin is removed and the changes will be more subtle.  The facial features that you want changed- predicate the approach and extent of surgery.With Warm RegardsTrevor M Born MD

A facelift is much more than just removal of excess skin. However, for a good result skin in excess must be removed. This determines the length of the incisions. The amount varies from patient to patient. Too much excision will put skin closure under tension and will lead to an unnatural look.

How much skin to during a facelift depends on a patients anatomy and the surgical goals.In general when doing a facelift, surgeons will pull the deeper layers as tight as possible and let the skin come back naturally-with fairly minimal tenson, what ever excess is pulled beyond the incision lines is trimmed.There are some variations. In patients with more lax skin or more senior (late 70s, 80s) I will put a little more tension on the skin- I expect these patients to have some relaxation.In addition, how much skin is removed does vary on a patient's goals. Patients will sometimes surprise us and request some laxity to remain to retain a more natural look. For those going for maximal improvement, we can pull the skin a little tighter and remove the maximal amount of skin. This does have to be balance with potential risks to skin viability and risk of necrosis. As with all procedures, there are limitations to what can be achieved with a facelift.

The answers to your questions depend upon your skin, your soft tissue laxity and what type of procedure is performed. There is a large variability depending on these factors. Talk to your surgeon and ask to see pictures of previous patients. Also ask what they think of your particular condition.Hope this helpsDr. J

Facelifts work by separating your
skin from the underlying layer and then tightening that layer. Excess skin can
then be removed. A "mini" facelift tends to separate less skin from
the underlying layer, and therefore there is less to tighten. The more
aggressive facelifts will tighten more and have more excess skin to be removed.
It is important to have your plastic surgeon discuss what your result will be
with less aggressive procedures and with more aggressive ones. It all depends on how much excess skin and
sagging are present. Your plastic surgeon should be able to describe and show
you the differences in the procedures and the results that you might attain
with each. Thanks for your question.

Hello,The amount of skin removed is dependent on the patient and the type of facelift performed.  Keep in mind, that skin removal is not how a face is lifted.  Primarily the face shape is a function of the deeper tissues and the skin is just an envelope.  Rejuvenating the face depends primarily on lifting the deeper tissues and sculpting the fat.  On some patients fat sculpting can be extensive and others it is more about lifting the "muscle" layers.  A facelift that uses skin to accomplish the lift will quickly revert to its old appearance.  A very powerful example is the patient who has had a one-sided skin only "facelift" to move skin into a hole caused by a skin cancer.  For the first few weeks the "lifted" side looks like a younger person, but soon enough the two sides look virtually identical.  In summary, once all the deep tissue lifting and fat sculpting is complete, any redundant skin is removed, often times that is about an inch from each side.Best Regards,Dr. AAustin, TX

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.