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Facelift

A facelift is designed to improve the appearance of the face by addressing the cheeks, jawline, and neck. In many individuals, the face can show the most pronounced signs of age. This is commonly a result of excessive sun exposure, lifestyle habits, genetics, and tobacco use, as well as the natural effects of the aging process. These factors often culminate in the development of lax skin and jowls. A facelift can be an excellent solution to tighten loose tissue in these areas, thereby reducing jowls and sagging skin in the anterior neck. If you are bothered by facial aging, our experienced plastic surgeon at Luxxery Boutique can address these concerns and provide you with a more rejuvenated and youthful aesthetic.

Quick Facts About a Facelift

  • Candidates: Women and men in overall good health experiencing significant loose, sagging skin along the middle to lower facial areas and the neck may be ideal candidates for a facelift.
  • Potential Benefits: A more youthful, smooth, and firm appearance in the lower face and upper neck are some of the advantages offered by facelift surgery. This treatment can also reduce signs of jowls and create a more defined chin contour, and it is known to produce long-lasting results for many patients.
  • Surgery Details: Facelift surgery typically takes approximately 3 to 4 hours to complete, and general anesthesia is typically necessary for this procedure.
  • Recovery: Most individuals will need a minimum of two weeks after the procedure to rest and recover before resuming work and other normal daily routines; however, total healing time varies by patient.
  • Cost: The cost of facelift surgery at our practice starts at approximately $10,000. The total price will ultimately depend on the customized treatment plan and factors associated with each individual surgery.

Am I a Candidate for a Facelift?

While there is no “best” age for a facelift, the procedure can be effective for any patient who shows signs of aging in the lower face and believes they may benefit from this popular facial plastic surgery. Depending on your cosmetic goals and unique needs, a facelift can help individuals who wish to:

  • Tighten the facial skin to improve the appearance of lax tissue
  • Minimize the look of jowls
  • Reposition facial fat in the mid-face to highlight the cheeks
  • Tighten facial musculature
  • Remove a mild amount of fat in the jowl region

The general result of facelift surgery can be a younger-looking version of yourself. Our plastic surgeons are very careful to ensure the procedure rejuvenates your appearance without changing the character of your face so that the results can appear as natural as possible.

What Does the Facelift Procedure Involve?

A facelift is usually performed as an outpatient procedure, although some patients may stay overnight on the day of surgery. Incisions are made within the hairline and around the ears to discreetly access the facial region, where the fat can be repositioned while the muscle and skin are tightened. The type of facelift that our plastic surgeons perform does not involve pulling the facial skin extremely tight. As a result, patients generally don’t have an overly-lifted or “frozen” appearance that may indicate a poorly performed facelift. Rather, the deep tissues are meticulously repositioned to obtain a more youthful and refined appearance.

When Can I Expect During Recovery From Facelift Surgery?

Patients are often surprised by how well-tolerated the recovery period can be after facelift surgery. In general, you can expect large dressings and some degree of bruising and swelling, which should subside naturally as healing progresses. Depending on the details of a patient’s treatment plan, the surgery requires about two weeks of healing time before normal activities can be resumed. Results can vary from patient to patient, but the general outcome is usually a significant reduction in laxity and a tighter, firmer, and smoother facial appearance.

How Long Does a Facelift Last?

With an attentive skin care routine and healthy lifestyle, the results of a facelift can last for many years. It is also important to note that, in a way, facelift surgery “resets” the clock. Although the natural aging process will continue, patients who have had a facelift should find it possible to always look more youthful at their present age than they would if they had never had the procedure. Dr. Hakki recommends using high-quality sun protection, maintaining a stable weight, eating nutritious foods, and staying adequately hydrated to aid in extending the outcome of facelift surgery.

How Noticeable Are Facelift Scars?

Generally, the incisions for facelift surgery are placed in relatively discreet areas, such as within the hairline, behind the ear, and beneath the chin, so the residual scars upon healing are as concealed as possible. Dr. Hakki is highly skilled in the surgical techniques and artistry required to minimize noticeable scarring and makes every effort to reduce their visibility. Additionally, following post-procedure care instructions to ensure the incisions heal properly can help the scars fade to some extent over time.

How Much Does a Facelift Cost?

