Male Facelift Surgery (Rhytidectomy)

Before you undergo any cosmetic surgery procedure at Karidis Clinic, you will have a consultation and a pre-operative assessment with your plastic surgeon. They will listen carefully to your concerns and what you expect to achieve and discuss which procedure, or combination of procedures, is appropriate.

At this stage, they will also ensure you are fully aware of the potential risks and complications inherent in that specific procedure and explain to you what you can expect immediately after surgery, throughout the recovery process, and when you will likely see the final results.

During the pre-operative assessment, the surgeon may take measurements of the area to be operated on and assess your skin tissue quality and the degree of skin laxity. The position of the incisions will also be decided upon.

A full medical history will be taken to ensure you are fit and well and can undergo surgery at this time.

After the initial consultation, there will be a two-week ‘cooling-off’ period before you can decide to proceed with surgery. You are welcome to return for further consultations with your Karidis Clinic surgeon, free of charge, if you have more questions.

If you make the decision to proceed with surgery, you’ll be given advice on how best to prepare for your operation, and you will have a dedicated Patient Coordinator who can answer any queries you may have.

Any pre-surgery tests can occur at the Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth, a leading London private hospital where Karidis Clinic is based. The hospital has recently built a new wing including a diagnostic department with the latest X-ray, MRI, CT and ultrasound technology.

We advise patients to stop smoking as soon as possible as nicotine acts as a vasoconstrictor, which impedes the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the surgical site. This can slow down healing, increase the chance of infection and even cause tissue to die. Smoking also increases the risks of a general anaesthetic, and smokers are more likely to suffer ill effects from an anaesthetic.

You will also be advised when to discontinue taking aspirin or other blood-thinning medication in advance of your operation. You will be asked to fast six hours before surgery.

All Karidis Clinic procedures are performed at the Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth. When you arrive, you’ll be greeted and taken to your stylish and luxurious private room with its spacious ensuite bathroom.

The nursing team will take your blood pressure and relevant vitals, and you will see your Karidis Clinic surgeon, who will make the final mark-ups. Our anaesthetist will also visit you.

Clinical photography will be taken to assist in your care and to enable clinical assessments to be made. These become part of your confidential medical record. These include photographs of the operation site and any distinguishing features and will be taken pre-op and post-op. 

Your procedure will be performed under a general anaesthetic, and once the surgeon has sutured the incision site, you will be taken to a specialist recovery room.

Once the hospital nursing team has ensured your recovery is complete, you will be taken to your hospital room for your overnight stay. The hospital nursing team will be on hand throughout the night, and you will be fitted with compression stockings and a compression device if required.

The following day, you will be visited by your Karidis Clinic surgeon or nurse and then discharged into the care of a friend or family member by the hospital nursing staff.

The pain and discomfort experienced after surgery are unique to the individual patient and the extent of their procedure. However, it should start to subside in the first week and should be easily managed with over-the-counter painkillers.

If necessary, you’ll be advised to wear a specially designed surgical support garment for approximately six weeks after surgery to support you during the healing process.

Depending on the nature of your job, you can usually expect to be able to return to work and normal activities between one to two weeks.

You’ll be given a comprehensive plan for the recovery process, including dates for your cast or suture removal and your check-ups with your Karidis Clinic surgeon. However, we are always on hand throughout this period, and you have access to our dedicated surgical nurse 24/7 if you have any concerns.

A man’s face has certain characteristics that have to be taken into account when choosing the right surgical plan. These often include prominent muscle mass, a large jaw, heavy skin with hair follicles, and a low brow.

The male ageing process can often see a less defined jaw, fatty deposits in the neck, hollowing around the eye area and a loss of facial volume. Skin can also become laxer in the lower face and neck.

Men require an approach to facelift surgery which is fairly conservative so that the natural features can still be accentuated. With a male facelift, the emphasis is on preserving the raw masculine look while bringing back the definition. Our surgeons take pride in achieving natural, well-balanced results and would never leave a patient looking artificial.

Issues to be considered for a male facelift:

• Many men consider a defined jawline to be a highly desirable feature. However, although a male facelift will redefine the jaw, it’s important to note that it will not physically add more volume to a receding chin.
• Most men favour a short haircut, and this needs to be given due consideration when hiding scars. Scar-minimising and hair-preserving techniques are vital. The beard and sideburns will determine where a discreet incision can be. Read about how our surgeons masterfully conceal scars here.
• Individual requirements differ, and your surgeon will discuss your requests, options and expectations during your consultation.

Recovery from a facelift is often quicker for men than women. This is because men have thicker, more vascular skin, and these qualities help your skin to heal faster. In fact, men can return to work after two weeks leave from work and can be back playing sports after six weeks.

There are three different types of facelifts for both men and women, each focusing on a different area of the face:

• The neck lift or lower facelift is also known as the standard or classic facelift − this improves your jawline, jowls and neck
• The brow or forehead lift which addresses the sagging of your forehead and brow tissues
• The mid-facelift − often performed with the classic facelift, the mid-facelift primarily focuses on any flattening or sagging in the mid area of your face. This area comprises the cheek region below the eyelids, the area on each side of the nose and mouth-to-nose lines

The surgery is classified as a full facelift when more than one area of your face is lifted, i.e. a lower facelift combined with a brow lift or eyelid surgery. A partial facelift focuses on a specific part of your face, for example, just the neck. Often, you may simply not need a full facelift to get the results you’re looking for.

If you have several areas that you want to improve, then a full facelift will achieve all the results in one hospital admission, one surgery and one recovery. This allows you to save both time and money.

Other patients prefer to do the facelift in stages. This can be discussed at your consultation, where your surgeon will use their expertise to determine the best course of action for you.