Facelift | Cheek Lift

Patients who aren’t ready for a facelift or who aren’t good candidates for surgery can refresh their appearance with one of our minimally invasive treatments. Botox® and Juvéderm® are two of our most sought-after non-surgical options for facial rejuvenation. These injectables can minimize wrinkles and counter volume loss in one quick, easy procedure.

Our surgeons use careful techniques and thoughtful incision placement to minimize visible scarring after facelift surgery. While the incisions for a traditional facelift are long and extend from the temple to the lower hairline, a skilled surgeon will conceal them in natural creases and within the hairline, so they remain very discreet. After healing, most patients report little to no visible scarring.

An average facelift procedure takes between three and four hours.

As soon as aging starts to take a toll on your appearance, it is time to consider facelift surgery. There is no ideal age for this procedure. Most of our patients are between the ages of 50 and 70, but genetics and lifestyle choices make some patients a candidate for surgery in their 40s. If signs of aging are troubling you, come see us to explore your options. Our non-surgical treatments can subtly refresh your appearance if your degree of aging hasn’t advanced enough for surgery.

Most facelifts are performed under IV sedation or general anesthesia. If performed at an accredited facility and by experienced board-certified anesthesiologists, they are both very safe. Some surgeons prefer one over the other. I would trust your doctor and undergo whichever makes your surgeon comfortable. Depending on your health status, they are both safe forms of anesthesia.

Understanding the aging process is important to achieve a natural result. Years ago, we thought it was just loosening of the skin. But now plastic surgeons have realized that it is also a loss of volume. Therefore, we are filling the face with fillers or fat to restore lost volume and lifting and excising skin to restore skin laxity. Consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon who is willing to take the time to address your concerns is the most important. Look at his/her before and after pictures. Communication is the most important, so finding someone you can talk to is very important in addition to experience.

The scars from a facelift should be either well-hidden or difficult to see. After complete healing, they should be a pencil line thick and light in color. They do not disappear completely, but they should not be visible from a normal conversational distance (2.5 feet). Your hairstylist may see them, but she is much closer. Hairstyles often change after facelifts but not to hide the scars. Most women are simply happy with their fresher, more youthful appearance and want to update their hairstyle.

While using a compressive garment is not essential, we prefer patients to wear it for a portion of the day for the first few weeks after surgery. This garment helps limit swelling, speed up social recovery, and prevent complications. I generally ask patients to wear the garment at least 4 hours a day while they are up and moving about at home, but not to sleep in it, so it does not fold on itself and create creases in the skin.

A good general answer to this question is when non-surgical rejuvenating procedures, such as Botox and Juvederm, are not correcting your aging features. In the past, people would wait until they had excessive signs of facial aging. However, we realize now that it’s better to maintain a youthful appearance as you age. This will avoid a dramatic alteration in your appearance if you wait until your more senior years. While non-surgical procedures are a great way to look refreshed and youthful, there will become a point when they simply aren’t enough. Having a surgical procedure at this point is the best time.rnrnYou will be less likely to achieve a surgical or altered appearance and get more responses from friends like, “did you go on vacation?” or “did you lose weight?” instead of “did you have a facelift?” Once again, research your surgeon and consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon.