FACE AND NECK LIFT · MÁLAGA
Face and neck lift to reposition tissues without changing your expression
Over time, it is not only the skin that changes. Deeper tissues can also descend, the jawline may lose definition and the relationship between the face and neck can change.
A deep plane facelift allows the tissues to be released and repositioned at a deeper level. Building on this foundation, treatment may also include procedures during the same operation to address tissue adaptation, firmness and quality.
CHANGES IN THE FACE AND NECK
The face and neck change as one connected unit
Over time, tissues in the mid and lower face can descend, the jawline may lose definition and the neck may become looser.
These changes do not involve the skin alone. Facial fat distribution, the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), the platysma muscle and the individual characteristics of the tissues all play a part.
When changes affect both the face and neck, assessing one area in isolation may therefore be insufficient. Planning needs to consider the cheek, jawline and neck together.
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LOSS OF JAWLINE DEFINITION
As the tissues descend, the jawline may become less defined, contributing to laxity in the lower face.
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DESCENT OF THE MID AND LOWER FACE
Loss of support can gradually alter the relationship between the cheek, nasolabial fold and jawline.
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PLATYSMAL BANDS
Over time, the edges of the platysma muscle can become more visible, forming vertical bands at the front of the neck.
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NECK LAXITY
The skin and tissues of the neck may lose firmness, changing the definition of the angle between the jaw and neck.
SUITABILITY
It is not a question of age, but of anatomy
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WHAT WE ASSESS
The position, laxity and quality of the tissues, jawline definition, the relationship between face and neck, the presence of platysmal bands and the distribution of facial volume.
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WHAT WE DECIDE
Whether surgery is appropriate, which areas need treatment, how extensive the procedure should be and how to combine support, tissue adaptation and tissue quality.
EXTENT OF TREATMENT
Face and neck lift or mini facelift: the difference lies in what needs treating
The term mini facelift is generally used for more limited procedures, but it does not describe a single surgical technique. The difference is not simply the type of incision or the tissue plane involved. It depends on which areas need treatment and how far surgery needs to extend.
MINI FACELIFT
Suitable for selected cases in which changes are more localised and do not require the whole face and neck to be treated as extensively.
Depending on the anatomy and technique chosen, it may focus on particular areas of the lower face and jawline and, in selected cases, address limited changes in the neck through a less extensive procedure.
FACE AND NECK LIFT
When changes affect the face, jawline and neck together, more extensive treatment may be needed to release and reposition the tissues while maintaining continuity between these areas.
The extent of surgery is determined by each patient’s anatomy, not by the name of the procedure.
SURGICAL TECHNIQUE
Deep plane: releasing and repositioning tissues at a deeper level
The surgical foundation of my approach is the deep plane facelift. This technique involves working beneath the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) to release tissues that have lost support and reposition them in keeping with their anatomy.
The aim is not to place all the tension on the skin, but to address the deeper structures that determine the position of the mid and lower face and their relationship with the jawline and neck.
The extent of surgery varies from patient to patient. Where anatomy and the degree of descent require it, deep-plane release and treatment can be extended to other areas of the face and neck. This more extensive approach is technically known as an extended deep plane facelift.
It does not refer to additional treatments or a different philosophy of rejuvenation: it is a specific extension of the deep plane surgical technique itself.
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DEEP PLANE
Repositioning the deeper support structures
Releasing structures that restrict tissue movement when this is necessary to reposition them.
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SMAS AND PLATYSMA
Treating the connection between jawline and neck
Working with the facial support system and its continuity into the neck according to each patient’s anatomy.
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SKIN
Adapting the skin without placing all the tension on it
Draping the skin over the repositioned tissues without concentrating all the corrective tension in the skin.
REJUVENATION STRATEGY
Integrated Rejuvenation
Reposition · Reshape · Stimulate
The deep plane facelift forms the surgical foundation of treatment. Facial rejuvenation, however, depends not only on the position of the tissues but also on their quality and on how they respond and change over time.
The same operation can therefore combine repositioning of the deeper layers with measures designed to adapt the tissues, improve firmness and stimulate processes linked to tissue remodelling and collagen production.
The aim is to address three distinct aspects of treatment together: repositioning, reshaping and stimulating.
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Reposition
Restore support and position
A deep plane facelift allows descended deeper tissues to be released and repositioned, with the extent of surgery adapted to each patient’s anatomy.
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Reshape
Adapt and redefine the tissues
Removing excess tissue and treating tissues where indicated helps adapt the contours and address firmness during the same operation.
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Stimulate
Support tissue quality
During the same operation, additional treatments may be used to stimulate processes involved in collagen production, remodelling and tissue quality.
INCISIONS AND SCARRING
Scars cannot be eliminated: they can be planned
In a face and neck lift, the design of the incisions is part of the plan from the outset. Their course is adapted to each patient’s anatomy, the extent of treatment and the structures requiring attention.
Incisions usually follow the natural folds around the ear and, depending on the case, may extend behind it and towards the hairline. The aim is to provide the necessary access to the different tissue planes while placing scars in as discreet a position as possible.
