Only three half-inch incisions are made, and scarring is minimal. Some time after the SMAS facelift, the upper face begins to age again while the lower area still retains its shape, causing the face to look imbalanced. Procedures called composite facelifts that lift most muscles in the face are being investigated. When a face-lift is a relatively simple procedure, it can take about two hours under local anesthetic in a doctor's office. Complicated face-lifts are done under general anesthesia in a hospital and can take three to six hours.
Recovery normally lasts from several weeks to several months.
Swelling and discoloration are common. Some patients report tingling or numbing sensations after surgery, which generally subside as damaged nerves regenerate. While facelifts provide patients with a more youthful, if not necessarily younger, look, the degree of improvement depends on a number of factors including age, bone structure, skin type, and personal habits, such as smoking and sunbathing. Rhytidectomy is not without risks. Of greatest concern are infection, excessive bleeding, asymmetrical facial muscles, delayed healing, scarring, and permanent injury to the nerves that control facial movements.