Surgical · Face
Consultant-led facial rejuvenation, performed personally by Dr Hassan Soueid. The brief is restraint — the patient still looks like themselves, ten years earlier.
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Hello!
Medically reviewed by Dr Hassan SoueidConsultant Cosmetic & Plastic Surgeon
Overview
A facelift (rhytidectomy) is a surgical procedure that addresses sagging, jowls and loose neck skin in the lower two-thirds of the face. The objective is not to change the face, but to reset it — restoring the natural support that has shifted with time.
At Kensington Cosmetic Clinic facelifts are performed personally by Dr Hassan Soueid using deep-plane or extended-SMAS techniques, depending on each patient's anatomy. These approaches release and re-anchor the deeper soft-tissue layers of the face — not the skin alone — which is what creates a natural, long-lasting result that ages gracefully.
We do not offer mini-lifts or one-size-fits-all facelift packages. Every operative plan is built around the individual face, the bone structure, the skin quality, and the way you would like to look in five and ten years.
A facelift well done is invisible — the result reads as good rest, not surgery.
How it works
A diagram of the procedure. Hover any pulsing marker to see how each anatomical layer is treated by Dr Hassan.
Hover or tap any highlighted region
Illustration is anatomical only — the procedure is tailored individually at consultation.
Treated Areas
A modern facelift treats the structures beneath the skin. Each region is assessed independently and addressed only where indicated.
Cheek descent
The midface is the area where ageing first becomes structural. Re-suspending the deep cheek pad restores the heart-shape of a youthful face and softens the nasolabial fold indirectly.
Tear trough hollowing
The hollow between the cheek and lower eyelid. A deep-plane lift addresses this without requiring lower eyelid surgery in many patients.
Jowls
Soft-tissue descent along the jawline that breaks the clean transition between cheek and neck. Re-suspending the SMAS layer restores a defined jawline.
Marionette lines
The vertical lines from the corner of the mouth toward the chin. Soft-tissue repositioning lifts these without filler.
Pre-jowl hollowing
Volume loss just in front of the jowl that creates the appearance of a 'broken' jawline. Often addressed with simultaneous fat transfer.
Platysmal banding
Vertical cords in the neck caused by the platysma muscle. Treated with a platysmaplasty performed through the same incision pattern.
Submental fullness
Fullness under the chin caused by fat accumulation, redundant skin or both. Addressed with neck liposuction or skin redraping as needed.
Loose neck skin
Skin laxity below the jawline. The neck and lower face are treated as one continuous unit — never in isolation.
Candidate
Benefits at KCC
Investment
Every patient is different — the area, technique and number of stages shape the plan. We share full pricing during your private consultation, after Dr Hassan or your treating clinician has reviewed your goals in person.
Before
Preparation begins six weeks before surgery. Following these guidelines materially reduces the risk of bruising, swelling and complications.
Technique
The two facelift techniques Dr Hassan most commonly performs. The right choice depends on facial anatomy, soft-tissue volume and the specific concerns being addressed.
Technique 1
Releases and re-suspends the soft-tissue layer in continuity with the SMAS — the cheek, midface and neck move together as one unit. Considered the gold-standard for natural-looking, long-lasting facial rejuvenation.
Technique 2
The SMAS layer is dissected and re-anchored separately from the skin. A versatile technique well-suited to patients whose primary concern is jowling and neck laxity, with less midface descent.
Dr Hassan recommends the technique based on your face, not on what the clinic prefers to perform.
The Treatment
Two consultations are standard before facelift surgery — the first is exploratory, the second confirms the operative plan and discusses anaesthesia, downtime and post-operative care. Photographs are taken in standardised lighting and reviewed with you.
Performed under general anaesthetic in our CQC-registered theatre. Total operative time is typically 4–6 hours. Incisions are placed within and behind the hairline and along the natural ear contour to minimise visible scarring.
Most patients are discharged the same day or the following morning. Drains are removed at the first review (typically day 2–3). Sutures are removed at day 7–10.
Step by Step
Facelift surgery is a considered, multi-stage process. Here is what to expect from the first consultation through to the final settled result at six months.
01 · The Consultation
Two consultations before booking. Standardised five-view photography, soft-tissue assessment and a frank discussion of which technique — deep-plane, extended SMAS, or a more limited lift — fits your anatomy. We talk in honest decades, not vague years.
02 · Preparation
Six weeks of total smoking cessation. Stop all blood-thinners and supplements two weeks before. Arrange ten to fourteen days of clear social downtime, a calm recovery environment and front-fastening clothing. Bloodwork and pre-op review are completed in the week before surgery.
03 · The Procedure
Performed personally by Dr Hassan under general anaesthetic in our CQC-registered theatre, typically four to six hours. Incisions follow the hairline and natural ear contours; the deep soft-tissue layer is released and re-suspended. Platysmaplasty is added through a small under-chin incision where the neck needs work.
04 · Recovery & Aftercare
Drains out at day two to three. Sutures out at day seven to ten. Most return to non-physical work at two to three weeks; full social downtime is four to six weeks. Lymphatic drainage from week two. Final scar maturation and soft-tissue settling take six to twelve months.
After
Bruising and swelling peak around day 3 and resolve substantially by week 2. Most patients return to non-physical work at 2–3 weeks; full social downtime is 4–6 weeks.
Results
The facelift result reveals itself in stages over several months. The face you see in the mirror at week 2 is not the final result.
Questions
A deep-plane or extended-SMAS facelift typically lasts 10–15 years. The procedure does not stop the ageing process — your face will continue to age — but it resets the clock by approximately a decade. Patients in their fifties commonly only need one facelift in their lifetime.
No. The 'pulled' appearance comes from skin-only lifts where the skin alone is pulled tight. A modern deep-plane or extended-SMAS facelift repositions the soft-tissue layer beneath the skin — the skin sits naturally over its new support without tension. The result reads as healthy, not surgical.
Incisions are placed in concealed locations: within the temple hairline, in front of the ear (in the natural skin crease), behind the earlobe, and behind the ear into the hairline. A small incision under the chin is added if a platysmaplasty is performed. Scars fade substantially over 6–12 months and are typically invisible at conversational distance.
Most patients report tightness and pressure rather than pain. Discomfort is well-controlled with paracetamol and a short course of weak opioids if needed. Most patients have stopped taking pain relief by day 4–5.
It depends on the indication, not the age. Some patients in their late forties have meaningful midface descent and are good candidates; some in their late sixties are not. Dr Hassan will tell you honestly whether a facelift is the right next step for you, or whether non-surgical treatments would serve you better for now.
Facelift is commonly combined with neck lift, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), and fat transfer. These can be performed safely in a single anaesthetic by the same surgeon and often produce a more harmonised result than addressing concerns sequentially.
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