Facelift
RHYTIDECTOMY
Facelift with Cho Plastic Surgery Quick Facts:
- Typical recovery time: 10-14 days, 3-4 weeks for final results
- Price range: $15k-30k
- Dr. Cho specializes in traditional, deep plane, and minimally-invasive facelifts
- Procedures performed at Spring Ridge SurgiCenter, Reading Surgery Center, and Surgical Institute of Reading
Overview
A facelift, also known as rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that improves visible signs of aging in the face and neck
- Skin and a layer of fat on the face and neck is removed and/or tightened
- Underlying fascia, which loses elasticity with aging process, is also tightened
- Scars are well concealed in the hairline and behind your ear
- Can be combined with other procedures such as brow lift, eyelid lift, or a lip lift to rejuvenate other areas of the face
- Fat grafting/transfer or filler can be utilized to replace the lost fatty volume also
- Often combined with CO2 fractional ablative resurfacing laser to improve overall quality of the skin (improving tone and texture, and fine lines and wrinkles) by stimulating collagen
Types of Facelifts
Traditional Facelift
- Comprehensive correction for the lower two-thirds of the face and the neck
- Repositions the underlying fascia (superficial musculoaponeurotic system, or SMAS) by either plicating or removing a portion
- Best for patients with advanced skin laxity
Deep Plane Facelift
- Releases deep-seated ligaments to allow for tension-free, multi-dimensional movement
- The gold standard for a natural look; it restores the mid-face and jawline simultaneously
Minimally-Invasive Facelift
- Smaller incisions in front and behind earlobe
- Often combined with renuvion (radiofrequency plasma energy) for skin tightening
- Can be used as a preventative lift for younger patients
Modern facial rejuvenation is about restoring the natural harmony of your entire profile. A facelift with Cho Plastic Surgery often includes integrated neck contouring to address skin laxity and vertical muscle bands. By tightening the platysma muscles and refining the jawline, we create a seamless transition from the face to the neck for a sharp, defined silhouette.
To achieve a truly refreshed appearance, we also focus on volume restoration. As we age, we lose the youthful fat that provides our facial structure. Dr. Cho frequently combines lifting techniques with fat grafting to replenish the cheeks and under-eye area. This "volume-centric" approach ensures you look naturally rested and vibrant, rather than simply "tightened."
Benefits
- Boost confidence and self-esteem
- Restores the youthful contours of the face
- Improves signs of aging, such as sagging of the skin, deepening of the fold lines between the nose and corner of the mouth, fat that has fallen or disappeared, jowls developed in the cheeks and jaw, and loose skin and excess fat that can appear as a double chin
- Results will look natural and will last up to 10 years
Risks
- Bruising and swelling
- Temporary nerve irritation
- Hematoma
- Seroma
Risks for all facelift types and ways to minimize them will be discussed during your consultation.
Ideal Candidate
- You are doing this for yourself and not to fulfill someone else’s desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image
- Non-smoker and healthy individuals without medical conditions that impair healing
- Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic expectations
- Want to look your best but also look natural
Facelift Consultation
- During your facelift consultation, Dr. Cho will assess your current medical history, including medications, vitamins and herbal supplements you take, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use
- Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
- Discuss your facelift options: Minimally invasive with short scar or full face lift
- Examine and measure your face
- Discuss your surgical goals and develop a customized treatment and surgical plan
- Take photographs for your medical records
- May ask you to bring a photo of yourself at a younger age for comparison
Procedure Preparation
- Do not take any blood thinning medications for 1 week before surgery, including aspirin, NSAIDs, ibuprofen/motrin, naproxen (also, avoid any herbal supplements or vitamins which can prolong bleeding)
- Do not smoke, vape, or take nicotine-containing products before or after your surgery as they can impair the healing process
What to Expect During Surgery
- Facelifts are typically performed using general anesthesia
- Incisions will be made in front of hairline, well-concealed in front of ears, and behind ears
- Meticulously placed sutures under the skin and/or dissolving skin sutures are used to close the incisions
- All facelift patients go home the same day and return back to the office in 24 hours for dressing and drain removal
Facelift Recovery
- 1-2 weeks
- After surgery, you will have dressings/bandages applied around your face to minimize swelling and bruising
- Wear your dressing at all times at all times if possible
- Drains may be in place that look like small thin tubes that will drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect - you will be taught how to maintain and empty these and keep an accurate record of the drainage
- You will be given instructions on how to care for the surgical sites after surgery, and how to take medications to reduce pain and risks of infection
- It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, swelling, abrasion or motion during the time of healing
- You will typically be allowed to sponge bathe, but do not shower until the drains come out or until cleared by Dr. Cho
- Take medications as directed
- Avoid strenuous activity as directed by your surgeon
- Come to all postoperative visits as scheduled
Facelift FAQs
There is no single “best” age for a facelift. Most patients consider facelift surgery in their 40s, 50s, or 60s, when skin laxity, jowls, and facial sagging become more noticeable. The right timing depends less on age and more on your anatomy, skin quality, degree of looseness, goals, and overall health. Some patients choose a smaller or earlier procedure when aging changes are mild, while others benefit more from a traditional or deep plane facelift when laxity is more advanced.
