Facelift

Your face is the first feature anyone sees when interacting with you. This can be cumbersome since it experiences so many changes from gravity, sun damage, and volume loss as you age.

Being aware of these changes can negatively impact the way you present yourself to the world. Fortunately, facelift surgery effectively tightens sagging skin and facial muscles to improve facial fullness and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

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What Are the Benefits of Facelift Surgery?

You Can Look Younger

Facelift surgery targets the most common signs of aging on the face and neck like wrinkles and folds by providing patients with firmer, smoother skin. Even with all the recent advances in their techniques, nonsurgical alternatives cannot match the results of a traditional surgical facelift.

You Can Maintain a Natural Appearance

Many people fear that facelift surgery will make them appear too pulled or artificial. Dr. Spies uses the latest techniques to ensure that patients achieve natural-looking results without the worrisome signs of having too much surgery.

You Can Have Lasting Improvement

Facelift surgery manipulates the skin and tissue to provide long-lasting improvement for the natural signs of aging like sagging skin, wrinkles, and volume loss. While facelift surgery cannot stop the aging process, it can correct the symptoms that have already developed.

Testimonial

“Dear Dr. Spies,
wanted to let you know how much I love my “new face”. It just gets better every day. The work you do is wonderful and I felt so secure, knowing that when it was all over I would still look like me- only much better. Your staff of ladies are the best! I always feel so comfortable with them. Really, I can’t thank you enough.

Warmly,
N.J.”

“Dr. Spies,
want to thank you for your excellent mastery on my face. The whole experience was perfect. Thank you also for your gentle patience and great bed side manner, and your welcome and friendly smile.

Hugs,
R.J.B.”

What Can Be Achieved With a Facelift?

Reduction of Wrinkles

Collagen and elastin maintain skin elasticity and strength. These proteins naturally diminish as you age, resulting in the development of fine as well as deep lines and wrinkles around the cheeks, nose, and mouth. Facelift surgery tightens the tissues on the lower face, the mid-face, and the neck to restore youthful definition and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Restoration of Volume

As collagen and elastin production begin to slow, the fat throughout the face fades as well, leading to sunken, depressed areas around the cheeks, beneath the eyes, and between the nose and mouth. Facelift surgery tightens and compacts the underlying tissue and muscles, which returns the facial volume to its correct elevation.

Lessening of Jowls

When the facial volume on the cheeks starts to sag, the tissues fall toward the jawline. This tissue remains at the jawline to form jowls—empty pockets of tissue laxity. Jowls distort the angular contour of your jawline and make you appear older than you are. Facelift surgery lifts the jowl-forming tissue to slim and sculpt the jawline.

Facelift Procedure

Incisions begin on either side of the face in the hairline near the temple and continue toward the backside of the ear. Dr. Spies tightens the underlying muscles and fascia and trims excess skin along the incision line. This technique allows the lift to last longer and look more natural compared to the methods that only tighten the skin. An additional incision may be made beneath the chin to tighten the neck.

Your facelift, including the correction of an aging neck, can be completed in three to four hours.

Concerns

Recovery

The face will be wrapped following your facelift surgery. These bandages will stay for the first two days. Small drains beneath the skin are removed at the same time. After they are removed, patients can wash their hair and return to some of their normal activities. Most patients resume their regular routine after one to two weeks and exercise after three to four weeks.

Scars

Facelift surgery requires incisions on either side of the face. Scarring will develop along these incisions. Dr. Spies strategically places these within the hairline and around the ear so that they will be hidden. Scar massage techniques help scars fade and flatten quickly.

Pain

Facelift surgery is performed with the aid of anesthesia so that there is no discomfort during the surgery. Patients may experience some pain and discomfort during the first week of their recovery, but these symptoms can be managed with prescribed pain medication. Cold compresses and over-the-counter pain medication can help control discomfort for patients who do not wish to take prescription medication.

Cost

The cost of your facelift surgery is dependant on several factors. These cost factors include anesthesia fees, facility fees, surgeon’s fees, pre-surgical tests, and post-surgical dressings. The price of your facelift will also vary if an additional surgical procedure is performed in combination with your facelift. While there are several variations, the average surgical fee for a facelift is between $17,500 and $20,000. You will be given an accurate cost estimate during your consultation.

FAQs

Are there surgical risks when having a facelift?

Facelift surgery is an invasive but safe procedure. Dr Spies takes every precaution before, during and after surgery to lower the risk of a surgical complication. However, there are risks including:

Bleeding
Hematoma
Infection
Poor scarring
Hair loss around the incision site
Nerve injury
Skin necrosis

You can reduce your risk of these by avoiding nicotine products and following all of Dr. Spies’ instructions and recommendations before and after the procedure.

What procedures can be combined with a facelift?

Facelift surgery addresses the middle face, the lower face, and can be extended to the neck. Since it does not restore youthfulness to the upper region of the face, some patients choose to combine their facelift with an eyelid lift or brow lift to maintain balance and harmony between the features.

Are there nonsurgical alternatives to a facelift?

Nonsurgical injectable treatments like JUVÉDERM®, Restylane®, and Sculptra® Aesthetic can restore lost volume and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and creases. Nonsurgical laser treatments can minimize fine lines and wrinkles. While both of these treatments target the same aging concerns as facelift, neither of them can correct as much age-related laxity and volume as facelift surgery nor are they as long-lasting.

How long does a facelift last?

The results of a facelift are permanent. However, it is important to remember that there is no surgery that can prevent the future development of sagging skin and other signs of aging. While you may eventually develop these symptoms again, your face will always look younger than it would without undergoing the facelift.

How long does it take to recover from a facelift?

Most patients are able to return to their regular routines after one or two weeks of recovery. By week three or four, they are able to begin exercising and other more rigorous activities. You should be cleared by Dr. Spies before returning to any of these activities to ensure the most optimal recovery and long-term results.

Verified Realself

Dr. Spies' office is located in Paradise Valley, Arizona, adjacent to the Paradise Valley Cosmetic Surgery Center.

Robert J. Spies, M.D.
5410 N Scottsdale Rd C 100
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
Tel: 480-359-1019