As a primary mode for expressing ourselves, our faces are often the center of attention. They are also constantly exposed to the elements, and this may be the first place we start to notice signs of aging or sun damage. A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a plastic surgery procedure that eliminates loose, sagging skin around the mid-face and jawline, tightens the underlying facial muscles and tissues, and creates a revitalized, youthful facial appearance.
The board-certified plastic surgeons at Center for Plastic Surgery offer facelift surgery to help patients from Washington, DC; Chevy Chase and Bethesda, MD; Arlington and Fairfax, VA; and surrounding areas look naturally refreshed and more youthful. Known for providing some of the best facelift results, our surgeons’ facial rejuvenation expertise and case histories are unmatched by other practices in the area.
American Board of Plastic Surgery · Fellow, American College of Surgeons
At Center for Plastic Surgery, we perform facelifts and neck lifts as one surgery. A neck lift is a surgical procedure that improves the contour of the neck by repositioning the skin and muscles. If you have significant sagging around the neck and jawline, your plastic surgeon may combine the two procedures.
While there’s no best age to undergo this procedure, the best candidates for a facelift have sagging skin around the face and neck but still have good skin elasticity and bone structure. Additionally, facelift candidates:
All modern-day facelifts include work on the deep plane of the face. Our surgeons are comfortable and knowledgeable with the various deep plane techniques and will help you choose the right approach for your goals and anatomy. Each procedure is unique to the needs, anatomy, and goals of the patient; therefore, your consultation with one of our experienced, board-certified plastic surgeons will be useful in determining the best facelift option for you.
A mini facelift is a less invasive procedure than a traditional facelift, with a focus on the lower-mid region of the face, treating mild to moderate facial sagging around the mouth and jawline. Occasionally, these can be performed under local anesthesia.
Candidates for a less invasive mini facelift have early facial aging and are often in their late thirties or forties. This procedure is also called a short-scar facelift because the incisions are shorter than those made for a traditional facelift. Recovery can be shorter as well. Keep in mind that the improvements from a mini facelift are more limited than what can be achieved with a traditional facelift.
In most cases, we will combine a full facelift with a neck lift, as many patients will experience similar rates of aging along both the neck and face. This allows our plastic surgeons to create a more cohesive, harmonious result. Candidates for a neck lift may exhibit:
People who are not ready for or interested in surgery may consider a liquid facelift. This non-surgical procedure rejuvenates the face with a combination of dermal filler and BOTOX® Cosmetic injections. Below are some comparisons between a surgical facelift and a liquid facelift:
Facelift: Have moderate to advanced skin laxity and sagging tissues on the cheeks, around the mouth, and along the jawline.
Liquid Facelift: Have early signs of aging, such as mild marionette lines or nasolabial folds; volume loss around the eyes, on the cheeks, and at the temples; and wrinkles across the forehead, between the eyebrows, and at the outer corners of the eyes.
Facelift: Requires about two weeks of downtime, with dramatic yet natural-looking results that last from six to ten years or more.
Liquid Facelift: Requires no downtime or recovery, with subtle results that make patients look refreshed. Results can last six months to a year.
Not sure which option is best for you? Center for Plastic Surgery has a long history in facelifting and facial rejuvenation surgeries. We will help guide you in the best approach for your goals and anatomy and answer any questions you have during your consultation. Our FACE360 program incorporates a multimodal approach to facial rejuvenation, helping patients determine which combination of surgical, non-surgical, and non-invasive procedures will give them the ideal results for their needs. Instead of focusing on surgery, we also consider the appearance and condition of the skin when creating a treatment plan.
Some patients need more attention to surgical procedures, and some benefit from a quality, medical-grade skincare program or nonsurgical procedures such as BOTOX® Cosmetic, fillers, and resurfacing options done in our office. No other practice in the area offers such a comprehensive and detailed program.
At CPS, the consultation is a vital step in the plastic surgery process, as it gives you the opportunity to meet with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons and ask any questions you may have, discuss the risks and benefits of a facelift, and get a good idea of what you can reasonably expect from the results.
Our facial rejuvenation experts are highly trained and have decades of experience performing facelift surgeries with natural-looking yet transformational results. Our board-certified facial plastic surgeons will walk you through the facelift process and help you create a custom surgical plan that addresses all of your needs.
The pre-surgical meetings at CPS also focus on preparing you for your surgery; each member of our team–including our surgeons, nurses, and support staff–is committed to helping patients throughout their surgical process to ensure a safe and satisfactory experience.
Each facelift that our surgeons perform is unique to the patient, so your facelift process may look a little different than someone else’s. However, a general facelift procedure is as follows:
Your facelift will be performed either in our Virginia office’s accredited outpatient surgery suite or at a local hospital in Washington, DC, depending on which is more convenient for you. Surgery will be performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation administered by one of our board-certified anesthesiologists.
Although most of our facelifts are performed as outpatient surgeries, some patients choose an overnight hospital stay for convenience or because they are coming from out of town. We can help arrange hotel accommodations as well as around-the-clock or overnight nursing care, depending on your wishes and needs.
Your surgeon will begin by making carefully hidden incisions behind the hairline at the temples and around the front of the ear. Through these incisions, they will reduce and reposition the deeper fatty tissues beneath the skin along the neck and jowls. The deep plane and underlying SMAS layer and facial and neck muscles are tightened, and then excess skin is removed. When the desired results are achieved and a natural contour of the face and neck has been restored, your incisions will be closed and sutured. The J-Plasma treatment may be used to smooth fine lines and wrinkles and enhance skin tightening. Fat grafting is often used to restore volume to the cheeks and nasolabial folds using your own natural tissue.
