The Operation

The term ‘S-Lift’ is used to describe a group of face lifting procedures/techniques. Strictly speaking, an S-Lift is a specific operation named after the shape of the excess skin that is removed at the start of the procedure. The S-Lift was first described in the 1920′s, but more recent improvements in the technique have triggered a resurgence of interest in the procedure and its further technical development.

The essence of the S-Lift procedure is that through a limited incision shaped like an inverted “L”, permanent, buried sutures are used to grasp the deeper tissues of the face and elevate them without the need for extensive dissection or scarring.

The procedure is usually performed under general anaesthetic as a Day Case (the patient goes home the same day) and can be combined with other facial cosmetic procedures (such as eyelid surgery, facial implants, etc). Sutures are removed from the skin on the fifth post-operative day and a post-operative garment is not necessary.

Anaesthesia

This operation is usually performed under general anaesthetic in a full operating room as a day case (the patient will go home the same day).

The Surgery

Following the induction of general anaesthesia and the application of all appropriate safety equipment, Mr Masters infiltrates the operative site with local anaesthetic. This facilitates the operation and also increases the patients comfort during emergence from the anaesthetic. A standard S-lift incision is made from under the side burn hair back to the top of the ear and down to the ear lobe in an inverted “L”-shape. The skin is undermined for approximately 5 cm and the deeper layer structures positively identified. At this point a series of permanent sutures are introduced into the deeper structures, thereby elevating them. The skin is then redraped without tension and the excess skin is removed.