Facelift Surgery in South Africa | Dr Deon Weyers
A facelift repositions the deeper tissues of the face and neck and redrapes the skin, so you look rested and good for your age. Dr Deon Weyers offers several facelift approaches from one practice at Life Fourways Hospital.
Facial ageing is not one problem. Some people mainly notice loose skin and jowls, some notice hollowing and thinner skin, and many notice a mix of both. That is why the practice offers more than one kind of facelift, and why the right choice depends on your anatomy rather than on a procedure name.
Patients come to the Fourways practice from Johannesburg and from across South Africa. Every consultation, operation and review is with Dr Deon Weyers personally, so the person who plans your facelift is the person who performs it.
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Face Lift Surgery in South Africa: How the Options Fit Together
This page is the starting point for every facelift option on the site. It explains what each approach is designed to do, so you can arrive at your consultation knowing which questions to ask.
A surgical facelift addresses descent and laxity. Through incisions placed in the natural contour in front of the ear, around the earlobe and back into the hairline, the deeper layers of the face and neck are lifted and anchored, and the skin is redraped without tension. The aim is a natural, refreshed result rather than a pulled look.
- Traditional facelift
- Deep plane facelift
- Stem cell facelift
- Regenerative stem cell facelift
- Face and neck lift
Where the deeper layers need more repositioning, a deep plane facelift releases and moves the deeper facial tissue as one unit. Where volume loss and skin quality are part of the picture, the stem cell facelift adds your own fat-derived cells to restore fullness, and the regenerative stem cell facelift can be used with or without surgical lifting.
If you live outside Gauteng, the city pages explain how planning works from a distance, for example for Cape Town patients. The practice has one location, and all surgery and early reviews take place there.
The Facelift Options at a Glance
Traditional facelift: lifts and anchors the deeper tissue of the lower face and neck and removes excess skin. Deep plane facelift: releases the deeper layers more extensively for a longer-lasting repositioning of the mid-face and jawline.
Stem cell facelift: combines lifting with your own fat-derived cells to restore volume and skin quality. Regenerative stem cell facelift: a less invasive approach using your own cells, with or without surgical lifting. Which one fits is decided after an examination, not from a list.
A procedure name is not a treatment plan. The consultation decides how much lifting, how much volume and which areas your face actually needs.
Facelift Alone vs Facelift Combined With Eyelid or Brow Surgery
Facelift on Its Own
Treats the lower face, jawline and neck: jowls, loose neck skin and the deep creases from the nose to the mouth corners.
Suits patients whose upper face and eyes still look in keeping with their age, or who prefer a single, more focused operation and recovery.
Facelift With Eyelid or Brow Surgery
Adds eyelid surgery or a brow lift when the upper face shows the same degree of ageing, so the whole face looks consistent.
Planned as one operation where safe, which can mean a single recovery period, although the operating time and swelling are greater.
| Consideration | Facelift Alone | Facelift Plus Upper-Face Surgery |
|---|---|---|
| Areas treated | Lower face, jawline and neck | Lower face and neck plus eyelids or brow |
| Typical reason | Jowls and neck laxity are the main concern | Tired-looking eyes or heavy brow as well |
| Operating time | Shorter | Longer, planned with the anaesthetist |
| Recovery | One recovery period | One combined recovery, with more swelling |
| Balance of result | Upper face unchanged | Upper and lower face refreshed together |
How a Facelift Is Planned and Performed
The sequence is the same whichever facelift you have. What changes is the depth of the work and whether volume is added.
Assessment
A consultation at the Fourways practice, or an online photo review first if you live far away. Dr Deon Weyers examines skin quality, tissue descent, volume and the neck.
Choosing the approach
You agree on the type of facelift, whether the neck is included and whether any other procedure is combined. You receive a written plan and quote.
Preparation
Medication is reviewed, smoking stops well before surgery and blood tests are arranged where needed.
Surgery
Performed in theatre at Life Fourways Hospital with an anaesthetist present. The incision runs along the natural crease in front of the ear, curves around the earlobe and continues into the hairline.
Recovery and reviews
Swelling usually peaks around the third day. Numbness, swelling and discolouration are expected in the first two weeks, and full recovery is usually around six weeks.
