A facelift is a cosmetic procedure that involves removing excess skin, smoothing out folds or wrinkles, and tightening facial tissue. There is no medical need for a facelift and there may be risks.
As you age, skin and tissues naturally lose their elasticity. This leads to sagging and wrinkles. A facelift, also known as a wrinkleectomy, is a surgical procedure that lifts and tightens these facial tissues.
A facelift can involve removing excess skin, smoothing out folds or wrinkles, and tightening facial tissue. It does not involve a brow or eye lift, although these may be done at the same time.
A facelift focuses only on the lower two-thirds of the face and often on the neck or décolletage. People get facelifts for many different reasons. A common reason is to help mask the signs of skin aging.
Good candidates for a facelift include:
- healthy individuals who do not have medical conditions that may affect wound healing or recovery from surgery
- those who do not smoke or abuse substances
- those who have realistic expectations of what the operation entails
During a facelift, your surgeon repositions the fat and tissue under the skin to:
- help smooth out wrinkles
- remove excess skin that causes sagging or “stinging”
- lift and tighten facial skin
Michele Koo, MD, FACS, double board certified plastic surgeon and founder Private skin care clinicsays there are different types of facelifts, including:
- Mini facelift. A modified version of the facelift, the mini-lift targets loose skin around the neck and jawline.
- Mid-facelift. Also known as a cheek lift, the mid-face lift focuses on restoring sagging skin from the top of the mouth to the eyes. The area includes the cheeks and nose.
- Non-surgical facelift. A non-surgical facelift procedure does not require general anesthesia or large incisions, but still targets signs of aging, including sagging skin, folds and wrinkles. Vampire facelifts, liquid facelifts, and thread lifts are examples of non-surgical procedures that target the skin on the face.
Stafford Broumand, MD, board certified plastic surgeon with 740 Plastic Surgerynote that these terms are vague and surgeons may use other names.
Koo advises patients to let their surgeon know what area they would like to focus on, such as the lower face, rather than a specific term for the facelift.
The average cost of a facelift in 2017 was $7,448, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. This price does not include:
- hospital or surgery center costs
- anesthesia
- recovery costs
- other related costs
The final cost can be significantly higher.
Your individual cost will vary depending on the desired results, the expertise of the surgeon and your geographic location.
Average cost
In 2017, a facelift cost about $7,500 on average, not including hospital fees.
Koo says facelift consultations typically last 15 to 25 minutes, depending on how many questions the patient has. Broumand had consultations that lasted up to an hour.
During a consultation, Broumand says the doctor will look at:
- family and personal medical history;
- medicines
- possible contraindications, including smoking
- the patient’s surgical goals
- alternatives to a facelift if the patient is not a candidate for medical reasons (such as if the patient has a condition that increases the risks of undergoing general anesthesia)
“The consultation process is always an open dialogue,” says Broumand. “I want to make sure that every patient is comfortable with what’s going to happen and has a realistic idea of what their outcome is going to be.”
Next, Koo says the doctor will examine the skin in the areas a patient would like to target. The surgeon or a staff member will take pictures of the area.
Preparing for a facelift is similar to preparing for any other type of surgery. Before surgery, your doctor will order a blood test or preoperative evaluation.
You may be asked to stop taking certain medications or adjust the dose before the procedure.
Your doctor may also ask you to:
Regardless of whether the procedure is performed in a surgery center or a hospital, you will need someone to drive you to and from the operating room, as you will likely be under general anesthesia. It is a good idea to arrange for someone to stay with you for a night or two after the surgery.
Facelifts vary depending on the desired results.
Traditionally, an incision is made at the hairline near the temples. The incision goes in front of the ear, down in front and hugs the earlobe, then back to the bottom of the scalp behind the ears.
Fat and excess skin can be removed or redistributed from the face. The underlying muscle and connective tissue are redistributed and tightened. If there is minimal skin sagging, a “mini” facelift can be performed. This includes smaller incisions.
If a neck lift is also to be performed, excess skin and fat will be removed. The skin of the neck will tighten and pull up and back. This is often done through an incision just below the chin.
Incisions often have dissolvable sutures or skin glue. In some cases, you may need to return to the surgeon to have the stitches removed. The cuts are made in such a way that they blend with your hairline and facial structure.
You will often have a surgical drainage tube after the operation as well as bandages wrapped around your face.
There are risks to any medical procedure, including a facelift. Risks include:
Talk to your doctor about all the potential risks of a facelift to make sure the procedure is right for you.
After surgery, your doctor will likely prescribe pain medication. It is common to have some pain or discomfort, along with swelling and bruising.
Your doctor will give you instructions on when to remove any dressings or drains and when to schedule a follow-up appointment.
Once the swelling goes down, you will be able to see the difference in your appearance. As long as your skin “feels normal”, this usually lasts for several months.
Give yourself for 2 weeks before resuming your normal level of daily activity. For more strenuous activity, such as exercise, wait about 4 weeks. Everyone is different, so ask your doctor when you can expect to be able to resume your normal activities.
You can do the following to help to expand the results of your facelift:
- Moisturize your face daily.
- Protect your skin from the sun.
- Get lots of sleep.
- Eat a nutritionally dense, balanced diet.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Talk to your surgeon if any concerns arise.
The results of a facelift are not guaranteed. You may not get the desired results from one operation. Sometimes, a follow-up surgery is necessary.
Talk to your doctor about what you can do to ensure a successful facelift and what you can reasonably expect from the surgery.
If you have insurance, it probably won’t pay for a facelift, since a facelift is considered a cosmetic procedure.
You will want to make sure your surgeon is board certified American Board of Plastic Surgery or the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. This ensures that certain standards of training, expertise and best practices are met.
If you’ve had friends or family members who have had facelifts, this might be a good place to start. Ask them if they were satisfied with their surgeon. Do your research. Be sure to choose a doctor you feel comfortable with.
You may want to meet with more than one plastic surgeon and get second and third opinions. An informed decision is a smart decision.
A facelift is a cosmetic procedure that involves removing excess skin, smoothing out folds or wrinkles, and tightening facial tissue.
There is no medical need for a facelift and there are risks. It is important to keep in mind the basic preparation and recovery steps.
If you want to explore your options for a facelift, talk to a board-certified plastic surgeon to see if it’s right for you.
