My Facelift Journey

Are you considering having a facelift? It can be difficult to imagine what the experience and the results will be like. The best way to get an idea of how a facelift could go is to seek out stories from real people who've had the surgery.

Here, we present a patient journey from Christine. She spoke with macom® before and after her first facelift surgery, answering some common questions about facelifts and the recovery process. She also shared some photographs of her results.

Q&A Before Facelift Surgery

Why did you decide to get a facelift?

I had reached a stage where I no longer liked what I saw in the mirror. I didn’t want one too early, although I know some people want one from their 40s onwards. I wanted to wait a while.

Have you had a facelift before?

No.

What type of facelift are you going to have?

Deep plane, face and neck lift with liposuction to the chin.

What results are you hoping for from your facelift?

To rejuvenate my face, but most especially to take away my old lady's neck!

What advice were you given about having a facelift from your specialist? Were you warned about any risks or potential complications?

Yes, during consultation and in writing. All the advice I needed was given in written documents and my specialist talked me through all the risks associated with having facelift surgery.

Do you have any concerns going into your surgery?

No, not one!

Have you made any preparations for your recovery?

Yes, I have a V pillow to assist sleeping upright. I’ve bought silicone gel for my scars from week 3-4 . I’ve made sure I have arnica tablets and lots of pineapple to make smoothies to help with the bruising.

Did you learn anything about facelifts that surprised you when you started considering surgery?

Not especially but as I work for the surgeon I have heard it all many times before.

Q&A After Facelift Surgery

How did it feel to get a facelift?

Surprisingly painless! Now I’m most excited about my new neck. I love my new refreshed look and feel more confident.

Did you experience any pain or discomfort during your procedure?

Minor discomfort during the first night but no pain at all from day one, which was great!

Did you feel supported by your surgery team?

AMAZING!! How could I say differently? They were attentive and supportive from start to finish.

How is your facelift recovery going? Have you experienced swelling and tightness in your skin since surgery?

I still have some numbness around my ears. Mark, my surgeon, said I can expect this for at least a year, but I know it’s healing all the time as it itches!

Have you been wearing your recovery compression garments?

Yes, I wore it for approximately 6 months.

What compression garment did you use?

I used the Face-lifter, also called the macom® POST SURGICAL FACE AND NECK MASK. It was very comfortable.

How long do you expect full recovery to take?

At least a year.

How are the results of your facelift? Are you happy with them?

I love it! I have had botox on my forehead because of course a facelift is not a brow lift. Plus I am going to have some filler around my lips to enhance everything.

How long did it take for your facelift to settle?

Bruising took 2-4 weeks to go down. I felt comfortable in ‘public’ with a bit of makeup after 2 weeks. By week 6, it looked completely normal!

Is there any advice that you'd offer to someone considering getting a facelift?

Do it! … No pain and only great results. Remember it is a ‘facelift’ so it's not going to change your brow or lips, you may need extra help with those areas. Make sure your surgeon is doing a deep plane facelift and is also doing your neck!

Is there anything you learnt during recovery that you think might help others?

Have the right food in the fridge for when you get home. My cheeks were so tight I couldn’t chew for 3 days so soup was required. I wish I’d known that before I had my surgery!