We are living, breathing beings. Gravity exists on planet earth.
Even when we make a change to our appearance, we will continue to be impacted by space-time reality.
This means that, inevitably, there will be some creep – even after facelift surgery, your skin will sag again.
By how much and how soon is the question?
Of course, the answer to this is individual. Your skin’s elasticity, your naturally ageing face and neck, your routines and lifestyle will all contribute. Another key factor is the type of facelift surgery you undergo.This patient had previous SMAS facelift surgery which inadequately treated the platysma muscle in the neck and skin and soft tissues of the jaw and sub-mental area. Photo on the right is taken three weeks after Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift surgery.
Why I favour the Deep Plane approach to facial plastic surgery
Today Deep Plane Facelift surgery is considered among the best facial aesthetic surgical procedures because it has relatively:- Faster healing
- Better longevity
- Does not alter the patient’s unique facial features
Types of Creep
In a facelift, mechanical creep is the immediate, short-term stretching of skin and tissues under tension, caused by collagen fibres straightening and elastin micro-fragmenting. Biological creep is the long-term, gradual growth of new tissue in response to chronic stretching, involving cell proliferation and regeneration that reduces tension over weeks to months. Skin when put under tension gradually stretches, relaxing back. This happens much more with a superficial (SMAS) lift, and much less with Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift surgery (platysma).- The SMAS (Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System) is a fibrous layer in the face, continuous with the platysma which is a muscle in the neck and lower face. Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift surgery involves releasing these deeper layers, and repositioning them along with skin to the optimal position.
This patient had previous SMAS facelift surgery which inadequately treated the platysma muscle in the neck and skin and soft tissues of the jaw and submental area. Photo on the right is taken three weeks after Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift surgery.
Skilful Balance
During deep plane face and neck lift surgery, we don’t pull the skin too tightly as this impacts scarring, which we are seeking to minimise. Pulling the skin too tightly also can create unwanted visual effects like “pixie ears” or an appearance that looks obviously distorted. Getting the balance right is important and reflects the skill of the surgeon. A skilled surgeon will assess the factors impacting skin creep. Those with heavier necks or older, less elastic skin are more at risk of mechanical creep.Correcting the Creep
My patients can expect at least seven to ten years without significant creep issues following their initial Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift surgery. Minor creep may occur in that timeframe with skin relaxation and may benefit from earlier minor revision surgery. After that timeframe, if they are not happy with the mechanical creep effect, we can perform surgery targeting that section of the face. (Additional costs will be quoted for any revision surgery).This patient had previous SMAS facelift surgery which inadequately treated the platysma muscle in the neck and skin and soft tissues of the jaw and submental area. Photo on the right is taken three weeks after Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift surgery.
