Facelift in Edinburgh

Jowls, loose skin along the jawline and heaviness in the neck develop gradually, and there often comes a point where they no longer match how you feel. Facelift surgery at Quaba Plastic Surgery is performed at Waterfront Private Hospital in Edinburgh by consultant plastic surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register. The consultant who assesses you at your first appointment is the same surgeon who plans your facelift, performs it and reviews your result.

Anaesthetic
General anaesthesia, or local anaesthesia with sedation
Length
2-3 hours, longer when combined with other procedures
Hospital stay
One night at our partner facility in Edinburgh for overnight cases
Recovery time
Around two weeks before returning to work; 6 weeks before strenuous exercise
Guide price
from £9,500,
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Patient in her sixties in a facelift consultation at Waterfront Private Hospital
  • Consultant plastic surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register
  • Surgery at Waterfront Private Hospital, regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland
  • Your consultation and your operation with the same consultant

Contents

Results from our patients

Before and after: Lower face and neck lift with fat transfer and upper eyelid rejuvenationLower face and neck lift with fat transfer and upper eyelid rejuvenationBefore and after: Lower face and neck lift with SMAS plication and fat transfer: 1-year resultsLower face and neck lift with SMAS plication and fat transfer: 1-year resultsBefore and after: Comprehensive facial rejuvenation: lower face/neck lift with blepharoplasty and fat transferComprehensive facial rejuvenation: lower face/neck lift with blepharoplasty and fat transfer

See all 19 facelift results

Real patients, shared with their consent and not retouched. Results vary from person to person.

What patients say

★★★★★

This private aesthetic medical clinic is to be commended. If you're considering surgery you will be in the hands of one of the Uk's top surgeons. I'm a doctor having sent many clients for face
lifts and have always been impressed by the effective yet natural results . The Waterfront hospital itself is both professional as one would expect for this type of surgery and "state of the art " aesthetically. I would highly recommend anyone considering facial surgery to make the trip to Edinburgh
Helen St John MBChB MRCOG

HSJ · August 2026 · Read on Trustpilot
★★★★★

This is such a relaxing calming environment and the staff are very friendly and welcoming. Auf Quaba was my consultant and I had a brow lift in July 2025. Mr Quaba explained the whole process and what to expect during and after the procedure. I am delighted with the results and it looks very natural which is what I wanted to achieve. I can’t thank Mr Quaba and his team enough and would highly recommend them.

Dorothy Mooney · December 2025 · Read on Trustpilot
★★★★★

I had my six-month review with my surgeon and once again had a fantastic experience. Communication has been excellent throughout, and I have always felt listened to, reassured and very well cared for.

I am absolutely delighted with my results and very grateful for the professionalism, kindness and aftercare I have received. I would happily recommend the clinic.

Ceilidh · October 2026 · Read on Trustpilot

Quoted word for word from Trustpilot. Read all our reviews

Is it right for me?

The ideal candidate for facelift surgery has visible jowls, loose skin in the lower face or neck, and good general health. Most patients are in their late forties to seventies, although the right timing depends on anatomy rather than age.

  • Jowls, loose neck skin or loss of jawline definition that bothers you in photographs or the mirror
  • Stable weight and good general health
  • A non-smoker, or willing to stop smoking well before and after surgery
  • Realistic expectations of what surgery can and cannot change

A facelift may not be the right operation if your main concern is skin texture, fine lines or volume loss rather than sagging. In those cases fat transfer, eyelid surgery or non-surgical treatment may be more appropriate, and your consultant will say so plainly at consultation.

Unsure? Try the free AI consultation, or ask at your appointment.

What facelift surgery involves

A facelift repositions the deeper supporting tissues of the lower face and neck and removes excess skin. It addresses jowls, loose neck skin and loss of definition along the jawline – the changes that develop as facial tissues descend with age.

Most facelifts performed at Quaba Plastic Surgery treat the lower face and neck as a single unit. The incisions sit within the natural creases around the ear and extend into the hairline, and the deeper SMAS layer is tightened so that the skin itself is never pulled tight.

Surgery is performed under general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia with sedation and usually involves one night in hospital at our partner facility in Edinburgh for cases that include an overnight stay. The consultant who assesses you at consultation plans and performs your operation.

Short scar or mini facelift

A short scar facelift may suit you if your main concern is the jawline and there is little loose skin affecting the neck. A mini facelift still leaves scars in front of the ears; correctly performed surgery leaves these scars well hidden within natural contours.

Neck lift alone

A neck lift can be performed in isolation to address loose neck skin. It will not correct jowls, so few patients are suitable for it on its own, and it is usually carried out as part of a lower face and neck lift. In younger patients, neck contour can sometimes be improved with liposuction rather than surgery.

