Meloplasty (Facelift)

When signs of ageing begin to creep up on your face, surgery is an option to reverse those symptoms. A meloplasty (facelift) is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures for this purpose, because it addresses a number of ageing concerns with just one surgery. Dr Teston offers a variety of options for surgical meloplasty (facelift), customising each procedure to the unique needs and desired results of her patient. With more than 24 years of experience in plastic surgery, Dr Teston is qualified to assess your concerns and recommend the best surgical treatment for you.

Before a Meloplasty (Facelift)

Before scheduling your meloplasty (facelift), you will discuss your specific issues with Dr Teston so she can recommend the best procedure and technique for you. Some of the reasons for pursuing a meloplasty (facelift) might include:

• Skin laxity that leads to the formation of jowls around the jawline
• Hollowing around the temples and cheekbones
• Deep facial creases around the nose and mouth
• Fallen fat or fat and tissue that has been displaced
• An appearance that doesn’t match how you feel inside
• Signs of ageing 

A meloplasty (facelift) is an effective procedure achieving results with just one surgery and one recovery period. However, a meloplasty (facelift) may not be the right choice for everyone. Dr Teston will discuss your concerns and aesthetic goals with you prior to surgery to determine whether a meloplasty (facelift) is the best option for you.

Choices in Meloplasties (Facelifts)

If you decide to move forward with a meloplasty (facelift), there are a number of options to consider. Your choice of a specific procedure will depend on where the majority of your ageing is taking place. If it is the lower face, such as a double chin, jowls along the jawline, and creases between the mouth and chin, a lower meloplasty (facelift) may be the right decision for you. Dr Teston can also perform this procedure in conjunction with a platysmaplasty (neck lift) to further results.

If ageing signs are more focused around the nose and cheeks, a mid-meloplasty (mid-facelift) may be a better choice. This procedure will firm up skin around the cheekbones, giving you a more youthful facial profile overall. Meloplasties (facelifts) can also be combined with other surgical procedures like a browplasty (brow lift) or blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) to further your results.

The Less Invasive Option

When appropriate, Dr Teston prefers a special technique known as the MACS meloplasty (facelift) for her patients wanting to reverse ageing signs on the face. MACS stands for “minimal access cranial suspension” and it is less invasive than traditional meloplasty (facelift) techniques. This procedure involves smaller incisions, which means a shorter recovery and less visible scarring. This procedure is effective in addressing mild to moderate signs of ageing in the cheeks, nose, chin and neck.

The MACS meloplasty (facelift) is not a new technique; in fact it has been used and refined over decades. For the right patient, this procedure offers long-lasting results with advancements that ensure patients undergoing the MACS meloplasty (facelift) will have a successful procedure. Like other meloplasty (facelift) techniques, the MACS can be customised to the specific needs of each individual patient.

During a Meloplasty (Facelift)

Dr Teston will perform your meloplasty (facelift) in an accredited surgical facility under general anaesthesia. Incisions will be carefully placed in areas where visible scarring will be minimal. Most meloplasties (facelifts) take about two to three hours to complete, depending on the amount of correction involved. After your procedure, you will remain in recovery for a number of hours before you are either released to go home, or you are sent to a room with attentive nursing staff to care for you for the night.

Because there is typically some bruising and swelling for the first few days after a meloplasty (facelift), you will be given instructions on how to minimise those side effects. This might include application of ice packs or sleeping with your head elevated for the first week or so to encourage healthy blood flow. Following your post-operative instructions will ensure a smooth recovery and the best possible results from your procedure.

After a Meloplasty (Facelift)

Most of your regular activities can be resumed within about two weeks after your procedure. You may be advised to avoid strenuous exercise for longer however, as this could impact your healing after surgery. For some patients, the ability to appear in public will largely depend on how long it takes for any bruising and swelling to subside. That may be accomplished in the first two weeks after surgery, but it may take a bit longer for some patients to feel comfortable going out socially after their meloplasty (facelift).

Potential Risks and Complications

All surgery carries some degree of risk. Some of the possible complications of facelift surgery include:

• Heavy bleeding from the surgical site
• Infection – which might requirement treatment with antibiotics, or further surgery in some cases
• Allergic reaction to sutures, dressings or antiseptic solutions
• Formation of a large blood clot (haematoma) beneath the incision site, which may require drainage
• Pain, bruising and swelling around the operated site(s)
• Keloids and hypertrophic scars – raised, thickened scars that may form over the healed incisions which may be itchy, annoying and unsightly but are not a threat to health
• Slow healing, often associated with smoking or diabetes
• Separation of wound edges
• Short-term nausea following general anaesthesia
• Hair loss around the scars
• Loss of skin due to impaired blood supply – this may require a skin graft
• Numbness around the surgical sites – this is temporary in most cases
• Deformity of the earlobe
• Slight difference in appearance between left and right side of the face
• Nerve damage, which can cause temporary or permanent paralysis of part or all of the affected facial muscles
• Further surgery may be required to treat complications.

This is not a complete list. For example, your medical history or lifestyle may put you at increased risk of certain complications. Speak to your medical practitioner for more information.

This procedure is able to address a number of ageing concerns at one time, giving you full results with a single surgical procedure and recovery period. To learn more about facelifts or find out if this procedure is the right choice for you, contact Dr Teston’s office today at (02) 9708 3511.

*The information about Facelift was reviewed by Dr Leana Teston. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us using our contact form below.