Since 1998 · Zagreb and Daruvar, Croatia
Face & Neck Surgery in Zagreb and Daruvar
Changes in the face and neck can arise from excess skin, loss of volume, changed skin quality or descended tissue. The examination establishes the cause, and we assess whether a non-surgical treatment, a smaller procedure or surgery is appropriate.
A change in the look of the face can have an aesthetic, functional or combined basis. Difficult breathing, excess eyelid skin, the position of the ears, loss of volume and descending tissue call for different procedures. That is why the examination comes before the choice of method — it establishes the cause, the indication and the expected reach of the procedure.
Is this for me?
Reasons to come in for an exam
The reasons usually come down to four groups, which often overlap.
- Changes around the eyes and eyebrows. Excess eyelid skin, a lowered eyebrow position or fat pads can create heavy eyelids and affect the field of vision.
- Changes with age or after major weight loss. These can include loss of cheek volume, a less defined jawline, lax neck skin and localized fat under the chin.
- Anatomical features present since childhood or adolescence. These can be protruding ears or a nose shape the patient wants corrected aesthetically or functionally.
- Functional symptoms. Difficult nasal breathing, a drooping eyelid that narrows the field of vision, and compensatory raising of the eyebrows to see better.
All four groups are a valid reason to come in for an exam. That, however, does not mean a procedure is needed.
Honesty first
Why the exam comes before the decision
A similar visible change can arise from different anatomical causes. The examination distinguishes between them before the method is chosen.
“A procedure is not chosen by the visible change alone, but by its cause. A heavy look around the eyes can be linked to excess eyelid skin, the position of the eyebrow or loss of volume — and each of those changes calls for a different approach.”
Three distinctions made at the exam change the entire plan.
Excess skin or lost volume. With pronounced excess skin and laxity of the deeper layers, a facelift may be indicated. If the main cause of the change is loss of fullness, and the position of the skin has not changed significantly, tightening will not restore the missing volume. In that case, a transfer of your own fat tissue can be considered.
Tissue position or skin quality. Lifting and tightening procedures do not change the texture of the skin, pigmentation or the dark color of under-eye circles. If the main problem is the quality or color of the skin, methods that act on the skin itself need to be considered — not surgical lifting of the tissue.
The extent of the procedure. With milder changes, an appropriate effect can be achieved with a smaller or minimally invasive procedure, without the need for extensive surgery. In children with protruding ears, the decision on otoplasty should take into account whether the position of the ears bothers the child — not just the parent.
“The findings sometimes point to a smaller procedure than the one the patient first had in mind — and sometimes show that no procedure is needed at this time.”
Two generations of physicians
We have practiced aesthetic surgery for more than 27 years, and two generations of the family work at the Polyclinic today.
The indication is assessed first
The examination determines whether a surgical procedure is needed, whether a smaller one is enough — or whether no treatment is needed at this time.
From Aptos threads to a facelift
The range of minimally invasive and surgical methods allows the procedure to be chosen according to the findings and the degree of change.
Aptos threads since 2004
We have performed Aptos thread lifting for more than 22 years, among the first in Croatia.
Local anesthesia and sedation
Most facial procedures are performed under local anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation, with a recovery that is usually faster than after general anesthesia.
The surgeons who operate
Procedures are performed by Duško Maletić, MD, MSc, and Mario Bartol, MD.
A permanent anesthesiology team
Ines Maletić, MD, co-founder of the Polyclinic and specialist in anesthesiology, leads the pre-anesthesia workup, the anesthesia and postoperative monitoring.
Four operating rooms
The operating rooms are equipped with recuperators and continuous air purification systems.
The people behind it
The surgical and anesthesiology team
Face and neck procedures at the Maletić Polyclinic are performed by Duško Maletić, MD, MSc, specialist in surgery since 1984 and urology since 1988 and co-founder of the Polyclinic, and Mario Bartol, MD, specialist in surgery, permanent court expert and member of the professional team since 2008. You meet the surgeon who will perform your procedure during the examination and the planning of the operation.