Combining a facelift with other procedures

A facelift is often combined with other procedures depending on your needs. These include liposuction to the neck, fat transfer to the cheeks, lower and upper eyelid surgery and a brow lift to address ageing in the upper part of the face. Laser resurfacing can also be carried out at the same time to treat fine wrinkles and sun spots.

SMAS and deep plane facelifts

The SMAS facelift and the deep plane facelift both lift the deeper supporting layer of the face rather than the skin alone. They differ in how far that layer is released, in the extent of the surgery, and in which patients each approach suits.

SMAS facelift

The SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system) facelift is the most frequently performed facelift at Quaba Plastic Surgery. It tightens the strong fibrous layer that covers the facial muscles, creating tension in the deeper tissues rather than the skin.

  • Natural-looking rejuvenation of the lower face and neck
  • A controlled, predictable recovery
  • Can be combined with fat transfer to restore lost cheek volume at the same time

Deep plane facelift

The deep plane technique releases and repositions the facial tissues as a single unit beneath the SMAS layer. The dissection is more extensive and passes close to the facial nerves, so it demands particular care.

  • Suits more significant lower face and neck laxity
  • Can address deeper folds and pronounced jowling
  • Typically causes more initial swelling, with a similar overall recovery

Neither technique is better in every case. The right approach depends on your facial anatomy and pattern of ageing, and your consultant will recommend one – or a combination with fat transfer – at consultation.

What facelift surgery can and can't do

A facelift is a powerful operation for the jawline and neck, but it works on structure, not on everything that changes as a face ages. Knowing its limits now is the best way to be pleased with it later.

It can

  • Lift jowls and restore definition along the jawline.
  • Tighten loose skin under the chin and at the front of the neck.
  • Reposition the deeper layer of the face as well as the skin, which helps the change hold.
  • Soften the folds that run from the nose to the mouth and from the mouth to the chin.

It can’t

  • Improve skin texture, fine lines or pigmentation. These sit in the skin itself and respond better to skincare and non-surgical treatments.
  • Remove deep folds completely. The lines from the nose to the mouth soften, but some of the fold usually remains.
  • Put back lost volume. Lifting repositions tissue but does not add to it. Where cheeks have hollowed, fat transfer can be added in the same operation.
  • Stop your face ageing. It resets the clock rather than stopping it, and your face carries on changing from its new starting point.
  • Be done without scars. The scars sit in the creases around the ear and sometimes under the chin. They fade well in most people but they are permanent, and short hair or hair worn up shows more of them.

Your consultant will tell you at your consultation which of these apply to you.

View our before and after gallery

What is the cost of facelift surgery?

The full price for your individual case can only be confirmed after a face-to-face consultation with the consultant who will perform your surgery. Our consultation fee with a consultant plastic surgeon is £200.

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Questions before you book?

Ask anything about facelift, its recovery, risks or cost, any time and in plain language. If you would like, our team can contact you afterwards.

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General information, not a substitute for a consultation.

Patients often ask

Quick answers

Will the same surgeon plan, perform and review my facelift?

Yes. The consultant who assesses you at your first appointment is the consultant who plans your facelift, performs it at Waterfront Private Hospital and reviews you afterwards. There are no handovers between surgeons at any stage.

Who will perform my facelift?

Your facelift is planned and performed by one of our consultant plastic surgeons, Mr John Biddlestone, Mr Omar Quaba and Mr Awf Quaba, all on the GMC Specialist Register. You choose your consultant, meet them at your first appointment, and the same consultant operates and sees you afterwards.

Can I see results from your surgeons?

Yes. Our facelift before and after gallery shows patients treated at Quaba Plastic Surgery, shared with their consent. Results vary between people, and your consultant will show you what is realistic for you at your consultation.

What happens if I have concerns after my surgery?

Your Quaba consultant stays responsible for your care after surgery. A nurse sees you a week after your operation, more often if you need it, and your consultant reviews you at around six months, when the result has settled. If anything worries you before then, contact us and your consultant will reply directly and see you as soon as needed.

How much does a facelift cost?

A short scar facelift starts from £9,500 and a lower face and neck lift from £14,000 at Waterfront Private Hospital. The price covers the surgeon’s fee, the anaesthetist’s fee, the hospital and theatre fee, and all post-operative reviews until you are fully discharged. A consultation with a consultant plastic surgeon is £200.

All our guide prices are on our pricing page.

How long do the results of a facelift last?

A facelift does not stop the ageing process, but the structural improvement is long-lasting. Most patients find the change remains visible for many years, and the face continues to look better than it would have done without surgery. Skin quality, sun exposure, smoking and weight changes all influence how the result matures.

Will my facelift look natural?

