A facelift can drastically improve a person’s signs of facial aging and restore a youthful look. It helps remove wrinkles and fine lines, giving you a fresher and younger look. If you wish to get a facelift in New York City, this article will help you understand how the procedure works and what to expect.
What is a facelift?
A facelift is a cosmetic surgical procedure. The purpose of a facelift procedure is to restore natural beauty and give the skin a youthful appearance. A facelift can reduce sagging skin. Likewise, it can smooth the folds of skin in the cheeks and jawline. This type of cosmetic surgery is often performed alongside a neck lift to reduce fat and sagging skin on the neck.
During a traditional facelift surgery, a portion of skin on each side of the face is pulled back. Additionally, excess tissue is taken out. Fine wrinkles, sun damage, and creases around the nose and upper lip are not treated by a facelift. However, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon can suggest cosmetic procedures to deal with these.
The cosmetic goals of a facelift procedure include:
- Addressing the sagging of the cheeks
- Removing excess skin on the lower jawline
- Erasing deep skin folds on the nose and mouth areas
Types of facelifts
If you’re considering facelift surgery, it’s good to know the different types of facial rejuvenation procedures. Every type of facelift is designed to target a specific area of the facial structure.
Deep plane facelift
This type of facelift surgery is performed to rejuvenate the base of the chin and neck. This is done by lifting up and strengthening the muscles found in that facial area. Because facelift surgeons performing this procedure must delve beneath the musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), deep plane facelifts are more involved than SMAS facelifts and allow for full mobilization and lifting. This facial region is located close to the muscles responsible for smiling and frowning. During the surgery, the doctor removes wrinkles and creates a younger look by repositioning, reshaping, and smoothing out the SMAS layer.
Mini facelift
The goal of a mini facelift is to reduce or eliminate the appearance of jowls. Usually, jowls appear around the lower half of the cheeks and mouth due to the body producing less collagen. When performing a mini facelift, a facial plastic surgeon makes small incisions under the hairline. From there, the surgeon can tighten and smooth the skin as well as remove any excess tissue.
Mid-facelift
A mid-facelift focuses on the midsection of the face, targeting the cheeks and the surrounding area. A mid-facelift differs from a cheek implant because no facial implants are added to plump up the cheeks. Instead, the cheeks are lifted by removing excess tissue or by reshaping existing tissue.
Alongside lifting up the cheeks, a mid-facelift also eliminates sagging and removes fine lines and wrinkles. This cosmetic surgery is recommended for patients who haven’t developed jowls or marionette lines. Combining procedures to remove jowls and other lines with a mid-facelift is also possible.
Cheek lift
In a similar manner to a mid-facelift, this facelift technique targets the cheekbones and the lines and wrinkles in the mid-face area. A cheek lift gives the face a more voluminous and uplifted look. This procedure can also eliminate puffiness under the eyes and contour nasal folds to make them more discrete.
Jawline rejuvenation
The jawline area is prone to exhibit signs of aging in most people. A jawline rejuvenation procedure consists of a surgeon contouring and reshaping the jawline to make it more smooth. Excess fat cells from the neck area are extracted through a neck liposuction procedure.
S-lift or MACS lift (minimal accsss cranial suspension).
During this type of plastic surgery, an s-shaped incision is performed on the lower half of the face, around the neck and jawline. By making this incision, the surgeon can separate the top layer of facial skin from the muscles and tissues beneath it. An S-lift is used to lift the skin, contour the muscles and tissue, and remove excess fat cells. This facelift results in rejuvenated, smooth, and wrinkle-free skin.
Cutaneous lift
The focal point of a cutaneous lift is the lower face area together with the jack and the neck. Dr. Saman reserves this type of lift only in cases of deep neck lift where there is excess skin. It consists of a surgeon making incisions around the hairline and the ears. From there the top layer of the skin is separated from the muscles and tissues underneath and excess skin is removed. Afterward, the skin is stretched upwards towards the incision areas. Stretching the skin tightens it allowing for a snatched jawline.
Temporal or brow lift
This type of surgery is performed by making a small incision along the hairline and then lifting up the underlying muscles to stretch out drooping skin. A brow lift is an ideal procedure for people with eyebrows that are too droopy or hang too low. It allows for elevating lateral part of the eyebrow, also known as fox eye lift.
