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What is a Facelift?

A facelift, or Rhytidectomy, is the gold standard surgical procedure to achieve comprehensive facial rejuvenation. This procedure reverses many signs of aging, providing patients with a more youthful, vibrant appearance. As we age, our skin and the deeper layers of the face lose firmness and elasticity. The result is loose tissue and skin of the lower face, jawline, and neck; the development of jowls along the jawline; and loss of distinction between the jawline and the neck. These visible signs of aging can often impact confidence and make you appear much older than you feel. 

A facelift is a surgical procedure that addresses jowls, as well as muscle and skin laxity of the lower face, jawline, and neck. Traditional facelift techniques only lift the top layer of facial tissue, and pull the facial tissue in a horizontal manner, which creates the dreaded “worked on” aesthetic. Over the past 25 years, facelift techniques have advanced significantly, ensuring long-lasting results while maintaining a natural appearance.

What to Expect During Your Facelift Consultation

During your consultation, Dr. Lipin conducts a comprehensive examination of your facial anatomy and bone structure to determine the most suitable procedures for your desired outcome. Her facelift techniques, customized for each patient, are designed to deliver optimal results.

Dr. Lipin leverages her extensive education and advanced training to perform the most sophisticated and modern facelift techniques to address the underlying causes of facial aging and to restore facial tissue to a natural, youthful anatomic location. The Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System (SMAS) is addressed in all of Dr. Lipin’s facelift techniques, whether she is performing a deep plane facelift, a biplanar facelift, or a lateral SMAS facelift.  Depending on the individual’s anatomy, tissue quality, history, and goals, she will select the proper technique to ensure natural-looking results for you.

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What is the Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System (SMAS)?

Dr. Lipin addresses the Superifical Muscular Aponeurotic System (SMAS) in all her facelift techniques. The SMAS is a fibromuscular tissue layer in the cheek and corresponds with the platysma muscle in the neck, which separates the superficial fat compartments from the deep fat compartments, and it connects the facial muscles to the overlying dermis of the skin. When the deep plane is entered, the SMAS is elevated and resuspended to a more youthful position, and due to its fibrous connections, all the layers above it are lifted as well, which allows the face to retain a natural and more cohesive appearance. 

Dr. Lipin’s Approach

Dr. Lipin recognizes that every patient is unique. A personalized approach is taken with each patient to develop a treatment plan that addresses specific areas of concern while achieving Dr. Lipin’s fresh, youthful, and elegant rejuvenated aesthetic. Dr. Lipin utilizes techniques to lift the face in a vertical vector, rather than a more traditional horizontal vector. This allows Dr. Lipin to restore the deeper facial structures to their anatomically more youthful positions, ensuring a natural-looking lift with beautiful results. 

By working on the deeper anatomy of the facial tissues, Dr. Lipin can restore some volume by lifting fallen tissues back to their more youthful position. However, a facelift does not re-volumize the face, and performing additional procedures such as fat transfer can be considered to replenish volume. Dr. Lipin meticulously plans the incisions to be hidden within natural creases, shadows, and in or along the hairline, to ensure for the most meticulous and discreet results.

Facelift Frequently Asked Questions

Patients who most benefit from a facelift are those with signs of aging that are most prominent on the mid and lower face, jawline, and neck. Patients are typically 45 years old and above and wish to improve the appearance of the following:

  • Loose skin
  • Jowling
  • Drooping Cheeks
  • Excess skin along the jawline and upper neck
  • Deep creases along the nasolabial folds and marionette lines

A facelift candidate is in good physical and emotional health, does not smoke or use any form of nicotine containing products, has realistic expectations about the healing process and outcome of surgery, and will work with D. Lipin and her team’s pre-operative and post-operative treatment regimen to ensure optimal healing and recovery. 

A facelift can be done as a standalone procedure but is frequently performed with other procedures for full-face rejuvenation. The procedure is performed in an operating room under either deep sedation or general anesthesia, monitored by a board-certified anesthesiologist for ultimate safety. Surgery is typically between 4 and 6 hours. Dr. Lipin performs every aspect of the surgery herself, from incision to the placement of the very last suture. Dr. Lipin is meticulous with her consultations, surgical vision, custom-tailored facelift technique, and tissue handling to ensure the most elegant and natural result while minimizing trauma to surrounding tissues for enhanced recovery. 

Yes, the procedure is performed in a Northside Hospital operating room under either deep sedation or general anesthesia, monitored by a board-certified anesthesiologist.

Dr. Lipin performs her surgeries at Northside Hospital Midtown, a state-of-the-art surgical facility.

While ease and brevity of recovery can vary, most are able to resume normal activities within a few weeks. Dr. Lipin and her team take great pride in educating potential patients about post-procedure downtime, and what to expect, both physically and emotionally. Dr. Lipin believes that a fully informed patient will have the best experience. While this will vary from patient to patient, on average, patients typically feel socially presentable by 3-4 weeks and are camera-ready by 6-9 weeks. The healing process continues through 12 months.