Rediscover the contours and features of your face.
At MOOI Clinic, our ultimate goal is to bring a smile to your face when you gaze upon your reflection in the mirror. With a full facelift, we address not only your entire face but also potentially your neck, effectively eliminating the wrinkles and sagging skin that contribute to an aged appearance. As you consider a facelift, we’d like to tell you what your options are and what steps you can take. During a consultation with a plastic surgeon at our private clinic located in Maastricht, we’ll also provide you with all the necessary information to make an informed decision about your transformative journey.
What is a complete or classic facelift?
There are many different types of facelifts and each is performed with varying lifting techniques. The different designations “classic,” “complete,” or “full” facelift create even more confusion. Whatever the facelift is called, when the area between the eyes and chin are treated, we refer to that as a facelift. However, for wrinkles and skin aging in the neck and forehead, we refer to that as a different treatment.
The difference between a MACS lift and the classic facelift is mainly in the surgical technique. Both procedures largely treat the same area; however, in a classic facelift, the scar often extends a little longer behind the ear, also partially including the neck and correcting the lower part of the face as well. During a consultation, we look at your specific situation and skin and give you our honest advice about your options.
The ‘total facelift’
A ‘total facelift’ consists of a combination of procedures. This involves combining a type of facelift, like s-lift/ MACS lift or the classic facelift, with another procedure to further improve the rest of the face. For example, a forehead lift can be added to remove your forehead wrinkles. The goal of a total facelift is to rejuvenate the entire face.
A facelift is also often combined with eyelid surgery to achieve a more rejuvenated result. Discuss your needs during the consultation. If you opt to combine procedures, like a facelift and eyelid surgery for example, these can be performed at the same time and under full anesthesia.
When a classic facelift needed?
Wrinkles may have a certain charm or distinctiveness for some people, but others would rather get rid of them. A classic facelift aims to restore the exquisite contours of your face, unveiling a more youthful and rejuvenated appearance. A complete facelift addresses the wrinkles on your cheeks, the crease between your nose and corner of your mouth, the jawline, and part of the neck, to tackle all the signs of aging. Depending on the aging process around your eyes and forehead, it’s possible to combine a facelift with eyelid surgery and a forehead lift for a more harmonious result. In some cases, additional refinement of the neck may be necessary to achieve optimal results with a facelift. At MOOI, we offer a diverse range of solutions to enhancing the beauty and youthfulness of your face. In doing so, we aim to preserve the unique traits that make you who you are. Our approach is about creating a younger version of you, rather than altering your distinctive features beyond recognition. Achieving this delicate balance requires expertise and skill, and you’ve come to the right place at MOOI.
Combination with chemical peel
After a facelift, certain wrinkles are greatly reduced or removed; however, this doesn’t always result in your skin looking it’s absolute best. For example, if you’ve smoked a lot, or had sun damage, you can opt for a chemical peel to renew your skin. At MOOI Clinic, you can choose the deep chemical peels that penetrate into the lower layers of the skin (called the dermis). MOOI Clinic’s chemical peels contain effective chemicals like trichloroacetic acid and phenol, so these treatments should only be performed by a doctor. Ask about these treatment options during a consultation.
THE TREATMENT PROCESS
From consultation to aftercare
Make an appointment first
Call or email one of our staff members to schedule a consultation. Tell us your plans in advance so we can schedule you with the plastic surgeon who is best for you. You can make an appointment through the appointments page.
Or call: +31 43 311 8708
The consultation from A to Z
You come to MOOI Clinic in Maastricht to discuss your facelift. During the consultation, you’ll speak with the plastic surgeon who specializes in facelifts. You’ll discuss everything with them, from general information about the pre- and post-operative care, to specific details such as where the incision will be (neatly in the hairline along the ear/sideburn). In all cases, we provide a barely noticeable scar. Facelifts come in many forms and there are different techniques that can be used by our plastic surgeons. During the consultation, the plastic surgeon will tell you more about all of this and advise you based on your skin and concerns.
