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Facelift


If you look in the mirror and see a face that does not reflect how young and vibrant you feel, a facelift may be an ideal solution for you. A facelift performed by our Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, Jon Paul Trevisani, MD, can eliminate or drastically improve the visible effects of aging by removing excess fat and tightening the muscles around the face and neck, giving the face a smoother, more youthful appearance. During your initial consultation, Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani will customize a treatment plan based on your individual needs and desired outcome. He utilizes the most advanced techniques and technology available to help achieve the most natural-looking and long-lasting results possible.

Please contact our plastic surgeon for more information on facelift surgery, or to schedule a consultation.

"I was concerned about having plastic surgery at 52 years old. I spoke with a couple of plastic surgeons prior to seeing Dr. Jon Trevisani. I chose him because he made me feel comfortable and relaxed during our first visit. We discussed the risks and I did not feel that I was just another body on the assembly line of surgery. I had realistic expectations, but I am so thrilled with my results! The outcome is fantastic, and I am still in the healing process. I would never recommend a Doctor to my family if I weren't confident that they would be taken care of. One of my sisters has already scheduled her surgery and the other is setting up an appointment. I truly feel every aspect of my experience was done with the utmost professionalism and care. The nursing staff is wonderful. I will certainly tell everyone I can about my experience, I am so pleased with the outcome! Thank you, thank you."

- Orlando, Florida
*Individual Results May Vary

What Concerns Can A Facelift Address?

Facelift surgery is designed to address several cosmetic issues, including skin laxity, deep creases, excess fat, and loosening muscles. Commonly called “signs of aging,” other influences can also lead to many similar effects, including poor air quality and excessive sun exposure, certain lifestyle habits, and genetic factors. Regardless of the source, these concerns can make some patients feel dissatisfied with their appearance. Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani performs facelift surgery to elevate the tissues to a more youthful position, smooth the skin, and reduce excess fatty tissue. He’s careful to create as natural-looking a result as possible, avoiding the “windblown” look associated with a poorly-executed treatment.

Key Facelift Terms to Know

If you’re considering facelift surgery, you may have come across certain terms in your research you might be unfamiliar with. Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani believes thorough patient education is a powerful tool to help ensure mutual satisfaction after the procedure, so he has provided a brief overview of some common terms pertaining to facelift surgery:

  • Jowls: Sagging skin and tissue often accumulating around the cheeks and jawline. Jowls are considered among the most prominent indications of aging as the face loses its youthful, supportive structure.
  • Nasolabial folds: Creases that form between the nostrils and corners of the lips. Often known as “smile lines” or “parentheses wrinkles,” nasolabial folds can deepen over time with natural facial expressions and the aging process.
  • Platysmal bands: Vertical bands that run down the front of the neck, which become visible as the platysma muscle layer contracts. This can emphasize the appearance of loose, hanging skin as well as an aging neck.
  • Skin laxity: Looseness of the skin caused by a loss of firmness and supportive structure.
  • Skin elasticity: The ability of the skin to contract or “snap back” to the contours of the face and body, resulting in a smooth and toned appearance.

Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani will speak to you at length about the facelift and neck lift procedures to ensure you have a good understanding of your treatment options. In the meantime, reviewing the terms above can help you feel more prepared for your initial consultation.

Who Is A Good Candidate For A Facelift?

There are many factors to consider when determining if facelift surgery can achieve your desired outcome. In addition to your health and medical history, Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani will evaluate your aesthetic concerns and discuss your goals. If you have moderate to significant skin laxity on the mid and lower face and/or neck area, facelift surgery can improve these issues. If, on the other hand, you are more interested in addressing wrinkles and volume loss, facelift surgery alone cannot address these effects. Many patients choose to combine non-surgical treatments with facelift surgery to obtain more comprehensive enhancement. These options will be discussed during your initial meeting.

What Are The Options For A Facelift?

There are many different approaches to a facelift that can produce results that look natural. Depending on the severity of your concerns, options for the facelift procedure include:

  • Full Facelift: A standard facelift can correct moderate to severe tissue laxity contributing to an aged appearance, resulting in a smoother and more refreshed look. This procedure lifts and repositions the facial skin, fat, and musculature according to your needs to provide comprehensive improvement.
  • Mid-Facelift: A mid-facelift, or “mini facelift,” is an abbreviated version of a full facelift designed to revitalize the appearance of the cheeks, chin, and jawline. This procedure is ideal for a patient who is only showing mild to moderate signs of aging in these areas.
  • Facelift with Dermal Fillers/Fat Transfer: For some patients, the outcome of a facelift can be further enhanced by adding volume to the cheeks/tear troughs with fillers or facial fat transfer. Both options can make sunken regions of the face look more youthful, but volume enhancement using your own tissue via fat transfer often lasts longer than dermal fillers.
  • Facelift Plus Neck Lift: If signs of aging are visible in the lower face, there’s typically a good chance that the neck exhibits laxity as well. For those who are bothered by sagging skin under the chin or a “turkey neck,” combining a facelift with a neck lift can rejuvenate both regions for a firmer, tighter look.

