Facelift
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Danville, Walnut Creek and Manteca, CA
A facelift (rhytidectomy) is a procedure that lifts and tightens the skin and reduces wrinkles which returns the heart shaped face of youth as well as a smoother complexion. As you age, the collagen and elastic fibers in your skin that helps it maintain its structure begins to decline. This can result in wrinkles, fine lines, and droopy jowls that increase your perceived age. They can make a person appear sad. If you have been looking for a solution to sagging skin, a facelift can transform your appearance with minimal to moderate downtime.
At the Gladstone Clinic, Dr. Hayes B.Gladstone who is a double-board-certified dermatologic surgeon specializing in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, and has helped many patients enhance their appearance with customized and personalized procedures. He is well-known for his transparent, warm, knowledgeable, and incredibly skilled approach that helps patients achieve a natural, but rejuvenated appearance.
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Before and After Photos
A facelift is more than skin deep– looking better can also improve your self-esteem.
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About Facelifts
Over time, structural changes in the face such as hollow cheeks and deep wrinkles may occur as a result of the natural processes of aging. Your lifestyle can also affect the quality of your skin– smoking, and UV exposure can result in fine lines and wrinkles that alter your complexion. (1) Some patients turn to anti-aging creams and collagen supplements to delay signs of aging, but these are often temporary or unsubstantial solutions. With a facelift, Dr. Gladstone can remove sagging skin with discreet incisions to more fully rejuvenate your appearance.
Mini Facelift (The G Lift™)
Unlike a traditional facelift, which rejuvenates the entire face, a mini facelift removes droopy skin from the lower face and upper neck for a smoother appearance. With the G Lift™ technique, Dr. Gladstone makes a thin incision in your hairline, along the ear and behind it to lift and tighten your skin. The subtle incision is easy to conceal, and Dr. Gladstone can make adjustments to the layer of connective tissue beneath your skin– the SMAS layer and the platysma muscles. He can also perform neck liposuction to remove pockets of excess fat for a smoother appearance. The procedure only takes a few hours, and can be combined with laser resurfacing to further smooth your skin. A Mini Facelift can also be combined with eyelid surgery to remove excess skin from the eyelids for a more refreshed look. This procedure is performed under local anesthesia with oral sedation. Dr. Gladstone is one of the pioneers of this technique
Lower Facelift
For some patients who have more sagging in both the face and neck, a Lower Facelift may be more appropriate. It is similar to the Mini-Lift except that the incision goes farther back into the scalp hairline. This allows Dr. Gladstone to further lift and tighten both the upper and mid neck and reduce more severe jowling. This procedure is performed under local anesthesia with oral sedation. Dr. Gladstone is one of the pioneers of this technique.
Benefits
A facelift can allow for many benefits, including:
- Smoother skin: Dr. Gladstone can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with a facelift.
- More defined jawline and neck: Removing droopy jowls can help you define your chin and jawline.
- More sculpted face that has the “angular roundness” of youth, but still maintaining a natural appearance.
- Improved self-confidence: Many patients feel better about their appearance after their facelift.
- A natural-looking appearance: With thin, discreet incisions along your hairline, you can enjoy a natural appearance.
- Customizable procedure: Dr. Gladstone can also combine the procedure with laser resurfacing as well as dermal fillers to restore lost volume for a plumper complexion. (2)
- Long-lasting results: If you take good care of your skin and avoid sun exposure that could result in more fine lines and wrinkles, you can enjoy lasting results.
Candidates
If you would like to improve the appearance of sagging skin and you are in good overall health, you are likely a good candidate for a facelift. If you smoke, you will need to be willing to stop temporarily. You will also need to have realistic expectations about what you can achieve with the procedure. Some patients choose to combine a facelift with laser resurfacing or eyelid surgery to remove droopy skin around the eyes. If you have additional body goals, we can discuss the best treatment plan for your needs.
To learn more about our additional procedures, see the blog!
Consultation
During your consultation, please come prepared to discuss your medical history, medications, and lifestyle. Dr. Gladstone will discuss your aesthetic goals to create the best treatment plan for your needs. If you have a condition that could affect your ability to heal or receive local anesthesia, this could affect your candidacy for the procedure.
Contact our office to set up your complimentary consultation and learn more about how a facelift can benefit you!
Preparation
To prepare for a facelift, you will need to:
- Stop smoking 6 weeks before and after your procedure
- Refrain from drinking alcohol 48 hours before and after
- Cease any medications or supplements that could thin your blood for at least 2 weeks.
- Avoid sun exposure or tanning beds
- Fill prescriptions for your recovery ahead of time
- Be willing to have the procedure performed using local anesthesia and oral sedation.
- Dr. Gladstone goes over all the facets of a facelift during the Pre Operative Meeting.
