I have pioneered the Concept Facelift which is performed under local anaesthetic and addresses the mid to lower face. The procedure typically takes around 2.5 - 3 hours but a lot of my patients like to combine procedures which will take long in theatre. For example the typically have a neck lift and/or eyelid surgery when they have a facelift I would suggest another couple of hours to perform all three treatments together. With my face lift I make a very small incision in front of the ear and use absorbable stitches. The scars are slightly red for a couple of weeks but after a month you can hardly notice them. This is one of the main differences between the Concept facelift and a more traditional facelift which has a much larger scar. Another difference is that as I perform this surgery under local anaesthetic the recovery time is much quicker. There is also no need for drains or bandages and you will be in and out of the clinic within a few hours. Bruising is minimal - if any and there is only a small bit of swelling for the first few days post surgery. You can also combine your facelift with a neck lift. This gives fantastic results and goes hand in hand. Liposuction can also remove the fat in the neck but I would advice having a neck lift if you have lipo so that you do not have any sagging skin.
As other physicians have noted, the time needed for facelift surgery varies from patient to patient based on the specific procedure performed and the technique used. As a facelift specialist on Long Island, I've performed thousands of facelifts throughout my career. A typical, traditional facelift will usually take about 2 to 3 hours, but that is an estimate only. A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon can provide a more accurate estimate for the particulars of your facelift procedure.
It takes me about 3 hours to do just a facelift with SMAS, it take as little as two hours and at most 6 hours. Different people present with different challenges that require the attention needed for an optimal result. Some surgeons can do a reasonable improvement in just an hour, I require more time then that. see a board certified ASAPS plastic surgeon. Good luck...
