Are you feeling let down by signs of aging in your face and neck? Sagging skin, lines and wrinkles, and loss of elasticity can conspire to dim your inner spark of confidence. Minimally invasive treatments like dermal fillers and energy-based skin tightening have revolutionized the world of facial rejuvenation. However, these treatments can only do so much for more advanced signs of aging.
The good news is that you can turn back the hands of time and restore your youthful appearance with the help of a Newport Beach facelift expertly done by Dr. Siamak Agha or his associates at The Aesthetic Centers.
Learn more about how our sophisticated three-dimensional approach to the classic facelift can erase the signs of aging on your face and neck to improve your appearance. Then, schedule your personal consultation to discover how a Newport Beach facelift expertly done by one of our board-certified plastic surgeons will ensure stunning results that last.
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Our gallery of facelift before and after photos demonstrates the quality of the results you can expect in our Newport Beach Plastic Surgery Center. This is the level of care and precision our patients receive during each and every facelift procedure. Click the link above to see the profound rejuvenating effects for yourself.
A beautiful face has the perfect balance of the three dimensions of height, width and projection. The upper, mid, and lower face are all at about 1/3rd of the face height. The face is elliptical or triangular and has a high cheekbone, defined cheeks, and crisp jawlines.
The effects of aging can cause these dimensions to lose their definition while the skin’s youthful tautness and radiance diminish. Fortunately a facelift can reverse most of these changes and return years back to your face. Having said that, most of the 20 or more types of current facelifts are a two-dimensional correction. Pulling facial muscles and skin up and back often flattens the face and rubs the face away from its defined features. It is with this understanding that our board-certified plastic surgeons employ advanced face and necklift techniques to achieve a three-dimensional, contoured, yet natural-looking facial rejuvenation.
Aging in the Face:
As you age, you experience changes in the skin, fat, muscles, and bone of your face. Your skin loses collagen, thinning its middle layer, called the dermis. This also reduces your skin’s ability to retain elasticity and moisture, resulting in thinner, drier, and less supple skin. This ultimately results in wrinkled and sagging skin.
Fat loss also happens, leading to a loss of facial volume. You’ll notice that your forehead and cheeks lose fat, while your mouth and jaw might gain fat. The redistribution of fat pads can change your facial contours, resulting in heavy jowls and sagginess.
Even your facial bones can lose volume, affecting the overlying tissues and skin. You’ll notice that your bony landmarks are more visible, leading to the development of wrinkles and fine lines. In addition, your nasolabial folds become more prominent, while your cheeks become hollow. You’ll also develop thinner lips and wrinkles around your mouth.
Aging in the Neck Area:
The neck poses unique challenges that can cause signs of aging to crop up in this area before the face. For one thing, the neck muscles tend to separate at the midline, forming neck muscle bands that can be visible under the thinner skin. Common concerns that a neck lift may address include pronounced neck muscle bands, excess fat deposits under the chin (known as submental fat), and sagging skin. A neck lift together with neck muscle band correction (known as platysmaplasty), may be performed on its own or in combination with a facelift to sculpt the neck’s contours and replace sagging and crepey skin with a taut and toned neck area.
Medically known as rhytidectomy, a facelift reverses the effects of time on your face and neck, making you look like a younger version of yourself. Often, we perform a facelift and neck lift together in order to provide more comprehensive rejuvenation.
With a facelift, our surgeons will:
A facelift is an excellent solution if you’re bothered by these natural signs of aging and want to restore your youthful, vibrant appearance. In fact, the facelift is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries among adults aged 55 and above, second only to an eye lift.
Fall in love with your appearance again. Connect with us to schedule a consultation for your Facelift in Newport Beach.
There are many different facelift techniques that surgeons perform with varying results. So it is important that you understand the type of facelift that you desire. All lower facelifts and neck lifts have incisions that are placed in the front and the back of your ears. The facelift incision typically starts at the temples in front of the ears. Placed within the crease, the incision runs around the ear lobule and joins the neck lift incision which is placed behind the ear and along the hairline. Through these skin incisions, plastic surgeons reposition your deeper tissues and muscles and remove excess skin to smooth the creases on your face, eliminate jowls on your cheeks, and get rid of the sagging skin under your chin.
While the incisions for most facelifts and neck lifts are the same, the technique used to elevate the facial muscles or tighten the deeper tissues define the type of facelift that you are having. The following are the most common ones:
Also known as the SMAS facelift, this facelift technique addresses moderate to severe sagging of your face down to your neck.
SMAS stands for superficial musculo-aponeurotic system. That is the connective tissue matrix mixed with fat covering all the facial muscles and nerves. Lifting and repositioning it higher provides longevity to your facelift results.
Following a standard facelift incision, the SMAS layer of your face and neck is tightened (Lateral SMASectomy facelift), folded on itself via sutures (SMAS plication facelift), or repositioned (High SMAS facelift) so that the deeper tissues and muscles are lifted. Excess skin is then removed to smooth the wrinkles, eliminate jowls, and get rid of the sagging skin.
