FACELIFT

A facelift along with a neck lift is the most comprehensive way to rejuvenate an aging face, as it works to improve and accentuate the appearance of the youthful definition of the cheeks, jawline, and neck by addressing the skin, deeper soft tissues, and muscles in these areas. This form of a facelift is usually sought by patients in their 50s and up, though some younger patients may also benefit from this procedure.

Many patients also use this operation to correct specific aspects of their face, such as sagging eyebrows or laxity at the eyelids, each of which can be addressed with a brow lift and blepharoplasty, respectively.

While a facelift (and especially a full facelift) is the gold standard in facial anti-aging, many patients look for forms of facial rejuvenation with minimal invasion and downtime. Non-surgical options to consider include Ultherapy®, Renuvion® J-Plasma®, and liquid facelifts performed with injectable dermal fillers.

We believe you need to be well informed about the cosmetic procedure in which you are interested, including its pre- and post- operative expectations. At your initial consult, one of our surgeons will meet with you to discuss in detail your unique concerns and the aesthetic goals you would like to achieve.

Feel free to bring in example images of you in your youth, preferably not smiling, to help us better understand your goals and the improvements you are looking for. The surgeon will then examine you and offer an opinion on how to achieve your goals based on best practices and other important factors to be weighed.

Choosing a surgeon is an intensely personal decision. We encourage you to take the time to prepare any questions you may have and have them answered by our physician and their team. We believe the formation of a personal bond is an integral part of the surgery and healing process.

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, can improve the most visible signs of aging by tightening deeper skin and muscular tissue structures, removing or redistributing selected areas of fat, and re-draping the skin of the face and neck. By making inconspicuous incisions around the ear and into the hairline, a skilled plastic surgeon can access the lax fat, muscles, and soft tissue and reposition them to restore a more youthful contour.* The overlying skin is then gently smoothed and tightened. Facelift surgery can take several hours, and is performed with anesthesia. Most patients spend the first night recovering at our fully accredited outpatient surgery center.

During a facelift at our Portland, OR, practice, our board-certified plastic surgeons reposition SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system) tissue. This leaves you looking simply like a younger version of yourself, rather than like a different person.*

After a facelift, you should relax for about 10 to 14 days to allow healing. Most people find they are able to resume a regular work or home schedule after that time period. Exercise and other strenuous physical activity may be resumed about four weeks after the operation.

Detailed pre-and post-surgical recovery information will be provided to you by your surgeon and our staff prior to your facelift.