A full facelift is the most common facelift technique used at our practice, but there are other approaches that can provide excellent results for the right patient. Other variations of a facelift may also be possible, and Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani will work with you to determine which methods can provide you with the best possible outcome.

What Is The Facelift Procedure Like?

During the facelift procedure at our accredited facility, an incision is made at the hairline that extends in front of the ear and ends behind the earlobe. Excess skin is lifted and removed, and the remaining skin is pulled back and secured with sutures, or small metal clips that will be removed later. While initially these incisions may be red and a bit swollen, the scars should eventually fade in color and become less noticeable with time. Most patients indicate the marks are virtually invisible once fully healed. Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani takes great care to minimize the appearance of these incisions and provide the best possible visual result.

Ultimately, the goal of a facelift is to smooth out and firm skin and give the face a more refreshed, youthful appearance. The facelift procedure can take up to three hours and is performed under general anesthesia provided by a board-certified anesthesiologist. As with all our procedures, your care, comfort, and safety are our highest priorities.

What Are The Limitations Of A Facelift?

While a well-executed facelift can undo years of facial aging, it is important to discuss what the surgery can realistically achieve. A facelift primarily addresses the lower two-thirds of the face, focusing on rejuvenation of the features from the cheeks to the neck. As a result, patients who exhibit key signs of aging in the eyes—such as excess skin and fat around the eyelids—typically do not experience a notable improvement in this region with facelift surgery alone. If an accumulation of redundant tissue around the eyes is creating the appearance of puffy, heavy, or droopy eyelids, you may consider combining a facelift with eyelid surgery for a comprehensively well-rested and youthful aesthetic result.

Similarly, if lax skin in the brow is causing the formation of horizontal forehead creases and/or “frown lines” between the eyes, combining facelift surgery with non-surgical BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment can allow you to achieve a greater degree of rejuvenation than a facelift performed as a stand-alone procedure. After listening to your concerns, Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani can recommend the most ideal treatments to help you reach your aesthetic goals.

How Long Will Facelift Recovery Last?

Side effects of a facelift may include swelling, bruising, numbness, and tightness; however, most facelift patients at our practice experience only minor discomfort, which can be controlled with medication prescribed by Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani. Recovery after facelift usually takes two to three weeks. The first night after facelift surgery, you are taken care of by our private duty Registered Nurse in our facility. We encourage you to keep your head elevated for the first couple of weeks after the operation to optimize healing. You should also avoid strenuous activity. Swelling should go down with time, although a small amount of residual swelling may take several months to fully fade. *Final results will be visible after six months to a year, although the majority of the benefits can be seen after about two or three months.

What Will My Scars Look Like?

Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani is dedicated to achieving a natural-looking outcome, and he strives to leave as few signs of surgery as possible. While everyone’s treatment plan will be unique to them, the scars typically are hidden within the hairline and behind the creases of the ear, leaving behind little to no evidence of an operation. The recovery period is an important time for incision healing, and we will monitor your progress to safeguard your results. Scars can take some time to fade in color and smooth out, so some patience is needed during this process.

*how Long Will The Results Last?

A facelift can help turn back time and restore a more youthful-looking appearance. That said, the normal and natural process of aging will continue. Depending on your unique anatomy, lifestyle preferences, skin care regimen, and other factors, your outcome could last as long as 10-15 years. We can provide skincare tips and advice to better maintain the effects. Additionally, cosmetic injectables can help to extend the result and delay the need for additional surgery. We are happy to discuss all your options, answer your questions, and address any concerns during your initial consultation.

Treatments to Preserve Facelift Results

The results of facelift surgery can allow you to age more gracefully than you would have if you had not undergone the procedure, but no treatment will completely stop the natural aging process. Fortunately, if you begin to notice the reappearance of wrinkles or other signs of aging, non-surgical services can often provide excellent rejuvenation. Once you’re fully healed from facelift surgery, the following non-invasive treatments can help accentuate and preserve your results:

  • Facial Fillers: Dermal fillers restore the volume lost with aging and decreased collagen production, helping the face retain its youthful contours and ensuring a full, smooth look to the skin.
  • Daily Skincare: A good skincare routine is often one of the best preventative approaches to slow down facial aging. Make sure your regimen consists of a high-SPF sunscreen applied daily to prevent sun exposure from damaging your skin.
  • BOTOX® Cosmetic: BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments are utilized by millions of individuals to smooth frown lines, crow’s feet, and other expression lines making you look aged.
  • Facials and Peels: Periodic med spa treatments, such as facials and peels, can be highly effective in improving the skin tone and texture, as well as allowing you to maintain a healthy, glowing complexion.

