As people age, they tend to notice sagging and wrinkles in their skin. This is not an unusual occurrence. However, you can restore your youthful look by undergoing facelift surgery. It can help tighten your skin while reversing the effects of aging. Facelift surgery helps address the signs of aging, skin laxity, and double chin while smoothing out the wrinkles in the lower face and neck. Our board-certified surgeons, Dr. Askari and Dr. Gerth, use the best practices to ensure you have minimal scars, natural results, and a comfortable recovery.
A facelift is a facial rejuvenation surgery that helps remove loose skin and other signs of aging. It involves repositioning and removing fat and excess tissue to create a youthful appearance.
Facelift surgeries are considered cosmetic, restorative surgeries. Consequently, they will not change your appearance or stop the aging process. Additionally, facelifts do not have the ability to treat skin deformities caused by sun damage.
To give you a natural-looking result, we employ certain facelift techniques, such as the endoscopic method and the deep plane facelift. The goal of facelifts is to achieve a youthful appearance without extra scars.
A traditional facelift requires a surgeon to make incisions around your hairline, ears, and below your chin. The surgeon separates your facial skin from the underlying tissues during the procedure. The sagging skin will be removed from the face and neck (via a neck lift). Afterward, the surgeon tightens the muscles and other supporting structures in your face and neck.
If needed, the surgeon removes excess fat from your skin before naturally repositioning the skin. While repositioning, the surgeon takes care of whatever excess skin is left so you can have a youthful appearance.
The SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) facelift is a widely used technique that targets deeper layers of facial tissue for longer-lasting and more natural results. In this method, the surgeon lifts and repositions not just the skin but also the SMAS layer, which lies beneath the skin and subcutaneous fat. The SMAS facelift addresses sagging in the midface, jawline, and neck more effectively than skin-only facelifts by tightening and reshaping this foundational layer. It offers a balanced, rejuvenated look while avoiding the overly tight or pulled appearance.
A facelift can also be performed using the deep plane technique. The phrase “deep plane” refers to the anatomic space between the muscle and the SMAS. The deep plane facelift procedure focuses on releasing and moving fat and muscles rather than tugging at the skin layer. The underlying facial muscles and deeper tissues are targeted. Consequently, the surgery gives a more natural look than other facelift techniques.
A mini facelift is a cosmetic surgical procedure designed to improve signs of aging via a less invasive technique. Performed under light anesthesia, this procedure involves making smaller incisions in the hairline and around the ears to tighten the skin and superficial layers. The underlying muscles and neck are usually partially improved.
The main focus of a mini facelift is the lower portion of the face, such as the jowls and neck. The recovery time is shorter compared to a full facelift, but the results are also less dramatic.
If you do not want to go through the invasive nature of surgical facelifts, you could consider the non-surgical option. This surgical technique uses a blend of minimally invasive and nonsurgical procedures. Unlike a surgical procedure, a nonsurgical facelift does not require anesthesia, large incisions, or hospitalization, and you can leave almost immediately after. It may include:
Botox
Fat injections
Needleless treatments
Before going for a facelift, it is essential to consult with our surgeon. Inform him about previous surgeries you have gone through and any complications that resulted from those operations. Additionally, inform the plastic surgeon about your history of alcohol, smoking, or drug use. Our team will also request medical tests if needed.
After the consultation, you may be asked to stop certain medications, including drugs that tend to thin out blood cells. Sometimes, you may be asked to wash your hair and face with a germicidal soap.
The night before the surgery, it is essential for you to stop eating food at midnight. Depending on the instructions of your surgeon, there may be a chance for you to take water and medications approved by the surgeon. Finally, make sure someone is available to take you home after the surgery so that you can rest well.
Understanding what happens during facelift surgery can help you feel more prepared and confident. Here’s a step-by-step look at what to expect:
Once you are comfortable, small, strategic incisions are made—typically around the hairline, ears, and possibly under the chin. The location and length of the incisions depend on the type of facelift you are having.
