Skip to content Dr. John Flood uses customised techniques for facelift surgery to address skin laxity on the face. At his Sydney practice, he evaluates each patient individually to select the most appropriate surgical method for their unique facial ageing concerns.
Dr John Flood is an experienced Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon based in Sydney. With extensive training both in Sydney and Texas, USA, Dr Flood is well-versed in the latest techniques and advancements in cosmetic surgery. As a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his practice, ensuring that his patients receive the highest standard of care.
Dr Flood specialises in facelift surgery in Sydney, offering personalised treatment plans to meet the unique needs of each patient. His approach is patient-centred, focusing on understanding the individual goals and expectations of his patients. During the initial consultation, Dr Flood takes the time to thoroughly discuss the procedure, expected outcomes, potential risks, and recovery process. This ensures that patients are well-informed and comfortable with their decision to undergo surgery.
Facelift surgery (rhytidectomy) is a procedure that addresses changes to the lower face and neck that develop over time. It is one of the more involved facial surgical procedures available, and the decision to pursue it requires a thorough understanding of what the operation involves, what it can and cannot achieve, and what the recovery requires. This page provides detailed information to support that process.
The information here is general in nature. A consultation with a specialist plastic surgeon is the appropriate setting for determining whether facelift surgery is suited to your individual anatomy, health, and circumstances.
Facelift surgery is not appropriate for every adult who notices facial ageing, and it is not the only option available. Understanding which changes the procedure is designed to address, and when a deeper technique may be relevant, helps set realistic expectations from the outset.
Facelift surgery is most commonly considered by adults who have noticed changes to the lower face and neck that non-surgical approaches have not adequately addressed. These changes typically include skin laxity in the cheek and jowl area, deepening of the folds between the nose and corners of the mouth (nasolabial folds), loss of definition along the jawline, and changes to the skin and underlying tissue of the neck.
Not all patients with these concerns will be appropriate candidates for surgery. Factors including skin quality, overall health, smoking status, and the degree of change present are all relevant to suitability. A facelift addresses structural and tissue changes but does not treat skin texture, pigmentation, or fine lines, and it does not halt the ongoing process of facial ageing.
A standard facelift addresses the skin and the superficial muscular aponeurotic system (SMAS). A deep plane facelift works at a deeper anatomical level, releasing and repositioning the SMAS together with the overlying soft tissue as a single unit. This approach may be considered for patients with more significant structural changes, particularly in the mid-face and jowl area, where the degree of change involves deeper tissue layers.
A deep plane facelift is a more involved procedure than a superficial technique. It carries a different risk profile and a recovery period that can differ from that of more superficial approaches. It is not suited to every patient who presents for facelift surgery, and the determination of whether it is appropriate depends on a thorough clinical assessment.
A detailed comparison of available facelift approaches, including the differences between techniques, is covered in facelift techniques explained.
Understanding the procedural components of a facelift helps patients prepare for what surgery day and the recovery period involve.
Facelift surgery is performed under general anaesthesia in an accredited surgical facility. The anaesthetist is engaged separately from the surgeon and the facility, and their fees form part of the total cost of the procedure. Patients should confirm that a complete breakdown of all costs, including anaesthesia and facility fees, is provided before any decision to proceed is made.
Facelift incisions are typically positioned around the ear, extending into the hairline at the temple and behind the ear into the posterior hairline. The specific incision pattern depends on the technique used and the areas being addressed. Incision placement is designed to keep scars as inconspicuous as possible within natural skin contours, though all scars are permanent and their final appearance varies between individuals.
Detailed information on where facelift scars are placed and how they typically evolve over time is covered in will a facelift leave scars.
The specific steps involved in facelift surgery depend on the technique used and what the individual patient’s anatomy requires. In general terms, the procedure involves lifting and repositioning the underlying tissue layers of the cheek and lower face, addressing the SMAS layer, removing or redistributing fat as appropriate, re-draping the skin, and removing any excess before closure. For deep plane procedures, the release of deeper tissue attachments is an additional component of the operation.
The duration of surgery varies depending on the technique and the extent of the procedure, and is longer for deep plane approaches and for procedures that include a neck lift component.
