Facelift (Classic & Mini)

Facelift surgery at Estela restores definition to the lower face, jawline, and neck by repositioning deep facial tissues, tightening the underlying muscle layer, and removing surplus skin — with both classic and mini facelift options available. The classic facelift addresses the full mid-to-lower face and neck, while the mini version focuses on the lower face and jowls with a shorter scar and faster recovery. Both are performed under local anaesthesia at the clinic; the general anaesthesia version is performed at St. Anna Faculty Hospital. MUDr. Novák and MUDr. Chaloupková both perform facelifts. Drainage tubes placed during surgery are removed within two to three days, and most patients return to normal activity within two weeks.

A surgical facelift remains the gold standard for restoring visible youth to the lower face, jawline, and neck because it physically repositions tissue that has descended through the effects of gravity and ageing — something no injectable or energy-based device can replicate. Estela offers two primary configurations: the classic full facelift (CZK 46,000 under local anaesthesia) and the mini facelift (CZK 29,000 under local anaesthesia), with the general anaesthesia option available for the classic approach at CZK 47,000 for patients who prefer it or who are combining the facelift with other procedures. In both approaches, incisions are placed in the hairline and around the ear so that healed scars are concealed within natural skin folds. The classic facelift extends incisions into the lower scalp behind the ear to allow access to the neck, where platysmal muscle banding (the vertical cords that appear in the neck with age) can be addressed. The mini facelift uses shorter incisions concentrated around the ear and is best suited to patients with early-to-moderate jowling and good skin tone who want a refreshed appearance without the full recovery timeline of the classic procedure. The operative technique at Estela involves lifting and re-draping the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) — the fibromuscular layer beneath the skin — before securing it in a more youthful position. Excess skin is then removed conservatively, avoiding the tight, windswept look that results from skin-only tension. Drain tubes are placed under the skin to evacuate any fluid and are removed at a check-up two to three days post-surgery. The classic facelift takes two and a half to three hours; the mini facelift approximately two hours. A compression bandage is applied in theatre and worn for approximately 14 days to support the tissues. Sutures are removed at days seven to nine. Patients can typically return to office work within one week, resume makeup from day 14, and participate in sport after one month. A forehead or brow lift (CZK 38,700 under GA) can be added when brow descent contributes to upper-face ageing, and is often planned alongside a facelift for a comprehensive upper-and-lower refresh. Facelift is suitable for men and women across a wide age range — from patients in their forties with early jowling to those in their sixties or seventies seeking a more significant restoration. Smoking must be stopped two weeks before and after surgery, as it impairs healing. Blood-thinning medications should be discontinued three weeks before the procedure.