Restore Youth to the Face
Turn back the clock with facelift surgery to achieve a younger-looking facial appearance.
Over the years, factors like sun exposure, gravity, and genetics can all take a toll on our facial appearance. You may wake up one day and look in the mirror, only to see an older reflection looking back at you. If you feel younger than your appearance suggests, you might be the perfect candidate for facelift surgery.
Our Los Angeles plastic surgeon, Dr. Christine Petti, is experienced in turning back the hands of time through cosmetic facial surgery. She takes pride in helping patients revitalize their appearance to help them achieve the younger look they desire. Her goal is to create a beautifully rejuvenated face with exceptionally natural results. To accomplish this, Dr. Petti performs SMAS face and neck lifts combined with state-of-the-art laser techniques. Her laser facelift approach provides optimal recontouring and lift, along with skin rejuvenating effects.
Quick Facts About Facelift Surgery
Key Benefits: A facelift can restore a smoother, more youthful facial contour by reducing sagging skin, deep creases, and jowls.
Potential Candidates: Ideal candidates are often healthy individuals who are bothered by visible signs of facial aging and have realistic expectations for their results.
Treatment Details: Facelift surgery involves repositioning underlying tissue, removing excess skin, and re-draping the remaining skin.
Surgeon’s Expertise: Dr. Petti is experienced in a wide range of facial rejuvenation techniques and is committed to delivering long-lasting, natural-looking results tailored to each patient’s goals.
What Is a Facelift?
Facelift surgery, also known as rhytidectomy, is one of the most common cosmetic facial procedures. Through this popular surgery, Dr. Petti can effectively help reduce the appearance of deep folds and wrinkles that tend to develop around the face. The procedure works by tightening the underlying facial tissues and muscle to create a more youthful look. Dr. Petti performs facelift surgery with the utmost precision to ensure you obtain a highly natural-looking rejuvenation. With facelift surgery, you should still look like yourself—only a younger, more refreshed version of yourself. In fact, patients who undergo facelift surgery often look as much as 10 to 15 years younger!
What Are the Benefits of Facelift Surgery?
The facelift procedure is designed to improve multiple areas of the face at once to address various signs of aging. These unwanted changes develop over time and tend to worsen as the skin continues to sag and natural facial volume depletes. For those who wish to reverse these changes, a facelift can provide the following benefits:
- Improve sagging skin in the midface and jawline
- Smooth deep skin folds
- Diminish fine lines and wrinkles
- More refreshed appearance
Dr. Petti customizes every facelift surgery to address the individual needs of each patient. She will help you understand what you can realistically expect in your results. If additional treatments are necessary to help you achieve your ideal outcome, she will discuss your options with you during your consultation.
Who Is a Candidate for a Facelift?
In most cases, ideal candidates for a facelift are in good overall health, do not smoke, and looking to address moderate to advanced signs of facial aging that non-surgical treatments can no longer fully correct. Common concerns include:
- Sagging skin in the mid-face or jowls
- Deep creases between the nose and mouth
- Loss of definition along the jawline
- Excess skin or fat beneath the chin
Ultimately, the best way to determine candidacy is through a personal consultation with Dr. Petti to discuss your goals, skin quality, and facial structure.
How Is the Facelift Procedure Performed?
To begin your facelift surgery, Dr. Petti will make the incisions in or near your hairline. This allows potential scarring to be easily concealed, preventing people from ever knowing you had cosmetic surgery. For Dr. Petti’s signature facelift and neck lift procedure, she may opt to use the Smartlipo Triplex system for both dissection and laser liposuction of the face and neck. Next, she performs an internal lift of the deeper facial tissues—called the SMAS—and the fascia above the platysma muscle in the neck to create a “double lift” effect that defines youthful contours and rejuvenates facial volume, while also tightening and smoothing the skin. This process targets both the mid- and lower-face. For the final stage of the procedure, Dr. Petti utilizes a second laser—the Smartskin CO2 laser—to resurface both the epidermis (top layer of skin) and the superficial dermis to refresh the skin for a smoother, clearer, more youthful appearance. The combined effect of the SMAS facelift and CO2 laser skin resurfacing allow Dr. Petti to accomplish maximum rejuvenation within the span of a single surgery.
The ultimate goal of Dr. Petti’s signature facelift is to give the patient a younger, yet still natural look with more defined facial and neck contours. She also focuses on restoring natural plumpness to the cheeks and sculpted facial contours.
Facelifts may often be performed in conjunction with neck lift surgery or cheek lift surgery to enhance the degree of improvement for a more transformative and natural-looking outcome.
“I cannot say enough wonderful things about Dr Christine Petti and her staff. Dr. Petti is truly an amazing surgeon. She shares every step of any procedure, taking her time to make you feel comfortable and secure. Her staff shadows her excellence and I can honestly say I’ve never experienced better care.”
