Facelift

Facelift at a Glance

Average Cost:: Ranges from $12,500 to $26,000 depending on the customized treatment plan
Discomfort Level:: Mild to Moderate
Anesthesia Options:: Local Anesthesia with Sedation or General Anesthesia
Recovery Period:: Two to Three Weeks
Results Length:: Long-lasting, although the natural aging process will continue over time
Potential Benefits:: Smoothing out wrinkles and fine lines, lifting sagging skin and deeper tissues, improving facial contours, tightening loose skin, and achieving a more youthful appearance

Facelift surgery, medically referred to as rhytidectomy, is a cosmetic procedure designed to enhance one’s facial appearance by diminishing visible signs of aging. This treatment entails tightening facial muscles, eliminating surplus skin, and repositioning underlying tissues to attain a more youthful and revitalized aesthetic.

Changes in the elasticity and plumpness of the skin can be attributed to genetics, lifestyle choices, and environmental factors. A facelift from Dr. Jonathan Pontell or Dr. Catherine Weng can turn back the clock and rejuvenate the face. With several types of facelifts available today, patients can address a multitude of issues. The information below can give you a more comprehensive idea of the goals that can be achieved with facelift surgery and what the treatment process involves. If you have questions, or if you would like to schedule a consultation, please contact The Aesthetic Facial Plastic Surgery Center, Inc. today.

What Is a Facelift?

Facelift surgery reduces fine lines, wrinkles, jowls, and sagging skin. These early signs of aging can affect men and women alike. Our facial plastic surgeons are skilled with a variety of facelift techniques, including traditional SMAS (Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System) facelifts, custom hybrid deep plane facelifts, and mini facelifts. Their techniques routinely give patients very natural results.

Depending on the extent of lift required to achieve the desired outcome, Dr. Pontell and Dr. Weng can often combine facelift surgery with an eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) to renew the areas around the eyes or a brow lift to rejuvenate the forehead. Submental liposuction can also be combined with a mini-facelift to help patients with extra fat under their chin. Our doctors will help you determine which procedure best suits your needs.

A key factor to keep in mind is that the experience and skill of the surgeon is a far more important factor than which particular technique is used in order to achieve the best results. Dr. Pontell and Dr. Weng have a combined 37 years of experience with performing facelifts and can help you determine the ideal treatment plan.

Video Image Placeholder

Facelift Surgery

Why Choose Dr. Pontell and Dr. Weng?

An expert in the field of facial cosmetic surgery, Dr. Jonathan Pontell has performed over 4,000 facelifts over his 27-year career, more than any other surgeon in the Philadelphia area. With double board certification and expertise in producing natural results, Dr. Pontell is one of the most trusted physicians in the field of facial plastic surgery. With a Doctor of Medicine degree from Jefferson Medical College and a Fellowship in Facial Plastic Surgery at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Dr. Pontell is double-board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. Additionally, Dr. Catherine Weng is also dual-board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. She is extensively trained, having earned her medical degree from the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, and fellowship training in Rochester, NY. She has an exceptional level of experience performing facelift surgery. Our facial plastic surgeons’ training and expertise give them an instinct for excellence when it comes to surgical procedures. They listen carefully to their facelift patients and work diligently to create the changes they want to see.

Stunning Before & After Patient Results

View Gallery

Am I a Candidate for Facelift Surgery?

Facelift surgery can often be an ideal option for individuals who are experiencing signs of facial aging, such as sagging skin or wrinkles. To be a good candidate for a facelift, you should be in good health and have a positive outlook with realistic expectations for a natural-appearing, rejuvenated look. Candidates should be nonsmokers, in good cardiovascular health, and have enough flexibility to take some time off to recover while looking forward to a natural-looking improvement.
During your initial consultation, our facial plastic surgeon will examine your face and neck and evaluate your needs and goals. If you are an ideal candidate for facelift surgery, we can create a customized treatment plan designed to enhance your appearance with results that look both beautiful and natural.

What Are the Different Reasons or Indications for a Facelift?

Individuals who consider facelift surgery do so for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common include:

When one’s outward appearance does not match how they feel on the inside
When an individual’s facial aesthetic makes them look sad, unhappy, or tired, when that is not really the case
When a loss of volume in the upper and mid-face regions has occurred
When sagging or excess skin has developed in the face or neck

If you are considering cosmetic enhancement to address concerns you have about your facial appearance, one of our facial plastic surgeons will be happy to meet with you to talk about your goals. If facelift surgery or another option offers the best solution, our surgeon can help you choose the ideal treatment for your needs.

