Facelift (Rhytidectomy) | General Facelift Surgery FAQs
Medically authored and verified by Verified by Dr. Vishal Purohit, MBBS, MS, MCh (Plastic Surgery) • RMC Reg. 28041/14185 • Oct 2026
General Facelift Surgery FAQsWhat is facelift surgery (rhytidectomy)?
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What is facelift surgery (rhytidectomy)?
#A facelift, clinically known as rhytidectomy, is a comprehensive surgical rejuvenation procedure that tightens the deep facial muscles (SMAS), repositions descended midface fat, and excises excess sagging skin to restore a firm, defined jawline and youthful neck contour.
Facial aging involves bone resorption, descent of deep fat compartments, and weakening of retaining ligaments, causing jowls, hollow cheeks, and deep nasolabial folds. Unlike superficial treatments, a modern facelift works on the deep structural scaffolding of the face rather than merely pulling skin tight. This restores natural volume vectors without any pulled, wind-tunnel, or artificial appearance.
The procedure takes 3 to 4 hours under general anesthesia or twilight sedation, resetting the visual clock of facial aging by 10 to 15 years.
General Facelift Surgery FAQsWill a facelift make me look unnatural, tight, or 'pulled'?
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Will a facelift make me look unnatural, tight, or 'pulled'?
#No, modern deep-plane and SMAS facelifts produce completely natural, refreshed results because tension is placed entirely on the deep muscular layers, leaving the skin tension-free.
The dreaded 'windswept' or operated look of the past was caused by old-fashioned skin-only lifts that pulled the cutaneous envelope tight against a sagging deeper foundation. In contrast, modern techniques release internal retaining ligaments and vertically reposition the underlying musculoaponeurotic structure. The overlying skin simply redrapes smoothly without any unnatural pull on the corners of the mouth or earlobes.
Friends and colleagues will notice you look exceptionally rested, healthy, and vibrant, without knowing you had surgery.