Facelift

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is an advanced surgical procedure that reduces many visible signs of facial aging to promote a more youthful appearance. Facelifts address mild to moderate skin laxity, jowling, and deep creases and fine lines along the lower face and jawline, elevating tissues and smoothing or removing excess skin to create a visibly firmer, tighter look. Thanks to a variety of cutting-edge techniques, patients have a selection of preventative and restorative facelift options to choose from.

The board-certified surgeons at Plastic Surgeons of Lexington carry a wealth of aesthetic expertise and embrace the latest surgical advancements while delivering customized patient care. To explore facelift opportunities with our team of experts, submit our online contact form or call our Lexington office at (859) 276-3883.

Before and After Photos

View More Photos

About Facelifts

As we age, the skin on our faces shifts downward, loses volume, and forms wrinkles, fine lines, and hollows around the mouth, cheeks, and under-eyes. These changes are primarily due to the gradual loss of collagen, a vital protein that contributes to the strength and elasticity of our skin. ⁽¹⁾ As our collagen supplies diminish, our skin loses the qualities that contribute to its youthful tone and texture.

A facelift, often performed with a neck lift for more comprehensive results, reduces the visible signs of facial aging by removing excess skin, tightening and lifting sagging areas, and establishing lasting support for increased definition and natural expression. ⁽²⁾ Advancements in facelift techniques provide a variety of surgical approaches to meet the unique facial structure and aesthetic goals of each patient. The surgeons at Plastic Surgeons of Lexington examine your face’s bone structure and skin elasticity to create a unique treatment plan to achieve your desired aesthetic results.

Benefits

The team at Plastic Surgeons of Lexington performs each facelift with a focus on customized care. Through advanced training and surgical expertise, they can effectively treat or resolve issues such as:

Candidates

A facelift will benefit anyone seeking to address mild to severe signs of aging through surgical intervention. Ideal candidates should not use nicotine products (or must be willing to quit) and be in overall good health. Candidates must also maintain realistic goals and expectations for surgical outcomes.

Personal Consultation

During your personal consultation, your surgeon learns your medical history and evaluates your facial structure, skin elasticity, aging patterns, and aesthetic goals. Every face is unique, and so is every facelift. Your surgeon creates a customized treatment plan for you, walks you through every step of the process, and addresses any questions or concerns so you feel confident moving forward with your facelift journey.

To schedule your consultation at Plastic Surgeons of Lexington, call (859) 276-3883 or submit our online contact form.

Preparation

At your consultation, your surgeon will provide detailed information to help ensure a smooth and successful treatment process. In advance of your procedure, your surgeon may direct you to:

Types of Facelift Procedures

Your surgeon will help you determine which facelift technique will best suit your aesthetic goals. Variations include:

Traditional Facelift

A full or deep plane facelift addresses underlying musculature by releasing anchoring ligaments and fascia to create a lasting lift in the lower face, jawline, and neck area. Your surgeon creates discreet incisions at the hairline or behind the ears and gently lifts the SMAS layer. They will reposition the tissues at an elevated position and ensure smooth closures.

Mid-Facelift

Also known as a cheek lift, a mid-facelift focuses on the middle third of the face. By focusing on the center portion of the face, your surgeon restores a youthful, firmer appearance while smoothing out the deep laugh lines at the nasolabial folds. Your surgeon starts with a small incision at the temples to restore volume to hollow under-eyes, diminish the appearance of under-eye bags, and erase wrinkles and fine lines.

Mini Facelift

Also known as a ponytail facelift, this procedure is for patients who desire subtle yet noticeable results without the commitment of a full facelift. Beginning with strategically hidden incisions around your ears, your surgeon gently lifts areas like the midface and jawline, creating a smoother, more youthful appearance. ⁽³⁾ This elevates the cheeks, contours the lower third of the face, and smoothes wrinkles around the temples for a more youthful appearance.

Recovery & Results

After your facelift, mild to moderate swelling, tightness, and some bruising are normal within the first few weeks and will gradually decrease over time. Elevate your head and shoulders while sleeping and avoid strenuous activity during the early stages of recovery. You may return to work and social activities within two to three weeks, and full healing will take place over a few months. Attend all follow-up appointments so your surgeon can monitor your healing progress and address any questions or concerns.

The full results of your facelift will develop in time over your recovery period. Some enhancements may be clear immediately, but the full rejuvenation becomes more evident as any swelling or bruising subsides, and your features settle into a fully healed position.

Corresponding Procedures

Many patients choose to include additional surgical or non-surgical procedures in their treatment plan to achieve a more comprehensive rejuvenation in a single recovery period.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers help restore volume, definition, and youthfulness to targeted areas of your face. Fillers can give lips a perkier, fuller appearance, reduce under-eye bags, and balance the jawline. We offer hyaluronic acid-based fillers. This naturally occurring substance binds with the moisture in the skin and expands to plump and smooth out folds, fine lines, and wrinkles. Once the filler settles, the skin appears brighter and firmer. Dermal fillers are convenient and minimally invasive with little to no downtime, making them a great non-surgical enhancement to a facelift.

Buccal Fat Removal

Buccal fat removal is a surgical procedure that removes fat from the cheeks to create a slimmer, more sculpted facial profile. While a facelift addresses shifted facial tissues, a buccal fat removal provides further definition to accentuate the cheekbones and jawline.

Upper and Lower Eyelifts

Both upper and lower eyelifts, or blepharoplasty, address sagging skin around the eyelids to promote a more awake, youthful appearance. These procedures further enhance your post-facelift appearance.

Cost of Facelift in Lexington, KY

The cost of a facelift varies depending on certain factors, including your personal concerns, the scale of your procedure, whether you include other treatments, and more. Your surgeon will provide you with a comprehensive price estimate at your consultation. If you would like to learn about our financing options, please visit our financing page or call our Lexington office at (859) 276-3883 to schedule your consultation.

FAQ

References

1. Vleggaar D, Fitzgerald R. Dermatological implications of skeletal aging: a focus on supraperiosteal voluminization for perioral rejuvenation. J Drugs Dermatol. 2008;7(3):209-220. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18380202/
2. Boyd CJ, Ceradini DJ. Current Trends in Facelift and Necklift Procedures. J Clin Med. 2025 Jun 16;14(12):4273. doi: 10.3390/jcm14124273. PMID: 40566019; PMCID: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12193931/
3. Baker, D. C. (2001). Minimal incision rhytidectomy (short scar face lift) with lateral SMASectomy: evolution and application. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 21 (1) 14-26. https://doi.org/10.1067/maj.2001.113557