FACELIFT – SUTURE LIFT
A suture face lift surgical procedure can help to rejuvenate the look of the face by lifting excess skin (wrinkles and bags), particularly under the chin and along the jawline, at the corners of the mouth and the cheeks.
On the Photo above: the blue markings indicate on the cheek where rge suture will be under the skin, it also shows the area of neck liposuction of the jaw line and her lower lid blepharoplasty,
With ageing and sun damage, the face takes on different appearances. Often there is a change in skin texture with a development of blotchy pigmentation and fine lines. This may be more prominent around the eyes and mouth. At this stage laser resurfacing can produce a smooth and rejuvenated appearance with some skin contraction and tightening of the skin.
In the next stage, the skin starts to droop from the facial structures and a type of facial lift is required. One option is the “facelift” procedure performed by surgeons. The “facelift” procedure involves the skin to be cut and removed from around the ear in conjunction with an undermining of the facial skin and tightening of the underlying muscular and facial tissues. Another option is the “face skin suture lift”. It was developed by a surgeon in South Africa where the skin alone is elevated and lifted with only sutures and a few nicks behind the ear.
Dr Lanzer was featured on National TV demonstrating this procedure on patients. He was also interviewed for Woman’s Day Magazine
Why
This is an appropriate procedure for patients who are not yet ready for face-lift surgery or for those patients who have previously had a face-lift and who want to improve the residual loose or drooping areas that remain or have recurred.
Combinations:
Dr Lanzer often performs liposuction of the neck to enhance the results. He believes that the combination lengthens the overall result as well. Dr Lanzer may also recommend laser resurfacing around the eyes and mouth. At the same time fillers in the lips, cheeks and chin together with face muscle relaxants may enhance the result.
SUTURE LIFT – ADVANTAGES
- It’s minimally invasive
- It’s a quick procedure
- It’s essentially a skin procedure only
- Generally low risk of nerve damage
- It’s reversible & adjustable
- Generally little down time
- It may be combined with other procedures
- Generally a predictable result
SUTURE LIFT – DISADVANTAGES
- May not be permanent
- Fold of skin in front of ear – usually temporary
- Tenderness and occasional pain in ear – usually temporary
Procedure Technique
With this procedure there is no removal of facial skin. The stitches are made of a prolene material which are placed under the skin and left there permanently. After a few weeks, the skin is held in its new position by tissue that forms around the stitches. The procedure can be performed under a local anaesthetic or a light general anaesthetic. It takes approximately 1 hour. Small nicks of approximately 1cm are made in the skin in the crease behind the ear. A long needle with the suture is then threaded until it reaches the sagging area. The suture is then fixed in this position and elevated to the ear. It is then tied and hidden under the skin. Several serial stitches are used to hold the skin in the desired position. There is a dissolvable suture on each of the nicks behind the ear which are removed in 5-7 days or may dissolve by itself. The disadvantage of suture alone is there will initially be a pleat, wrinkle or a fold of excess skin in front of the ear. The fold can easily be covered with one’s hair and usually this fold does relax and settle in the following months. If it does not settle, laser therapy to tighten the skin may be used or very rarely an excision of the excess skin.
Recovery
Recovery is rapid with the suture lift. Patients can usually return to ordinary duties the next day although there may be some bruising and swelling around the ear. There may be some pain behind the ears but painkillers will help this. This usually settles over a few days. Occasionally the ear pain can be more severe and persist longer.
The suture lift result may last for years, however they will loosen over time. The face may also continue to sag with the ageing process. There are no guarantees at this stage as to the length of time the sutures result will last. If you are unhappy with the result, the sutures can be removed or be redone with new sutures. With time, the skin may fix permanently in an elevated position, however it is best to expect a maintenance treatment which is cheaper than the first operation.
Dr Lanzer recommends Photorejuvenation laser to enhance and lengthen the results of skin suture lift. There is no downtime and is performed every 2-4 weeks
Dr Lanzer has performed many hundreds of skin suture lifts and it has shown to be a relatively safe and effective procedure. However, as with any medical procedure there are some potential risks. These include:
- Pain in ear
- Wrinkle Fold or dent in front of ears
- Need to repeat procedure to maintain the result
- Swelling, bruising and localised infection
Brow Lift
Dr Lanzer used to use the suture lift for a brow lift but has found that sutures do not hold well in this area. There is a suture from Italy that Dr Lanzer does offer for brow lift however Dr Lanzer warns that they are expensive and there is no guarantee how long they last. Brow lift is not an easy area of cosmetic surgery as patients are not always sure they want a full brow lift because there is a risk of a “startled appearance.” Dr Lanzer finds that often when he does blepharoplasty ( eye lifting) there is a component of drooping of the brow. It is important in these situations that the patient understands that the brow lift will not occur by just removing loose skin on the upper lids. Nevertheless a good result can be obtained with just the laser eye lifting.
There are other approaches to obtain a brow lift. A filler such as the man made ones or one’s own fat can be injected under the brow to produce a brow lift. Also muscles are very dynamic around the eyes. By using a muscle relaxing injection one can get a brow lift as well. Finally Dr Lanzer’s cosmetic clinic offers lasers and devices to tighten the skin. The latest therapy that the clinic finds that can help with a lift of the brow is the Ulthera Device. This is a deep ultrasound that causes the deep collagen to contract and is applied above the eyebrow
Commonly asked questions
The best patient is someone with jowls, loose neck skin and a general saggy appearance to the skin on the face and neck. If the patient also has lots of wrinkles, non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatment’s can be combined with a skin suture lift for an improved overall result. Often Dr Lanzer will use the Erbium around the mouth and liposuction of the neck at the same time.
Yes, the best results are achieved when these two procedures are combined resulting in an overall improvement.
During a skin suture lift, nicks are made behind the ear and they are closed with one suture.
Patients usually can resume work very quickly but this varies between patients.
The lift is generally not painful, but the ears may be sore.
The procedure takes about 1 hour
Dr Lanzer prescribes antibiotics as a preventative
Yes, Dr Lanzer likes to do a liposculpture of the neck together as this gives a good support platform. The Liposuction generally lasts for many years. Occasionally Dr Lanzer recommends a face volume filler to enhance the result. Sometimes Dr Lanzer does a full face makeover.
Yes, Photorejuvenation lasers can enhance the result and may also increase the longevity of the result. Dr Lanzer uses either the Revlite / Aura combination once a month or a one-off treatment with the Ultherapy device. These help collagen fixation and healing in the dermis
Years after a facelift the skin can droop and this can be revised with the suture lift alone.
Many women push their sides of cheeks back towards the ears. This is a very good indication of how the results will be immediately after the procedure. If you like this look then it maybe an appropriate procedure for you.
All photographs represent one person’s experience, and results may vary for each patient. All photographs are of actual patients of Dr Lanzer. The visible change in these photographs has occurred as a result of the procedure/s undertaken. Best results are obtained when the procedure is combined with a balanced diet and exercise.
Some before and after photos shown are not exact, in that they vary in light, contrast, clothing, background, distance from camera, hairstyle and make-up.
“Click here to the before and after photos”
We offer a FREE, No Obligation Cosmetic Surgery Consultation and a detailed explanation of the procedure.
Dr Lanzer can email all patients a detailed consent form which provides information related to the surgery. This information is made available to all patients before surgery, allowing enough time for the patient to ask any questions they may have.