What Is the Best Age for Facelift Surgery?

Traditionally, facelifts have been associated with people in their 50s and 60s. In recent years, however, they have exploded in popularity amongst people in their 40s. The truth is that facelifts can be beneficial to many individuals, both men and women, as long as they have facial laxity.

One of the advantages of getting the procedure at a younger age is that the results will typically be more subtle. Those dealing with early signs of aging and who want to get a jump-start on addressing the effects of gravity may benefit from early treatment with a less invasive approach. With all of this in mind, the extent of the aesthetic concerns and one’s current general health status are typically more significant factors than age when it comes to determining candidacy for these treatments. A consultation with one of our facial plastic surgeons can help individuals assess whether facelift surgery or another kind of treatment offers an ideal cosmetic enhancement solution.

What Are the Different Facelift Types and Techniques?

Mini Facelift

Mini facelifts are effective for issues in the lower face, such as early jowls, skin sagging, and neck laxity. This procedure is best suited for younger patients, as it is designed to address mild, early issues rather than fully-developed ones. Mini facelift surgery involves incisions hidden around the ears followed by elevation of the skin and soft tissues beneath the skin on the sides of the face to lift the lower face and jowls.

Traditional Facelift

Traditional facelifts address the cheeks, jawline, and neck. The entire mid- and lower-facial areas are lifted. Incisions are typically hidden around the ears, followed by lifting of the skin and soft tissues on each side of the face. The lower face will be lifted and signs of jowl formation will be addressed. Traditional facelift surgery also includes an incision beneath the chin to remove subcutaneous fat and muscles beneath the chin and in the neck to improve sagging and excess tissue in this area.

Custom Hybrid Deep Plane/SMAS Facelift

No two patients have the same facial anatomy or the same pattern or extent of facial aging, so no single facelift procedure is optimal for every patient. Dr. Pontell and Dr. Weng combine aspects of a more traditional SMAS (Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System) facelift with the deep plane techniques to tailor the procedure for each patient. This combination allows for excellent, natural results with the lowest possible complication rate.

In the typical facelift that our surgeons perform, the skin is elevated in the cheek and neck and a strip of the SMAS (the connective tissue layer that connects all of the facial muscles) in the cheek, which becomes the platysma muscle in the neck, is removed. Removing this strip of connective tissue and muscle allows entry into the deep plane. Many patients have significant laxity in the SMAS/platysma layer, so placing sutures in the cut edge of this layer allows us to elevate the facial structures that have drooped, giving the patient excellent, natural repositioning with almost no chance of injury to the nerves that control the facial muscles.

In other patients, to get good mobility of the SMAS/platysma layer, operating under this layer—farther out towards the midline of the face in this deep plane—makes sense and will allow for better repositioning. Operating in this layer does pose some risk to the facial nerve that allows us to smile, wink, and frown. It is a risk that should be taken with caution and intention. The tissues overlying the deep plane are lifted and repositioned in a customized manner best suited to each patient’s unique anatomy.

In each of these scenarios, there is also an entry into the deep plane in the midline of the neck through an incision in the chin/neck crease (submental crease). Through this incision, a strip of the platysma muscle is removed from each side of the midline, any excess fat in the deep plane is removed, and the platysma muscle is repositioned back together in the midline to give a much better neckline and jawline aesthetic.

Interestingly, a number of studies have been done comparing the SMAS and deep plane facelifts. In one study, the surgeon did a SMAS facelift on one side of a patient’s face and a deep plane on the other. The results were evaluated after healing and there were no significant differences. In another study of twin patients, one twin had a SMAS facelift and the other had a deep plane facelift and again there were no differences observed.

Male Facelift

Facelift surgery offers many similar aesthetic benefits for both men and women; however, these procedures are tailored to anatomical considerations and goals that can be quite distinct among genders. There are a few unique aspects of face lift surgery in men. Most of these relate to the fact that the area being operated on and lifted is the bearded skin. Because of this, there is a small risk of temporary hair loss in the area, as well as increased bleeding due to the fact that bearded skin is more vascularized. Also, at the incision sites, a strip of skin is typically lifted and removed, which may result in bringing the bearded skin closer to the ear. Patients will need to be attentive to this post-operatively when shaving.

