How It Works

Facelift (or “Rhytidectomy”) is a surgical procedure meant to counteract or lessen the effects of time and gravity on the face. With this procedure, excess facial and neck skin are removed, and the tissues under the skin are tightened.

The laws of physics and nature dictate that with age, our skin loses its elasticity. As a result, we often see a sagging of the jaw and neck line accompanied by loose folds of skin in the neck and around the mouth.

 Activities such as smoking, sunbathing, outdoor activities, and stress can alter the appearance of our faces. A facelift can reduce these signs of aging, resulting in a firmer, fresher appearance. A facelift is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedures in the United States. There is really no non-surgical alternative that can match the results of a properly performed facelift.

Face Lift Before & After Photos

Initial Consultation

At your initial consultation, Dr. Heffelfinger or Dr. Krein will interview you to get a thorough understanding of your medical history. Candidates must be in good health, have no active diseases or serious, pre-existing medical conditions, and must have realistic expectations of the outcome of the surgery.

He will then discuss your goals and the changes you seek with the facelift procedure. Some patients are better candidates for this surgery and will realize better results. Your doctor will discuss all these variables so you understand what your outcome might be.

In addition to discussing this surgery, your doctor may point out other options that might benefit you. He will show you before and after pictures of patients that have had this type of surgery, so that you may better understand the results you can expect.

The doctors at Jefferson Facial Plastics, with their excellent training and extensive experience with hundreds of these procedures, will answer all your questions.

At the end of the consultation, you will fully understand the surgical procedure, the surgical facility, anesthesia options, and the cosmetic benefits you might expect.

THE PROCEDURE

Facelift surgery is performed in our state-of-the-art operating room under general anesthesia, ensuring maximum comfort and safety throughout the procedure. The surgery involves carefully placed incisions that start near the temple within the hairline, extend in front of the ear, circle around the earlobe, and continue behind the ear, ending discreetly in the hairline. For patients including a neck lift, a small incision is also made beneath the chin.

During the procedure, your surgeon will tighten the underlying muscles and sagging tissue to restore firmer, more youthful contours. Excess skin is removed, and the remaining skin is skillfully repositioned to create a smoother and more refined appearance. The incisions are meticulously closed with sutures to minimize scarring, and staples are often used in the hairline to preserve hair follicle health.

Because no two patients are alike, every facelift is personalized to the individual’s unique facial and neck structure. To achieve comprehensive rejuvenation, a facelift can be combined with other treatments such as laser resurfacing or chemical peels to improve skin texture, a forehead lift to smooth wrinkles and lift the brows, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) to rejuvenate the eyes, or nose surgery (rhinoplasty) to enhance facial harmony or improve nasal breathing.