A Meloplasty (more commonly known as a ‘Facelift’, but also as a Rhytidectomy), is a surgical procedure which reshapes and tightens the skin and tissues of the mid-face. The mid-face is the region of the face covering the area under the eyes, the cheeks and the top of the mouth. The processes that occur with advancement of age lead to the natural loss of facial fat deposits. As we advance in age, we start to see a natural occurrence of vertical skin folds in the face. This is due to the position of the fat deposit pockets, that run horizontally across our face, which lose surface skin tension without the underlying fat deposits. To manage this, Dr Verma performs Meloplasty (Facelift) in Newcastle with Finesse Cosmetic Surgery.
Meloplasty (Facelift)
Meloplasty (Facelift) Surgery
Meloplasty (Facelift) surgery involves the removal of natural excess skin and fat deposits from the face, tightening of muscle, and the re-draping and tightening of the skin, which smooths the surface of the face, lifts the cheeks, and surgically contours the jawline and upper neck to meet your individual aesthetic needs. The surgery can also be combined with non-surgical cosmetic treatments, such as skin resurfacing, to treat areas not targeted by Meloplasty (Facelift) surgery, such as fine wrinkles around the eyes or mouth.
Dr Verma believes in holistic care, and will develop with you a management plan, that may include surgical as well as non-surgical treatments, tailored to your individual aesthetic goals and needs. When having your Meloplasty (Facelift) performed in Newcastle with Finesse Cosmetic Surgery, you know that you’ll be given the most up-to-date and evidence-based treatments from a clinician with over 25 years of surgical experience, and will be receiving care in a facility that has been purpose built for these cosmetic surgical procedures.
Meloplasty (Facelift) Surgery Quick Summary
What is Meloplasty (Facelift) Surgery: Meloplasty surgery (also known as a Facelift or Rhytidectomy) involves the removal of natural excess skin and fat deposits from the face, tightening of muscle, and the re-draping and tightening of the skin, which smooths the surface of the face, lifts the cheeks, and surgically contours the jawline and upper neck to meet your individual aesthetic needs. Note, it does not raise eyebrows, remove deep frown lines in the forehead, or remove fine wrinkles around the eyes and mouth. In these cases, Dr. Verma may suggest treatments other than a Meloplasty.
Where is it Done: Your Meloplasty (Facelift) surgery will be performed at the brand-new Honeysuckle Day Hospital in Newcastle, a fully licensed and accredited day hospital which was purposely built and equipped to care specifically for cosmetic surgical procedures.
Length of Surgery: Usually between 2-4 hrs. May be longer depending on which technique is used (see below) or if the Meloplasty (Facelift) will be combined with another type of surgery
Type of Anaesthesia: General Anaesthesia
Day Surgery or Inpatient Stay: Day Surgery
Approximate Cost: Varies according to type, complexity and length of procedure. You will receive a quote with a cost of the procedure after your consultation with Dr. Verma, tailored to you.
Not sure if Meloplasty (Facelift) surgery is right for you? Maybe you feel more than one type of cosmetic surgery may be required? Or are you interested in non-surgical ways to meet your individual aesthetic needs?
We advise booking a consultation with Dr. Verma. With his expertise and commitment to achieving your aesthetic goals, together you can create a personalised treatment plan, involving both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic treatments, individually tailored to the look you would like to achieve. That way, if you do decide to have a Meloplasty (Facelift) in Newcastle at Finesse Cosmetic Surgery, you know you’ll get the most out of it.
Please see our list of general FAQs for more details.
Call (02) 4001 0511 to talk to our friendly staff and book a consultation with Dr. Verma.
Your Meloplasty (Facelift) Consultation
Do I qualify for Meloplasty (Facelift) surgery?
A Meloplasty (Facelift) can be performed on people aged in their early 40s to late 70s. Benefits last for longer in younger patients but results are often more dramatic in the older population. You need to be in good general physical and mental health to undergo surgery and ideally be a non-smoker or amenable to quitting pre-operatively.
Who is a good candidate for Meloplasty (Facelift) surgery?
The ideal candidate is someone who has realistic expectations of what surgery can achieve and is undergoing surgery for themselves and not for anyone else (e.g., pressure from partners or family, undergoing surgery to salvage a relationship or try to procure or keep a job).
What to expect during the consultation?
No two faces are the same. After taking a general medical history, Dr. Verma will analyse your face closely and discuss your individual aesthetic needs with you. He will then suggest a procedure or procedures specifically tailored to address these. For a true analysis of your face, please avoid wearing any makeup or sunscreen for the consultation. A non-tinted moisturizer can be applied. It is also recommended that, where possible, you bring close-up clear photographs of a younger you to the appointment. These images help Dr. Verma understand the younger contours of your face and the result you wish to achieve so he can adjust your surgery accordingly.
Please note that Dr. Verma will be taking photographs of your face. Photography is vital in the cosmetic surgery experience and allows Dr. Verma to document and share with you your progress pre- and post-operatively. Sometimes these photographs will be uploaded onto our website. The images are de-identified, with birthmarks, tattoos and other identifying features removed. The images are not altered any other way, in order to give a true representation of the likely results. Such ‘Before-After’ images help other potential patients like yourself to decide whether this is the right procedure for them, noting that individual results may vary.
Generally, the consultation is your opportunity to ask Dr. Verma any questions or clear any concerns you may have regarding your Meloplasty (Facelift) in Newcastle with Finesse Cosmetic Surgery.