Our team would be happy to speak with you about effective treatments to help you look refreshed and youthful all year long. Please don’t hesitate to ask about ways you can help preserve your facelift results during your appointment.

How Much Does A Facelift Cost?

The price of a facelift is calculated based on a number of factors unique to your treatment plan, such as the specific technique used, the extent of surgical work required, and whether adjunctive treatments are being performed in accordance with a facelift. All surgical procedures are also generally influenced by the geographic location where surgery takes place, as well as the expertise of your plastic surgeon. As such, the total expense of a facelift cannot be determined until Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani has an opportunity to meet with you and assess your concerns.

With this in mind, our practice understands the need to obtain a rough estimate of the costs associated with a facelift when researching your treatment options. According to patient reviews on RealSelf.com, the average price of a facelift near Orlando is approximately $10,175, with the cost ranging anywhere from $4,500 to $18,000. To make it easier for patients to bring their expenses into budget, we work with CareCredit®— one of the premier choices for plastic surgery financing in the nation. CareCredit® can allow qualified applicants to pay for their treatment over time with a number of low- to no-interest plans, as opposed to a lump sum paid upfront. Our team would be happy to walk you through CareCredit®’s quick and easy approval process. Please reach out to our practice for any questions you may have regarding the cost of a facelift.

Can I Get a Non-Surgical Facelift?

Certain visible signs of aging can be improved with non-surgical enhancement options. While excess fat and skin laxity typically require more aggressive treatment, fine lines and volume loss often can be addressed with minimally invasive methods. A “Liquid Facelift” uses a series of cosmetic injectables to rejuvenate the face without the need for an operation. BOTOX® Cosmetic, Restylane®, and other injectables can be used to soften wrinkles on the brow, around the eyes, near the nose, and around the mouth. Volumizing fillers can restore fullness to cheeks, lips, and the under-eye area. During your initial appointment, Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani can discuss whether a Liquid Facelift is an appropriate alternative to an operation or if cosmetic injectables can provide more comprehensive facial rejuvenation.

Are There Any Facelift Alternatives?

Facelift surgery offers significant improvement of the lower face, but this procedure is not the only way to rejuvenate your facial profile. Over time, skin in the lower face and neck can become less elastic and lose tone. This may result in common concerns such as platysmal bands, a “double chin,” and a “turkey neck,” among other signs of aging. If your goals include making the neck look more youthful, you may consider neck contouring to resculpt and tighten the area. Neck contouring is a personalized procedure that can include removing/repositioning excess skin and/or fat, depending on your individual goals. This can achieve a number of improvements, including: 

  • A sharper jawline
  • A slimmer appearance in the face for those with a “double chin”
  • Sleeker facial angles

Neck contouring may include a combination of facial liposuction and neck lift surgery depending on the factors compromising the contour of your lower face. In some cases, the best results are seen when a facelift is combined with neck contouring, allowing the most comprehensive rejuvenation possible. Don’t hesitate to ask Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani about facelift alternatives to determine the most effective treatment for your goals.

Facelift vs. Fillers

There are several distinctions between refreshing the face with facelift surgery and dermal fillers/injectables. First and foremost, a facelift is capable of restoring underlying support for the face and removing loose excess skin. This is generally the most effective way to reduce jowls, sharpen the lower cheeks and jawline, and achieve a more youthful facial contour. Since fillers do not involve cosmetic surgery, these non-surgical treatments are not powerful enough to address jowls or lax, hanging skin. Dermal fillers can add fullness and correct age-related volume loss, but the capabilities of minimally invasive treatments are limited.

In addition, facelift surgery provides lasting results that can be seen for years — even decades. While nothing can prevent aging, the outcome typically allows patients to look younger than individuals of the same age who did not receive a facelift. Fillers are temporary and usually only last six months to one year on average, depending on which product was injected. That said, facial fillers do not require the time, expense, and downtime associated with facelift surgery, potentially making them a more convenient treatment option than a surgical procedure. The most ideal type of facial rejuvenation for your needs will be determined based on your concerns and hopes for the outcome.

Choosing The Best Facelift Surgeon

When researching the most qualified plastic surgeon to perform your procedure, selecting a professional who is extensively experienced working with the complex anatomy and aesthetic conventions of the face is critical to achieving the results you desire. A plastic surgeon who can perform the various facelift techniques with skilled proficiency is often more capable of optimizing the surgery according to each patient’s needs, maximizing the cosmetic outcome, and acting quickly in the rare event that a complication arises. As such, when you are ready to schedule a consultation with a prospective surgeon, it is important to ask questions such as:

  • Are you board-certified?
  • How often do you perform a facelift?
  • Do you specialize in surgical facial rejuvenation?
  • Do you belong to any professional organizations?

