SURGERY
 Facelift surgery is designed to rejuvenate the face by re-tensioning skin laxity, the cause of wrinkles (rhytids) and re-suspend the submuscular aponeurotic system (SMAS), the deeper layer of tissue that "suspends" the muscles from gravity. Surgery also addresses other effectsof ageing, such as nasolabial folds (the deep lines along the sides of the nose, lip and cheeks), jowls (lax skin under the lower jaws) and the loose skin over the neck area. How it’s done
The surgeon makes an incision in front of the natural skin line behind the sideburns, in front of the ear, coursing behind the earlobe up onto the back of the ear and back into the back scalp. Once the skin is raised Lip and freed the deeper SMAS layer is tightened, using anchoring sutures to the ear cartilage. Thereafter the excess skin is excised (cut) but not excessively sutured (stitched) back. Best candidates
Those with no major medical problems. They need to be fit, healthy, and ideally with no heart, lung or bleeding problems. Very important: They should not be smokers. What to expect
Immediately after the operation, patients can expect to have a drain (plastic conduit exiting from the wounds to drain off possible residual blood). It's important to have realistic expectations, and to know that no matter how small there is always a risk of possible complications.
Post-operative complications include bleeding, swelling, pain, facial nerve disturbance resulting in facial muscle weakness, wound edge discolouration resulting in further scarring (especially in smokers), infection and salivary leak, among others. Article Contributed by Dr Colin Song, Singapore General Hospital and Dr Colin Tham, KK Women's and Children's Hospital
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