How scars mature depends on several factors, including the incision site, closure technique, tissue quality, postoperative care and each patient’s individual healing response.
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In front of the ear
The incision can follow the natural folds in front of the ear to blend with its contour.
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Behind the ear
When neck structures need treatment, the incision may continue along the crease behind the ear.
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Hairline
In some cases, the incision may extend into areas near or concealed by the hair, depending on the extent of surgery.
RECOVERY
Recovery is supported, not rushed
After surgery, swelling, a feeling of tightness and certain temporary changes in sensation are part of the early recovery period. Their severity and duration depend on the extent of surgery and each patient’s response.
Over the following weeks, the appearance of the face and neck continues to change as swelling subsides and the tissues gradually settle.
Follow-up appointments allow healing to be assessed, progress to be monitored and advice to be tailored to each stage as patients gradually return to their usual activities.
Additional outpatient treatments, where indicated, are planned later and according to the progress of tissue healing. They are not part of the initial recovery stages after a facelift.
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FIRST FEW DAYS
Managing swelling, relative rest and monitoring the incisions. Tightness, swelling and temporary changes in sensation are common.
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FIRST FEW WEEKS
Swelling gradually subsides and the jawline and neck contours begin to become more defined, although the tissues are still settling.
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MEDIUM-TERM RECOVERY
Scars and deeper tissues continue to change over the following months. The outcome should be assessed gradually, not during the earliest stages of recovery.
SURGICAL JUDGEMENT
Rejuvenation does not mean transformation
Planning a face and neck lift does not begin with a standardised idea of youth, but with each patient’s anatomy, proportions and existing expression.
Where surgery is indicated, repositioning tissues can improve facial and neck definition. The aim, however, is not to erase every sign of ageing or change the features that make a face recognisable.
The extent of treatment, direction of repositioning and structures involved are decided individually to maintain a harmonious relationship between support, contour and facial identity.
The same individual approach applies to any additional treatment: more procedures do not necessarily mean a better result. They are included only when there is a specific objective and clinical indication.
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
Frequently Asked Questions About Face and Neck Lifts
what is the difference between Integrated Rejuvenation and a deep plane facelift?
how long do the results of a face and neck lift last?
Results may last for years, although surgery does not stop the natural changes that continue over time.
How the result develops depends on factors such as tissue quality, the extent and technique of surgery, lifestyle habits and each patient’s individual characteristics. Later changes tend to appear gradually.
what type of anaesthesia is used for a facelift?
The type of anaesthesia depends on the extent of the procedure and the surgical plan. A full face and neck lift may require general anaesthesia, while other approaches may call for a different anaesthetic plan.
The most appropriate option is determined individually with the anaesthetic team.
is an overnight hospital stay necessary after surgery?
This depends on the extent of surgery and how recovery progresses during the first few hours. In some cases, observation until the following day may be recommended before returning home.
The decision is tailored to the procedure performed and each patient’s circumstances.
are additional treatments necessary after a deep plane facelift?
No. The result of a facelift depends on the surgical planning and procedure itself, and additional treatments are not required to achieve a good result.
In selected patients, other techniques may be considered during surgery or afterwards to address tissue quality, firmness or changes over time. Their suitability is assessed individually and may change with time.
can a face and neck lift be combined with other procedures?
Yes. For selected patients, it may be combined with other procedures, such as blepharoplasty or facial fat grafting, where clinically indicated and as part of a coordinated plan.
The decision depends on anatomy, treatment goals and whether the combination can be carried out safely.
what are the risks or possible complications of a face and neck lift?
As with any surgery, a face and neck lift may involve risks such as haematoma or bleeding, infection, healing problems, temporary or persistent changes in sensation, asymmetry or complications involving nerve structures.
There are also risks associated with anaesthesia and other, less common, complications depending on the technique and the patient’s circumstances. Preoperative assessment and informed consent provide an opportunity to discuss these individually before surgery.
PERSONALISED ASSESSMENT
Understanding what has changed is the first step towards deciding how to treat it
The consultation allows us to assess the relationship between the face, jawline and neck, determine the extent of the deep plane facelift and consider how the Integrated Rejuvenation approach could be incorporated in each case, combining the aims of repositioning, reshaping and stimulating.
It also allows us to assess tissue quality and decide whether any additional treatments might be appropriate during surgery or afterwards. Not everyone needs the same procedure or the same extent of treatment.
Get in touch
and begin your assessment
Tell us what changes you have noticed or what concerns you. The consultation provides an opportunity to assess your anatomy and determine which options might be appropriate for you.
MEDICAL JUDGEMENT AND EVIDENCE
Clinical Information and Sources
The information on this page has been prepared on the basis of clinical practice in facial plastic surgery and draws, where relevant, on scientific literature concerning facial anatomy, deep plane and extended deep plane facelift techniques, the SMAS and platysma, scarring and postoperative recovery.
The suitability of additional treatments is assessed specifically according to the technique used, the available evidence and each patient’s circumstances.
Las indicaciones relativas a tratamientos complementarios se valoran de forma específica según la técnica utilizada, la evidencia disponible y las características de cada paciente.