Surgical procedures.

• Facelift (meloplasty) — mid, mid/neck or neck
• S-Lift meloplasty
• Blepharoplasty
• Facial implants
• Silhouette-Lift®
• Otoplasty (bat ear)

Facelift (meloplasty)

For many men and women an ageing face is the most obvious area of concern. In plastic surgery terms the face is considered in three segments — and each is addressed differently:

The upper face covers the forehead, eyebrow and eyelid area. Drooping brows and deep forehead furrows are corrected via an incision behind the hairline; the skin is elevated, tightened and the excess trimmed away, leaving only a fine scar hidden behind the hairline.

The mid face involves the eyelids, nose and cheeks down to the jawline. An incision runs from the temple down in front of the ear to the earlobe, and the skin is gently freed and drawn back for a youthful appearance. A SMAS procedure — tightening the sagging facial muscles with the overlying skin — gives a more natural, longer-lasting result, with scars again hidden in the temple hair and around the ear.

The lower face and neck addresses jowls, “turkey neck”, double chins and fatty neck deposits. The incision begins at the earlobe and extends behind the ear into the hairline; tightening of the vertical neck muscle is usually performed at the same time, and liposuction can remove fatty deposits.

Post-operative recovery is usually relatively pain-free. Firm bandages are applied for at least five days, and the procedure can be performed under twilight sedation with local anaesthesia — you go home the same day with a responsible carer. Pain relief and aftercare are provided by the nursing staff at Millennium Clinic.

S-Lift meloplasty

The S-Lift is a mini-facelift providing a partial lift to the neck and lower third of the face. Compared to a traditional facelift it is quicker, has fewer complications and a much faster recovery — particularly well suited to middle-aged and younger patients. It is performed under local anaesthesia and sedation in the day clinic, and can be combined with facial and neck liposuction or facial implants, with laser resurfacing to further enhance results.

The best candidates are patients who:

• Are aged roughly 40–60
• Enjoy relatively good health
• Have mild to moderate facial and/or neck laxity
• Have realistic expectations

A narrow S-shaped incision runs from above the ear within the hairline, down along the tragus and around under the earlobe. The underlying muscle and tissues are repositioned and excess fat and skin removed — typically in under two hours. Benefits include less recovery time, a natural look, minimal complications and minimal scarring. Following surgery the normal ageing process resumes; younger patients generally enjoy longer-lasting results.

Blepharoplasty

The eyes are the focal point of the face and generally the first to show age. Wrinkled, puffy, drooping eyelids can give the entire face a perpetually tired or sad expression — even when you feel well rested.

Eyelid surgery removes excess skin and the fat pads that cause puffiness. Incisions follow the natural contour lines — in the fold of the upper lids and the natural creases below the lash line. Where puffiness rather than excess skin is the main problem, a transconjunctival incision inside the lower lid removes the fat pads with no visible scarring.

Blepharoplasty may be performed independently or with other facial rejuvenation surgery; a brow lift is often added to improve sagging eyebrows, and laser resurfacing can reduce fine lines on the lower lids. Performed at Millennium Clinic under local anaesthetic — with or without sedation — as a day case, or in hospital.

Facial implants

Cheek (malar), chin, brow contouring and nasal implants can be placed together with facelift surgery or as separate procedures. Made of biocompatible material that blends with the bony structures of the face, implants can change facial contours dramatically or subtly — whatever the desired result requires.

Silhouette-Lift®

The most recent innovation in non-surgical facial thread lifting. Unlike earlier “barbed” sutures, the Silhouette suture has no cuts in its main structure — eliminating the risk of migration and rupture. Ten bio-absorbable cones are spaced along an implantable-grade polypropylene thread, anchoring the lift while allowing fibrous tissue to grow through as a secondary anchor. The result is a smoother, more natural lift with no “prickling” sensation. Performed separately or, more commonly, as an adjunct to facelift surgery.

Otoplasty (bat ear)

Prominent ears can be embarrassing, especially for children. Otoplasty — “pinning back” the ears — reshapes the ear contour and may be performed on anyone over five or six years of age, once growth is nearly complete. Techniques include suturing the cartilage back, removing excess cartilage or scoring it; all are discussed at consultation.

The procedure is performed under general anaesthetic in hospital or local anaesthetic with sedation at the clinic. Scarring is minimal and hidden behind the ear. A firm head bandage remains for five days; bruising and swelling may last up to two weeks and can be disguised with a headband.