Endoscopic Facelift

You will first meet your surgeon at a one-to-one consultation at our award-winning clinic in Chelsea, London. Your personal patient advisor will have matched you with the right surgeon based on your concerns and desired outcomes.

Your consultation will last 30-60 minutes and will allow time to discuss the procedure in-depth, as well as address any questions you may have. We recommend writing your questions down ahead of your consultation to ensure you don’t forget anything.

You will have the opportunity for a second consultation with your surgeon before making a final decision.

If your surgeon decides you are a suitable candidate for an Endoscopic Facelift, they will write up your treatment plan and send it to your patient advisor. Your advisor will contact you to discuss the plan, your final cost and available dates. You will then have a two-week cooling-off period to make your final decision.

If you decide to proceed with your Endoscopic Facelift, your surgeon will provide you with preparation instructions. It is important to follow these instructions closely to ensure you are ready for surgery. As well as the points below, your surgeon will include anything which applies to your personal circumstances:

• Pre-operative paperwork: You will need to complete your pre-operative paperwork to allow your surgeon, anaesthetist and nurses to review your medical and psychological notes and prepare for your surgery
• Smoking: You will be asked to stop smoking or vaping for at least six weeks before your Endoscopic Facelift. This is vital to ensure your recovery and healing are smooth
• Alcohol: You must avoid alcohol during your preparation, as drinking can cause inflammation and hinder recovery
• Medication and supplements: Your surgical team will advise if you need to make any changes to any regular medication or supplements you take. You should avoid taking anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or aspirin, and herbal medication, as these can increase the risk of bleeding
• Chaperone: You must organise for a friend or family member to collect you after your surgery. They must be able to drive you themselves, or accompany you in a taxi, and stay with you for the first night
• Fasting: You cannot eat any solid food or drink any milk or juice in the six hours before you arrive at the clinic. You can drink clear fluids (water, black tea, black coffee) up to two hours before your admission time.

You will be asked to arrive at the clinic an hour before your Endoscopic Facelift is scheduled to start. One of our specialist nursing team will take you to our surgery preparation rooms where they will check your blood pressure, heart rate and weight and ask you to change into a surgical gown and compression socks. Your surgeon and anaesthetist will then come and speak with you to answer any final questions, and your surgeon will make any markings they require.

You will then be taken into theatre. Once you are settled and comfortable, your anaesthetist will administer your anaesthetic. Facelift procedures at Cadogan Clinic are performed under general anaesthetic using Total Intravenous Anaesthesia (TIVA) or twilight sedation, depending on what you have agreed with your surgeon. Both of these options minimise post-operative nausea and enable faster initial recovery.

Your surgeon will then perform your Endoscopic Facelift. They will make small incisions in your hairline to allow access for the endoscope. The footage from the endoscope will guide the surgeon to precisely tighten the skin and tissues, securing them. Once the surgery is complete, they will close the incisions.

Straight after your procedure, you will be taken into our recovery ward, where you will wake up from your anaesthetic and our nurses will monitor your vital medical signs. Once you are awake and comfortable, you will be taken to our ambulatory ward to eat and begin preparing for discharge. Once you are ready, our nurses will contact your chaperone, and you will be discharged with your aftercare instructions and any necessary medication.

Full Endoscopic Facelift recovery typically takes around 6 weeks. Any swelling or bruising will have subsided within 10-14 days, and most patients feel comfortable in social and professional settings at this stage. Your surgeon will provide you with full recovery and aftercare instructions. It is crucial that you follow these closely to prevent complications and achieve the best results.

• Exercise: Avoid strenuous exercise for 4-6 weeks to prevent inflammation and strain on your sutures
• Bathing: You will be able to shower normally within 3 days, but must be careful to keep your incisions clean and dry
• Sleeping position: You should sleep on your back for 2-3 weeks to prevent irritating your incisions
• Garments: You may be required to wear a compression garment in the initial stages of healing to support your face and prevent inflammation
• Diet: Eating a balanced and nutritious diet is important during recovery to effectively fuel your body while it heals
• Post-operative appointments: You will have an appointment with our specialist recovery nurses 7-10 days after your procedure to check your healing and remove any sutures. You will have an appointment with your surgeon 6 weeks after your procedure to discuss your surgery and results

If you have any questions or concerns during your recovery period, our nurses are available 24/7 via their dedicated recovery phone line to support and assist you.

Although you should be fully recovered 6 weeks after your procedure, many patients continue to notice improvements for up to 3 months after their surgery.