Facelift (Rhytidectomy)
What is a Facelift?
A facelift is a surgical procedure to rejuvenate the face by lifting and tightening sagging skin, smoothing deep wrinkles, and improving facial contours, primarily targeting the lower face and neck. It’s commonly performed for cosmetic reasons to combat aging. In India, facelifts are conducted in plastic surgery departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs is essential for patients.
Why do you need Facelift?
A facelift is indicated for:
- Cosmetic reasons:
- Sagging skin on the lower face (jowls) and neck.
- Deep nasolabial folds (lines from nose to mouth) or marionette lines (lines from mouth to chin).
- Loose skin or excess fat in the neck (double chin).
- Desire for a more youthful, defined facial appearance.
- Associated procedures:
- Often combined with a neck lift, brow lift , or blepharoplasty for comprehensive rejuvenation.
- May complement non-surgical treatments like fillers or Botox.
- Timing:
- Typically performed in adults (40–70 years); best for those with good skin elasticity and mild to moderate sagging.
The procedure aims to restore a youthful facial contour by tightening the skin and underlying tissues (SMAS—superficial musculoaponeurotic system), with incisions designed to minimize visible scarring.
Why Do Facelift Costs Vary in India?
Costs range from ₹1 lakh to ₹3.5 lakh :
- Procedure Type: Mini facelift (₹1–1.5 lakh); traditional/SMAS facelift (₹1.5–2.5 lakh); deep plane (₹2.5–3.5 lakh).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis: ₹1.5–3.5 lakh); lower in smaller centers (₹1–1.5 lakh).
- Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced plastic surgeons charge more.
- Additional Costs: Anesthesia (₹10,000–₹20,000), hospital stay (₹5,000–₹15,000/day), medications (₹5,000–₹10,000).
- Insurance: Rarely covered (cosmetic); confirm with your provider.
Facelift Procedure
- Before Surgery Evaluation:
- Assessment:
- Physical exam: Evaluates skin laxity, facial fat distribution, and bone structure.
- Blood tests: Blood sugar, clotting profile.
- Photos: For surgical planning and comparison.
- Medications: Stop blood thinners (e.g., aspirin) 5–7 days prior if safe.
- Consent: Risks, including scarring, are explained.
- Assessment:
- Surgical Techniques:
- Facelift (Rhytidectomy):
- Performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation, lasting 2–4 hours.
- Approach:
- Traditional facelift: Incisions start at the temples (within hairline), extend around the ear, and end in the lower scalp; lifts lower face and neck.
- Mini facelift: Smaller incisions around the ears; targets mild sagging in the lower face.
- SMAS facelift: Tightens underlying SMAS layer for longer-lasting results; often part of traditional facelift.
- Deep plane facelift: More extensive; lifts deeper tissues for natural results in severe sagging.
- Repair:
- Skin and SMAS lifted; excess skin removed; fat repositioned or removed (e.g., neck liposuction).
- Tissues tightened with sutures; skin redraped for a smooth contour.
- Closure: Fine sutures close incisions; scars hidden in hairline or natural creases.
- Intraoperative Tools:
- Liposuction (if needed): Removes excess neck fat.
- Cautery: Controls bleeding.
- SMAS sutures: Tightens underlying tissues.
- Facelift (Rhytidectomy):
- After Surgery:
- Hospital stay: 1–2 days.
- Care: Head wrap or compression garment for 1–2 weeks to reduce swelling; sleep with head elevated.
- Pain management: Mild to moderate pain for 3–7 days; managed with painkillers (e.g., ibuprofen).
- Instructions: Avoid strenuous activity for 4–6 weeks; no facial pressure (e.g., bending).
Recovery After Facelift
- Hospital Stay: 1–2 days.
- Post-Surgery Care:
- Pain/Swelling: Mild to moderate pain and swelling for 3–7 days; bruising resolves in 2–3 weeks.
- Sensation: Temporary numbness or tightness in face/neck; resolves in weeks.
- Activity: Avoid strenuous activity for 4–6 weeks; light activities in 1–2 weeks.
- Incision: Sutures removed in 7–14 days; scars fade in 6–12 months, hidden in hairline.
- Appearance: Initial results in 3–4 weeks; final outcome in 3–6 months as swelling subsides.
- Follow-Up:
- Visits at 1 week (suture removal), 1 month, and 3 months.
- Photos: At 3 months to compare results.
Most resume normal activities in 2–3 weeks; full recovery takes 6–8 weeks. Satisfaction rate: 85–90% report a more youthful appearance; results last 5–10 years, depending on aging and lifestyle.
Risks and Complications
- Surgical Risks:
- Bleeding (2–5%): Hematoma under skin; may need drainage.
- Infection (1–3%): At incision site; treated with antibiotics.
- Anesthesia risks (<1%): Reaction to general anesthesia; rare in healthy patients.
- Post-Surgery:
- Nerve injury (1–2%): Temporary facial weakness or numbness (e.g., facial nerve); usually resolves in 3–6 months.
- Scarring (2–5%): Hypertrophic or keloid scars; usually hidden in hairline.
- Asymmetry (1–3%): Uneven lift; may need touch-up surgery.