Liquid facelift
Liquid facelifts are very popular cosmetic procedures. These facial rejuvenation surgeries include the use of an injectable serum which usually has measured concentrations of collagen or hyaluronic acid. This helps stimulate collagen production in the body and promotes skin elasticity. Examples of serums used during a liquid facelift include Botox, Restylane, Dysport, or Juvederm. The product is injected into the face targeting the problem area. Liquid facelifts are known for being simple, time-efficient, and non-invasive.
Benefits of a facelift
A facelift can help a person achieve a vibrant facial appearance. Modern facelift techniques and the expertise of an accomplished facial plastic surgeon guarantee that facelift patients will have a healthy and natural-looking result.
Facial plastic surgeries can address multiple signs of aging, such as the loss of facial fat and the lines created by facial expressions. Anyone with sagging skin and wrinkles can benefit from a facelift, regardless of age or gender. The surgical scars that result from facelifts are practically invisible.
Who is a good candidate for a facelift?
All healthy individuals with a positive outlook and realistic expectations are good candidates for facelift surgery. It is better if a person who undergoes plastic surgery doesn’t smoke. People who have a medical condition that could impair their healing process should also abstain from facial plastic surgery.
What is recovery from a facelift like?
During facelift recovery, it is common for the face to be bruised and swollen. One may experience this for one or two weeks. It is also possible to notice bruises on the neck and chest. Most facelift patients recover in a period of six weeks. However, it may take six months or more to see the full effects of reconstructive surgery. During the first days of recovery, you may have some trouble opening your mouth.
During recovery from facelift surgery, you should:
- Rest when feeling tired, as good sleeping habits improve recovery.
- Keep your head raised for several days. When sleeping, the head can be kept up by using 2 or 3 pillows.
- Try to walk every day.
- Depending on your occupation, you may need to take a couple of weeks off work.
- Drink plenty of fluids (unless your doctor recommends not to) and eat soft foods such as soup, juice, pudding, yogurt, applesauce, scrambled eggs, and mashed potatoes.
- Abstain from strenuous activities such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, and aerobic exercise for the time recommended by your doctor.
- Avoid driving until the doctor says it’s okay.
- If you have trouble opening your mouth, you should use a baby toothbrush to brush your teeth.
- If you shave your face, be careful when using a blade, as you won’t be able to feel it on your skin. It may be advantageous to switch to an electric razor until your face and neck feel normal.
Average cost of a facelift in New York
The cost of a facelift in New York ranges widely from $20,000 to $100,000 or more. However, this procedure averages in the $50,000 range for most patients. To achieve more drastic results with a lower recovery time frame, a standard facelift can be performed in tandem with other surgical techniques. For instance, performing laser skin resurfacing, a rhinoplasty, or a neck lift alongside a traditional facelift is often done to achieve more impactful results.
What influences the cost of a facelift?
Factors that influence facelift costs in NYC include a patient’s anatomy and specific goals. Facial rejuvenation surgeries are medical procedures so patients are also paying to have a safe and effective treatment.
Facelift prices in NYC are affected by:
- Laboratory tests
- Anesthesia fees
- Surgeon fees (not all artists are the same)
- Medications
- Surgical garments
- Geographical location
- A person’s anatomy and expectations
- Etc.
Book a consultation with a facial plastic surgeon
You can get the best facelift in New York City with Dr. Saman. As a double board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgery specialist and former Medical Director of Head and Neck Oncologic and Reconstructive Surgery in Dallas, Dr. Saman is one of the most accomplished plastic surgeons in the United States.
Dr. Saman has a holistic style with an emphasis on elegant outcomes. His work philosophy is heavily influenced by his artistic sensibilities, and he opts to avoid fake looks and overdone plastic surgery in favor of natural-looking and appealing results.
You can book a private consultation with Dr. Saman to discuss the goals of your facelift. During a comprehensive initial consultation, Dr. Saman will talk to you to learn more about your aesthetic goals and vision. Facelift costs and treatment plans are settled with the information provided during the initial consultation.
