Facelift in Vienna
In brief
In a facelift, Dr. Handl tightens the skin and tissue of the cheeks, jawline and neck for a naturally rejuvenated face. The operation takes three to four hours and is performed under general anaesthesia, as an outpatient or with one night in the clinic. The scars run barely visibly at the ear; office work is possible after three to four days, sport after four to six weeks. Prices start at €15,900.
- Medical review
- This text was medically reviewed by our team on 6 October 2026
- Specialist for this treatment:
-
Dr. Markus-Johannes Handl
- Cost:
- from €15,900
Our patients' experiences
5.0 out of 5 · 4 reviews
At a glance
- Location
- Clinic
- Outpatient or inpatient
- outpatient or inpatient
- Duration of the facelift
- 3 to 4 hours
- Type of anaesthesia
- general anaesthesia
- Recovery phase
- 5-7 days
- Scars
- barely visible, running in the ear and the natural creases
- Desk work / office work
- after 3-4 days
- Sport
- after 4-6 weeks
- Check-ups
- depending on healing, on the 2nd, 7th and 20th day after surgery
- Special notes
- sun protection, light compression dressing
Facial rejuvenation – a gentle lift for a natural look
A facelift is an aesthetic surgical procedure that makes it possible to counteract and delay the visible effects of ageing on the face. Over time, the skin loses its tension and elasticity because of ageing, gravity and harmful environmental influences such as UV radiation. This can cause the skin of the face and neck to become slack and sag, which many people find distressing, as it can rob the face of its radiant expression.
A facelift can help here by softening the visible signs of time and tightening the facial skin and muscles to rejuvenate the face. During the procedure, the surgeon makes small incisions near the ears and in the scalp in order to separate the facial skin from the underlying fat and muscles.
Excess fat is then removed to shape the contours before the facial and neck muscles are tightened and the skin is drawn taut. Excess skin is removed and the small incisions are stitched again. The result is a tighter facial appearance and firmer skin.
When deciding on a facelift, it is important to be advised by an experienced surgeon who can develop an individual surgical strategy that meets the patient's needs and wishes. In a detailed consultation, the surgeon will explain the different facelift methods and which method is best suited to the patient.
The different facelift methods include the SMAS lift, the mini lift and the MACS lift. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, and it is important to understand the differences between the options in order to make the best possible decision.
Dr. Handl is an experienced specialist in aesthetic surgery in Vienna and has many years of experience in performing facelifts. He is able to develop an individual surgical strategy tailored to the patient's needs and wishes and uses the most modern technologies and procedures to achieve optimal results.
In addition to a facelift, it can also make sense to consider other aesthetic surgery procedures such as eyelid correction or a lower eyelid lift in order to achieve a comprehensive result and the desired facial appearance.
Facelift methods
When it comes to facial rejuvenation, various methods are available that can be chosen according to need and individual anatomy. One of the most common methods is a forehead lift to raise the eyebrows and smooth frown lines. In this technique, an incision is usually made directly behind the hairline to lift and tighten the skin. The scar is usually well hidden and barely visible after healing.
Another method used to rejuvenate the face is the temple lift. This method aims to tighten the eye area by lifting the temple region. Through a small incision in the temple region, excess fat and tissue are removed to achieve a smoother and firmer eye area. This method is particularly effective for people who suffer from protruding or hooded eyelids.
Another way to rejuvenate the face is to lift the cheeks while tightening the neck. In this method, excess fat and skin are removed from the cheeks to lift the cheek area and give the face a youthful appearance. At the same time, the skin of the neck is tightened to remove a double chin or loose skin.
Another option is tightening the neck with removal of chin fat. This method focuses on the neck area to achieve a firmer and more youthful appearance. In this technique, a small incision is made under the chin to remove excess fat and tighten the skin.
It is important to note that the choice of the best method for each patient depends on their individual anatomy and needs. An experienced surgeon will carry out a thorough examination and recommend the most suitable technique to achieve the desired result.
