Facelift
Consultations offered at our two convenient locations in Kansas City, MO and Leawood , KS
A facelift (rhytidectomy) is a procedure that tightens the skin and of the deeper tissues of the face and neck to generate a more youthful contour. Wrinkles and sagging skin in the lower face and jowls can begin to appear around the age of 40. Sunken cheeks and droopy jowls can change your complexion and affect your self-esteem. With a facelift, we can remove excess skin for a smoother appearance and long-lasting results.
At Monarch Plastic Surgery, we have helped many patients improve their appearance for more youthful, smooth skin. Fine lines, wrinkles, and droopy jowls are not something you have to accept as a part of getting older. Our plastic surgeons are board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and offer expertise in the most advanced cosmetic procedures. A facelift can make you look and feel younger, fresher, and more self-confident.
Contact our office to learn more about how we can rejuvenate your complexion for lasting results:
Contents
Before and After Photos
About Facelifts
Facelifts improve the most visible signs of aging by tightening underlying muscles, and reshaping the skin of your face and neck. As we age, the effects of gravity, sun exposure, and daily stress are often seen on our faces. As you age and the collagen in your skin declines, it is common to experience wrinkles and fine lines that increase your perceived age. Your lifestyle can also affect your perceived age– smoking tobacco and exposure to UV light can accelerate skin aging. (1) Facelifts are a customizable treatment that has helped thousands of patients, and in 2023 specialists performed the procedure more than 78,400 times to help patients enhance their complexions. (2)
Facelifts can address visible signs of aging such as sagging in the midface area, creases below the eyelids, loss of muscle tone in the lower face, or loose skin and fatty deposits under the chin. During a facelift, we can reposition the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) layer– a network of connective tissue beneath your cheekbones– for a smoother appearance.
Mini vs Traditional Facelift
Most facelifts performed at Monarch are done under local anesthesia. A traditional facelift uses concealed incisions around the sideburns, the ear, and then down the back of the hairline. This allows the surgeon access to tighten the deeper tissues of the face and neck for a very natural result. In some cases, we can shorten those incisions (the Monarch Mini Facelift) if the sagging in the neck is less of a concern. We will help guide you for your best results.
Benefits
There are several benefits to a facelift, including:
- Smoother skin: The procedure can diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Long-lasting results: Since we remove the excess tissue and tighten your skin, the results are long-lasting if you avoid sun exposure and take good care of your skin,
- Minimal downtime: You can return to most of your normal activities after 1-2 weeks.
- Improved self-esteem: Many patients feel more confident with smoother, more youthful skin.
- A natural appearance: We take care to make discreet incisions that you can easily conceal along your hairline.
- More defined jawline: Tightening your skin and reducing the appearance of droopy jowls can also help you improve your jawline definition.
Candidates
Suitable candidates for a facelift are nonsmokers in good overall health who would like to improve the appearance of their skin and reduce signs of facial aging for a smoother complexion. Candidates for this procedure must be free of any nicotine use, not using inhaled marijuana, and have any medical problems under good control. We will help you understand the expectations of the procedure, the recovery, and the results.
Suitable candidates for a facelift have mild to moderate sagging skin. Facelifts can be performed at just about any age, provided the patient is a good candidate. Some of the areas of concern that facelifts can address include:
- Sagging in the midface
- Loose skin of the neck
- Deep creases along the nose extending to the corner of the mouth
- Fat that has fallen, displaced, or has shrunken or “atrophied”
- Loss of muscle tone in the lower face, which may create jowls
Contact our office to learn more about how the customizable procedure can transform your appearance!
Consultation
During your consultation, we will ask about your medical history, medications, and lifestyle. Please come prepared to discuss your aesthetic goals. We can answer any questions you have about the procedure and create a personalized plan to meet your needs. We can also combine your facelift with other procedures. With a personal and comfortable approach, the surgeons at Monarch Plastic Surgery will take the time to understand your concerns and share all aspects of your treatment options.
If you have additional aesthetic goals, we can discuss the best procedures to help you address them. A facelift can be done alone or in conjunction with other procedures such as a brow lift or eyelid surgery. To learn more about the additional procedures we offer, see the blog!
