Once a taboo procedure, the facelift has undergone a significant transformation since the “windswept” looks of yesteryear.
Photo: Donna Trope
In an era where actors aged more than 50 often attribute their youthful appearance to organic diets, hydration, and personal skincare lines, the facelift is undergoing a transformation of its own. Finding its way onto social media feeds from Hollywood to Dubai, the procedure that was once associated with the dreaded “wind-tunnel effect” is no longer being overshadowed by non-invasive alternatives that were perceived as safer and more natural looking. In fact, the normalization of Botox, fillers, and laser treatments has ended up paving the way back to the facelift with renewed acceptance, as those searching for eternal youth become increasingly willing to experiment with more extreme technologies. From Marc Jacobs, Sia, and Kris Jenner to regional beauty entrepreneur Joelle Mardinian and The Real Housewives of Dubai star Caroline Stanbury, celebrities are openly raving about their surgically enhanced visages. In skilled hands, a modern facelift – which starts from AED30 000 for a targeted area and from AED50 000 for a full lift – can rejuvenate a person’s appearance without radically altering features, with the focus shifting towards skin quality and health. The procedure has thus been reborn as a tool for longevity, designed to help you look better, not different. Here’s what you need to know about its new-and-improved appeal.
Key research
Dubai-based personal shopper and luxury fashion consultant Nicole Majdalany can attest to the importance of doing your research… and then some. Having previously undergone a tummy tuck, blepharoplasty, liposuction, and arm and breast lifts, the 52-year-old shared every moment of her facelift journey with her more-than 440 000 followers on social media earlier this year. “I chose my surgeon, Dr Ricardo Ferla, because my friend had work done with him. Her results were exactly what I wanted, so I went to him,” she shares. “I also asked to meet someone [else] who had already had a facelift with him so I could ask her about her experience and see her scars. I was convinced as soon as I met her as she looked fabulous and super natural.” When seeking a surgeon, Majdalany emphasizes the importance of clearly communicating your goals and expectations to ensure optimal results. “Ask all the questions at the consultation and keep asking questions before your surgery date. I was very specific about what I wanted – a look that was as natural as possible. I didn’t want to look different, I wanted to have a ‘refresh.’”
Right timing
How to know if this procedure is right for you, right now? Celebrity aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon Dr Mohamed Chelbi says that the optimal age range for a facelift is usually late 40s to 60s. “As we age, the first signs of skin laxity and volume loss often appear in the neck area and jowls,” he explains. “When these changes become noticeable and non-invasive procedures like injectables and energy devices no longer provide the desired results without distorting features, it may be time to consider a facelift.”
IG-famous facelifts
While earlier iterations of the facelift only pulled the superficial layers of the skin, resulting in that too-tight look of the 80s and 90s, the latest and most buzz-worthy versions offer changes that are virtually undetectable. Thanks to celebrity surgeons and their social media-savvy clientele, the deep plane facelift – where surgery is conducted under the muscle – has gained traction swiftly. “To achieve reliable and long-lasting results, we need to work on the deeper structures of the face,” Dr Chelbi says. “This comprehensive approach works on both superficial and deep fat layers, muscles, and sometimes even the salivary glands, delivering natural results in the safest possible way.”
Bouncing back
Long gone are the days of lengthy recovery periods requiring facelift patients to stay out of the public eye. With the advent of advanced surgical techniques, healing times are shorter and pain levels are reduced. “In the immediate post-operative period, patients may experience swelling, bruising, and some discomfort, but rarely significant pain,” Dr Chelbi remarks. “During the first week, these will gradually subside, and patients may feel a sense of tightness and mild discomfort. By the second week, most of the swelling should have resolved, and the initial results of the facelift will become apparent.” However, he notes, it can take several months to reach a full recovery and evident final outcome. For Majdalany, the first three days after surgery were the hardest. “My eyes were so dry, they felt scratchy and I needed continuous eye drops for the first 48 hours. In addition, my face looked very distorted, and I definitely had a what-have-I-done moment! As with all my previous surgeries I started to feel very sorry for myself,” she recalls. Once she returned home, however, she was much more at ease. “I had planned three weeks off work, got all my TV box sets ready, and cleared my calendar of anything important. I wasn’t in any pain after day three, so I stopped taking all painkillers.”
Photo: @nicole_ontrend
Not-so-risky business
Although this surgery is generally considered safe, like any surgical procedure there are potential complications, which can be minimized by closely following your doctor’s guidelines. The most common risk is that of hematoma or bleeding after surgery, which can be minimized, according to surgeons, by maintaining a normal blood pressure during and after the operation. Dr Chelbi ensures that in most cases infection rates are very low, and facial nerve injuries, though rare, usually resolve completely within a few weeks. Slow wound healing can also occur, especially in smokers and diabetic patients.
Post-op planning
While the longevity of results varies from person to person, Dr Chelbi says patients can expect effects to last for eight to 10 years. “Factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and overall health play a significant role,” he says. “To maintain results, it is crucial to minimize sun exposure, quit smoking, adopt a healthy lifestyle, and follow a comprehensive skincare routine along with other non-invasive treatments that can further enhance and prolong the effects of the surgery.”
Use this facelift glossary to help you identify which procedure is right for you:
Ponytail lift
Also called the mini lift, this surgery tightens the midface region. The technique lifts from the cheek and lower undereye and sculpts jowls, sweeping up at an angle across to the temples and tightening the tissue with incisions hidden in the hairline near the ears.
Cheek lift
Like the name suggests, this procedure restores youth to the cheek area, adding volume in the right places and removing unwanted puffiness under the eyes.
Brow lift
This forehead-focused surgery uses incisions at the front of the hairline to iron out wrinkles and lift loose eyelid skin.
Deep plane lift
Focusing on the neck and up to the chin, this surgery lifts loose skin and tightens muscles under the musculoaponeurotic system.
Originally published in the September 2024 issue of Vogue Arabia