The SMAS facelift is the most frequently performed facelift type if you have a lot of excess skin on your face and neck.
The deep plane facelift is a modification of the traditional facelift that provides longer-lasting and natural-looking results. There is minimal dissection of the facial skin in this type of facelift, and the SMAS layer is released from the deeper muscle layer. The skin/SMAS composite flap is then repositioned up and backward. Through this technique, there is minimal tension on the incisions, resulting in nearly invisible scars. This is why a Deep Plane Facelift is often called a “scarless facelift.”
A mini-facelift is best suited for individuals with minimal neck laxity. Also known as a short-scar facelift, this procedure involves a less invasive technique than the deep plane facelift or the SMAS facelift.
A mini-facelift is thus shorter to perform and mainly tackles signs of lower-face aging. Through short incisions in front of your ears, your cheeks and midface are lifted to eliminate jowls, refine your jawline, restore cheek position, and enhance your vibrant and youthful look.
A mini-facelift is best suited for younger patients who wish to prevent signs of aging from becoming too pronounced. A mini-facelift may be performed under local or general anesthesia.
The midface lift is used to lift your midface and cheek to alleviate the appearance of nasolabial folds or smile lines, as well as hanging skin in the middle of your face. This procedure again is best suited for younger patients who have minimal to mild neck laxity. Most surgeons perform a midface through standard facelift incisions. However, Dr. Agha has developed a minimal access deep plane midface procedure that uses small well-hidden incisions that are placed within your hair.
This type of neck lift targets the platysma muscle located beneath the skin on each side of your neck. As you age, these muscles become more visible as the neck skin thins out and separates from one another, resulting in two vertical neck bands.
With a platysmaplasty, the neck skin is separated from your platysma muscle, and the muscles are brought back together by sutures through an incision under the chin. This is often done in conjunction with a facelift.
As the name suggests, a neck lift targets a sagging neck area. First, a platysmaplasty is performed to remove any pronounced neck cords. Necklift incisions are then made at the earlobe and behind the ear. Through these incisions, the neck muscles are mobilized and lifted backward to tighten the neck contour. Any excess fat is also removed using liposuction.
A neck lift is often done in conjunction with a facelift for patients with poor or fair skin elasticity. Otherwise, the solo procedure might be enough for those with excellent skin elasticity and minimal lower-face aging. A neck lift may be combined with a chin implant or Ellacor to obtain facial skin tightening.
The chosen technique used by our plastic surgeons to perform a facelift depends on various factors, such as the patient’s anatomical features, the patient’s goals, as well as the correction needed. Often, a facelift is performed with other complimentary facial procedures, such as eyelid surgery or forehead lift. Here, we break down the steps of a typical facelift to give you a better understanding of the procedure:
Before your facelift, you will be given specific instructions for a smooth recovery.
Though typically performed using general anesthesia, a facelift may also be completed under local anesthesia with sedation if the procedure isn’t that extensive. For most patients, we prefer general anesthesia since the patient is far more comfortable when asleep.
The procedure is started by infusing numbing fluid under the skin. This fluid will numb the face and reduce blood loss. If the patient has a double chin and excessive fat, liposuction of the neck is performed to remove fat from this region.
The sign of a remarkable facelift is not only a beautifully rejuvenated face and neck but also a scar that is perfectly placed in a well-hidden crease in front of and behind the ear. The incision starts at the temples within the sideburn hair and continues in the crease in front of the ear, in the crease around the lobule, and ends in the crease behind the ear.
For those patients who have a lot of neck skin – such as in the case of patients who have lost lots of weight or have Ozempic face – the incision is extended behind the ear further along the hairline so that more neck skin can be excised. Finally, another one-inch incision is made below the chin to access the neck muscles and elevate the neck skin.
Through the skin incisions, facial and neck skin is meticulously elevated from the underlying SMAS and muscles. The neck skin is completely lifted on both sides.
In a SMAS facelift, the SMAS can be manipulated in a variety of ways. Depending on the patient’s facial shape, we may elevate the SMAS layer and suture it at a higher position, cut and repair the SMAS, or just infold and tighten the SMAS to create a smooth and lifted layer. A personalized series of sutures is used to tighten and lift the SMAS tissues of the neck and face.
In a deep plane facelift, the SMAS and platysma are released from the underlying facial muscles, lifted, and sutured at a higher position.
After lifting the SMAS, excess skin is excised, and the incisions are closed.
Oftentimes, Dr. Agha uses nanofat to further optimize the results of your face lift. Fat may be use to enhance the shape and volume of cheeks and lips, and fill hollow temples or nasolabial depressions. Dr Agha may also perform CO2 laser, chemical peel, or dermabrasion to enhance the quality of the facial skin.