Men who are considering facelift surgery can meet with our facial plastic surgeon to discuss their goals and talk about the ideal treatment plan. Again, just as facelift procedures are customized for female patients, they are also customized for male patients who would like to enhance their facial appearance in a way that takes their individual aesthetic characteristics into account.

Revision Facelift

Revision facelifts, as the name implies, are designed to correct or improve the results of a previous facelift procedure. Patients unhappy with imbalances in their results may seek this treatment to correct any perceived imperfections. In addition, patients who are happy with their facelift results will continue to age and, years later, may consider having a second facelift.

What Does the Facelift Procedure Involve?

Facelift surgery requires local or general anesthesia, depending on the extent of the procedure. Our surgeons trace the incision within the hairline from the temples to discreetly hidden areas in front of and behind the ears. The process involves separating the skin from the underlying tissues and tightening the facial muscles and the skin to produce a smoother, more youthful appearance. Excess fat in the neck or jowls is removed if needed via micro-liposuction or directly with scissors. The skin is then repositioned on the face to provide a natural look. Patients with significant jowling and sagging skin on the face can look up to ten years younger with a traditional facelift procedure. Patients with less noticeable facial aging may only need a mini facelift to achieve their desired look.

Ultimately, the particulars of the facelift procedure will depend on the specific surgical technique utilized. Our facial plastic surgeons will be able to provide more information on how the procedure will be performed once the treatment plan is developed during the initial consultation.

Facelift Timeline

Before Surgery:

Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, and most supplements for three weeks before surgery. Get a good night’s sleep and do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery.

Immediate Post-Op:

Wake up in the recovery room. Usually after 45 minutes to 1 hour, you will be discharged and your family member or friend can drive you home. There will be a pressure dressing around your face and neck, as well as small plastic drains in the space under the skin to drain any fluid from surgery.

1st Day:

Overnight you should sleep with your head elevated and keep the pressure dressing on. You will have your first post-operative appointment where the dressing will be removed, your incisions will be checked, and drains may be removed if they are ready. There will be some bruising and swelling in the face and neck area, minimal pain, and some numbness.

2nd Day:

If the drains were not removed on day 1, you will have another appointment for drain removal and an incision check. You will begin to apply antibiotic ointment to the stitches. Swelling and bruising may increase until day 2 or 3.

1 Week:

Some of the stitches will be removed. You are asked to avoid lifting and strenuous exercise during your initial post-op recovery.

2 Weeks:

You should still be avoiding lifting and exercise. All stitches will be removed by the end of week 2 and swelling and bruising should be fading. Any remaining bruising may be covered by makeup. You are encouraged to stay out of the sun and wear mineral sunblock.

6 Weeks:

The swelling should have decreased significantly and you will typically have a good idea of what the result will be.

3 Months:

Numbness should be resolved.

6 Months:

You should be fully healed and appear rejuvenated. From here on out you will continue to age, but the clock is reset. Continue to protect incisions from sun exposure for one year.

7-10 years:

You may notice that you have aged some more and you may consider a revision surgery, but you will still appear younger than those of your peers who have never had surgery.

How Long Does It Take To Recover from a Facelift?

The length of recovery time following your facelift will depend on your age and health status. Most patients experience an easy recovery and minimal pain, so they can return to their regular routines and work within two weeks. Patients must avoid strenuous activities for two weeks after the procedure.

Our doctors will see patients the day after surgery to change the dressing and then again a few days later. After about ten days, they remove the sutures and assess the healing process. It is very important to follow the post-operative instructions and guidelines that will be supplied by our facial plastic surgery team to maximize the potential for a safe, smooth, and effective recovery. As with any cosmetic undertaking, preventing excess sun exposure and maintaining a healthy lifestyle will help preserve the results.

How Long Does a Facelift Last?

While the precise longevity of outcomes varies among patients, the results of a facelift can range between 10 and 15 years for many individuals, depending on factors such as one’s skin quality and lifestyle habits, as well as the surgical technique used. Deeper-plane facelifts tend to offer longer-lasting outcomes compared to mini facelifts. While a facelift can effectively tighten sagging skin and redefine facial contours, it is important to remember that the natural aging process will continue. Maintaining results with a healthy lifestyle, sun protection, and even non-surgical treatments such as cosmetic injectables or laser skin rejuvenation can often help extend the aesthetic renewal provided by facelift surgery.

