Facelift Beverly Hills
- Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
- The Lasky Clinic, Beverly Hills
Our faces often play a big part in our first impressions and how others perceive us. Over time, as the aging process advances, it can be challenging to accept that your face has changed. Many people no longer feel like themselves, as fine lines, wrinkles, and skin laxity can significantly impact how their face looks.
Some people feel that signs of aging make them look perpetually tired or angry, and in some cases, they can make people look older than they actually are. If you’re bothered by visible signs of facial aging, a facelift may help you turn back the clock and enjoy smoother, more youthful skin.
What Is a Facelift?
A facelift is a plastic surgery procedure that can correct signs of facial and neck aging to restore a more youthful appearance. Aging, gravity, stress, environmental conditions, and hereditary factors can lead to sagging tissues and wrinkles around the midface, jawline, and neck. Facelift surgery involves repositioning the underlying facial tissues to sculpt youthful contours, tightening the skin to create a smooth surface, and trimming off excess skin to eliminate sagging.
When performed by Dr. Leslie Stevens at his state-of-the-art Beverly Hills outpatient center, facelift surgery, also known as rhytidectomy, can improve sagging skin and muscles, tighten the facial and neck tissues, and contour excess fat to create a smoother, more defined, and more youthful face and neckline. With his years of education and experience, Dr. Stevens is known for achieving some of the best results in facial rejuvenation surgery in Beverly Hills.
What Are the Benefits of a Facelift?
Some of the benefits of facelift surgery may include:
- Smoothing loose, sagging skin
- Creating natural-looking, more youthful facial contours
- Rejuvenating the face and neck
- Smoothing deep lines, folds, and wrinkles
- Repositioning sagging facial muscles and tissues to a fresh, natural, youthful position
- Restoring a defined, youthful jawline
Many patients combine a facelift with other procedures, such as eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) or fat grafting, for more significant rejuvenation.
The results of a facelift can last for many years, which is one of the most appreciated benefits of the procedure, as it provides long-term rejuvenation of the patient’s appearance and enhanced confidence for years to come.
Am I a Candidate for Facelift Surgery?
If you’re dissatisfied with how your face has changed due to signs of aging, you may be a good candidate for facelift surgery. Other criteria that may make you eligible for this procedure include the following:
- Are in good general health
- Are a nonsmoker
- Have lost youthful firmness in your face
- Have sagging facial skin and jowls
- Have fine lines, creases, and/or wrinkles
- Want to reduce aging signs and create a more youthful appearance
- Can’t get the results you want with nonsurgical treatments, such as BOTOX® Cosmetic and dermal fillers
- Have realistic expectations for surgery
Leslie Stevens
MD, FACS
Gallery
Discover the exquisite results by browsing through our online library of before and after photography. You will also have a chance to view more photographs during your confidential consultation with Dr. Stevens.
What Can a Facelift Address?
Facelift surgery can address different aging concerns and is tailored to suit each patient’s face and align with their aesthetic vision.
Excess Skin or Fat in the Neck
A facelift can reduce a turkey neck and a double chin by removing excess fat, tightening loose skin, and correcting muscle bands. This can make the neckline smoother, more slender, and defined. Many patients enjoy how the procedure significantly reduces signs of aging in the face and neck and notice improved self-confidence.
Loss of Facial Definition
Skin elasticity decreases as we age. Once our faces lose elasticity, facial contours appear less firm and may even look deflated. When skin on the lower face sags, jowls can be created, obscuring the jawline and changing the shape of the face. During facelift surgery, the facial muscles are repositioned to create rejuvenated and more defined contours. The skin in the lower face and jawline can also be tightened to highlight the jaw and improve the facial profile.
Wrinkles and Sagging Skin
Years of making various facial expressions, talking, and eating will eventually create fine lines and wrinkles on the face. Sagging skin throughout the lower face can also make you appear older and give you a droopy, tired look. Facelift surgery lifts sagging facial features and smooths the skin for harmonious results.
What Are My Facelift Options?
Everyone has unique skin and goals for what they want to get out of surgery. Dr. Stevens will discuss the different facelift options during your consultation and recommend which ones will best suit your goals.
Extended Deep Plane Facelift
The extended deep plane facelift technique treats moderate to severe signs of aging in the midface and lower face. The incisions begin in the hairline near the temples and wrap around behind the ears, ending in the lower scalp. Facial muscles and connective tissues are repositioned, and loose skin is tightened, eliminating the appearance of jowls and a “turkey neck.” Facial fat is removed or redistributed to create the desired facial contours. Wrinkles and deep creases are smoothed to give a more youthful look.
Limited-Incision Facelift
As the name suggests, a limited-incision facelift is less invasive than a traditional facelift. This technique, sometimes called a mini facelift, is often best for younger patients or those with more subtle signs of aging in the cheeks and lower face. The incisions are shorter and are typically made from the temples down to behind the ears. Similar to the traditional facelift, the limited-incision technique also involves tightening loose skin, repositioning tissues and fat, and improving the appearance of wrinkles. This procedure produces more subtle results; however, it does have a shorter recovery period than the traditional facelift technique.
Facelift With a Neck Lift
Dr. Stevens routinely performs facelifts with neck lifts, especially when performing a traditional facelift. Combining the two procedures allows for more comprehensive facial rejuvenation results. The neck lift requires incisions behind the ears and under the chin. The neck muscles are tightened to eliminate muscle banding. The procedure removes excess skin and stubborn fat deposits in the neck to create a slender, smooth look.
How Is Facelift Surgery Performed
Your facelift procedure will be performed in the privacy of the exclusive Lasky Clinic in Beverly Hills. During your consultation, Dr. Stevens will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that will reflect your aesthetic goals.
