Endoscopic Face Lift

The Endoscopic Face Lift is a modern, minimally-invasive version of the classical face lift procedure.

Typically, the Endoscopic method of Face Lifting is suitable for patients from their thirties through to their forties and ocasionally fifties, who are happy with the appearance of the lower half of their face, but feel that the upper half of their face could use some improvement.

The procedure utilises an endoscope, a fibre optic tube with a lens or camera and a light at the end, allowing the surgeon to observe what he is doing while making less and smaller incisions.

These smaller incisions not only reduce scarring and the risk of infection, but also ensure a much faster recovery time. The Endoscopic Face Lift procedure is only really suitable for patients with a minimal amount of loose skin; and where the skin requiring lifting is more extensive, the surgeon will probably need to revert to classical face lift techniques.

FAQs About the Endoscopic Face Lift Procedure

Am I a Suitable Candidate for Endoscopic Face Lift Surgery?

What are the Benefits of an Endoscopic Face Lift?

How is Endoscopic Face Lift Surgery Performed?

What Risks are Involved with Endoscopic Face Lift Surgery?

How Long Will it Take to Recover from an Endoscopic Face Lift?

What is the Average Price of an Endoscopic Face Lift?

Am I a Suitable Candidate for Endoscopic Face Lift Surgery?

The most suitable candidates for Endoscopic Face Lift surgery are still fairly young, in their thirties up to, at the latest, their fifties. They should presently still have a good quality of skin, with a reasonable degree of elasticity remaining. The results are not as drastic as those from a full face lift, but nonetheless the endoscopic face lift can be an excellent treatment for the early signs of aging.

As endoscopic face lifts only address issues with the top two thirds of the face, and cannot be expected to deal with any aesthetic problems with the neck, chin or jowls, so the prospective patient should be aware of this. The patient should also not have too much excess skin.

If you are considering losing weight, it will be advisable for you to do so first, before undertaking face lift surgery, as the loss of weight will actually create loose skin.

What are the Benefits of an Endoscopic Face Lift?

The advantage of an endoscopic face lift over traditional face lift techniques stem from the smaller incisions allowed by endoscopic technology. Because the incisions are much smaller, this allows the surgeon to minimise scarring, and also has the very important benefit of reducing both healing time and the chance of infection.

Excessive bleeding is less often a problem, and also nerve damage is less likely due to the smaller incisions required for this operation.

For the patient, this kind of face lift typically has a significantly reduced recovery period, as well as a significantly lower chance of post-operative complications.

One final benefit is often that the cost for the patient is more affordable. Endoscopic face lift surgery is very often an out-patient procedure, and do not always require general aesthesia. Because a stay in a clinic, and anesthetist fees are both normally quite expensive, endoscopic face lift surgery can often turn out to be cheaper than a traditional face lift.

How is Endoscopic Face Lift Surgery Performed?

Generally three to five small incisions are made to the patients face. These incisions will usually be around one inch in size, as the endoscopic technique makes much smaller incisions possible. The incisions should be fairly well concealed, above the hairline, from under the eyelids, above or behind the ears, and from inside the mouth.

The endoscope will be inserted into one incision, and the operating probe into another. The surgeon is able to watch himself on a screen, and is able to modify and manipulate the muscles and underlying facial structure beneath the skin. Fat may be removed or reduced, and tissues may be repositioned. Excess loose skin would not be trimmed away, as it often is during a traditional face lift, so if your skin has become especially saggy, you may do better to consider another alternative.

The main areas that the endoscopic face lift surgeon will be addressing will be tightening the skin of the forehead, to reduce wrinkles, and reducing the lines between the eyebrows by modifying the muscles that create those frown lines.

What Risks are Involved with Endoscopic Face Lift Surgery?

No surgical procedure is without the risk of complications, and endoscopic face lift surgery is no different. Although endoscopic face lift surgery is sometimes promoted as a somehow less-invasive procedure, this is not strictly accurate. It is still an invasive surgery, involving making incisions to the face, through which the surgeon operates!

Don't be taken in by marketing terminologies, and be aware that any procedure such as this does involve risks, such as infections, damage to nerves, bleeding and complications due to anesthesia. It is, however, true that the smaller incisions do dramatically lower the probability of infection, though it remains a possibility.

Ensuring that your surgeon is skilled and experienced, not just in face lift surgery, but also in using endoscopic techniques, will greatly reduce the risks for you as a patient.

Also, it cannot be overstated the importance of following your surgeon's advice and instruction, both prior to surgery and during the recovery period after your face lift. Giving up smoking a couple of weeks prior to surgery will be one piece of advice you should be given, as this maximises your body's ability to heal.

How Long Will it Take to Recover from an Endoscopic Face Lift?

Recovery is relatively fast after a face lift using the endoscopic technique. That said, do not expect it to be as fast as many cosmetic surgery websites will tell you.

You will experience some pain, naturally enough, especially during the first week after surgery, which you will be able to manage using pain-killers, and often a little numbness around the incision sites is reported, which generally subsides as the scars heal.

Cold compresses will likely be recommended to lessen the inevitable swelling. Stitches will be removed after about one week. You should be able to expect to be back at work within two to three weeks after surgery, and although you will still have some swelling and bruising, this will easily enough be camouflaged using a bit of make-up.

What is the Average Price of an Endoscopic Face Lift?

The average price for Endoscopic face lift surgery is quite a lot cheaper than the cost for a traditional face lift. What makes the price more affordable is the fact that the operation is often performed as an out-patient procedure, often with local, rather than general, anesthesia. On average, you can expect to pay around £6,000 to £8,000 in the UK.

The price will naturally depend on the expertise of your cosmetic surgeon, and also where you choose to get your surgery performed.

If you want to get a bargain on the price of Endoscopic Face Lift Surgery, one option that many people go for is to travel aboard for their operation. This can be very much more affordable, and prices can be as much as 70% cheaper in many countries, particularly in South America, Eastern Europe and Asia.

We recommend All Medical Tourism as a superb first stop for arranging surgery overseas.

Find the best price for Endoscopic Face Lift Surgery!