Shaving off a few years of your life isn’t possible, but thanks to the wonders of modern plastic surgery we can help you look physically younger by a few years. A facelift is a solution which lifts and tightens loose skin, especially in the lower part of the patient’s face. As skin ages and loses its natural collagen, it becomes looser. Dr Payer usually employs the MACS (Minimal Access Cranial Suspension) facelift method which makes shorter incisions when compared to standard techniques.
During a MACS surgery, any sagging facial structures are vertically pulled-up (to counteract the effects of gravity) and fixed in place. Therefore, they’re modified in the natural physiological direction, not diagonally and back as is the case with a standard facelift which may end up looking “fake”. Other benefits include minimal scarring and tissue dissection, making healing much faster. MACS is performed via a minimal access in front of the ear where only a short incision is made. The resulting scar blends in with the natural ear line, barely visible after healing (resembles a skin fold). Standard facelifts require multiple incisions—in front of the ear, behind the ear, and along the hairline.
However, the MACS method isn’t suitable for every client. In some cases, the so-called omega incision is chosen instead, made in front of the ear as with the MACS method, but leading behind the ear, in the direction of the patient’s hairline.
During the operation, a tissue adhesive is applied to minimise post-operative swelling or bruising and accelerate healing.
The intervention is performed under general anaesthesia and takes 2–3 hours, depending on the method used. The patient must consult the physician and undergo a pre-operative assessment beforehand. The surgery can be combined with a neck lift, double chin liposuction or blepharoplasty. After excess skin is removed, the small wounds are sutured and sterile dressing applied, along with facial compression bandages. The stitches are removed during the first check-up after week one in case of MACS; after week two in case of omega incision.