You may expect to have a small, thin tube temporarily placed under the skin behind your ear for blood and fluid drainage. Your skin is closed with stitches that will need to be removed 5-7 days after surgery.
Read the general information on recovery after facial surgery.
Even though a facelift is a relatively complicated procedure, the good news is you’ll have a fast recovery process.
Scars take three to six months to heal fully and fade into a thin white line. But since the location of these scars is inconspicuous, you might feel comfortable going out in public within a week.
Still, it’s vital to protect your face from the sun to help your scars heal faster. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and apply sunscreen regularly when going out.
Here’s an estimated timeline of when you can return to your normal activities barring any complications:
| Timeline | Activity |
|---|---|
| Up to three days post-facelift | Bruising and swelling at their peak |
| 5-10 days | Initial healing completed Return to work (for mini-facelift) Removal of sutures |
| 2 weeks | Resume normal daily activities gradually Return to work (for full facelift) |
| 4 weeks | Light exercises allowed |
| 6 weeks | Regular exercises and strenuous activities allowed |
If you need additional post-operative care in the days following your facelift, we can recommend recovery and home care facilities for you.
After getting a facelift or neck lift, you can expect:
A 2017 study revealed that patients who underwent facial rejuvenation surgeries like the facelift are perceived as younger and more attractive by casual observers compared to their photos before the surgery.
Because of this, facelift patients generally feel more attractive, adding to their confidence and sense of overall well-being.
To evaluate your need for a facelift, try to answer the following with a yes or a no:
If you answered YES to any of these questions, then you might be in dire need of a facelift. This popular surgery will not only make you look healthier and younger but also give you a surge of self-confidence.
Unfortunately, not everyone who wants a facelift can get one. Some things you need to consider include:
Skin Elasticity: Your facial skin should be supple and flexible enough to make sure that it will conform to its new, improved contours.
Strong Bone Structure: You need to have a well-defined underlying bone structure to create satisfying results. If you have less distinct features, you might be better off getting Botox injections or dermal fillers.
Age: Surprising as it may seem, age isn’t the most significant factor in assessing if you’re an excellent facelift candidate or not. Though most patients who undergo this surgery are between 40 and 70 years old, you can still benefit from it even if you’re over 70, as long as you are healthy and have good skin elasticity.
Good Overall Health: Because a facelift is an invasive procedure that requires healing and recovery, you need to be in good health without any severe pre-existing medical conditions that might make your surgery risky.
Realistic Expectations: While a facelift can take years off your face, it isn’t practical to expect that your 60-year-old face will magically transform into a 30-year-old face or that it can miraculously stop the clock.
Talk to our plastic surgeons regarding your expectations, medical history, and skin condition to guide you into making the right decision about getting a facelift.
The facelift remains a popular procedure to combat signs of aging in the face. In fact, it was one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries among adults aged 55 and above in 2018, second only to an eyelid lift.
Several minimally invasive treatments, such as Botox, dermal fillers, and non-surgical skin tightening, can help address common aging concerns. We also offer the Ellacor™ treatment, which can provide dramatic improvements without demanding a surgical procedure. This innovative technique involves removing micro-cores of skin tissue to provide impressive lift and tightening.
After a thorough consultation, your surgeon will make a customized treatment plan that is right for you. Several factors will influence the total cost, including the technique used, length of anesthesia, and any additional treatments needed.
Because a facelift is considered an elective procedure, it is not covered by your insurance. However, our office provides various financing options to help you manage the cost of surgery.
The weight-loss prescription medication known by the brand name Ozempic has opened up a new era of weight-loss solutions for people who are chronically overweight or obese. While semaglutide-based medications offer a valuable path to making strides on your weight-loss journey, losing weight can come with unintended side effects—namely, sagging skin. The face and neck are prime areas where these issues tend to be noticeable. Other common facial concerns following significant weight loss include more noticeable fine lines and wrinkles and a “hollowed-out” appearance in places like the cheeks, temples, or elsewhere.
In some cases, these concerns can be addressed with minimally invasive techniques like dermal fillers or energy-based treatments. However, for many patients—especially older individuals—surgeries such as a facelift or neck lift provide the best outcome. Our highly trusted, board-certified plastic surgeons are here to educate you about your options and help you celebrate the success of your weight loss with refined surgical techniques for a more sculpted, taut face and neck.
Disclaimer:
Semaglutide medications, including Ozempic, are prescription drugs intended for the management of type 2 diabetes and, in some cases, weight loss under medical supervision. These medications are not suitable for everyone and should only be used as prescribed by a qualified healthcare provider.
Potential side effects of semaglutides may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and reduced appetite. More serious risks, such as pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, kidney issues, and thyroid tumors, have been reported in some cases. It is essential to discuss your medical history and any pre-existing conditions with your doctor before starting treatment.
This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you are considering semaglutide treatment, consult with a licensed healthcare professional to determine if it is appropriate for you.
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