Procedure guide · 17 listed FRACS surgeons
Facelift (rhytidectomy) in Australia: cost, recovery and surgeon checklist
Facelift (rhytidectomy) reshapes the lower face and neck by repositioning underlying muscle and tissue layers (SMAS - superficial musculo-aponeurotic system) and removing excess skin. Modern facelift is conservative - the goal is a refreshed, natural appearance rather than the "windswept" look of older techniques. Around 4,000 to 6,000 facelifts are performed annually in Australia per ASPS data.
★Key takeaways
- ✓Facelift (rhytidectomy) reshapes the lower face and neck by repositioning underlying muscle and tissue layers (SMAS - superficial musculo-aponeurotic system) and removing excess skin.
- ✓Typical Australian cost: $25,000 to $45,000 all-inclusive (Medicare not rebated).
- ✓17 FRACS-qualified plastic surgeons in our directory list facelift (rhytidectomy) among their specialisations.
- ✓Source: ASPS Find-a-Surgeon directory, AHPRA Cosmetic Surgery Standard 2023, Medicare Benefits Schedule. Last updated 17 May 2026.
What it is
What facelift (rhytidectomy) actually involves
Modern Australian facelift techniques: SMAS plication / imbrication (most common - folds the underlying tissue layer back without aggressive dissection), deep plane facelift (more extensive dissection releasing facial ligaments - more lift, longer recovery, requires specific training), and mini-facelift / S-lift (shorter scar, less aggressive lift - suitable for early signs of jowling). Choice depends on degree of laxity and patient anatomy.
Facelift addresses the lower face (jawline, jowls) and neck. It does NOT lift the brow, eyes, or mid-face cheek pads - those require separate brow lift, blepharoplasty, or mid-face lift procedures. Many patients combine facelift with neck lift, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), and fat transfer for comprehensive facial rejuvenation. Combined procedures add operating time and recovery duration.
Facelift is never Medicare-rebated (purely cosmetic). The exception is reconstructive surgery after facial trauma or cancer resection, which may attract MBS items depending on context. Pure facial rejuvenation is private-pay.
Who is a candidate
- Typical age range 45-70, though some younger patients with significant laxity benefit
- Stable weight for 6 months (weight loss after facelift can produce additional laxity)
- No active smoking - cessation 6 weeks minimum (smoking is the single biggest factor in facelift complications including skin necrosis)
- Realistic expectations - facelift addresses laxity but does not change skin texture (consider laser, peels) or volume loss (consider fillers, fat transfer)
- Two-week cooling-off period observed
Typical recovery timeline
Day 0-3
Day stay or overnight. Compression bandage around head + neck. Drains for 24-48 hours. Significant bruising + swelling peaks at 48-72 hours.
Week 1
Stitches removed at 5-10 days. Bruising fades from purple to yellow. Most stay off work / out of social activity for 2-3 weeks.
Week 2-4
Bruising mostly resolved by 3 weeks. Light makeup can cover residual. Most return to social activity by 3-4 weeks.
Month 1-3
Swelling fully resolves over 6-12 weeks. Sensation around ears + jawline may be reduced for 3-6 months.
Month 6-12
Final result. Scars (in front of ear, around earlobe, behind ear into hairline) fade over 12-18 months and are inconspicuous in most patients.
See the full day-by-day timeline: Facelift (rhytidectomy) recovery timeline
Cost in Australia 2026
Full facelift + neck lift: $25,000 to $45,000 all-inclusive. Add blepharoplasty $5,000 to $10,000; brow lift $5,000 to $8,000; fat transfer $3,000 to $6,000. Combined "full facial rejuvenation" packages $35,000 to $60,000. Never Medicare-rebated.
Questions to ask at consultation
- What technique do you recommend - SMAS, deep plane, mini - and why for my anatomy?
- How many years of additional fellowship training have you completed in facial surgery?
- Will you combine with brow lift, blepharoplasty, or fat transfer? What is the combined recovery profile?
- How will scarring be hidden (hairline + ear creases)?
- What is your complication rate including hematoma, nerve injury, skin necrosis?
- Are you operating in an accredited hospital with overnight care available?
See our complete guide: 10 questions to ask any plastic surgeon
Red flags to walk away from
- ✗ Promises a specific number of "years younger"
- ✗ Office-based theatre rather than accredited hospital (facelift is hospital-grade surgery)
- ✗ No discussion of smoking cessation - smoking is the single biggest facelift complication factor
- ✗ Combines too many facial procedures in one session without staged option
- ✗ No mention of facial nerve injury risk
- ✗ Pressure to book on same day without 7-day cooling off
Regulatory note
AHPRA s133 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law restricts cosmetic procedure advertising. We do not display before-and-after images or testimonials on this site. Verify any surgeon at ahpra.gov.au and cross-check ASPS membership at plasticsurgery.org.au before booking any procedure.
Directory · FRACS Specialist Plastic Surgeons
17 listed surgeons who include facelift (rhytidectomy) in their specialisations
Cross-referenced against AHPRA Specialist Register and ASPS Find-a-Surgeon directory. We list FRACS-qualified specialists only.
Melbourne · Malvern
FRACSA/Prof Graeme Southwick OAM
Melbourne Institute of Plastic Surgery
Awarded Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to victims of the 2002 Bali Bombing. Founder/director of MIPS. ASPS Medal 2019.