What is the cost of Meloplasty (Facelift) surgery. What is included?
Cost of Meloplasty (Facelift) surgery depends on the length and complexity of the surgery. After the consultation, once you have decided you are interested in having a Meloplasty (Facelift) in Newcastle, you will receive a quote for the cost of the surgery. This price includes Dr. Verma’s fees (Proceduralist fees) and the cost of all follow-up visits up to 3 months post-surgery. It does not include the separate hospital and anaesthetist costs, but we can provide an estimate of such costs on your request.
Your Meloplasty (Facelift) Procedure
How is Meloplasty (Facelift) Surgery performed? Are there Different Techniques?
There are three main types of Meloplasty (Facelift) that can be performed. Dr. Verma has the expertise to perform any of these, and the one that may be best suited to your individual needs will be discussed during your consultation.
- The traditional and most commonly performed Meloplasty (Facelift) technique is a ‘SMAS Lift’. In this Meloplasty technique, the SMAS layer is tightened and overlying skin re-positioned. The SMAS Lift tightens the jowls, elevating the neck and cheeks.
- The second method is Deep-Plane Meloplasty which corrects the mid-face region; an area that is often not as well addressed by other Meloplasty (Facelift) techniques. It is called ‘Deep-Plane’, as it involves repositioning layers deeper than the SMAS lift. A Deep-Plane Meloplasty generally heals better and the effects last longer.
- Thread or Suture-Lift: Thread-Lift is the least invasive approach to a Meloplasty (Facelift) where fine suture threads inserted into the skin are used to lift skin. The effects are subtler and less long-lasting compared to other Meloplasty (Facelift) techniques, but results in the absence of visible scars and reduced down time. It is best suited for younger and middle-aged patients, whose skin tissues have lost their elasticity with time or sun damage, and wish to avoid invasive surgery.
Where will the Incisions/Scars be?
- The incisions for a Meloplasty (Facelift) are placed in or near the hairline, at the sides of the face and around the ears. These generally fade to form faint white scars – although the degree of fading varies depending on how your skin tends to heal and form scars.
What type of Anaesthesia will be used?
- The type of anaesthesia used is general anaesthesia. This means you will be asleep during the operation. If appropriate, Dr Verma will utilise additional local anaesthesia, which is injected into the site of surgery during the operation, and will give you better pain relief upon waking.
What are the side effects of Meloplasty (Facelift) surgery?
- Temporary bruising and swelling, numbness in areas of the face, a tight feeling in the face and dry skin are normal in Meloplasty (Facelift) patients. The majority of such symptoms resolve within 2-3 weeks after the operation. Nerves take longer to recover and numbness can last up to 3 months. In rare cases, it may be permanent.
What are the risks and complications of Meloplasty (Facelift) Surgery?
With any surgical procedure, there are risks involved and most problems are easily treated and settle with time.
General risks of any surgery include excessive bleeding, reaction to any of the medications (including anaesthesia), infection, poor healing or excessive scarring. There are also risks and complications specific to Meloplasty (Facelift) surgery such as injury to the nerves that control facial muscles or sensation, or changes to the hairline. Sometimes a thin plastic tube may need to be inserted into the area that has been operated on. These tubes drain any blood and secretions that accumulate under the skin after surgery and help to promote healing. Whether these drains are inserted or not is decided on a case-by-case basis, but generally, they are reserved for those requiring extensive surgery.
The occurrence of such complications depends mainly on whether you smoke, your general health status, how your body heals, as well as your post-operative recovery. Dr. Verma will discuss all risks and complications with you during the consultation, as well as techniques and medications which can minimise these risks when you have your Meloplasty (Facelift) in Newcastle at Finesse Cosmetic Surgery.
Recovery after Meloplasty (Facelift) Surgery
Care of your Face and Surgical Sites
You will be provided with detailed instructions by Finesse Cosmetic Surgery with regards to care of your sutures, surgical sites, etc. Any sutures are usually removed in 7-10 days. After you have your Meloplasty (Facelift) surgery in Newcastle at Honeysuckle Day Hospital, you will need to wear a ‘post-op garment’. This is a snug fabric mask for your face to be worn after surgery. It reduces swelling and bruising after surgery, helping to minimise pain and achieve healthier results.
Downtime
Returning to work takes 14 days, depending on the type of work you do. More strenuous activity (such as lifting, straining, pushing, exercise beyond a light walk) should be strictly avoided for 4-6 weeks. Bruising may take two weeks to resolve. The majority of swelling can take up to a month or more to resolve. Feelings of tightness and numbness in the face are normal after Meloplasty (Facelift) surgery, and may last several weeks.
When will you see Results?
Results will be visible after your tissues heal when swelling and bruising subside which may take up to a month or more. Thus, being patient and optimistic is key to recovery after Meloplasty (Facelift) surgery.
What will be your Follow-up Schedule?
Dr. Verma will see you one week post the operation and then organise subsequent follow-ups according to how you recover. All follow-up visit costs, up to three months after the operation, are fully included in the cost of the surgery. Revision surgery for any complications carries an extra charge.
Similar to your consultation visit (see above), Dr. Verma will be taking photographs of your face in order to document its healing during follow-up visits.
How Long do the Effects of Meloplasty (Facelift) Surgery Last for?
The Meloplasty (Facelift) effect tends to fade with time, and a revision is usually required after 10 years. However, this still makes Meloplasty (Facelift) surgery the longest lasting treatment for aging-related individual facial aesthetic needs compared to other non-surgical alternatives.