A well-performed facelift restores the position of the deeper tissues rather than pulling the skin tight, which is what produces an unnatural result. The aim is a rested version of your own face. Most patients find that others notice they look well without identifying why.

What is the difference between a SMAS facelift and a deep plane facelift?

Both techniques lift the deeper supporting layer of the face rather than the skin alone. The SMAS facelift tightens this layer directly and is the most commonly performed approach at Quaba Plastic Surgery. The deep plane technique releases and repositions the tissues as a single unit, which can suit more significant facial ageing. Your consultant will recommend the approach that fits your anatomy at consultation.

Where are the scars after a facelift?

Facelift scars sit within the natural creases in front of the ear, pass behind the ear and extend into the hairline. They are placed so they are hidden within natural contours and typically fade significantly over six to twelve months.

When can I return to work after a facelift?

Most patients take around two weeks off work after a facelift. Bruising and swelling peak in the first few days and settle noticeably by the end of the first week. Strenuous exercise should wait six weeks.

Can a facelift be combined with other procedures?

Yes. A facelift is often combined with upper or lower eyelid surgery, a brow lift, fat transfer to the cheeks or liposuction to the neck. Combining procedures is discussed at consultation and affects the length of surgery and the recovery period.

The surgeons who do this

You meet your consultant at your first appointment. The same consultant plans your surgery, carries it out and sees you afterwards.

Risks, and how often they happen

Every operation carries risk. Here they are in three groups. The figures come from UK national guidance and published studies, averaged across many patients, so your own risk may be higher or lower. Your consultant will go through what applies to you, and every risk is in your written consent.

  • Expected
  • Uncommon
  • Rare
  • For the long term

Expected Almost everyone, and they settle

  • Swelling and bruising, most noticeable in the first ten days and settling over the following month.
  • Numbness of the cheeks and around the ears, which usually returns over weeks to a few months. Very rarely, numbness of the lower part of the ear is permanent.
  • Tightness across the face and neck for the first few weeks.
  • Scars around the ears and sometimes under the chin, pink at first and fading over a year or more.

Uncommon Some patients, and some need further treatment

  • Bleeding under the skin (haematoma) that needs treatment, usually in the first day and sometimes with a return to theatre. It is more common in men and with raised blood pressure, which we control closely around your operation.

    Under 1 in 20

  • Weakness of part of the face from bruising of a nerve branch, affecting the smile or brow on one side. It almost always recovers, usually within a few months.

    About 1 in 100

  • Thinning of hair near the scars, most often at the temples. It usually grows back within a few months.

    About 1 in 10usually temporary

  • Poor healing of the skin behind the ear. A small area of skin can break down and heal slowly. Smoking raises this risk many times over, which is why we ask you to stop well before surgery.

    Under 1 in 200in non-smokers

  • A minor refinement after healing, most often for a small residual asymmetry or to adjust the result.

    Up to 1 in 10

Rare but serious

  • Infection that needs hospital treatment or a return to theatre.

    Under 1 in 200

  • Permanent weakness of part of the face.

    Under 1 in 1,000

  • A blood clot in the leg or lung (DVT or PE). We assess your risk and take steps to prevent it.

    Under 1 in 1,000higher with combined surgery

  • A serious reaction to the anaesthetic.

    Very rare

For the long term

  • Your face keeps ageing. The jawline and neck will soften again over the years, more slowly with sun protection and not smoking. Some people choose further treatment later.
  • Scars take a year or more to mature. Most settle into fine lines, but occasionally a scar widens or thickens, most often behind the ear, and can be treated.
  • The result settles progressively and reaches its final appearance at around three to four months.
  • Some asymmetry remains. Perfect facial symmetry does not exist naturally, and the aim is improved balance rather than two identical sides.
  • A facelift does not treat the eyes or brows. If these concern you, eyelid surgery or a brow lift can be planned with your consultant.

More from BAAPS on facelift and neck lift.

Where these figures come from

Aftercare and recovery after facelift surgery

Bruising and swelling peak around days three to four and subside noticeably by the end of the first week. Residual swelling around the jawline can persist for several weeks, although it is usually not obvious to others after the first two to three weeks.

You will be mobile the day after surgery. Most patients return to light activities within 10 to 14 days and to strenuous exercise at six weeks. Discomfort is usually mild to moderate and is well managed with prescribed pain relief in the first few days.

Detailed instructions are available on our aftercare following facelift page.

A nurse reviews you at one week, and more often if needed in the early healing period. Your consultant sees you again at around six months once the result has settled. Between then, your consultant is always available – if anything concerns you, they will respond directly and arrange to see you as soon as needed.

Explore facelift aftercare
Nurse reviewing a patient at Waterfront Private Hospital, Edinburgh

Written by

Mr Awf Quaba

Consultant plastic surgeon · GMC 3034912

Last updated May 2025