The day of surgery
The day of a facelift usually begins with a thorough cleansing of the face and preparation for anaesthesia. Depending on the individual case, general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia with sedation can be used.
Once the anaesthesia has taken effect, the surgeon begins the incisions at the previously marked points, which usually lie behind the ears and at the hairline. The exact incision and technique depend on the type of facelift you have chosen, whether a traditional facelift, a mini facelift or a neck lift.
Once the incision has been made, the surgeon can lift and tighten the skin and underlying tissue to achieve the desired appearance. The procedure can take between two and five hours, depending on the extent of the operation and the patient's specific needs.
When the procedure is complete, the face is wrapped in a special bandage or dressing to minimise swelling and bruising. In the following days and weeks after the operation, you should rest and follow your surgeon's instructions to ensure a quick and successful recovery.
Facelift in Vienna
Facelift costs
The decision for a facelift is a significant step that involves not only aesthetic but also emotional and personal aspects. The requirements and expectations of a facelift are as individual as each person's facial features – and the costs vary accordingly. At Dr. Handl's practice, the focus is on tailor-made treatment. Every procedure is carefully planned and precisely matched to the patient's anatomy and wishes.
The total cost of a facelift depends on several factors, including the surgical technique chosen, the extent of excess skin and tissue, the surgical effort, the duration of the treatment and any combined procedures such as eyelid correction or a neck lift. The extent of aftercare and the type of anaesthesia also feed into the overall calculation.
In a personal consultation, Dr. Handl takes enough time to analyse your facial anatomy precisely, understand your expectations and present the various treatment options to you in detail. On this basis, you receive a written, individual cost plan covering all medically and organisationally relevant services – without hidden extra costs. This gives you clear orientation and planning security.
A professionally performed facelift is a long-term investment in your well-being, your radiance and your self-confidence. Many patients report a new outlook on life that goes far beyond the visible change.
If you are interested in a facelift and would like to find out more about the method that suits you, the procedure and the associated costs, book a no-obligation consultation with Dr. Handl now.
Dr. Handl – your specialist for facelifts in Vienna
A facelift is much more than a cosmetic correction. It is a procedure with a profound effect – on your outward appearance as well as on your inner well-being. People who decide on a facelift usually do not seek a radically changed appearance but a gentle yet visible return of freshness, tension and expression. This is exactly the aim Dr. Markus-Johannes Handl pursues at his practice in Vienna – with many years of experience, surgical precision and a fine sense for natural aesthetics.
In a trusting consultation, Dr. Handl first analyses your individual facial anatomy and talks with you about your wishes, motives and expectations. On this basis, he develops a surgical plan that is not standardised but tailored entirely to your needs. Modern facelift techniques such as the SMAS lift, mini lift or MACS lift are used – depending on which structures are to be tightened and which areas of the face are to be treated.
The procedures are performed in a safe, discreet environment. Dr. Handl places particular importance on scar-sparing incisions, the shortest possible recovery times and close aftercare. The aim is always a harmonious, rejuvenated overall appearance that preserves your natural facial expressions and individuality.
Many patients who have chosen a facelift with Dr. Handl report a new sense of self, greater ease and more joy in life. If you want to make a well-founded decision and be professionally supported, Dr. Handl is your ideal contact for a high-quality facelift in Vienna.
Preparation, risks and aftercare
Preparation
In the consultation, Dr. Handl discusses which areas will be tightened, such as the cheeks, jawline and neck, and whether an eyelid lift or your own fat will complement the result. You are welcome to bring older photos; they help define a natural goal.
Before the operation under general anaesthesia, a health check and an anaesthesia briefing take place. Do not eat or drink for six hours before the procedure. After consulting us, avoid blood-thinning medication such as aspirin, as well as alcohol and, if possible, nicotine, which delays wound healing. This is particularly important for a facelift, because smoking endangers the blood supply to the skin.