Anesthesia is led by Ines Maletić, MD, co-founder of the Polyclinic and specialist in anesthesiology, reanimatology and intensive care. She carries out the pre-anesthesia workup, the anesthesia during the procedure and postoperative monitoring. Most facial procedures are performed under local anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation, with a recovery that is usually faster than after general anesthesia.
The Maletić Polyclinic is a family institution with locations in Zagreb and Daruvar. Through the examination, the procedure and the postoperative follow-ups, the same medical team looks after you.
Meet the whole team
Our procedures
The procedures we perform
Details on each procedure — including the course, recovery, risks and price — are on its page.
Facelift
Surgical lifting of descended tissues of the face and neck, with reinforcement of the deeper layers and removal of pronounced excess skin.
Aptos Thread Lift
Lifting tissue with threads, without a surgical incision — indicated for milder laxity without pronounced excess skin.
Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
Correction of excess skin and prolapsed fat pads of the upper or lower eyelids.
Nanofat
Application of specially processed autologous fat tissue to improve skin quality, without a volume effect.
Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery)
Aesthetic and functional rhinoplasty is performed when the goal is to change the shape of the nose, improve breathing, or address both in the same procedure.
Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)
Correction of the position and shape of the ears through an incision placed behind the ear, in children from the age of five and in adults.
Fat Transfer
Restoring lost facial volume with your own fat tissue, when loss of fullness is the main cause of the change.
Double Chin Laser Liposuction
Laser-assisted liposuction removes the fat tissue under the chin and tightens the skin with the laser in the same procedure, under local anesthesia.
A facelift surgically lifts descended tissues of the face and neck and reinforces the deeper layers — not just the skin. The choice between a mini lift, a classic SMAS facelift and the deep plane technique depends on the findings.
An Aptos thread lift raises lax tissue with threads placed without a surgical incision. We have performed it at the Polyclinic since 2004, and it is indicated for milder laxity without pronounced excess skin.
Blepharoplasty corrects excess skin and prolapsed fat pads of the upper or lower eyelids. It does not remove pigmentation, the dark color of under-eye circles or fine lines in the skin.
Nanofat uses specially processed autologous fat tissue to act on the quality of the skin. It does not create a volume effect, so it differs from fat transfer primarily in its purpose.
Nose surgery can be aesthetic, functional or combined. If the only concern is difficult breathing, the surgical plan rests on the functional correction of nasal airflow.
Ear surgery corrects the position and shape of the ears through an incision placed behind the ear. It is performed in children from the age of five, when the ear has reached nearly its final size, and in adults with no upper age limit.
Fat transfer restores lost facial volume with your own fat tissue. Part of the transferred tissue can be resorbed, which is why an additional procedure is sometimes needed.
Double chin laser liposuction removes the fat tissue under the chin and tightens the skin with the laser in the same procedure. The method was developed by Duško Maletić, MD, MSc, and presented at the congress in Paris in 2012.
Alongside these procedures we also perform brow lifting, whose price is listed in the price list.
The appropriate method is determined at the examination, according to the anatomical cause of the change and the expected result.
What changes
What most often changes
The result of a procedure is assessed not only by appearance but also by changes in function and in everyday discomfort.
- a clearer contour of the jawline and neck after a tissue-lifting procedure
- reduction of excess skin or fat pads of the eyelids
- correction of the position and shape of the ears
- improved nasal airflow after functional nose surgery
- restored volume or improved skin quality, depending on the chosen method
The extent of the result differs depending on the initial findings, the chosen method and the individual course of recovery.
Next step
Arranging an exam
An examination can be arranged by phone or through the contact page, in Zagreb or Daruvar. At the exam we assess the findings, the indication and the possible methods of treatment.
The prices of all procedures are listed in the price list, and you can find other treatments and operations on the Aesthetic Surgery & Medicine page.
Book a discreet consultation for an examination
Zagreb and Daruvar, weekdays 8:00–20:00.