Patients who opt for a facelift often witness a remarkable surge in self-confidence. They no longer feel compelled to conceal their wrinkle-causing facial expressions or rely on costly creams to reverse the effects of aging. Facelift surgery can turn back the clock as much as ten years. Patients can also expect the following:

Tighter lifted skin and facial features
Minimized wrinkles and heavy lines
A revitalized appearance
A sculpted jawline – no more jowls or double chin

Will I Have Scars After Facelift Surgery?

The surgical incision sites for many facelift techniques are discreetly hidden around the ears and beneath the hair line in order to camouflage them. Most patients, once they are fully healed, have imperceptible fine lines at the site of their incisions.

How Much Does Facelift Surgery Cost in Philadelphia?

$26,000. The price varies depending on many factors associated with the customized treatment plan. Some of these factors include:

Surgeon’s and surgical facility fees
Whether an overnight accommodation is necessary
Fees for anesthesia
The facelift technique utilized
The overall complexity of the procedure

More information will be provided about costs and financing after your treatment plan has been developed during your consultation. Since this procedure is customized, the most precise cost estimate can only be determined after an in-person evaluation has been performed and the treatment plan has been designed. At that point, a member of our team will be able to calculate a total estimate that takes all components of the treatment into account. Our practice wants to make the payment process as convenient as possible for our patients, which is why we offer an array of payment options. These options include access to reputable healthcare financing companies that enable qualified applicants to pay for their facelift treatment over time.

Can I Get a Facelift Without Surgery?

There are many facial rejuvenation techniques that do not involve surgery. For example, a lot can be achieved with injectables, such as BOTOX^® Cosmetic (which can smooth fine lines in areas of dynamic facial muscle movement) and dermal fillers (which can restore volume in specific facial areas and diminish signs of wrinkles). Additionally, various energy-based cosmetic enhancement techniques can boost collagen production and smooth textural irregularities and fine lines. Laser skin resurfacing and Ultherapy^® are popular options. With that in mind, there are some conditions—such as excess sagging skin and jowls—where nothing else can really compare to a surgical facelift. During your consultation, our plastic surgeon can explore your options with you and determine whether facelift surgery or a less invasive alternative may be right for your needs.

Additional Frequently Asked Questions About Facelift Surgery

Will I Still Look Like Myself After Facelift Surgery?
While a facelift impacts the look of your skin, it will not change your unique facial features. Our plastic surgeons are meticulously precise when developing customized treatment plans in order to produce results that look as natural as possible.
Can A Facelift Fix A Double Chin?
Yes, facelift surgery can address double chins. In fact, these procedures can be particularly effective for tightening the skin, reducing sagging and inelastic tissues, and refining contours to enhance the facial profile.
Are There Any Risks Or Side Effects Associated With A Facelift?
It is essential that you let your doctor know of any adverse reactions to anesthesia that you may have had in the past and follow their instructions closely. As with any surgery, bleeding and infection are always a possibility, but these are very infrequent issues. Our plastic surgeons will explain the potential risks and benefits of facelift surgery before the procedure is performed and will address any questions or concerns you may have.
What Type Of Facelift Is Right For Me?
Traditional facelifts are typically recommended in older patients with more signs of aging, while mini facelifts may be recommended for younger individuals. The best way to determine which option is best for you is to meet with one of our facial plastic surgeons for a consultation. This meeting will include an examination of your skin and an evaluation of your concerns and overall treatment goals. At this point, we can help you decide the best type of facelift for your needs.
Is facelift surgery painful?
While there may be some swelling and bruising, discomfort and pain after a facelift is usually minimal. In fact, because of the skin elevation performed during the facelift, much of the operated area may be numb for several weeks after surgery.
Are facelifts covered by insurance?
Facelift surgery is considered a cosmetic procedure and is not covered by insurance. With that in mind, our practice accepts a variety of payment methods, including third-party financing available from highly reputable companies that can give qualified applicants the opportunity to pay for their facelift treatment over a series of installments. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the cost of facelift surgery and how to bring this advanced procedure into your budget.

Testimonials

“It’s been 14 years since Dr. Pontell did my facelift. I am still very happy with the work he did.”

- Real Facelift Patient -

“Dr. Pontell is an excellent practitioner with a warm, interactive demeanor. I’ve been his patient for 3 years and would not trust my face to any other Doctor.”