Risks
As with any operation, bruising, swelling, secondary bleeding, infection and wound-healing problems can occur. The anaesthetist discusses the risks of general anaesthesia with you beforehand.
Specifically with a facelift, numbness of the cheeks and ears is common and usually resolves over months. Rarely, branches of the facial nerve are injured, leading to a usually temporary weakness of facial expression. Hair loss along the incision, slight asymmetries and more noticeable scars are also possible. Smokers have a significantly increased risk of wound-healing problems.
In the informed-consent consultation, Dr. Handl discusses all risks in detail and in relation to your personal situation.
Aftercare
Directly after the operation, cooling masks are applied and a dressing is put on; you are usually discharged the next day. Keep your head raised, eat soft food in the first days, chew little and avoid a lot of talking and laughing. After two days, the dressing is removed; lymphatic drainage helps against swelling.
Check-ups take place around the 2nd, 7th and 20th day, and the stitches are removed after about a week. Office work is possible after three to four days. Avoid saunas and steam baths for three weeks; sport is possible after four to six weeks. Protect your skin from the sun.
Frequently asked questions
When is a facelift advisable?
A facelift makes sense for reducing excess skin and tissue in the face and smoothing deeper wrinkles. A comprehensive facelift is therefore usually suitable from the age of 40, although every patient decides for themselves when they find the signs of ageing bothersome. For smoothing mild to moderate wrinkles, minimally invasive treatments (such as hyaluronic acid or Botox) or a so-called mini lift are often also suitable. Dr. Handl will be happy to advise you individually in the consultation on the treatment method best suited to you.
How does a facelift change your appearance?
A facelift tightens the facial skin overall. Earlier facial proportions can also be restored. The aim is a younger, fresher complexion while preserving your natural, characteristic facial features.
What are the risks of a facelift?
As with all surgical procedures, there are risks with a surgical facelift, for example secondary bleeding or wound-healing problems. In the personal consultation, Dr. Handl calmly explains all the risks of a facelift to you.
Will there be visible scars after a facelift?
The small incisions are usually made in inconspicuous places, for example behind the ear, and the scars are made visually inconspicuous. With good wound healing, only barely visible fine lines remain.
Is the procedure painful?
The procedure itself is performed under local anaesthesia with twilight sedation and is therefore usually not felt to be painful. A feeling of tension and wound pain can occur in the first days after the operation, but this can be managed with conventional painkillers.
How long does a facelift take?
Depending on its extent, the procedure takes between 2 and 5 hours. Afterwards, the patient spends a short recovery period, usually one night, as an inpatient in the clinic. The patient can usually leave the clinic the next day.
What do I need to consider before the procedure?
Before the procedure, there is first a personal consultation in which you are informed in detail about all the options, limits and any risks of the procedure and have the opportunity to clarify any open questions. Preliminary examinations may also be necessary. You must not eat or drink for six hours before facelift surgery.
What do I need to consider after the procedure?
You should generally plan a recovery period of 2 weeks. In the first weeks after the procedure, you should also avoid sport and saunas. Direct sunlight should be avoided. For optimal healing of the scars, using scar care products and high sun protection is recommended.
When can I do sport again after a facelift?
You should avoid sport for the first 3 weeks after the procedure.
When are the stitches removed?
The stitches are removed about 14 days after the procedure.
How long will I be off work after a facelift?
That depends on your job, of course. If you can work from home sitting down, this is possible again after 3 to 4 days.
Will a facelift affect my facial expressions?
A successful facelift preserves your characteristic facial features, and once the swelling has subsided, the mobility of the face is not restricted in the long term. Laughing and pulling faces should therefore be no problem after a facelift.
When can I go out in public again after a facelift?
In the first days after the procedure, there is still swelling and bruising, so patients can only go out in public again after about 2 weeks.
Personal consultation
Tell us what you would like to discuss. We will get back to you within two working days to arrange a personal consultation with Dr. Handl.
Prefer to call? +43 1 877 20 20
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