Restore youth and rejuvenate your beauty for a boost in confidence with this age-defying procedure.
The term "facelift" has become widely used for all types of facial plastic surgery in San Francisco and beyond. Traditional surgical definitions describe a facelift as elevating sagging tissues from the cheek area to the neck. However, with recent aggressive marketing campaigns that describe a small incision in front of the ear with an inch of skin pulled back to patients who refer to a "full facelift" that include a brow lift, upper blepharoplasty, lower blepharoplasty and versions of volume augmentation like fat grafting, it is clear that traditional definitions are inadequate.
The Maas Clinic™ in San Francisco has developed a simple and thoughtful way of describing facelifts that accurately describes what is done rather than using vague marketing or even proprietary terms like "Lifestyle lift," "Natural lift," "Quicklift," and others. While being aggressively marketed, these terms do not clearly describe to the public what or how the procedure is performed or the risks or benefits of the procedure. In simple terms, San Francisco Plastic Surgeon Corey S. Maas, MD, a recognized leader in cosmetic surgery, has divided the facelift into three basic surgical strategies.
Follow Post-Op Instructions: Your surgeon will provide detailed instructions for post-operative care. Adhere to them strictly to ensure optimal healing.
Rest and Relax: Allow your body ample time to recover by getting plenty of rest and avoiding strenuous activities.
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated, which aids in the healing process and promotes skin elasticity.
Manage Discomfort: Expect some discomfort and swelling post-surgery. Use prescribed pain medication as directed and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling.
Avoid Sun Exposure: Protect your delicate skin from harmful UV rays by staying out of the sun and wearing sunscreen outdoors.
Gentle Skincare: Follow a gentle skincare routine recommended by your surgeon to promote healing and maintain results.
Patience is Key: Understand that full results may take several weeks to manifest. Be patient and allow your body time to adjust.
After hearing about your goals during your consultation, Dr. Maas might suggest combining other procedures with your facelift when a patient's desired results cannot be achieved with a single surgery. Combining procedures can enhance the results of each one, providing a more dramatic and harmonious overall effect. Combining procedures can also shorten total recovery time and reduce the overall cost. Many factors are involved in choosing which procedures are appropriate for you. Dr. Maas will provide options and recommendations, and you will decide together. The most popular combinations for facelift patients include:
A taut and youthful-looking face can appear out of place atop an aging neck. Because the neck often shows signs of age sooner than the face, pairing a facelift with a neck lift can address the potential for discrepancies in a single procedure. A full face and neck lift is ideal for patients with prominent neck bands and severe sagging under the chin that would not be improved with a facelift alone.
A blepharoplasty (eyelid lift or eyelid surgery) can improve the appearance of droopy upper eyelids and puffy lower eyelids. Patients with aging or tired eyes may not see the full results they desire from a facelift alone, as a facelift focuses on the lower two-thirds of the face. When a facelift and blepharoplasty are combined, it creates balanced rejuvenation in the upper and lower face and an overall refreshed look.
Like blepharoplasty, a brow lift (a forehead lift) focuses on the upper face. A brow lift complements a facelift by tightening excess skin in the upper third of the face, softening lines on the forehead, and restoring sagging brows. When a total transformation is desired, a complete facelift, brow lift, and blepharoplasty may be done together. A brow lift can also be combined with a mini facelift for patients with less aging in the lower face.
Submental fat is a pocket of unwanted fullness beneath the chin, commonly called a double chin. This area is notoriously hard to treat with diet and exercise but is quickly addressed with liposuction. Liposuction in the neck and chin region targets submental fat to sculpt a more defined chin, neck, and jawline, which complements facelift surgery's smoother and tauter facial appearance.
While a facelift excels at elevating and tightening sagging tissues, it is not designed to restore lost volume. Volume restoration can be achieved with fat transfer or fat grafting. This technique takes fat from one area of the body via liposuction and moves it to another via injections. Fat transfer is becoming increasingly popular as fat grafting is considered a permanent and organic alternative to synthetic fillers.