We often perform laser resurfacing or light chemical peeling at the time of facelift surgery to not only rejuvenate lax skin and tissue but also to improve the overall beauty and quality of the skin.
Immediately after your procedure, you will be wrapped in a turban-style surgical dressing that extends under your neck and chin. In some cases, drains may be placed during surgery. Your surgeon will provide you with specific aftercare instructions on incision care, controlling swelling, facial massage, and more.
Be sure to follow your aftercare instructions carefully, as these will help your healing process and comfort immensely. You will need to prioritize getting enough rest as you heal, but it’s also important to incorporate light movement as soon as you feel up to it, as this will reduce the risk of blood clotting.
You may be asked to avoid strenuous movement and exercise for a few weeks after your procedure. You will experience swelling and bruising, which will peak within 3 to 4 days post-op and can vary between the sides of your face. Your aftercare instructions will include things you can do to minimize swelling and bruising, including:
Each patient will have a slightly different recovery process, as each person’s natural healing process and surgical plans will vary. A general facelift recovery timeline is as follows:
“I’d look in the mirror and I didn’t feel like how I internally felt.”
Well, I’m 72 this week and I look 45, so I’m totally happy. My neck is gone, which used to go from here to here, but now is a right angle. Jowls are gone. He’s a genius.
Mostly I feel so much more confident. You know, you get all dressed up and you got this crepey neck and you just feel like you can’t look your best. And even though it’s not just that, you don’t look the way you feel, right?
Sisters Val and Winnie describe their facelift surgery with Dr. Arjun P. Kanuri at Center for Plastic Surgery, in their own words. Read their full story
The cost of a facelift in Washington, D.C., depends on the details of the surgical plan, including the techniques used and the level of necessary revision, as well as the type of anesthesia used and whether you have combined procedures or not.
Center for Plastic Surgery facelifts start at a pricing range of $14,000, which includes all surgical fees, anesthesia fees, the combined neck lift, office visits, and compression wraps.
While no minimally invasive or non-surgical treatment can compare with the skin tightening and deep lifting results of a facelift, there are other options available for patients to enhance and maintain the results of their procedures:
Minimally invasive skin procedures such as Halo® laser skin rejuvenation, Sciton® laser skin resurfacing, and J-Plasma skin tightening can enhance the results of surgical and nonsurgical facelifts.
Our surgeons conceal the facelift scars within the hairline and natural facial creases. The scars initially look pink and gradually turn white as they heal, eventually becoming unnoticeable. For optimal results, protect your scars by wearing high-quality sunscreen with at least SPF 15 daily. If you wear makeup, apply your sunscreen first.
Our traditional or full facelift generally incorporates a neck lift to tighten skin and vertical neck bands. However, each patient is different, so you may not need to combine your facelift with a neck lift, or you may benefit from revitalizing other areas of the face, such as the brows or under and lower eyelids.
In any case, your surgeon will work with you to determine which procedures, be they surgical or non-surgical, will best complement your facelift and provide the best results.
The answer is as individual as you are. While surgery can turn back the clock, it does not stop aging. Facial aging will continue at a normal rate for you. Some patients begin to consider a second facelift in 6 to 10 years, while many patients never have a second procedure.
Alternatively, facelift patients may benefit from non-surgical rejuvenation treatments to maintain their results for even longer.
Most people need about two to four weeks to return to their daily activities. You’ll also need to skip strenuous activities for the first four to six weeks, depending on your surgeon’s instructions.
It mostly comes down to what type of facelift you’re getting. A full facelift typically takes longer to heal than a mini version. Your surgeon’s experience also matters, along with your age and overall health before surgery.
From our article: Facelift Recovery Time
Many years ago, facelifts were primarily done by stretching skin across the face. While this technique reduced wrinkles and folds, it often created an unnatural, “windblown” appearance.
But there’s good news: Facelift techniques have greatly improved over the years. Instead of just pulling the skin, modern facelifts adjust the delicate ligaments and soft tissues deeper in the face. This method provides natural-looking lift and volume that help you look like a younger version of yourself.
From our article: 4 Common Facelift Myths—Busted
Both men and women benefit from the anti-aging power of facelift surgery. It’s perfectly normal for men to care about their appearance and want to look at the top of their game. In fact, men accounted for 1.3 million of all cosmetic procedures performed in 2018, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. This number continues to grow as aesthetic procedures become more popular, and people of all genders want to look and feel their best.
From our article: 4 Common Facelift Myths—Busted
Most insurance companies require procedures to be deemed medically necessary in order to qualify for coverage. Since a facelift is classified as a cosmetic surgery, most insurance companies will not consider it for coverage. You can contact your insurance provider to learn what your specific plan entails.
From our article: How Much Is a Facelift?
Many patients pay for their facelifts with the assistance of financing options. Center for Plastic Surgery strongly believes that patients shouldn’t have to put the procedures they want on hold due to financial limitations. At our practice, we offer financing through CareCredit®, which allows you to start treatment immediately and pay for it over time through a set monthly payment plan.
From our article: How Much Is a Facelift?
If you would like to learn more about how a facelift can restore your confidence and help you age with grace, fill out our online contact form or call Center for Plastic Surgery today at (301) 652-7700.