What Is Recovery from Facelift Surgery Like?
Immediately after your facelift surgery, you may experience some degree of swelling and bruising. Any discomfort can typically be managed with pain medication. As your body continues to heal, these temporary side effects should gradually fade. For the first two weeks after your procedure, you should avoid working out and performing other strenuous activities. Most patients can return to their daily routine after about 10 days.
You can begin to see your results after the first few weeks of recovery, but your final results will continue to take shape over the course of the first year. The youthful improvement from facelift surgery can last 10 years or longer before further surgical rejuvenation is needed.
Dr. Petti will provide more personalized details about what you can expect as you heal and provide post-operative instructions to ensure you have a safe and comfortable recovery.
What Procedures Complement Facelift Surgery?
Many patients choose to pair a facelift with additional procedures to achieve more comprehensive, balanced facial rejuvenation. A neck lift is one of the most common combinations, as it addresses loose skin and banding in the neck that a facelift alone can’t fully correct. Eyelid surgery can refresh tired-looking eyes, while a brow lift is designed to smooth forehead lines and lift a drooping brow. Fat transfer or dermal fillers are often used to restore lost volume in the cheeks and temples, complementing the tightening effects of a facelift. Skin resurfacing treatments, such as laser therapy or chemical peels, can further improve tone and texture.
Are There Non-Surgical Alternatives to Facelift Surgery?
Not every patient who wants to look younger is ready for facelift surgery, and Dr. Petti offers a wide array of non-surgical treatments that can effectively minimize visible signs of aging. Often, these treatments are also combined with facelift surgery to enhance the quality of the results.
Popular options for non-surgical facial rejuvenation can include:
- Injectable wrinkle relaxing treatments: BOTOX® Cosmetic
- Non-surgical skin tightening for the face and neck: PrecisionTX® laser lift
- Skin rejuvenation treatments: SmartSkin®+ laser skin resurfacing, UltraVision™ RF microneedling, IPL, & CoolPeel™ laser skin resurfacing
- Injectable dermal fillers: JUVÉDERM®, Restylane®, Sculptra®, & Radiesse®
Whether you want younger-looking skin, fewer wrinkles, or more defined facial contours, Dr. Petti can design a customized treatment plan to achieve your goals. Dr. Petti performs non-surgical treatments using only the most advanced aesthetic lasers, treatment systems, and injectable products to provide patients with superior results that look incredibly natural.
Choosing a Facelift Plastic Surgeon
Choosing the right surgeon is one of the most important decisions in your facelift journey. Look for a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive, specific experience in facial rejuvenation procedures, as facelift techniques require a refined skill set distinct from other areas of plastic surgery. Review before-and-after photos of the surgeon’s previous patients to ensure their aesthetic style aligns with the natural-looking results you want. A thorough consultation is essential, as your surgeon should take time to understand your goals, evaluate your facial anatomy, and clearly explain the recommended technique and expected recovery. Reading patient reviews and testimonials, and gauging the provider’s communication throughout the process, are also strong indicators of a surgeon you can trust with your care.
How Much Does a Facelift Cost?
Since Dr. Petti customizes each facelift to the unique needs and goals of the patient, the total cost of the procedure will vary. On average, facelift surgery costs approximately $7,048. Factors that may influence your total cost include:
- Facelift technique that is performed
- Geographical area of the practice
- Expertise of the surgeon
- Surgical fees, such as the facility, anesthesia, and possible prescriptions
- If additional procedures are performed
When you come in for your initial consultation with Dr. Petti, our staff can provide a more personalized cost quote based on your individual treatment plan.
Since facelift surgery is considered a cosmetic procedure, insurance does not usually cover its costs. However, if you would like to make your total cost fit more comfortably within your budget, our staff would be happy to discuss your plastic surgery financing options.
Additional Facelift Frequently Asked Questions
How can I reduce swelling after a facelift?
To minimize swelling, keep your head elevated (even while sleeping) for the first one to two weeks after surgery. Applying cold compresses as directed during the initial days can also help. Staying well-hydrated, avoiding strenuous activity, limiting sodium intake, and following post-operative instructions closely can support a smoother recovery and reduce prolonged swelling.
Will a facelift differ for men and women?
Facelift techniques are generally adjusted based on gender. Men typically have thicker skin, different scar placement needs due to hairlines and beard-bearing skin, and may require more conservative changes to preserve a masculine jawline. Women's facelifts usually focus on softer, rounded contours.
How long after facelift surgery can I wear make-up?
Most patients can begin wearing light make-up around two weeks after surgery, once incisions have sufficiently healed, though this can vary by individual healing. It's important to use clean, non-irritating products and apply them gently. Always follow specific aftercare guidance, as timing can depend on your recovery progress.
If you would like more information about the facelift procedure, please contact our practice to set up your consultation with Dr. Petti.
