Mr. Solomos’s prefer to perform facelifts with a full general anaesthetic although technically it can be performed with a local anaesthetic. This may also depend on whether you will be having extra work done to the eyes or brow area. In general terms, the longer the cosmetic surgery the better it is for the patient to have a general anaesthetic, so as to avoid feeling any duress or discomfort from lying still for a long period of time under local anaesthetic. Cosmetic surgery for a facelift can take between 2-3 hours, although this takes longer when combined with additional surgery i.e. eyelid surgery. It can therefore be quite daunting and awkward to lie still all this time under only a local anaesthetic!