The starting cost for a facelift at Luxxery Boutique is $10,000, which typically includes the surgeon’s fee, anesthesia, use of the surgical facility, and follow-up care. Facelift procedures can often be accompanied by other treatments—such as facial fat transfer, brow lift, or eyelid surgery—if additional options have been requested for inclusion in the treatment plan, so the total costs will vary for each patient based on those factors and others. During a free consultation with Dr. Hakki, he will complete a health evaluation and discuss your goals to determine a personalized treatment plan with a detailed estimate of all costs. Our staff can also connect you with dependable healthcare lending companies that can assist qualified applicants with financing options.

Is a Non-Surgical Facelift Possible?

Although effective facial rejuvenation can often be accomplished with non-surgical aesthetic injectable treatments and other skin renewal techniques, the only way to significantly tighten loose facial tissues and sagging skin in the lower area of the face is a surgical facelift. With that said, strategic placement of neuromodulators, such as BOTOX® Cosmetic, and dermal fillers, like Restylane® and JUVÉDERM®, can help reduce the signs of aging. Chemical peels and skin needling treatments can also help to diminish signs of fine lines, wrinkles, and other aesthetic concerns for a refreshed, youthful appearance. However, the results will be temporary and ongoing touch-ups will be necessary to maintain the effects. Dr. Hakki will be able to discuss surgical and non-surgical options once you have been evaluated during the initial consultation to determine the treatment plan that can successfully achieve your cosmetic enhancement goals.

Additional Frequently Asked Questions About Facelift Surgery

Is a facelift painful?

Although patients can expect some degree of swelling, bruising, discomfort, and numbness in the treatment areas after facelift surgery, it is less common to experience feelings of pain. Typically, these effects can be addressed with oral medication as needed, appropriate amounts of rest, and by following all post-operative recovery instructions. Most patients are able to discontinue use of medicinal support after a few days.

Will my face look “pulled” or “stretched” after facelift surgery?

Expertly trained and experienced plastic surgeons are typically able to execute facelift procedures that produce a more refreshed, youthful appearance without looking “overdone” or unnatural. A qualified surgeon will understand how to incorporate a patient’s age, skin elasticity, and facial features along with aesthetic goals to create the best possible result that naturally enhances the anatomy and characteristics of the individual.

What is the best age for a facelift?

The appropriate time for a facelift is less about age than the extent of signs of aging in the lower two-thirds of the face. Although many patients opt to undergo a facelift in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, it can be more beneficial to consider the procedure based on visible cosmetic concerns, including wrinkles, sagging skin, the appearance of jowls, and submental fat. Many factors can affect the timing, such as genetics and lifestyle choices related to sun exposure, smoking, diet, exercise, and more. During a consultation, Dr. Hakki will be able to assess your individual concerns and develop a customized treatment based on your unique needs and goals.

Is a facelift different for a woman vs. a man?

The ultimate goal of a facelift procedure is generally to create a more youthful appearance. With that said, there are certain distinctions with men and women that may be different in terms of surgery. These can include the surgical technique and placement of incisions, especially for men with receding hairlines and/or certain beard patterns. Other factors to consider are the facial shape, skin thickness, underlying structure and tissues, and goals for the outcome. As such, aesthetic preferences commonly differ for men and women. Men usually request a sharper, strongly defined jawline while women desire softer, more narrow contours.

Dr. Hakki understands that cosmetic enhancements are built upon personal goals, despite typical gender conventions, and designs each surgery for the individual’s ideal outcome.

How many years younger will I look after a facelift?

In general, facelift patients may find the procedure capable of turning back the aging clock by about 5 to 10 years, sometimes even more, depending on the individual. To optimize the outcome of facial rejuvenation with facelift surgery, it can be helpful to include other surgical and/or non-surgical treatments to address wrinkles and creases in the upper facial region, tired-looking or puffy eyelids, facial volume loss, or other conditions if they are contributing to your concerns. Dr. Hakki will discuss all of your cosmetic goals during a consultation to advise which procedures can provide the most comprehensive, youthful appearance.

If you have any questions, our team at Luxxery Boutique can help you better understand the facelift procedure. Please contact our Waldorf practice if you would like to schedule a consultation, or if you want to learn more about our services.