After the consultation, you’ll be aware of everything concerning your future facelift: you’ll receive honest advice from us about the expected result, risks, recovery and costs. On the day of the consultation, we also take pictures for your medical records.
An initial consultation involves a €50 consultation fee, which will be deducted from the treatment price.
The facelift
A classic facelift takes place under general anesthesia so you won’t feel a thing. The classic facelift involves addressing multiple areas of your face. The incision is made along the hairline (at the level of the temple) and runs along the ear and, depending on the type of lift, also behind the ear along the hairline at the neck. The skin is detached from the connective and muscular tissue: in medical terms, this is called the Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System (SMAS) layer. Depending on the technique chosen, we tighten the facial muscles and secure them with sutures. With the MACS lift, we achieve this by suturing the SMAS layer after repositioning it. With the classic facelift, this is done by making an incision in the SMAS layer and loosening it separately and stitching it higher. Therefore, with the classic facelift, the correction takes place in the deeper SMAS layer, leaving excess skin after the correction. This skin is then removed and finally we suture the scar. The facelift takes 3 hours depending on the procedure.
If the surgery goes well and you feel good, then you can go home immediately after the surgeon’s approval. You’re not allowed to drive yourself, so arrange in advance how you’ll get home safely. Prior to your surgery, you’re well informed about our aftercare and recovery instructions.
Aftercare and recovery
Before your surgery, you’ll receive detailed post-operative instructions from us. It’s important for your own recovery that you follow these carefully. The more extensive your facelift surgery, the longer the recovery period will be. After surgery, the treated area is likely to be swollen and blue – this is quite normal. If you had another procedure done around the eyes, eyebrows or forehead along with the facelift, you can use a cold pack to reduce the swelling. In addition, you’ll need to wear a facelift bandage day and night for the first week. After week 1 and week 2, you’ll come to the clinic for a check-up and we’ll remove the stitches.
You should not bend, lift or exert yourself physically for the first few days. You also may not wear contact lenses for the first 2 weeks and makeup for the first 3 weeks. Also, be mindful of the modified nutrition policy.
Most people take three weeks off from work, and those with physically demanding work take an even longer period off. Keep in mind that scars will be visible at first. This is generally easy to camouflage by wearing the hair a little looser. Scars don’t fully mature until 6 months to 1 year after surgery. The color and thickness of the scar achieved at that point will likely remain. Protect the scar from the sun during this period.
Read more about recovery after a classic facelift here.
Risks
As with any surgery, there is a chance of bleeding, infection or impaired wound healing. In the vast majority of cases, this is not serious and is easily treated. There is a small chance of injury to the facial nerve. This happens rarely and is usually transient in these rare cases. Read more about the possible risks and complications of plastic surgery here.
QUIT SMOKING
We advise all our clients to quit smoking around the time of treatment. The same applies to the use of nicotine patches and gum. Smoking not only makes you less MOOI on the outside, but also on the inside. If you smoke, you have a higher risk of complications such as poor wound healing, skin shedding or respiratory problems with general anesthesia.
Experience of others
Your desire and reasons for undergoing surgery are personal. It’s very important to us that you feel good about your choices and that you take sufficient time to decide on what you’re most comfortable with. Both men and women have had a facelift done at MOOI clinic. Be sure to read their experiences and check out our reviews atZ orgkaartNederland.nl (the largest independent experience site for Dutch healthcare).
Our plastic surgeons
Our plastic surgeons
Your appearance is precious to us. We believe that for proper treatment, you need the right people. Training, competence and quality can only be provided with plastic surgeons who understand their profession. We do not want to be the largest clinic in the Netherlands, but the best.
Additional information about facelifts
What does a classic facelift cost?
After the consultation with the plastic surgeon, you’ll know exactly what your facelift will cost.
Please note that it’s not possible to claim expenses for treatments from health insurance. MOOI only performs procedures for uninsured care.
If you do want to qualify for reimbursement, we’re happy to refer you to one of our hospitals. For this you need a referral from the family doctor. We recommend consulting the terms and conditions of your health insurance policy.
