Ideal candidates for a facelift have visible lines and facial wrinkles on the entire face or on the upper, mid, or lower face. A facelift can address various sections, depending on your unique signs of aging and your overall goals.

It is important to understand that age doesn’t necessarily define the appropriate time to have cosmetic facial surgery; there are countless other factors and concerns to consider when deciding to get a facelift.

The treatment chosen will vary for patients who are in their 30s vs. those who are older, such as 60 or 70 years old. Skin elasticity is one of the key elements in the decision-making process. You should be physically healthy, refrain from smoking, and have realistic expectations.

Depending on your goals, there are a number of facelifts to consider. Some facelifts address the upper area of the face, and others focus on the lower two-thirds. In addition, some techniques are slightly more invasive than others. It is also common for some patients to combine their facelift with a brow lift, or BOTOX and fillers to complement their final results. A few common facelift methods include:

• Full Facelift
  The full or “traditional” facelift most often incorporates an incision along the hairline, extending down to the area near the temples, stopping near the base of the ears. The underlying facial muscles are delicately pulled and securely tightened to produce a lifted outcome, reducing excessive wrinkles and sagging. This facelift is used for men and women who have visible signs of aggressive aging.
• Mid-Facelift
  The mid-facelift addresses the features near the cheekbones and the upper jaw. This lift works nicely for those who hope to attain improvement in the lower two-thirds of the face, which also improves the look of the jowls.
• Lower Facelift
  This lift corrects the neck and chin and sometimes the jowls. Nonsurgical injections can also be used to attain a younger, tighter-looking neck.
• Mini Facelift
  A mini facelift starts with a small incision placed near the ears to lift the skin, which helps the mouth and jawline. This technique creates nice and subtle enhancements that look natural.

Following your procedure, Dr. Hanz will monitor your health before you are released to go home. You should have a family member or friend there to drive you home. Prior to your surgery, Dr. Hanz or someone on his staff will plan your follow-up visits and discuss tips to help you heal properly.

You should expect to have bruising, swelling, possible drainage, and some moderate soreness and discomfort, which can be helped by prescribed pain medication. You should feel and physically look better after about a month. After you heal, you can expect a softer, more youthful appearance in your face.

The cost of your facelift will vary based on the technique used and areas being addressed. During your consultation, Dr. Hanz will create your treatment plan and then he can discuss estimates of fees.

To avoid unnatural-looking results, it’s better to concentrate on finding an experienced surgeon, like Dr. Hanz, instead of the lowest price. Kevin R. Hanz, MD Aesthetic Plastic Surgery can give you information on low-interest medical financing that will make your facelift affordable.

Although there are several great noninvasive skin tightening procedures, these can usually only give you small improvements. If you have moderate to severe skin sagging, a surgical facelift is typically the best choice to improve your appearance. During your consultation, Dr. Hanz will discuss your options, including nonsurgical treatments, to help you decide what is best for your goals.

Wrinkle fillers and relaxers, like BOTOX and JUVÉDERM, have become more popular to refresh the face. Sometimes known as a liquid facelift, injectable wrinkle treatments usually help with early signs of aging; however, the results won’t last more than 1 – 2 years. A surgical facelift can produce more significant improvements than injectables with results that last much longer. Ask Dr. Hanz about injectable treatments during your consultation, and he can help you make the right decisions based on your goals.

Some patients worry that a facelift will make their skin look shiny, overly tight, or like they live in a wind tunnel. Dr. Hanz focuses on giving you a natural-looking result so you look refreshed and not fake.