Full Face Rejuvenation

Full face rejuvenation brings together, in a single plan, several procedures aimed at the signs of ageing in the upper, middle and lower parts of the face and on the neck. It is not the name of a single operation; which procedures will be performed is determined by the person's facial structure and concerns. The doctor decides at the examination whether it is suitable. Results vary from person to person.

How Does Facial Ageing Develop?

With age, collagen and elastin in the skin decrease, the fat tissue in the face shifts and volume is lost, and the supporting tissues loosen. Sun, smoking and rapid weight changes can speed up this process. Signs of ageing usually appear together in more than one area of the face:

  • Lines on the forehead and between the eyebrows, drooping eyebrows
  • Excess skin on the eyelids and under-eye bags
  • Loss of volume and sagging in the cheeks, deepening of the lines from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth
  • A less defined jawline, loose skin under the chin and on the neck

Who Is It Suitable For?

It is considered for people who have signs of ageing in more than one area of the face that are not expected to improve sufficiently with a single procedure. Age alone is not decisive. General health must be suitable for surgery and anaesthesia, the person should not smoke or should be able to stop before surgery, and expectations should be realistic. Chronic illnesses and medicines being used should be reported to the doctor at the examination.

Which Procedures Can Be Planned Together?

In the planning, each area of the face is assessed separately. The main procedures that can be planned together are:

  • Facelift: sagging in the middle and lower face is corrected by also tightening the muscle and connective tissue layer beneath the skin (SMAS). For details you can read our facelift page.
  • Neck lift: sagging skin and muscle laxity under the chin and on the neck are corrected; if necessary, fat under the chin is removed with liposuction. For details you can read our neck lift page.
  • Forehead lift: drooping eyebrows and forehead lines are corrected. For details you can read our forehead lift page.
  • Eyelid surgery: excess skin on the upper eyelid and under-eye bags are corrected. For details you can read our eyelid surgery page.
  • Fat injection: fat taken from the person's own body is processed and transferred to areas that have lost volume. For details you can read our fat injection page.
  • Skin rejuvenation: treatments such as peeling can be planned for fine lines and skin texture. For details you can read our peeling page.

Each procedure has its own risks and recovery period. The doctor decides whether the procedures will be performed in the same operation or in stages, taking into account the person's health and the scope of the procedures.

Surgery and Recovery

Surgical procedures are usually performed under general anaesthesia. The length of the operation increases with the number of procedures performed together, and a hospital stay may be needed. At least two weeks before surgery, smoking, aspirin and blood-thinning medicines, which increase the risk of bleeding, are stopped on the doctor's advice.

In the first weeks, swelling, bruising and a feeling of tightness in the face and neck are expected; these decrease over time. The head is kept elevated, and strenuous exercise and the sun are avoided for the period recommended by the doctor. Incision scars are mostly placed in less visible areas such as the hairline, around the ears or under the chin, and fade over time. When several procedures are performed together, recovery may take longer than for a single procedure. The doctor determines when to return to daily life and work.

Risks

Like any surgical procedure, full face rejuvenation has risks. Bleeding and a collection of blood under the skin (haematoma), infection, temporary or rarely permanent weakness due to involvement of the facial nerves, loss of sensation, noticeable scarring, asymmetry, delayed wound healing and risks related to anaesthesia may occur. With fat injection, part of the transferred fat may be absorbed by the body. Because performing several procedures together lengthens the operation, the risks should be assessed accordingly. The risks should be discussed in detail with the doctor before the procedure.

Full face rejuvenation does not stop ageing; the ageing process continues. For the methods used in facelifting, including non-surgical treatments, you can read our article Facelift Methods.

Author: Op. Dr. Yücel Sarıaltın