These inquiries can give you insight into the experience and credentials of a plastic surgeon. Furthermore, requesting to see plastic surgery before-and-after photos of results previously achieved with facelift surgery can give you a better understanding of your prospective surgeon’s work and help you determine whether they are well-suited to fulfill your aesthetic goals.

Additional Facelift FAQs

What is the best age for a facelift?

There is not necessarily a prime age considered the most ideal time to pursue facelift surgery, and candidacy for the procedure is more dependent on whether you exhibit the relevant concerns. Descended skin and facial musculature can develop from a number of factors excluding age, such as genetics, sun exposure, and tobacco use. As a result, facelifts are often performed on a range of men and women, from individuals in their early thirties to older patients in their sixties. Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani can assess whether you may benefit from the procedure during your consultation.

Does a facelift always include a neck lift?

A facelift primarily addresses the neck, although some improvement in skin laxity under the chin is common after surgery. For moderate to severe signs of aging in the neck, Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani can utilize state-of-the-art neck contouring techniques to smooth horizontal bands, tighten loose musculature, and eliminate excess fatty deposits for a sleeker neck profile. Depending on your concerns, this may be achieved with liposuction, a neck lift, or some combination of both techniques. This can achieve a more defined jawline to complement the rejuvenated facial aesthetic attained with facelift surgery.

How long before I can exercise again after facelift surgery?

It usually takes approximately four to six weeks for the body to heal after facelift surgery, and all activities more physically demanding than light walking are prohibited until Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani advises otherwise. Sweating and strenuous exercise before the body is completely ready to handle such strain may result in fluid buildup, infection, compromised healing, or an altered final result. While we understand our patients’ desire to return to their normal routine as soon as possible, taking the appropriate amount of time to rest will help safeguard your health and maximize the quality of the outcome.

Is a facelift different for men versus women?

A facelift for all individuals aims to restore a younger-looking appearance using the same techniques in wrinkle reduction as well as the tightening of skin and muscle laxity. With that said, men and women do have distinctions in the anatomic conventions of the face, along with differences in the aesthetic perceptions of beauty. Men typically have a naturally broader face with a more prominent chin and jawline, while women tend to exhibit softer and sleeker facial features. These considerations can inform the results of a male facelift versus a female facelift. Ultimately, Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani listens to your aesthetic goals for the procedure and works to create a natural-looking result within the context of your cosmetic desires.

How long does it take to heal from a facelift?

Most patients feel good enough to return to their daily routines — avoiding strenuous exercise — roughly one to two weeks after their procedure. However, it’s not uncommon to experience numbness, tenderness, or redness around the incision sites several weeks after surgery. While it can take six months to one year for all swelling to completely resolve after a facelift, Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani will provide you with tips on how to accelerate the healing process. In general, the most optimal way to maximize your recovery and feel “normal” again as soon as possible is to closely follow Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani’s post-operative instructions.

How much younger can a facelift make me look?

When performed properly, a good facelift should reduce visible facial aging while preserving the natural beauty and character of your face. Results vary based on the surgical technique utilized and a patient’s unique needs, but a facelift is well-known for erasing up to ten years from one’s facial appearance. The procedure may make you look even younger depending on the details of your treatment plan and whether other forms of facial rejuvenation, such as BOTOX® Cosmetic or dermal fillers, were employed at the time of your facelift.

Does a facelift get rid of wrinkles?

Although a facelift can smooth sagging skin, often reducing deep creases around the mouth by extension, the main goal of a facelift is to reduce laxity in the lower face and neck. Wrinkles around the eyes, between the eyebrows, or along the forehead may not be affected by the facelift procedure. However, many patients notice improvements in their nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and other creases surrounding the nose and mouth after a facelift. If you would like to erase wrinkles and fine lines in the upper face, Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani would be happy to discuss the different injectable treatments available at our practice that can achieve your goals.

Is facelift surgery painful?

Since general anesthesia is utilized during a facelift, patients should not feel any pain during their procedure. Discomfort after surgery is a normal reaction, but individuals generally do not find the facelift procedure severely painful. As the healing process continues, feelings of swelling, soreness, and tenderness should diminish and eventually resolve. With prescribed and over-the-counter pain medication as well as cold compresses, most people consider the recovery period very tolerable.

What are the risks of a facelift?

The risks of a facelift are consistent with those of any surgical procedure and include the possibility of negative reactions to the anesthesia, changes in sensation, infection, poor wound healing, and hematoma. For patients who are good candidates for a facelift, complications after surgery are exceedingly rare. Enlisting a highly experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon who can safely and effectively perform your facelift is generally the best way to maximize your safety during and after the procedure.

If you would like to learn more about facelift, please contact the Aesthetic Surgery Centre today.