During consultations, I often hear: “4 hours? Isn’t that too long? I heard other clinics finish in just 2 hours.”
To be honest, it’s true. My surgery time is relatively long—usually 1 to 2 hours longer than average. But after 18 years as a surgeon, whenever I hear this question, I always want to ask one thing in return:
“Have you checked exactly what happens during those extra hours?”
The total time on the clock isn’t what matters. What matters is the meticulous detail and the deliberate choices made within those hours. Those are what truly sculpt your face.
The First 2 Hours: Why We Stop 200 Bleeding Points Individually
A facelift involves dissecting a broad area of the face. Naturally, bleeding occurs. How a clinic handles this bleeding defines its surgical philosophy.
■ No Blood Bags (Drains) Required
Most clinics use “blood bags” (surgical drains) to collect excess blood after surgery. It’s an efficient and fast way to finish. However, I do not use blood bags. Instead, I spend nearly two extra hours manually identifying and sealing every single bleeding point—even tiny vessels you can barely see. There are often over 200 of them.
■ Why This Matters for You:
- Reduced Discomfort: You don’t have to carry a clunky drain bag while you sleep or worry about it when you shower.
- Minimal Swelling: Blood pooling (hematoma) is the main cause of prolonged swelling. By ensuring a “dry” surgical field, swelling subsides much faster.
- Weekend Recovery: This is why my patients can have surgery on Friday morning and return to their daily lives by Monday. It takes more time on the operating table, but it saves you days, or even weeks, of recovery time.
The Remaining 2 Hours: How 2 Degrees Can Add 5 Years
The rest of the time is dedicated to the Dual-Plane dissection and fine-tuning the angle of the lift.
■ Dual-Plane vs. Deep Plane
A standard “Deep Plane” lift moves the skin and muscle layers together, which can cut surgery time in half. But I believe every face is unique. Some patients have severe skin sagging but firm muscles; others are the opposite. By separating the layers (Dual-Plane), I can customize the tension for each—lifting the muscle firmly while keeping the skin looking natural.
■ The “Golden Angle”
A difference of just 2 to 3 degrees in the pull determines how long your results will last. This is not an exaggeration.
- If the angle is even 1 degree off, the tension on the fascia changes significantly.
- This difference reveals itself years later in how fast your face begins to sag again.
I spend over 30 minutes just double-checking the angles—lifting, lowering, and observing the face from multiple directions to find the most natural and durable “Golden Angle.”
Conclusion: Quality Over Speed
There is no single “correct” way to perform a facelift. Every clinic has its own philosophy. Some prioritize speed and efficiency; I prioritize meticulous detail and patient comfort during recovery.
This is why I only perform one surgery per day. I want to give every patient the luxury of time and my undivided focus.
When choosing a hospital, I encourage you not to judge by the length of the surgery alone. Instead, ask: “What specific processes are being performed during that time?”
A surgery that starts at 10:00 AM usually finishes around 2:00 PM. After about 2 hours of rest in our recovery suite, you are ready to be discharged. For guardians, the total waiting time is typically around 4 to 5 hours.
FAQ
A: No. Because we spend extra time on hemostasis (stopping blood) during surgery, there is less risk of complications. You can rest in our recovery room for 2 hours and return to your hotel the same day.
A: On the contrary, a longer surgery dedicated to precision—like sealing every blood vessel—reduces the risk of hematoma and infection, making the overall recovery process much safer.
A: Blood bags are often a “quick fix” for bleeding that wasn’t fully addressed during surgery. By taking the time to ensure a clean surgical field, we eliminate the discomfort and infection risk associated with drains.