Who Usually Considers a Facelift
A facelift is most often considered by adults in good general health who are bothered by changes that skin treatments and fillers can no longer address well.
- Sagging in the mid-face – Cheeks that have descended and flattened
- Jowls – Loss of a clean jawline as skin and tissue drop below it
- Deep creases from nose to mouth – Folds that have deepened with descent
- Creases below the lower eyelids – Where the lower lid meets the cheek
- Loose neck skin – Often treated together as a face and neck lift
Your own facial structure and skin condition influence the result, which is why the plan is built around an examination.
How to Choose Between the Facelift Types
These questions usually make the decision clearer than comparing procedure names.
- Is the main problem descent or volume loss?Descent points towards lifting; volume loss and thinner skin point towards adding your own fat-derived cells.
- How much downtime can you plan for?Surgical lifting needs about six weeks for full recovery; less invasive regenerative work usually needs less.
- Is the neck involved?Neck laxity usually means the neck is included in the plan.
- Does the upper face match?If the eyes or brow look older than the lower face, combining procedures may give a more balanced result.
What a Facelift Costs in South Africa
The practice publishes a starting figure of R145,000 upwards for a full face and neck lift, as listed on its face lift prices page. The figure generally includes the surgeon, hospital, anaesthetist and surgical fees.
Your own quote depends on the type of facelift, whether the neck and any other procedures are included, and the theatre time required. It is confirmed in writing after the consultation.
Cosmetic facial surgery is generally not covered by South African medical aids. A reconstructive indication may be assessed differently, and the practice can advise once the indication is established.
Common Misunderstandings About Facelifts
These are the points patients most often want clarified at the first visit.
Risks and Possible Complications
Recognised Facelift Risks
A collection of blood under the skin (haematoma) is the complication most closely watched for in the first day, and may need draining.
Infection, delayed healing of the incisions, and scars that widen or thicken.
Numbness of the cheeks and around the ears is common for a while; weakness from a facial nerve branch is uncommon and usually temporary.
Asymmetry, a change in hairline or earlobe shape, and occasionally a need for revision.
The anaesthetist explains anaesthetic risk at the pre-operative assessment.
Ways to Reduce Risk
- No nicotine – for the period advised before and after surgery, as it impairs skin healing.
- Disclose every medicine and supplement – so blood-thinning products can be paused in time.
- Keep your head elevated – in the first days to help swelling settle.
- Attend every review – so any early change is picked up quickly.
Contact the practice urgently if one side of the face becomes rapidly more swollen or painful, bleeding does not stop, you develop a fever, or redness spreads from an incision. For severe symptoms after hours, go to the nearest hospital emergency unit.
Medical disclaimer. This page is general information and does not replace a face-to-face consultation. Surgical decisions require an in-person assessment, a full consent discussion and the individual medical advice of your surgeon and anaesthetist.
Facelift South Africa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which type of facelift is right for me?
That is decided at the consultation, based on how much descent, laxity and volume loss you have, whether the neck is involved and how much recovery time you can plan for.
What is the difference between a facelift and a deep plane facelift?
A deep plane facelift releases and repositions the deeper facial layers more extensively. Whether that extra depth is needed depends on your anatomy.
How long is the recovery?
Swelling usually peaks around day three, numbness and discolouration settle over the first two weeks, and full recovery is usually about six weeks.
Where are the scars?
In the natural contour in front of the ear, around the earlobe and back into the hairline. They are visible during healing and usually fade well.
Can I see examples of results?
The practice publishes facelift before and after photos. Every face is different, and these show individual cases rather than an expected outcome.
Do I need to live in Johannesburg?
No. Patients travel from across South Africa. The consultation, surgery and early reviews take place at the single practice at Life Fourways Hospital.
What does a facelift cost?
The practice publishes R145,000 upwards for a full face and neck lift on its prices page. Your written quote follows the consultation.
Discuss Your Facelift Options With Dr Deon Weyers
Dr Deon Weyers is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa and a member of APRASSA. He sees facelift patients from across South Africa at the practice’s single location at Life Fourways Hospital in Johannesburg.
Call 011 875 1694
Office hours: Monday to Thursday 08:00 – 17:00, Friday 08:00 – 14:00 · send a message
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