MACS lift

The aim of a MACS - Lift is to lift the lower face and neck. A well planned procedure will leave you looking fresher and youthful. People may not notice that you have had surgery, just that you look well. A MACS-Lift helps to remove excessive jowling around the chin, deep creases that appear between your nose and mouth, and restores the outline of the jaw.

Who should have a MACS - Lift?

The ideal age group is between 40 to 60 years of age, and is suited to people whose neck and face has begun to sag, but they still have some elasticity in their skin.

In particular if you have:

• deep lines that run from the corner of your mouth to your nose and chin
• loss of a well defined jaw line
• deep wrinkles and sagging skin near your cheek bones
• loose skin or jowling in the neck

It is an excellent procedure for patients who have already undergone a face lift in the past and require a touch up. It can also be complimented with the use of Contour Threads and / or an eyelid lift if so desired.

How is a MACS-Lift performed?

There are many variations to the procedure, but the typical will be described.

The procedure is a day stay and performed under intravenous sedation by our resident anaesthetist. Once anaesthetised, the procedure will take approximately 120 minutes.

An incision is made on pre-marked skin in front of the ears, where dissection (separation of the skin and underlying tissue) is performed by a small cannula and the administration of an anaesthetic fluid (hydro dissection). The underlying tissue is then elevated and repositioned by internal sutures. The excess skin in front of the ear is excised and the skin flap is re-draped and meticulously repaired. A facial support garment will be fitted and needs to worn for 24 hours over the following 7 days.

Most patients are seen the next day, and the incision lines redressed. 3 days after the procedure, patients can remove their garment to wash their hair and apply the prescribed antibiotic ointment. Sutures are removed after day 7.

The application of topical Arnica cream can aid the healing process, along with following your post-operative instructions carefully.

How will I be cared for on the day of my surgery?

You will be admitted to the Skin Institute approximately 1 hour prior to surgery. Although extensive pre-operative checks will have already been done, this is time for last minute questions with your surgeon and the anaesthetist. You are changed into our gowns and then placed in bed with a pre-med. After the procedure there is a recovery time of 1 hour when you will be given something to eat, dressings will be applied and instructions given ready to go home. It is not typical to need hospital admission but this can be arranged at the patient's request.

What do I do once I'm home?

You will be permitted home within approximately 90 minutes following your procedure with a person of your choice that must stay with you for a minimum of 24 hours. There will be swelling, often including the eye region and sometimes bruising. This can be minimised by applying cool packs regularly for 24 - 48 hours and sleeping well propped up. It is important to avoid any over-activity, bending over, alcohol consumption and vigorous activity for a week. Most patients are able to return to work after a two week period.

How will I look and feel after the surgery?

By the end of the first week your face will still be swollen. Dressings will be removed so you can shower and sutures will start to dissolve. You can wear make up to conceal any discolouration.

By the end of the second week most of the bruising will have disappeared, sutures will have dissolved and you can start to think about resuming normal activities including non strenuous work.

By one month you may resume exercise, your new face will start to settle. You may notice tingling as numbness around the ears subsides although numbness may persist for several months.

Where do I go from here?

Before your surgery you will need a consultation with your surgeon to assess your suitability for the procedure, and to discuss possible undesired effects and contraindications, including bruising, puckering of the skin, and swelling. You will also have a consultation with a cosmetic nurse to prepare you for the surgery and discuss any concerns.

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