- Skin necrosis (1–2%): Skin loss due to poor blood supply; more common in smokers.
- Long-Term:
- Sagging recurrence (5–10%): Over years due to aging; may need revision.
- “Pulled” look (1–2%): Over-tightening; skilled surgeons minimize this risk.
Report fever, severe swelling, facial weakness, or signs of infection (e.g., redness, pus) promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes the need for a facelift?
Aging (skin laxity, gravity), genetics, or lifestyle factors (e.g., sun exposure, smoking) causing sagging and wrinkles.
Can I avoid a facelift?
Yes, if mild: Non-surgical options (e.g., fillers, Botox, thread lifts) may help temporarily; surgery needed for significant sagging.
Is a facelift painful?
Mild to moderate pain for 3–7 days, managed with medication; discomfort subsides in 2 weeks.
How soon can I resume normal activities?
Light activities: 2–3 weeks; full recovery: 6–8 weeks; avoid strenuous activity for 4–6 weeks.
Is a facelift covered by insurance in India?
Rarely (cosmetic); confirm with your provider.
Signs of complications?
Fever, severe swelling, facial weakness, or signs of infection.
Will my results look natural?
85–90% achieve a natural, refreshed look; skilled surgeons avoid an “over-tightened” appearance.
Lifestyle changes post-surgery?
Sleep with head elevated, avoid facial pressure, use sun protection, and attend follow-ups.
Conclusion
A facelift is a safe and effective procedure to address facial aging, with high satisfaction rates and manageable recovery. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, Medanta) provide affordable care, though insurance coverage is limited for cosmetic cases. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach surgery confidently. Consult a plastic surgeon for personalized guidance.
Looking for Best Hospitals for Facelift
Note: we are not promoting any hospitals
we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
- click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
1,00,000 |
3,25,000 |
Ahmedabad |
1,25,000 |
3,50,000 |
Ajmer |
1,00,000 |
3,25,000 |
Aligarh |
1,00,000 |
3,25,000 |
Allahabad |
1,00,000 |
3,25,000 |
Amritsar |
1,10,000 |
3,35,000 |
Aurangabad |
1,10,000 |
3,35,000 |
Bangalore |
1,25,000 |
3,50,000 |
Bareilly |
1,00,000 |
3,25,000 |
Belgaum |
1,10,000 |
3,35,000 |
Bhopal |
1,10,000 |
3,35,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
1,10,000 |
3,35,000 |
Bikaner |
1,00,000 |
3,25,000 |
Chandigarh |
1,25,000 |
3,50,000 |
Chennai |
1,25,000 |
3,50,000 |
Coimbatore |
1,25,000 |
3,50,000 |
Dehradun |
1,10,000 |
3,35,000 |
Delhi |
1,25,000 |
3,50,000 |
Dhanbad |
1,00,000 |
3,25,000 |
Durgapur |
1,00,000 |
3,25,000 |
Faridabad |
1,25,000 |
3,50,000 |
Ghaziabad |
1,25,000 |
3,50,000 |
Gorakhpur |
1,00,000 |
3,25,000 |
Guntur |
1,10,000 |
3,35,000 |
Gurgaon |
1,25,000 |
3,50,000 |
Guwahati |
1,10,000 |
3,35,000 |
Gwalior |
1,00,000 |
3,25,000 |
Hyderabad |
1,25,000 |
3,50,000 |
Indore |
1,10,000 |
3,35,000 |
Jabalpur |
1,00,000 |
3,25,000 |
Jaipur |
1,25,000 |
3,50,000 |
Jalandhar |
1,10,000 |
3,35,000 |
Jamshedpur |
1,10,000 |
3,35,000 |
Jodhpur |
1,00,000 |
3,25,000 |
Kanpur |
1,00,000 |
3,25,000 |
Kochi |
1,25,000 |
3,50,000 |
Kolkata |
1,25,000 |
3,50,000 |
Kollam |
1,10,000 |
3,35,000 |
Lucknow |
1,10,000 |
3,35,000 |
Ludhiana |
1,25,000 |
3,50,000 |
Madurai |
1,10,000 |
3,35,000 |
Mangalore |
1,10,000 |
3,35,000 |
Meerut |
1,00,000 |
3,25,000 |
Moradabad |
1,00,000 |
3,25,000 |
Mumbai |
1,25,000 |
3,50,000 |
Mysore |
1,25,000 |
3,50,000 |
Nagpur |
1,10,000 |
3,35,000 |
Nashik |
1,10,000 |
3,35,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
1,25,000 |
3,50,000 |
Noida |
1,25,000 |
3,50,000 |
Patna |
1,00,000 |
3,25,000 |
Pune |
1,25,000 |
3,50,000 |
Raipur |
1,10,000 |
3,35,000 |
Rajkot |
1,10,000 |
3,35,000 |
Ranchi |
1,00,000 |
3,25,000 |
Surat |
1,25,000 |
3,50,000 |
Thane |
1,25,000 |
3,50,000 |
Vadodara |
1,10,000 |
3,35,000 |
Varanasi |
1,00,000 |
3,25,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
1,10,000 |
3,35,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.