Facelift (Rhytidectomy) in Northern Virginia

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What is a Facelift?

Austin-Weston performs hundreds of facelift procedures each year. If you desire a more youthful facial appearance, our surgeons are nationally-recognized for innovative treatments and natural results when it comes to facial rejuvenation. 

A facelift procedure can improve the most visible signs of aging by removing excess fat, tightening muscles, and re-draping the skin of your face and neck. Although it can't stop the aging process, a facelift can make you look younger and fresher, and it may enhance your self-confidence. Other procedures done in conjunction may include a brow lift, eyelid surgery, neck lift surgery, skin lasering and/or nose reshaping. 

Who is an Ideal Candidate for a facelift?

The best candidates for facelift surgery:

  • Exhibit facial aging including loose skin, jowls and deep facial lines
  • Have realistic expectations
  • Desire a long-term, natural-looking solution

Preparing for Facelift

Recovery Time

1-2 Weeks

Starting Cost

From: $12,050

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What can I Expect during a facelift?

Facelift surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure at our accredited surgical facility under general anesthesia. For patients wanting to stay overnight, we also have an overnight facility in our building with one-on-one nursing care.

A facelift incision typically begins in the hairline at the temples and continues in front of and then around the ear and ends in the lower scalp. Fat may be sculpted or redistributed from the face, jowls, and neck, and the underlying tissue is repositioned. Skin is re-draped over the uplifted contours and any excess skin is removed.

A second incision under the chin may be necessary to further improve an aging neck. Sutures or skin adhesives close the incisions. A bandage is placed on the patient’s face to minimize swelling and bruising.

Facelift surgery typically takes around four hours to complete.

There are many different marketing terms associated with a facelift including MACS lift, mini-faceilft and S-lift to name a few. All share the same general concept of using an incision in front of the ear to reshape an aging face. To find out which sort of procedure will best address your concerns, call our plastic surgeons at Austin-Weston. 

 What are the Anticipated Results after a facelift?

After a facelift, a bulky gauze dressing will be placed over the surgical site to be worn the first night after surgery. It’s normal to experience some discomfort, but a facelift is generally not a painful operation. Oral medication is used to manage discomfort and most patients are off medication by 2-3 days after surgery.

Swelling and bruising is present for 1-2 weeks after surgery. After about two weeks, most patients can resume normal activities like going back to work and working out. After about three weeks, patients are able to notice the dramatic and natural results of the surgery. Photographs are taken at 3 months when nearly all swelling has resided. While facelifts offer long term outcomes, it does not stop the natural aging process and we tell patients a good facelift should last from 7-10 years before there will be enough aging to consider a small touchup procedure. We recommend continuing with routine beauty maintenance along the way, including Botox, fillers and occasional chemical peels or facial lasering as these things typically prolong the results of a face lift. 

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Look Younger Naturally

You can turn back the hands of time successfully with facelift surgery. The surgery can address telltale signs of aging such as deep lines, hanging jowls and saggy skin. We pride ourselves on natural results and have thousands of patients and decades of experience. Give our office a call today to inquire about a facelift.

*Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary from person to person. Images may contain models.