A facelift is designed to correct the natural effects of aging by restoring facial tissues to a more youthful position. The goal is not to change your appearance, but to help you look like a refreshed version of yourself—typically as you appeared about ten years earlier. A successful facelift produces natural-looking rejuvenation. Friends and family often notice that you look more rested, younger, healthier, or refreshed without realizing you have undergone cosmetic surgery.
About the Procedure
A facelift, also known as rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that rejuvenates the face and neck by tightening underlying tissues, removing excess skin, and restoring youthful facial contours.
Depending on your individual needs, a facelift may be combined with other facial rejuvenation procedures such as:
- Eyelid surgery (Blepharoplasty)
- Fat grafting for facial volume restoration
- Neck lift
- Other complementary facial rejuvenation treatments
Your personalized treatment plan is developed during your consultation based on your facial anatomy and aesthetic goals.
Who Is a Candidate?
- Sagging cheeks
- Loss of facial definition
- Deep folds around the mouth
- Loose skin along the jawline and neck
- Loss of facial volume
Many women begin considering facelift surgery in their fifties, while men often seek treatment slightly later. However, there is no upper age limit, provided the patient is medically fit for surgery.
Timing is important. Performing a facelift before severe skin laxity and deep wrinkles develop often provides more natural and longer-lasting results.
When facial aging is still mild and primarily limited to the cheeks, non-surgical treatments such as hyaluronic acid fillers and thread lifts may help postpone surgery for several years.
Multiple facelift procedures can be safely performed throughout life, typically with an interval of approximately 15 years between surgeries.
Consultation & Preoperative Assessment
A comprehensive consultation is essential to create the most appropriate treatment plan.
During your consultation, I carefully evaluate:
- Skin quality and elasticity
- Facial fat distribution
- Muscle tone and facial support structures
- Neck contour
- Areas of volume loss
- Overall facial balance
Clinical photographs are taken to assist with surgical planning.
Many patients have concerns about scarring, so I spend time explaining scar placement and expected healing. Properly placed facelift scars are designed to be discreet and well concealed within the hairline and around the ears.
Prior to surgery, patients will:
- Meet with the anesthesiologist at least 48 hours before surgery.
- Undergo routine blood tests, including coagulation studies.
- Stop smoking for at least one month before surgery to promote proper healing.
- Avoid aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications for 10 days before surgery unless otherwise directed by their physician.
Important Note:
If you regularly color your hair, it is recommended to do so several days before surgery, as hair coloring should be avoided for approximately one month afterward to protect the healing incisions.
Procedure
Facelift surgery is performed under either:
- Local anesthesia with sedation
- General anesthesia
The procedure typically lasts 3–4 hours.
Every facelift is customized according to each patient’s anatomy and aesthetic goals.
After carefully lifting the skin, I tighten the deeper facial support layer known as the Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System (SMAS) rather than simply tightening the skin. This provides more natural, longer-lasting results.
My preferred technique is the High-SMAS Facelift, which I learned in California in 2009.
When appropriate, the procedure may also include:
- Liposuction of the cheeks and neck
- Removal of excess skin
- Fat grafting to restore facial volume
The incisions are carefully positioned:
- Within the hairline at the temples
- Around the natural contours of the ear
- Behind the ear into the hairline
No shaving of the hair is required.
In some patients, a small incision beneath the chin may also be necessary to remove excess fat from the neck. This incision is discreetly hidden within a natural skin crease.
Recovery & Aftercare
Most patients remain in the hospital for approximately 48 hours and return home the day after surgery.
Follow-up appointments are typically scheduled:
- Approximately 4 days after surgery
- Around 7 days after surgery for suture removal
Pain is generally mild and well controlled with prescribed medication.
Patients commonly experience:
- Tightness of the face and neck
- Mild swelling
- Temporary stiffness when turning or bending the neck
- Mild bruising
These symptoms gradually improve over the following weeks.
Maintaining proper head and neck positioning is extremely important during the first few days to reduce swelling and minimize the risk of postoperative bleeding.
Patients are advised to:
- Keep the head elevated
- Avoid bending the neck downward
- Turn the shoulders rather than twisting the neck
- Avoid strenuous activities during the early recovery period
Hair washing is usually permitted after 2–3 days.
Most patients feel comfortable returning to normal social activities after approximately one week, although allowing three weeks before major social events is recommended to ensure swelling and bruising have fully resolved.
Scar care includes regular application of scar cream as recommended.
While scars become difficult for others to notice after approximately three weeks, complete scar maturation usually takes up to one year.
Temporary numbness of the cheeks may persist for 6–12 months as the nerves recover.
Possible Complications
Facelift surgery is generally very safe when performed by an experienced plastic surgeon.
Potential complications include:
- Bleeding or hematoma beneath the skin
- Infection
- Swelling and bruising
- Delayed wound healing, particularly in smokers
- Temporary numbness
- Rare temporary weakness of a branch of the facial nerve, which may cause slight asymmetry of the lower lip
In the uncommon event of temporary facial nerve weakness, recovery typically occurs within approximately three months as the nerve heals. If necessary, a small amount of botulinum toxin may be used on the opposite side to temporarily improve facial symmetry during recovery.
Results
A well-performed facelift restores youthful facial contours while preserving your natural facial expressions and identity.
The objective is not to create a different face, but rather to achieve a refreshed, rested, and naturally rejuvenated appearance that reflects how you feel, rather than your age.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about facelift surgery, our team will be happy to provide personalized guidance and help you determine the most suitable treatment plan for your goals.