A Deep Plane Facelift works beneath the skin and SMAS layer to reposition deeper facial structures, this requires special training to safely release ligaments to properly lift sagging facial compartments and respect facial nerve anatomy, rather than relying mainly on tightening the surface skin and SMAS. This can be especially helpful for improving the midface, jawline, and neck in a way that looks smoother and more natural. Traditional facelift techniques may address skin and the SMAS layer, while minimally invasive facelift options are typically better suited for patients with milder laxity. Research comparing SMAS and deep plane techniques shows that both can provide strong long-term results and high patient satisfaction, so the best method depends on your anatomy and Dr. Cho’s recommendation.
Yes. A facelift is often combined with other facial rejuvenation procedures to create a more balanced result. Common combinations include a neck lift, eyelid surgery, brow lift, fat grafting, skin resurfacing, or injectables. Combining procedures may be recommended when aging changes affect multiple areas, such as the lower face, neck, eyes, and skin texture.
Facelift incisions are usually placed where they can be well-hidden, such as along the hairline near the temples, around the natural curves of the ears, and sometimes into the lower scalp. Depending on the technique and whether the neck is treated, a small incision may also be placed under the chin. While any surgery that uses incisions will create scars, facelift scars are typically designed to be discreet and usually fade significantly over time.
Recovery time varies based on the type of facelift, the extent of surgery, and how your body heals. Many patients are ready to return to work and light activities around two to three weeks after a more involved facelift. Less invasive procedures, such as a mini facelift, may require closer to five to seven days of downtime. Bruising and swelling are common for the first couple of weeks, and subtle swelling can take longer to fully resolve.
The goal of a modern facelift is not to make you look different; it is to help you look refreshed, rested, and more like yourself. An unnatural or “pulled” look is usually associated with too much tension on the skin or an approach that does not properly support the deeper facial structures. Choosing the right technique for your anatomy and working with an experienced, board-certified surgeon, such as Dr. Cho, helps create a more natural-looking result.
Facelift results are long-lasting, but they do not stop the natural aging process. Many facelift results last around seven to 10 years, and some patients enjoy improvement for 10 years or more depending on the technique used, skin quality, lifestyle, sun exposure, and overall health. Protecting your skin from sun damage, maintaining a stable weight, and following a good skincare routine can help preserve your results.
Patient Review
After a great deal of consideration, I finally decided to get a lower facelift. Dr. Cho and her staff were incredibly helpful throughout the process. Dr. Cho took the time up front to talk with me and understand my goals and concerns. There was no pressure to get it scheduled. Day of surgery, Dr. Cho was so excited and had such a positive outlook on how well things were going to turn out & they did! I am 6 weeks post op now and am so happy... See full review
M.M. / Facelift Patient
Surgery is a Big Decision
We are here to answer any questions you have and help you determine the right choice for you. If you are considering surgery, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Cho today. She would be honored to discuss your goals and help you achieve the look you desire.
Financing Available
We believe your aesthetic goals should always be within reach. To make your journey more accessible, we offer payment options through Care Credit and Cherry by Alle, with financing available for same-day treatment. We will be happy to assist you in the application process at the time of your consultation. For more information, contact our office.