The relationship between facelift surgery and neck lift surgery is one of the more commonly asked about aspects of lower facial procedures. Many patients have concerns about both the face and the neck, and understanding when these are addressed together versus separately is relevant to surgical planning.
Many facelift techniques include a degree of neck work as part of the procedure. The extent to which the neck is addressed depends on the technique used and the individual patient’s anatomy. For patients with significant neck changes alongside lower facial changes, combining facelift and neck work in the same procedure may be more appropriate than addressing each separately.
For patients whose primary concern is the neck rather than the lower face, or whose facial changes do not warrant a facelift, a standalone neck lift may be the more appropriate surgical option. A neck lift addresses the skin, fat, and platysma muscle of the neck specifically, without the more extensive skin lifting of a facelift.
Whether a facelift with neck work, a standalone neck lift, or a combination approach is appropriate depends on individual anatomy and is determined through clinical assessment. Patients should ask the surgeon at the consultation to explain specifically which anatomical areas a proposed procedure will address.
Facelift surgery carries risks that must be understood clearly before any decision to proceed is made. A thorough understanding of what can go wrong is an essential component of informed consent.
Risks common to all surgical procedures include infection, bleeding, adverse reactions to anaesthesia, and wound healing complications. Patients who smoke are at significantly increased risk of wound healing problems and vascular complications, and surgeons will advise cessation of smoking before and after the procedure.
Haematoma, the collection of blood beneath the skin, is one of the more common complications following facelift surgery and may require prompt surgical drainage if it occurs. Nerve injury is a serious risk in facelift surgery. The facial nerve, which controls the muscles of facial expression, runs through the operative field, and temporary or permanent weakness or paralysis of facial muscles is a recognised complication. Sensory nerve changes, resulting in numbness or altered sensation in the face, neck, or scalp, are also possible and may be temporary or permanent.
Other risks include skin loss due to compromised blood supply, asymmetry in the degree or position of skin tightening, visible or thickened scarring, changes to hairline position, earlobe distortion, and a result that does not meet the patient’s expectations. Revision surgery may be required to address complications or unsatisfactory outcomes and carries its own risks.
Revision facelift surgery is more technically complex than a primary procedure, as the surgeon is working with tissue that has already been altered. Outcomes from revision surgery are less predictable than from primary surgery, and not all concerns from a primary procedure can be fully corrected. Patients should understand this clearly before proceeding with any facelift surgery.
Recovery from facelift surgery requires careful planning and realistic expectations about the time involved. Individual recovery timelines vary depending on the technique used, the extent of the procedure, the patient’s overall health, and individual healing patterns.
Swelling, bruising, and tightness are expected in the first days following surgery. Drains may be placed to reduce fluid accumulation and are typically removed within the first day or two. Patients are advised to keep their heads elevated, limit physical activity significantly, and avoid bending or straining. Sleep is often disrupted, and fatigue is common in the first week.
Most patients are not in a position to return to work or social engagements during the first two weeks. A minimum of two weeks away from all professional commitments should be planned, with three to four weeks or longer required for client-facing, high-pressure, or physically demanding roles.
Bruising typically resolves in the second week, though swelling in the face and neck persists for longer. The face may appear uneven, or the result may look different from what is expected as a final outcome during this period. Strenuous exercise and heavy lifting remain restricted. A compression garment covering the jaw and neck is worn during this period as directed.
Swelling continues to resolve gradually, and a clearer picture of the longer-term result begins to emerge at around three months. Scars continue to mature and fade during this period. Patients should not assess the final result of the procedure until swelling has fully resolved.
The full result of facelift surgery is generally assessed at around six months. Scars typically reach their most settled appearance at around twelve months. Results experienced during this period reflect the long-term outcome of the procedure, subject to the ongoing effects of ageing over time.
A detailed recovery guide covering each stage of the process is available in the facelift recovery and results timeline.
For any further inquiries or to schedule your consultation, please contact our clinic. Our team is here to assist you and provide the information and support you need.
Speak with our team, answer any questions, book in an initial consultation
a | Referrer from GP needed b | Initial Consultation - $395 Cosmetic / $345 non cosmetic c | Discuss procedure, options, quote.
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Undergo surgery with Dr. Flood and receive comprehensive post-operative support to ensure a smooth recovery and optimal results.