Preparation
To prepare for a facelift, there are several steps you will need to take:
- No nicotine use of any kind, and no inhaled marijuana. Your surgeon will guide you on these restrictions.
- Refrain from drinking alcohol for 24 hours before and after.
- Be sure your surgeon is aware of all of the medications and supplements that you take.
- Avoid sun exposure that could damage your skin can cause us to delay your appointment.
You will also need to fill your medications for your recovery ahead of time and schedule time off work so you can focus on resting and healing.
Procedure
Before your procedure, we will make sure you are comfortable and then begin making the tissues numb using local anesthetic. We will cleanse your skin and then design the discrete incision pattern. We reposition the jowls and thin, band-like muscles of the neck to a more youthful state. Excess skin and fatty tissues are removed. The incisions are then closed with sutures. This takes about 3 hours to complete. We place gauze bandaging as well as a light, supportive garment. Most patients can shower in 24 hours and have very little discomfort. Bruising and swelling are to be expected, as well as some mild drainage from the incisions for the first day or so.
Recovery
After the procedure, it is common to experience some swelling or bruising while your skin heals. You can return home to rest afterward, and we will see you in follow up within 1-3 days, then the following week as well. We recommend that you keep your head elevated while you sleep and refrain from participating in strenuous activities. We can let you know when you can return to your normal activities after your follow-up appointment. Sutures are in place for 1-2 weeks and we will instruct you on care of your incisions.
Results
After your facelift, you can enjoy smoother skin and a more youthful complexion. Many patients also find that reducing fine lines and wrinkles improves their self-esteem. The mini facelift can provide a tighter, more contoured face and improve your jawline definition. If you avoid sun exposure and take good care of your skin, you can maintain your results for several years. We can also recommend the best skincare routine for your needs to help you take care of your skin and maintain your results. UV exposure contributes to 80% of facial aging, so protecting your skin with SPF will be important. (3)
Stop worrying about wrinkles and start feeling confident in your skin! Contact our office today to learn more about how the procedure can transform your appearance.
The Cost of a Facelift in Kansas City
The cost of a facelift will depend on the condition of your skin and your aesthetic goals. If you need additional procedures, we can also include them in an all-inclusive quote during your consultation. Do not hesitate to prioritize yourself. You can enjoy smoother, more youthful skin after just one appointment.
We offer high-quality care, products, services, and plastic surgery options at competitive pricing because our goal is the same as yours: natural-looking results at affordable prices. If you are new to our plastic surgery practice, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with one of our team members. We can discuss your appearance goals and create personalized treatment recommendations with facelift pricing information included.
Contact our office to learn more about how a facelift can help you restore your complexion.
FAQ
Is there an age limit to a facelift?
No, however, most patients are 40 or older and are experiencing moderate to severe signs of aging that they cannot address with noninvasive treatments.
How do I know if a facelift is right for me?
If you have moderate to severe wrinkles and sagging skin, a facelift can improve them. Whether or not you need a facelift will depend on your medical history and skin condition. We can discuss the best option for you during your consultation.
Are there nonsurgical alternatives to a facelift?
If you have mild signs of aging, that we can address by stimulating collagen production, we can discuss nonsurgical treatments like injectables.
Will I have visible scars after a facelift?
We make carefully planned incisions that are easy to hide along your hairline. We make them along the natural creases of your skin so they are easy to hide.
Is a facelift painful?
We use local anesthesia to make the tissues numb and that lasts 4-6 hours or so. After that, oral medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help take down any discomfort. Most people feel very comfortable by the following day.
References
- Rohrich RJ, Sinno S, Vaca EE. Getting Better Results in Facelifting. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. 2019;7(6):e2270. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000002270
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons ® Endorsed Partner. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/news/statistics/2023/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2023.pdf
- Amaro-Ortiz A, Yan B, D’Orazio J. Ultraviolet Radiation, Aging and the Skin: Prevention of Damage by Topical cAMP Manipulation. Molecules. 2014;19(5):6202-6219. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules19056202