Melbourne · Brighton
FRACSMr Keith Mutimer AM
Brighton Plastic Surgery
Member of the Order of Australia (AM, 2021). Past Vice President of RACS. Former President of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Melbourne · Hawthorn East
FRACSDr Patrick Briggs
Coco Ruby Plastic Surgery
Trained in plastic surgery in the USA and Ireland. Passed the UK / Ireland Intercollegiate Board Examination in Plastic Surgery in 1991.
Sydney · Pyrmont
FRACSA/Prof Tim Papadopoulos
Sydney Plastic Surgery (Dr Tim)
Head of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery at Westmead Private. Adjunct Associate Professor at University of Notre Dame Sydney.
Sydney · Darlinghurst
FRACSDr Steven Liew
Shape Clinic
First Australian admitted as fellow in plastic surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, New York. Founder of Shape Clinic since 2005.
Melbourne · Essendon Fields
FRACSMr Damien Grinsell
Damien Grinsell Plastic Surgery
Australian pioneer of perforator-flap microsurgery. 40+ peer-reviewed publications. Interplast volunteer surgeon (Nepal).
Sydney · Bondi Junction
FRACSDr Naveen Somia
Naveen Somia Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery
Immediate Past President of the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. PhD on eyelid reanimation, University of Louisville.
Sydney · Woollahra
FRACSDr Jeremy Hunt
Dr Jeremy Hunt Plastic Surgery
Spokesperson for the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. Supervisor of Plastic Surgery Training at Sydney Children's Hospital. Fellowship trained at Univers…
Sydney · Sydney CBD
FRACSDr Pouria Moradi
Dr Pouria Moradi Plastic Surgery
Microsurgical reconstruction fellowship at Charing Cross / Imperial College London. Aesthetic fellowship under Dr Per Heden at Akademikliniken, Stockholm.
Sydney · Mosman
FRACSDr Nicholas Lotz
Dr Nicholas Lotz Plastic Surgery
Australian-trained Specialist Plastic Surgeon practising on Sydney's Lower North Shore.
Melbourne · Box Hill
FRACSA/Prof Dean White
Dean White Plastic Surgery
Associate Professor. Offers $200 standard / $275 extended new-patient consultation, with bulk-billed second visit.
Adelaide · Wayville
FRACSDr Jonathan Azzopardi
AZZXPARDI
FRACS-qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon practising in Wayville, Adelaide.
Sydney · Macquarie Park
FRACSMr Anthony Barker
MQ Health PRS
Dr Anthony Barker is an experienced Specialist Plastic Surgeon with expertise in: Breast Reconstruction and Enhancement Body Contouring Facial Aesthetics, and H…
Melbourne · Hawthorn East
FRACSMr John Beer
Rathmines Clinic
John received his primary medical education from Melbourne University, and completed his undergraduate training at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne.
Melbourne · Hampton
FRACSMr Frank Bruscino-Raiola
Linacre Private Hospital
Frank Bruscino-Raiola graduated from Monash University in 1991 and completed his fellowship in Plastics and Reconstructive surgery in 2002.
Melbourne · Melbourne
FRACSDr Miguel Cabalag
Dr Miguel Cabalag Plastic Surgery
Mr Miguel Cabalag is an Australian trained Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic surgeon with international fellowship experience.
Gold Coast · Tugun
FRACSDr Mark Doyle
Gold Coast Plastic Surgery
Dr Mark Doyle has a busy surgical practice based at the southern end of the Gold Coast, Australia, near the Gold Coast International Airport and John Flynn Hosp…
Common questions
Facelift (rhytidectomy) - common questions
How long does a facelift last?
A modern SMAS or deep plane facelift typically maintains a meaningful improvement for 7-12 years before noticeable re-descent. The aging process continues - facelift turns back the clock but does not stop it. Some patients seek a touch-up or secondary lift at 10-15 years; others are satisfied with the original result long-term.
What is the difference between SMAS, deep plane, and mini facelift?
SMAS (most common in Australia): conservative dissection, good for most patients, shorter recovery. Deep plane: more aggressive release of facial ligaments, more dramatic lift particularly in mid-face, longer recovery, requires specific surgeon training. Mini-facelift / S-lift: shorter scar in front of ear, less extensive dissection - suitable only for early laxity, not advanced jowling.
Will I look "done" or natural?
Modern conservative facelift techniques (used by all FRACS-trained Australian plastic surgeons) produce natural results. The "windswept" or "pulled" appearance came from older techniques that pulled skin laterally without addressing the underlying SMAS layer. SMAS-based or deep plane lifts reposition tissue along natural anatomical planes and produce subtle results. Asking to see the surgeon's before-and-after gallery (in person, not online due to AHPRA s133 + ASPS code) is valuable for matching aesthetic preferences.
When can I go back to work and social activities?
Most desk workers take 2-3 weeks off. Bruising is the limiting factor - it fades from purple at week 1 to yellow at week 2 to fully resolved by week 3. Makeup can cover residual bruising from around 10-14 days. Most patients return to public-facing roles by 3-4 weeks. Front-of-camera work usually requires 4-6 weeks to fully resolve subtle swelling.
Are there non-surgical alternatives?
For mild-moderate skin laxity, non-surgical options include radiofrequency tightening (Thermage, Morpheus8), ultrasound tightening (Ultherapy), and threadlifts. These provide modest tightening (10-30% of what a facelift achieves) with no downtime, and need repeating every 12-24 months. They cannot replace facelift for significant laxity or jowling but can defer surgical facelift by 5-10 years if started early.