A 2007 article in Vogue magazine rated Dr. Maas, The Maas Clinic™, San Francisco, as one of America's "top plastic surgeons" for neck lift. How one judges "the best surgeon" is probably beyond the scope of this discussion, but it is usually based on a legacy or reputation based on many patients over ten or more years with good results. The endorsement notwithstanding, neck lifting is a unique procedure that involves a sophisticated combination of liposuction, platsymaplasty (bands or cords of muscles in the neck), and subplatysmal flap SMAS elevation in the neck employing small incisions around the ear lobule (lobe) and behind the ear. This carefully sequenced series of surgical maneuvers can substantially change neck skin laxity, bringing a square or near a 90-degree angle to the neck and chin line, fat under the chin (submental fat), and deep wrinkles under the neck. The procedure, like all Maas Clinic™ facelift procedures, is an outpatient with a compression dressing that is removed after one night. Minimal swelling is expected, and quite often, bruising is minimal with this technique, which, like the mini facelift, is usually reserved for younger patients with premature neck aging and patients who have experienced neck laxity relapse after previous facelift surgery.
Choosing Dr. Corey Maas from The Maas Clinic means opting for an expert with over 30 years of experience and more than 3,000 rhinoplasty surgeries performed. Dr. Maas is double board-certified and has received numerous accolades, including being named Best Cosmetic Surgeon by the SF Examiner and SF Weekly. He is renowned for his expertise in facelift surgery, delivering rejuvenating results that maintain natural facial harmony. His guidance has played a key role in training emerging experts in the field. His personalized approach, combined with cutting-edge techniques, ensures patients achieve a refreshed, youthful appearance without looking overdone.
Am I Too Young for a Facelift?
How Can I Avoid Looking Overly Tight or Pulled?
Are There Alternatives to a Facelift?
How Long Does it Take To Recover from a Facelift?
Is the Ribbon Lift a Facelift?
Non-Surgical Facelift: Does it Exist?
Are 'Weekend Facelifts' Worth It?
What Is the Difference Between a Mini Facelift and a Regular Facelift?
What Is the Deep Plane Facelift?
What Is the Difference Between a SMAS Facelift and a Deep Plane Facelift?
What Type of Facelift Is Right for Me?
Is Scarring Significant With a Facelift?
How Can I Ensure My Face Looks Rejuvenated and Not Puffy or Overdone?
Should I Use Implants, Fat Transfer, or Fillers to Restore Facial Volume?
What Is the Difference Between a Mini Facelift and a Regular Facelift?
No. The need for a facelift depends on individual conditions, not age. While most patients are in their 50s and 60s, younger individuals, especially those with premature aging from smoking, sun exposure, or genetics, may also be good candidates. Some people in their 40s or early 50s choose a facelift to match their youthful energy with their appearance. If your facial conditions justify it, a facelift is appropriate at any age.
Patients may end up with overly taut results due to unrealistic expectations, the choice of surgeon, and the surgical technique used. It's crucial to set realistic goals, communicate them clearly, and choose a skilled surgeon who uses comprehensive techniques like Dr. Maas' Deep Plane SMASplasty Facelift™ for natural, lasting results.
Many prefer non-surgical options over a facelift, but no alternative matches a facelift's results for improving facial contours, the neck, and the jawline. However, for fine lines, wrinkles, and mild volume loss, facial fillers can effectively enhance areas like the cheeks, lips, and jawline, offering a subtle, facelift-like effect.
Facelift recovery typically takes 10 days to 2 weeks. During the first week, expect significant swelling, so it's best to avoid social activities. Bruising, which usually lasts about 10 days, is the main factor in determining when you can resume normal activities. Fortunately, it can be concealed with makeup, and the incisions are hidden in discreet areas, making bruising less noticeable.