Fat may be removed, sculpted, or redistributed to enhance facial harmony. The skin is then gently redraped over the new facial structure. Any excess skin is trimmed away.
The incisions are closed with fine sutures or skin adhesives to minimize scarring. Special care is taken to keep scars as discreet as possible.
After surgery, bandages may be applied to support healing and reduce swelling. You will receive detailed aftercare instructions, including how to care for incisions and when to return for follow-up visits. Most patients return home the same day, but you will need someone to assist you for the first 24 hours.
The cat-eye brow lift, performed using an endoscopic technique, enhances the outer brow and eye area for a more lifted, almond-shaped look. Through small incisions hidden within the hairline, the surgeon uses a tiny camera and specialized instruments to reposition the outer brow and tighten the surrounding tissues. This minimally invasive approach reduces scarring and recovery time while delivering a dramatic yet natural enhancement to the eye area, making it a popular complement to facelift surgery.
Facial fat transfer involves harvesting a patient’s own fat—typically from the abdomen or thighs—purifying it, and injecting it into areas of the face that have lost volume. Common target areas include the cheeks, under-eye hollows, and nasolabial folds. When combined with a facelift, fat transfer restores youthful contours and fullness, enhancing the overall outcome by addressing both sagging and volume loss.
A neck lift is often performed with a facelift to create a seamless, rejuvenated appearance from the face down to the décolletage. This procedure targets loose skin, vertical banding, and excess fat in the neck area. The neck lift restores a smooth, defined jawline and neck contour by tightening the underlying muscles and removing or redistributing fat, ensuring the lower face and neck appear equally refreshed.
A deep plane facelift is an advanced facial rejuvenation procedure that lifts and repositions deeper facial tissues rather than just tightening the skin. By releasing and elevating the underlying muscles and fat pads, this technique restores youthful contours, softens deep folds, and enhances definition in the cheeks, jawline, and neck. The result is a natural, long-lasting rejuvenation that avoids a pulled or overly tightened look, creating harmony and balance throughout the face.
While a facelift is the most comprehensive approach to reversing signs of facial aging, some patients may benefit from alternative or complementary procedures. Options such as a brow lift to smooth the forehead and open the eyes, a neck lift to refine the jawline and tighten loose skin, or a mid-face lift to restore cheek volume can deliver targeted rejuvenation. For those seeking a less invasive approach, thread lifts and nonsurgical skin-tightening treatments use advanced techniques to provide subtle lifting and improved skin firmness with minimal downtime. These options can be performed on their own or combined with a facelift to achieve natural, balanced results tailored to your unique needs.
You are a good candidate for a facelift if you are physically healthy. If you have any underlying medical conditions, a consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeon will be required. Facelifts will also be a good match for you if you do not smoke and do not rely on blood-thinning medications.
Another factor that will make you a good candidate for a facelift is your skin elasticity. A facelift is appropriate for people with signs of facial aging and some measure of skin elasticity. For the best results, a facelift is recommended for people between the ages of 40 and 60. However, being older or younger than that age range does not mean you cannot undergo a facelift.
Facelift offers a range of cosmetic and emotional benefits for individuals looking to reverse signs of aging. By using advanced surgical techniques, this facial procedure can restore youthful contours and improve skin tightness, all while achieving natural-looking results.
Facelift surgery offers the following benefits:
The price of a facelift in Miami could range from $8,500 to $30,000. The price variation depends on factors like the surgeon involved, his experience & expertise, the clinic, the complexity of the procedure, and the type of facelift that will be done
Our personalized approach to facial plastic surgery makes our procedures different from others, focusing on each patient’s unique facial features and goals. We use advanced techniques to enhance facial contours and deliver results that look natural and refined. In addition to facelift surgery, we often recommend complementary procedures—such as lower eyelid surgery—to address sagging skin and achieve balanced rejuvenation. Whether you seek aesthetic improvement or reconstructive surgery, we tailor each treatment plan based on the condition of the patient’s skin and desired outcome, ensuring exceptional care and long-lasting results.
