Minimal Access Cranial Suspension - Mini-Facelift

What is it?

Minimal access cranial suspension is a mini-facelift that lifts the lower part of the face and neck.

Skin loses its elasticity with age and, as the skin on the neck is very thin, the facial and neck tissues tend to sag first. It's also one of the main areas of the body constantly exposed to the elements (along with the hands and face).

Excessive drooping and wrinkles can add years, so a neck lift may help to create a smoother, younger looking appearance.

What can it do for you?

The vast majority of people who have a neck lift have jowls - saggy, flapping skin that hangs down from the jaw line. Jowls are often dubbed 'a turkey neck' and they're one of the first parts of the body to give away a person's age.

Jowls, or a heavily wrinkled neck, are usually caused by skin damage due to smoking, sunbathing or excessive weight loss.

Cutting back on smoking (or, better still, giving up altogether), staying out of the sun and using a high SPF sunscreen can stop further damage and slow the ageing process.

That said, no amount of exercise or firming creams can tone up your neck completely if the damage to the delicate skin has already been done.

The procedure

The operation can take up to three hours and is usually performed under a general anaesthetic - involving an overnight stay. A small incision is made about 2in below each ear. The surgeon then pulls the skin up to tighten it.

During the procedure, excess skin may also be trimmed away, along with extra fat and tissue, before the face is sutured along the intial cut and dressed.

How much does it cost?

Prices for a neck lift start from £3,000.

Recovery time

After the wound is stitched, it's dressed with a pressure bandage that's wrapped around the head and chin. You're advised to keep the head elevated for 72 hours and you may experience some bruising and swelling for several days afterwards.

It takes a few weeks for the bruising to disappear completely. The dressing and stitches are then removed after about five days.

Until then, it's not advisable to shower or wash your hair. Alcohol should also be avoided for several weeks. Most patients return to work - and their normal lives - after about 10 days, but strenuous activity should be avoided for three or four weeks. Tiny scars may be left, but long hair will cover them.

What can go wrong?

Like all operations, there's a small risk of postoperative infection or allergic reaction. There's also a small chance of nerve damage, numbness or asymmetric results. Scars can sometimes get thicker instead of fading - especially if you've picked up an infection.

If severe pain is experienced around the scars, your surgeon or GP should be contacted immediately.

How long does it last?

It depends on your age, as well as how well your skin is looked after following the operation and the lifestyle you lead.

If the same weight is maintained and smoking and heavy sunbathing are reduced, the results can last for up to 10 years. However, patients aged 60 and over usually only see the results for about five years.

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