Procedure
While Dr. Gladstone customizes the facelift to fit each patient’s specific cosmetic needs, generally the procedure will be as follows. After you arrive for your procedure, we will take your photos, prep your skin, mark the facelift lines and then Dr. Gladstone administer tumescent anesthesia. If appropriate, Dr. Gladstone will first perform neck liposuction. Then Dr. Gladstone will make a thin incision align your hairline descending along your ear, around your earlobe behind your ear and into your scalp. behind your ears and along your hairline Dr. Gladstone will then underneath structures including the SMAS and platysma in the mid, lower face and neck. Excess skin is removed. IF appropriate, Dr. Gladstone will also perform an eyelid lift or laser resurfacing at the same time. Following your recovery, Dr. Gladstone can restore volume with fat or fillers.
Recovery
After the procedure, it is common to experience some temporary swelling or bruising around the incisions while your skin heals. You will need to:
- Keep your head elevated
- Avoid strenuous activities
- Avoid sun exposure
Most patients can return to work after about two weeks. You will need to follow up with the office to schedule additional appointments where we can monitor your recovery. It is normal to feel temporarily sore after a facelift. We recommend going for short walks after the procedure to promote healthy blood flow. Dr. Gladstone will let you know when to return to regular exercise and other aspects of your normal routine.
Results
After a facelift, you can enjoy a rejuvenated-looking face that appears more like the heart shaped of youth. Patients often appear more awake and refreshed after a facelift. If you continue to care for and protect your skin, your results will be long lasting.
Corresponding & Complementary Procedures
Brow Lift
Some patients choose to combine a facelift with a brow lift for a more complete facial rejuvenation. A brow lift is a procedure that removes lax skin and tightens muscles from above the brows for a smoother elevated appearance. Wrinkles and lax skin on the forehead can affect your self-esteem and perceived age. With a discreet incision near your hairline, Dr. Gladstone can tighten the skin for a smoother look.
Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) removes excess skin around the eyes for a more wakeful, refreshed look. As you age, droopy skin above the eyes and sagging under-eye bags can create a tired appearance. With upper eyelid surgery or lower eyelid surgery, we can remove excess tissue from around your eyes to achieve a more youthful appearance.
Neck Lift
A platysmaplasty removes sagging skin from the neck and reduces the appearance of muscle banding, colloquially known as a “turkey neck.” As you age, the neck muscles become thicker, and the collagen in your skin declines which can create a sagging, aged appearance. With a discreet incision we can remove the excess skin for a more youthful neck and fewer wrinkles.
We can also combine a platysmaplasty with neck liposuction if you have pockets of excess fat you would like to address.
The Cost of a Facelift in Danville
The cost of a facelift will depend on your treatment plan. At your personal consultation, we can provide you with an all-inclusive quote, including any additional treatments you choose to include.
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FAQ
Can I have a facelift at any age?
Most patients are 40 or older and are experiencing moderate to severe signs of facial aging. However, there is not an age limit for a facelift. Dr. Gladstone can discuss whether or not the procedure is a good fit for you during your consultation.
Will I have visible scarring after a facelift?
Dr. Gladstone takes care to make discreet incisions. However, scars can take several months to fade, and Dr. Gladstone has a scar optimization program. Dr. Gladstone is keenly aware of the importance of making the scars as subtle as possible.
Is a facelift painful?
Dr. Gladstone was one of the pioneers of using local anesthesia with oral sedation during the procedure which minimizes discomfort. Following the procedure, there is soreness for several days, but can be managed with ice and medications.
Will I need more than one facelift?
This depends at what age you have your initial facelift, and your genetics, and how you take care of your skin.
How long do the results of a facelift last?
Results depend on an individual’s genetics, how you take care of your skin including sun protection, and your lifestyle including nutrition and exercise. Generally, the mini G-lfit generally lasts 6 years. The full lower facelift lasts approximately 8-10 years. How do I know if I need a traditional or a mini facelift? Dr. Gladstone will examine your skin during your consultation to determine the best treatment plan for your needs. Generally if you have mild to moderate jowls and your neck skin is fairly taut, then a mini lift will be appropriate. If your jowling and lower face skin is very lax and you have a “turkey” neck with significant loose neck skin, then a full lower facelift would be more appropriate.
References
- Gladstone and Shipp, Preoperative Considerations in Blepharoplasty and Rhytidectomy Chapter in Procedures in Cosmetic Dermatology Series: Surgical Lifting, 1st Edition Elsevier Publishing 2024.
- Gladstone and Morganroth, Complications of Rhytidectomy. Chapter in Advanced Face Lifting 1st Edition Elsevier Publishing 2006
- Gladstone and Morganroth, The Essentials of the Facelift. Chapter in; Roenigk’s Dermatologic Surgery: Current Techniques in Procedural Dermatology Edition 3. Taylor and Francis Publishing 2006.