Facelift surgery is performed under either intravenous sedation or general anesthesia to make patients comfortable throughout the procedure. Incisions are placed within the hairline or behind the ears so the incision sites, once healed, are easily concealable. The skin and underlying muscles are tightened, adjusted, and lifted to a more youthful yet natural position. Excess skin and tissue are gently removed to smooth, restore, and renew your look. Once all the desired adjustments have been made, Dr. Stevens will close the incisions and may place a head wrap compression garment over the treated area to assist in the healing process.
It is required to arrange for someone to drive you to and from your facelift surgery, as well as to assist you during the initial recovery period.
What Is Facelift Recovery Like?
Facelift recovery time varies from patient to patient, but it is typical to experience mild to moderate swelling and bruising for about one to two weeks. You will have prescription pain medication to manage discomfort during the early stages of recovery. The head wrap compression garment will help reduce swelling and promote proper healing, so wearing it for as long as instructed is essential. You will also be advised to sleep with your head elevated to assist with swelling and avoid applying pressure to your incision sites. After a few days of recovery, patients are usually asked to return for a follow-up appointment to evaluate their healing process—be sure to attend all follow-up appointments to ensure you are healing well.
Patients should avoid strenuous activity and sun exposure for at least two weeks after a facelift. Most patients feel comfortable enough to return to work and light exercise by the end of the second week after surgery.
Swelling will reduce over the next few weeks, and you will soon be ready to resume your usual activities once Dr. Stevens clears you to do so. Follow all of Dr. Stevens’ aftercare instructions to ensure a safe and successful recovery.
What Results Can I Expect After Facelift Surgery?
It will be difficult to see your facelift results immediately after surgery due to the swelling and bruising. Many patients notice most of their bruising and swelling going away around two weeks after surgery and feel that their faces are presentable at this point. However, it will take around six months before you can see the full extent of your facelift results. Once all the swelling is gone, you’ll be able to enjoy smooth, firm, and youthful facial contours.
A note: It is common for patients to experience ongoing swelling or bruising for up to six months after surgery. As swelling dissipates, your facial contours will only continue to improve.
A facelift can create a more youthful appearance but does not stop the aging process or treat superficial sun damage and fine lines. Laser skin resurfacing, dermal fillers, and other nonsurgical aesthetic treatments can improve the skin and preserve your results. Daily sunscreen and a good skincare routine can also help you maintain your results over the years.
How Much Does a Facelift Cost in Beverly Hills, CA?
Your facelift cost will largely depend on the extent of correction needed, other procedures added to your treatment plan, and your aesthetic goals. The expertise of your surgeon and the geographic location of the practice will also affect the surgeon’s fee. On top of the surgeon’s fee, it is essential to prepare for other associated costs, such as facility fees, anesthesia fees, pain medications, and post-surgery garments. You’ll receive a price quote for your facelift procedure during your consultation.
What Procedures Can Be Combined With a Facelift?
For those interested in total facial rejuvenation, combination procedures can be an excellent way to achieve multiple goals within one surgical procedure. Ask Dr. Stevens about your eligibility for combination procedures during your facelift consultation. Procedures that are often combined with facelift surgery include:
- Neck lift (part of the procedure)
- Brow lift
- Eyelid lift
- Chin augmentation
- Lip lift
- Laser skin resurfacing
- Fat grafting
A face and neck lift are usually performed together for a more seamless transition, and because the neck often shows signs of aging that would appear jarring right beneath a freshly rejuvenated face. Since a facelift focuses on the midface and lower face, a brow lift or eyelid lift is an excellent option for patients who would like to rejuvenate the upper face or eye area; these can sometimes be added to your facelift procedure or staged separately. For patients who want to improve the surface texture of their skin in addition to lifting the underlying tissues, laser skin resurfacing can often be added to your facial rejuvenation treatment plan and can often be performed at the same time as your facelift.
Why Choose Dr. Leslie Stevens for Your Facelift Surgery?
As with any cosmetic surgical procedure, the final result is based on the skills of your surgeon. Dr. Stevens gained media attention when Sharon Osborne revealed he was her original surgeon, and the medical community has recognized him as a talented, ethical facial plastic surgeon for decades. While he often performs surgical enhancements for industry leaders and celebrities, he is warm, friendly, and honest, and helps patients from all walks of life achieve facial rejuvenation goals.
Dr. Stevens is an acclaimed board-certified Beverly Hills plastic surgeon known for creating remarkably natural-looking, youthful results with facelift surgery in Beverly Hills. He has pioneered his own surgical techniques and methodologies that lead to exquisite results—refreshed, renewed, and natural in appearance, not pulled or tight. A facelift is one of the most delicate personal procedures you will have performed in your life, and when you choose Dr. Stevens, you can rest assured that you are in good hands.
Is a facelift painful?
A facelift is not generally considered painful, as you are asleep during surgery. Recovery can involve some discomfort, tightness, and numbness, but these are typically well tolerated with over-the-counter or prescription medications.
What are the risks of facelift surgery?
Like any other surgery, a facelift does carry risks. These include anesthesia risks, bleeding, infection, deep vein thrombosis, hematoma, facial nerve injury, poor wound healing, temporary or permanent hair loss at the incision site, unfavorable scarring, and other common surgery risks. However, facelift surgery is considered safe when performed by a skilled surgeon with facelift expertise. Dr. Stevens will discuss risks with you at the time of your consultation and can address any questions you may have about your facelift procedure.
Want to Learn More About Facelift Surgery in Beverly Hills, CA?
If you’re ready to embark on your facelift journey, scheduling a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Leslie Stevens could be the first step of this transformative process. Dr. Stevens offers in-person and virtual consultations for your convenience. To contact Dr. Stevens’ office, call us at (310) 556-1003 or fill out our online contact form.