Face Lift (Rhytidectomy)

Face lift surgery lifts and firms sagging facial tissues to restore a more naturally youthful facial appearance. It is often said that having a facelift works to “turn back the clock,” helping a patient look like a younger version of him or herself. By removing excess, sagging skin, smoothing deep folds, and lifting and tightening the deep facial tissues, a face lift can help a patient look younger and have a fresher appearance. This common procedure is flexible and capable of catering to individual needs, often paired well with eyelid surgery or brow lift.

PROCEDURES

Face lifts, technically known as a rhytidectomy (“removal of wrinkles”), rejuvenate the mid to lower face and neck.

Standard Facelift

A standard or “traditional” face lift will more fully address moderate to advanced aging around the mid-face and neck. While the surgery is more extensive than those for a mini-facelift, and thus more recovery time is required, the results are more dramatic. Through incisions located just behind the hairline, starting near the temples, and around the front of the ear, hidden in the natural folds, allowing the repositioning of deeper tissues beneath the skin and removal of excess skin to smooth creases, eliminate jowling and sagging skin under the chin, and restore a naturally youthful contour to the face and neck. Fat transfer may also be used to improve contour.

Mini Facelift

Patients who exhibit a mild degree of jowling and sagging skin are often good candidates for a mini-face lift. This is a less invasive technique that allows the tightening of deep facial tissues through shorter incisions, typically located along the hairline above each ear and/or in the natural creases surrounding the ear. Through these incisions, structural tissues around the cheeks are lifted and tightened to correct jowling, refine the jawline, and rejuvenate a “tired” appearance. A mini-face lift can help you address unwelcome signs of aging before they become too pronounced, postponing the need for more extensive surgery for many years.

PROCEDURES

Face lifts, technically known as a rhytidectomy (“removal of wrinkles”), rejuvenate the mid to lower face and neck.

Standard Facelift

A standard or “traditional” face lift will more fully address moderate to advanced aging around the mid-face and neck. While the surgery is more extensive than those for a mini-facelift, and thus more recovery time is required, the results are more dramatic. Through incisions located just behind the hairline, starting near the temples, and around the front of the ear, hidden in the natural folds, allowing the repositioning of deeper tissues beneath the skin and removal of excess skin to smooth creases, eliminate jowling and sagging skin under the chin, and restore a naturally youthful contour to the face and neck. Fat transfer may also be used to improve contour.

Mini Facelift

Patients who exhibit a mild degree of jowling and sagging skin are often good candidates for a mini-face lift. This is a less invasive technique that allows the tightening of deep facial tissues through shorter incisions, typically located along the hairline above each ear and/or in the natural creases surrounding the ear. Through these incisions, structural tissues around the cheeks are lifted and tightened to correct jowling, refine the jawline, and rejuvenate a “tired” appearance. A mini-face lift can help you address unwelcome signs of aging before they become too pronounced, postponing the need for more extensive surgery for many years.

RECOVERY

The recovery process is surprisingly quick for most patients. At first, you may experience swelling, numbness, bruising, and a feeling of tightness or tension in the face and neck, and will be at their peak about 2 days after surgery. Most of these usually resolve within three to six weeks, but should be difficult to notice after about 10 to 14 days. Sensation typically returns to normal within a few months. Scars become less red, raised, lumpy or itchy in time. Patients typically return to normal daily activities after about 2 weeks (strenuous exercise will need to wait about 4 weeks) following a standard face lift, and these time frames are normally even shorter after a mini face lift. It’s especially important to keep your face protected from the sun. You will be more vulnerable to sunburn for several weeks after surgery, plus staying out of the sun will help scars heal as inconspicuously as possible, so apply sunscreen regularly.

FAQ

Am I a good candidate?

What is the difference between a facelift, brow lift, and an eyelid lift?

The difference between these three procedures rest in the area of the face that gets adjusted. A brow lift generally starts at the top of the forehead and moves down the face to the eyebrow. An eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) can include the areas of the bottom eyebrow and upper or lower eyelid. A midface lift works in the areas below the eyes down to about teeth level, cheek and jaw. Most of these procedures can be paired together.

How long do my results from a facelift last?

How much does the procedure(s) cost?