Visible signs of facial ageing are caused by a loss of skin elasticity and muscle tone of the face and neck.
It is typical for lax facial skin to become evident starting in your 40s and by your 50s it will be more noticeable. Facelifts are intended to target the mid and lower face. Sagging skin on the face, neck, and jowls or deep creases on the surface of your skin can be a common part of ageing; however, a facelift (meloplasty) performed by an experienced surgeon may help.
Facelifts are completely unisex and it is not uncommon for men to be interested in this procedure. While more women than men undergo facelift procedures, men still make up about 15% to 20% of patients receiving facelifts.
Facelifts for men
The technique involved in performing a facelift on a male face are very different from a female face. One example of the difference between female and male facelifts is the fact that men have facial hair. The hairlines of men are also different to the hairlines of women. The fact that facelifts involve tightening the skin, means surgeons also have to take particular care to minimise the risk of making a man’s face look effeminate after the procedure.
The main difference between male and female facelifts is the presence of facial hair. A small area of non-hair-bearing skin is preserved at the base of the earlobe to prevent the need for shaving too close to the earlobe itself. Special care must be taken to avoid over-pulling the skin, which would lead to a southward migration of the earlobe. The need to potentially shave further posterior or even behind the ear is also discussed. Sometime hair-removal techniques may be used. Male facelifts involve ‘heavy lifting’ of heavier tissues than with women.
The anchoring techniques are very important to hide incisions inside the ear, around the earlobe, and inside the hairline. When an incision is made that runs along the anterior sideburn and hairline during a male facelift, it prevents displacement or abnormal positioning of the sideburn and hairline in men. The incision is well hidden by keeping it close to the hairline.
Facelift recovery for men
For most men, the recovery period after a male facelift is neither too uncomfortable nor long. You may experience some temporary loss of sensation in the skin around the treatment area, though this is completely normal and should not be a cause of concern unless the numbness persists beyond a few weeks. Bruising and swelling will be present after your procedure and, in fact, there is the possibility of more bruising in men after a facelift and neck lift than in women. It can take up to 3 weeks for the bruising to completely fade away but it is usually lower in the neck and easily covered by a turtleneck.
You will feel fairly tight after your male neck lift and facelift. The tissues are tightened enough to prevent the return of loose skin after your facelift. The feeling of tightness will go away after the first week.
Recovery time following a facelift is generally 2 weeks. Patients will have some mild swelling for a few more weeks and continue to heal for several months following this time period. Though, in saying this, your recovery time will depend on the extent of the facelift performed.
