Are fibrin glue facelifts rarely done?

As other answers have pointed out, there is no such thing as a fibrin glue facelift.Rather, fibrin "glue" (usually used as the brand name Artiss) is a medication used during facelifts to reduce bruising and swelling.  It is a liquid that is applied under the skin near the very end of the procedure just before the final sutures are placed to close the incisions.  The fibrin part of the solution helps to reduce oozing which in turn reduces bruising.  That plus the adhesive quality of the Artiss solution also help to reduce swelling.The other key benefit that some surgeons do not realize is that the fibrin glue helps to support the skin and minimize tension on the incision lines which can be one more helpful thing to minimize scars.The next benefit is that by using Artiss there is no need to place drains under the skin which then have to be pulled out a few days later.  Nobody likes that.I routinely use Artiss with my facelift patients and have been very happy with the added benefit.  Cost for the fibrin glue material is only around $300 for the amount needed in a facelift, so overall that really does not have a big impact when you think of the potential benefits and the ability to not have to place drains.

Fibrin glue facelifts are something that some certain surgeons use to encourage healing, but it's not everyone's preference. I think it's important to talk to your surgeon about this.

Remember, a face lift is a surgical procedure. The indication is fallen or ptotic facial skin and soft tissues. Once the procedure is just about completed, the facial skin has to be secured back in place, eg. in front of the ear. This can be accomplished with sutures and sometimes staples. An alternate technique is to use fibrin, a commercial human derived glue. It is costly but may eliminate the need for a drain. Most surgeon prefer sutures. Don't get caught up in sales and marketing

Fibrin glue is a commercial product produced from bovine clotting factors . It is used in some surgical procedures to reduce bleeding and promote clot formation. Some surgeons use it when performing facelifts to help reduce bleeding and facilitate the healing process. There is no evidence that it improves either the short term or long term results. Due to the significant costs and questionable efficacy of the product the majority of surgeons that routinely perform facelifts do not use it.

In my view it does not warrant the extra cost to a faceliftprocedure. It is a  a doctor preference.

Fibrin glue is a chemical product used by some surgeons in an effort to decrease postoperative bleeding in a facelift procedure. It is not a different type of facelift and has no impact on long term results of any type of procedure, meaning that it won't make your facelift look better or last longer than any facelift technique done without fibrin glue. Some surgeons use it, others don't as the data on its benefit are not strong and there can be additional problems introduced by using fibrin glue.It is far more important to choose your surgeon based on his results rather than on any specific technique used.

Practically speaking  there is no benefit to using fibrin glue in a facelift.  Although fibrin is a necessary part of healing the body  makes all it needs and you can’t “supercharge” the healing with extra fibrin.  Any claims to its benefits in cosmetic surgery are unfounded.

Hi and welcome to our forum!
Fibrin sealant (Artiss) is composed of components of human plasma which when applied to an open wound will induce blood clotting.  It is used if there is more than the usual amount of bleeding from a wound bed. As it is made of human plasma, there is a small risk of  transmitting infectious agents, although screening of the plasma is carried out. In addition, its cost of > $200.00 per 2 cc vial makes its routine use impractical.
Best wishes...

 The fibrin that you're referring to is placed underneath the skin after the facelift is been completed, but offers very little benefits, if any. In our practice, we use two drains that are placed underneath the skin to remove excess blood fluid for first 24 hours. No bandages or pressure wraps are  required either.

Hi and thank you for your question.
Fibrin glue can be used at the same time as a traditional facelift to help stop any post-operative bleeding. It has also been shown to help reduce swelling and bruising after surgery. However, the overall process, cost, longevity,  and steps of the procedure are similar to a normal facelift.  
I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck.
John Frederick