As we grow older, different parts of our body and face start to sag. But, gravity alone is not the only factor for sagging, the other culprit being the loss of the ‘elasticity’ and the ‘tone’ of the skin.

(a) Surgical Face Lift: This is done to remove the excess of loose, sagging skin from the cheeks and neck. The incisions are made around, above, and behind the ears. Skin is lifted from the cheeks and neck. The fascia over the muscles is tightened. The excess skin is removed and sutured in such a way that the stitch line is hidden within the hairline.

The surgery involves either a local or a general anesthetic and takes up to three hours. During the surgery, a cut is made from within the hairline at the temple to the top of the ear, around the front of the ear to the earlobe, and around the hairline around the back of the ear. Sometimes, a small cut is made under the chin to remove a double chin. The skin is gently separated from the underlying muscles of the face and any excess fat is removed. The skin is then lifted up and pulled back, with the excess trimmed off. The cut is then stitched closed. The face is dressed with bandages going all the way around the head, and a small plastic tube may be left in the wound for 24 hours for fluid drainage.