Everything You Need to Know About Facelifts: A Comprehensive Guide

Everything You Need to Know About Facelifts: A Comprehensive Guide

Barrett Plastic Surgery offers customizable Beverly Hills facelifts that address the patient's specific needs, but deciding to get a facelift takes serious time and consideration. However, historically, the procedure yields high, long-term satisfaction rates, with patients noting an increase in confidence lasting for years. One study followed up with patients 12 years after their facelift and found that two-thirds still felt a high degree of improvement and satisfaction with their results. To put those results into context further, these patients got their facelifts in the late 90s, and plastic surgery has grown leaps and bounds in the decades since, leading to higher satisfaction rates.

Taut faces pulled so tight that the patient resembles a wax figure version of their old selves is a thing of the past. Allure noted that facelift techniques have improved as we learn more about how aging affects the face, with surgeons now addressing the loss of facial volume as we age and not solely skin laxity. Modern facelifts prioritize natural-looking results that preserve the patient’s beauty while still allowing mobility. Plastic surgery will never be a magic wand that halts or completely erases aging, but most patients report improved self-esteem and overall well-being after their facelift. While different types of facelifts are a serious procedure, having a comprehensive understanding of the surgery reduces anxiety and empowers patients to make the best decision for them. Here is everything you need to know while considering a facelift.

What is a facelift?

Facelifts, known medically as a rhytidectomy, are a cosmetic procedure that addresses visible signs of aging in the neck and face. Rhytidectomies remove excess skin, tighten underlying muscles, and reposition facial tissues to create a more lifted, youthful appearance. During the surgery, the surgeon effectively reverses mid-face sagging, tightens loose skin, removes fat from under the chin, and smooths deep creases under the eyes and between the nose and mouth. The procedure has been considered the gold standard of facial rejuvenation for decades and is only growing in popularity. The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery stated that its members have performed 60% more facelifts now than in 2017.

How do I know if I’m a good candidate? Is there an age requirement?

Suitable candidates must have significant facial sagging but still some elasticity to the skin, be in relatively good health, and have realistic expectations for the results. Other candidates for rhytidectomies are those who have experienced skin sagging due to significant weight loss. Facelifts are highly customizable to focus on specific concerns, including sagging jowls, deep wrinkles, and loose skin. Patients should be aware that facelifts do not address the brows, eyelids, or nose; however, combining a facelift with other facial procedures is typical for a fully comprehensive transformation. Additionally, fat grafting, dermal fillers, facial implants, and skin resurfacing treatments can enhance the effects of a facelift.

The age of the average facelift candidate is starting to include younger demographics than in the past, with the under-50 crowd increasingly considering it as a maintenance procedure. In fact, some studies show that getting a facelift earlier in life has numerous benefits, like quicker recovery time and more natural-looking results. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that younger patients with “early or minimal signs of facial aging” achieve better results and higher satisfaction rates at least a decade after their surgery. 

How are facelifts performed?

There are four main different types of facelifts based on the patient’s specific needs:

Traditional Facelift: Also called a full facelift, this includes rejuvenation of the face, jowls, and neck, including lifting and repositioning the muscles and trimming extra skin. During this procedure, an incision is made at the temples, down to the front of the ear, around the earlobe, and behind the ear to the lower scalp at the hairline. The procedure takes around eight hours under general anesthesia.

Deep Plane Facelift: More extensive than a traditional facelift, this technique targets the entire face and neck with incisions in the sideburn area, the ears' folds, and along the hairline at the back of the neck. By releasing the four ligaments that anchor connective tissue and muscle, deep-plane facelifts resuspend the face for more dramatic results. The procedure takes around eight hours under general anesthesia.

Mid-Facelift: Also called a limited-incision facelift, this technique targets the middle of the face, including the cheeks and under the eyes, to restore volume and definition to the cheeks. During this procedure, tiny incisions are made at the temples and around the ears, sometimes in the lower eyelids and/or under the upper lip. The procedure takes around eight hours under general anesthesia.

Mini-Facelift: A mini facelift is a modification of a traditional facelift that specifically targets the lower part of the face, neck, and jawline. To perform a mini facelift, the surgeon will make small incisions in the hairline, around the upper portion of the ear, or encircling the earlobe. Then, the underlying muscle and tissue are repositioned through the opening to remove excess loose skin. The procedure takes around five hours under local or twilight anesthesia. A mini neck lift can also be performed at the same time of this procedure.

How should I prepare for my facelift?

During the initial consultation, patients will work closely with the surgeon to address specific goals and get a realistic understanding of potential results. Patients should quit smoking before surgery and stop taking medications and supplements that exacerbate bleeding. Before the procedure, patients must plan time away from work and child/pet care and find a caretaker to assist them back home after surgery and for the first 48 hours of recovery. Creating a post-op surgery kit before the procedure with filled prescriptions, comfy clothes, extra bandages, and anything else the patient will need will make recovery easier. 

What will the recovery process look like?

Swelling, numbness, bruising, and a feeling of tightness or tension in the face and neck are common post-surgery symptoms that may last 2-4 weeks. Some patients experience some facial asymmetry and muscle stiffness during the healing process, which gradually fades within a few weeks or months. The surgeon will provide detailed postoperative instructions, including scar management and details about removing bandages, and closely monitor your healing and recovery in the weeks and months following surgery. The immediate recovery period lasts ten days; the final results are usually seen in six months. Patients should avoid high-intensity activity and exercise during recovery. The results of a facelift can last for several years but cannot prevent the natural aging process. Over time, additional procedures may be necessary to maintain results. Scars from a facelift are hidden within the ear line and behind the ear.

Are there any risks?

Like all surgeries, there is the risk of blood clots, infection, and scarring. Finding a qualified, board-certified surgeon with a reputation for successful procedures significantly reduces the risk of complications. Other risks include:

• Fluid accumulation
• Adverse reaction to anesthesia 
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
• Skin irregularities and discoloration
• Temporary or permanent hair loss at incision sites

Are there any noninvasive options?

For those who want to hold off on or avoid going under the knife altogether, there are many noninvasive options to reverse signs of aging. Dermal fillers, Botox, or collagen induction therapy are excellent choices that don’t require surgery. Dermal fillers are gel-like substances injected beneath the skin to add or restore volume, smooth lines, soften creases, and enhance face and body features and contours. Barrett Plastic Surgery offers collagen induction therapy treatments, which use tiny needles to create small punctures in the skin. This process triggers the body’s natural healing response and stimulates collagen production to improve overall skin tone, texture, and radiance. 

What are the next steps?

If you’re interested in a facelift or you’re interested in the cost of a facelift, Barrett Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills offers consultations for more information. To learn more about Barrett Plastic Surgery, subscribe to our blog and follow us on social media at TikTok, Instagram, Realself, and YouTube for updates. Call us at (310) 398-2648 or fill out this virtual consultation form, and we will contact you as soon as possible. We’re excited for you to take this next step!