The ribbon lift uses a special suture, the eye guide, beneath the neck, forming a crisscross pattern. It incorporates a dissolvable polylactic acid device called Endotine, which lifts soft tissues. Commonly used for midface elevation, the procedure involves small incisions in the hairline and under the lip. While effective, alternative techniques like the endoscopic mid-face lift may provide better results for midface lifting.
No cream can replicate a facelift, which is defined by its ability to contour the lower face and neck. While laser resurfacing tightens skin and smooths wrinkles, it doesn't alter facial contours like a facelift does.
Medical practices advertise so-called 'weekend facelifts' that promise to have patients back to work and social activities in just a few days. While it's easy to see the superficial appeal of a shortened procedure and recovery time, the benefits of these procedures are limited. Only deeper techniques, like Dr. Maas' Deep Plane SMAASplasty Facelift™, can create results that last 10 to 15 years or more.
Facelifts typically target the lower two-thirds of the face, lifting and tightening muscles and sometimes transferring fat. Mini facelifts, a less extensive procedure first performed in 1908, vary by surgeon. Dr. Maas’ mini facelift addresses the SMAS layer, lifting the skin from the jawline to the cheek and even the temporal region. It specifically targets the jawline, marionette lines, and lower nasolabial folds. Incisions are hidden behind the ear and hairline for a natural look. Depending on the correction needed, anesthesia options range from local with sedation to deep sleep.
The deep plane facelift targets deeper facial tissues, providing more substantial and long-lasting results, especially in the nasolabial folds, often lasting 10 to 15 years. By adjusting muscles, fat, and ligaments instead of just pulling the skin, this method offers a more natural look without an overly tight appearance. While there's debate among surgeons about whether it's the best technique, Dr. Maas can help you determine the right approach for your needs, thanks to his extensive expertise in various facelift techniques.
A SMAS facelift targets the SMAS layer, a fibrous tissue between the skin and facial muscles, to avoid the overly pulled look of skin-only facelifts. The deep plane facelift goes deeper, addressing the area beneath the SMAS and sometimes releasing ligaments to prevent tightness. While some view the deep plane facelift as superior, the best technique depends on the patient's unique needs. Any facelift can achieve excellent results when properly matched to the individual.
Plastic surgery advancements offer various facelift options, but there's no one-size-fits-all. Procedures are tailored to individual needs. A mini facelift might suit younger patients with early jowling, while older patients with significant sagging may need a deep plane facelift and neck lift. Dr. Maas will help you choose the best option based on your goals.
Any surgery can leave a scar behind, but with good surgical technique and appropriate aftercare, the scar heals into a thin line that is nearly indistinguishable in most cases. Facelift incisions are placed in the hairline so the scars are hidden, even in men and other patients wearing short hair. Most patients report their scars no longer visible three months into facelift recovery.
Unnatural cheek volume often results from improper use of facial fillers. While some swelling is normal after treatment, it subsides. Dr. Maas focuses on natural-looking results, restoring your youthful appearance rather than altering your features. Bringing photos of your younger self to your consultation helps him accurately assess and plan the restoration.
Your options depend on your unique needs, and Dr. Maas will guide you in making an informed decision. Long-lasting solutions include customizable cheek, chin, and temporal implants, or autologous fat transfer for natural volume. Stimulatory fillers like Radiesse boost collagen production for mid-face rejuvenation. For minimal downtime, hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvederm Voluma or Restylane Lift offer quick, in-office results that last up to two years.
Facelifts typically target the lower two-thirds of the face, lifting muscles and sometimes transferring fat. Dr. Maas' mini facelifts go beyond simple skin elevation, addressing the SMAS layer and lifting from the jawline to the cheek, and even the temporal region. Incisions are discreetly hidden, ensuring natural results. Depending on the extent of correction, the procedure may use local anesthesia with sedation or deep sleep anesthesia.
