Facelift Surgery

Details of the facelift procedure

Thanks to today’s exciting advances in cosmetic science, there are many types of facelifts to choose from. These vary as to the position of the incisions, the amount of downtime required, the skin layers adjusted, and the region of the face that is addressed. Dr. Beck will discuss your options with you during your private consultation, helping to select the best approach based on your needs, age and facial structure.

Full facelift

The full facelift is often suggested for those with more significant aging concerns, and for those who are seeking a long-term solution to sagging skin. On average, results from a full facelift will extend 10-15 years into the future.

In a full facelift procedure, our San Francisco plastic surgeons make an inconspicuous incision, typically along the hairline at the temples. If they wish to address laxity in the neck area, an additional incision may be made underneath the chin. They then carefully removes and reshapes excess fat, skin, and other tissue that is contributing to your aesthetic issues, and they may also reposition certain muscles as needed.

During the full facelift, your surgeon is able to adjust the skin’s deeper SMAS layer, which envelops muscles responsible for our facial expressions. This leads to a truly graceful and youthful outcome that also appears completely natural. Finally, they tighten the skin and re-drape it across the face before closing the incisions back up.

Short scar facelifts

If you do not need or want a full facelift, you may want to consider our short scar facelifts, which are less invasive and require less downtime, but are still very effective for certain conditions. These types of facelifts are best for clients ages 40-55 who suffer from mild to moderate sagging with little to no skin laxity in the neck, and for whom concealing scars is a priority. They are performed under local anesthesia. Incisions are generally placed at the temples or in front of the ears.

Endoscopic facelifts

An endoscope is a tiny camera at the end of a slender tube. When inserted through small, well-hidden incisions, it offers the doctor a much higher degree of accuracy and confidence, as magnified images relayed from the camera appear on a monitor during surgery. While endoscopic facelifts present certain benefits, such as less downtime and less invasiveness, there are some drawbacks. An endoscopic facelift cannot address problems in the neck, and it tends to be only effective in the cheek areas.

Cheek lifts

For those patients who tend to manifest their advancing years through drooping cheeks, midface sagging and exaggerated nasolabial folds, the cheek lift offers a minimally-taxing alternative to the full facelift, with lower risks and less post-op discomfort. Incisions are sometimes hidden inside the mouth, just as when a cheek implant is placed. If the client is also undergoing a blepharoplasty, the doctor can use the incisions made along the lower lids.

Are there non-surgical alternatives to a facelift?

You may have heard the term “liquid facelift.” This refers to the myriad of wonderful new facial fillers and injectables on the market that can temporarily achieve some of the same objectives as a surgical facelift, but without the anesthesia, incisions or downtime. However, it is not uncommon for the doctor to use fillers in tandem with a surgical lift, and the two approaches often lead to a superior outcome that neither method could achieve on its own.

The most common injectables used are Botox, Juvederm, Radiesse, Restylane and Kybella. These can target wrinkles, fine lines, crow’s feet, laugh lines, forehead furrows, marionette lines, double chins, and many other telltale signs of aging. Injectables typically take less than 30 minutes to administer and require only very mild topical numbing.

Complementary procedures

Sometimes when a patient approaches our team for an anti-aging makeover, multiple procedures are required to achieve the desired transformation. While a facelift can produce gorgeous changes in the forehead, cheeks and neck, it cannot address fatigued, drooping eyelids, sagging eyebrows, or withered lips.

To combat these issues, our team performs blepharoplasty, brow lifts and lip augmentation procedures, all of which can be excellently combined with a facelift to reduce downtime, scarring and post-operative pain.

You will have the chance to discuss these complementary treatments with Dr. Beck and his team during your confidential consultation. You will also have a chance to review dozens of before and after photos that will give you a clearer idea of how the various anti-aging procedures work together to make you look and feel fantastic.

Choosing the best surgeon for your facelift

A primary concern for many clients seeking out a surgical facelift is that they do not appear “done” or like a “deer in the headlights.” These stereotypes emerged when plastic surgery was at a less sophisticated and nuanced stage, and thanks to ever-advancing techniques and aesthetic sensibilities, today’s facelift can be a paragon of natural beauty – when performed by the right hands.

It is always important to choose a surgeon who has not only fulfilled the rigorous demands of elite training, relentless examinations, peer-reviewed fellowships and residencies, and board certification, but one who combines these credentials with a strong eye for artistry and a humble, approachable demeanor. Dr. Joel Beck and his team are lauded for their stunning facelift results, and they remain as one of the Bay Area’s most trusted authorities for all your cosmetic needs.

Where will my facelift be performed?

Our team of surgeons perform all treatments at the AAAASF-accredited San Mateo Surgery Center, where you will enjoy outstanding, personalized patient care, state-of-the-art equipment and technology, elegant reception areas and tranquil recovery suites, along with concierge service from our courteous, outgoing staff. Your privacy, comfort and safety are of paramount importance to our team of experienced, board certified nurses, anesthesiologists, surgical technicians and medical assistants.

Facelift Candidates

Every case is unique, but the best San Francisco facelift candidates are in generally good health and have realistic expectations about what the procedure can and cannot do. Our team will discuss your personal cosmetic goals with you in your consultation to help determine whether or not facelift is right for you. Some candidates also wish to combine their facelift procedure with other cosmetic treatments like rhinoplasty, so be sure to discuss any questions you have with our team at your consultation.

There's never been a better time to take charge of your appearance and have the look you've always wanted. To learn more about one of the best procedures of facelift San Francisco has to offer, please call us today at 650-249-3169 to arrange an appointment. Dr. Beck and his team serve all of the Bay Area, including San Francisco, San Jose and San Mateo, CA.