If the skin on your face is lax, sagging, or wrinkled, a long-lasting anti-aging solution is available at Aesthetic Surgery Centre & Medical Spa in Puyallup, Tacoma, and Federal Way, Washington. Our outstanding plastic surgeons offer customized facelifts with stunning, natural-looking results. Call our office to schedule a consultation, or fill out our online inquiry form today.
A facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure designed to address visible signs of aging in the lower two-thirds of your face and neck. This tried-and-true technique is one of the most effective ways to tighten sagging skin, smooth deep wrinkles, and reposition facial tissues that have shifted over time. During your facelift procedure, excess skin is trimmed away, underlying tissues are gently lifted, and the remaining skin is re-draped, leaving you with a natural, refreshed look.
When you’ve exhausted minimally invasive or non-surgical facial rejuvenation options, a facelift is the perfect way to target moderate to severe signs of aging in the mid-face, jawline, and neck.
While the goal of all facelifts is to address signs of aging, the type of facelift performed will depend on your goals, anatomy, and the extent of your facial aging. A full or traditional facelift addresses your lower face, jawline, and neck, and is the most comprehensive option if you have significant sagging skin, jowls, and deeply etched wrinkles. It is sometimes called a SMAS facelift, as it repositions and tightens the underlying muscles in the SMAS layer of your face, removing excess skin and providing dramatic and lasting results.
A mini facelift is a less invasive version of a traditional facelift, designed to target early signs of aging in the lower face and jawline. It can address mild to moderate skin laxity, smoothing jowls, tightening sagging cheeks, and defining your jawline. This procedure is ideal for patients who want to refresh their appearance but don’t yet need a full facelift.
A mid-facelift focuses primarily on the middle portion of your face. It focuses on elevating the fat pads in your cheeks to restore youthful volume and lift sagging tissue; however, it does not address signs of aging in the neck or jawline. It’s often ideal for younger patients who are not yet ready for a full facelift.
A deep plane facelift is a more advanced technique that targets the deeper layers of facial tissue underneath the SMAS layer. Rather than tightening the skin and SMAS separately, a deep plane procedure lifts them as one unit, allowing for a more natural, subtly rejuvenated appearance. This type of facelift is an excellent choice for correcting deep nasolabial folds and sagging in the midface.
A facelift can help reverse the effects of gravity, sun damage, and the natural aging process, giving you a more youthful facial contour, smoother skin, and a firmer jawline. Benefits include:
Good candidates for a facelift at Aesthetic Surgery Centre & Medical Spa are men and women between 40 and 70 years old, though there is no real upper or lower age limit, as everyone has unique needs. You should be in good physical health, a non-smoker, near your ideal body weight, and have realistic expectations for your results.
Ideal candidates for a facelift typically have good skin elasticity and may want to address sagging, lax skin or deep wrinkles in their lower face or neck. They may also be bothered by jowls or a lack of definition in their jawline. Finally, candidates for a facelift are looking for long-lasting results that aren’t achievable with non-surgical cosmetic treatments.
The best way to determine if you’re a good candidate for a facelift is by scheduling a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who is trained and experienced in facelift surgery.
A facelift is an outpatient surgery performed using general anesthesia and typically includes the following steps:
Your surgeon begins your facelift procedure by making carefully placed incisions, usually hidden strategically in your hairline and in the natural creases of your ears to minimize visible scarring.
Using these incisions, your surgeon gently lifts and repositions your underlying SMAS facial muscles and tissues, removing or redistributing fat as needed, and trimming away excess lax skin.
If necessary, a second incision may be made under your chin to address aging concerns in your neck and ensure comprehensive results.
Once all adjustments are complete, your surgeon meticulously redrapes your skin over the improved contours of your face, and the incisions are closed with sutures.
Once the incisions are closed, sterile dressings are applied, and a drain may be placed to help minimize swelling and fluid buildup.
Recovery from a facelift varies by patient, depending on the extent of the surgery and whether you choose to combine other aesthetic procedures with your facelift for more comprehensive results. Below are some general guidelines for what to expect from your facelift recovery:
The first week following facelift surgery is when you will experience the most noticeable swelling and bruising, especially around your cheeks, jawline, and neck. Some discomfort is normal and can be easily managed with prescription or over-the-counter pain medications and cold compresses. You’ll need to rest with your head elevated for at least the first two weeks to minimize swelling, and avoid strenuous activities and exercise for at least four to six weeks. You should also limit physical activity the first week to short, slow walks around your home to encourage blood flow and healing.
Swelling and bruising begin to fade by week two of your facelift recovery, and you may feel well enough to resume light daily activities. Sutures are typically removed during a follow-up visit seven to ten days after surgery. You will likely be cleared to return to work and most of your everyday activities as long as they are not physically demanding. Social activities can also be resumed, and any lingering discoloration from bruising can be covered with makeup.
At the one-month mark following your facelift, most of the visible swelling and bruising will have resolved, and you’ll begin to see your facelift results continue to improve. Your skin will look firmer, your jawline will be smoother, and your facial contours will appear more youthful. You’ll still need to avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting until about six weeks after surgery (or until cleared by your surgeon), but you should be back to most of your regular routines.
As your healing continues, your facelift results will become even more apparent. Residual swelling will continue to diminish, and your incision lines will start to fade. If you experienced a feeling of tightness or numbness after surgery, this is the point in your recovery when regular sensation will begin to return. While your results will continue to refine over the next several months, most people are thrilled with their youthful transformation by this point in their recovery.
Your surgeon will provide detailed post-operative instructions and schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your healing. Following those instructions and attending follow-up appointments are essential to reducing the risk of complications and ensuring optimal results.
While you’ll notice some improvements in your face shortly after surgery, your final facelift results will take several weeks to fully develop as swelling subsides and your skin and other tissues settle into their new positions. The final outcome is a smoother, firmer, and more youthful appearance that can take years off your face.
Results from a facelift are long-lasting, usually enduring for ten or more years. However, it’s important to remember that the natural aging process will continue, so it is essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle, use quality skincare products, and avoid sun exposure to help preserve your results for as long as possible.
Many patients combine other facial rejuvenation procedures with their facelift to achieve more balanced and comprehensive rejuvenation. Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) can be done to address sagging upper or lower eyelids, while a brow lift can elevate your brows and smooth forehead wrinkles. A neck lift can tighten skin and soften the platysmal bands in your neck, eliminating horizontal lines. Combining procedures can enhance your overall outcome and reduce the need for multiple recovery periods.
Aesthetic Surgery Centre & Medical Spa also offers a variety of non-surgical options to enhance your facelift results, including laser resurfacing, injectable fillers, and skin tightening treatments.
The cost of a facelift in Tacoma, WA, can vary depending on several factors, including your surgeon’s experience, the complexity of the procedure, and whether additional cosmetic procedures are combined with your facelift.
During your consultation, you will receive a personalized quote based on your individual surgical plan. Aesthetic Surgery Centre & Medical Spa also offers financing options to ensure every patient can realize their goals for a more youthful appearance.
As with any surgical procedure, there are potential risks and complications associated with a facelift, including:
Choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in facelift procedures significantly reduces your chances of experiencing complications or unsatisfactory results. Additionally, following your surgeon’s pre- and post-operative instructions to the letter will help ensure a smooth, complication-free recovery and gorgeous results.
If you’re looking for the best way to address significant facial aging, a facelift may be the solution. To learn more about facelift surgery and other facial rejuvenation options that can deliver stunning, natural-looking results, it’s time to schedule a consultation at Aesthetic Surgery Centre & Medical Spa. To learn more, call us at (253) 627-2900 or complete the online contact form.
