Facelift
Refresh Your Appearance with a Rhytidectomy to Address Facial Creases and Sagging in the Philadelphia Area
Because of the highly effective and very visible results, facelift surgery remains one of the most popular cosmetic surgery options in the world. Patients tend to see results that reduce their visible age by about 10 to 15 years. Of course, time will continue to impact the newly tightened and sculpted facial tissues, but women and men choosing this procedure can expect to enjoy results that last a decade or longer.
Request a Consultation
To request a consultation for a facelift in Doylestown, Flemington, and the greater Philadelphia area, contact Buinewicz Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa—with offices in Bucks County, PA, and Flemington, NJ—by calling 215.647.9668 or sending a message online.
What Is a Facelift?
Most commonly, this surgery can involve removing excess skin that has begun to droop and sag, tightening lax facial muscles and other tissues to sculpt more youthful contours, removing or repositioning small amounts of fat as necessary, and suturing the remaining skin in place to sit smoothly over the newly sculpted underlying tissues. What many people consider to be the “gold standard” of facial rejuvenation involves addressing facial sagging, jowls, marionette lines, and a double chin all at once.
Facelifts tend to focus on the lower face because this is where gravity pulls skin and underlying muscles down over time as it loses its structure and elasticity. The migration of skin, fat, and other tissues can also change the overall shape of the face from an inverted triangle to a triangle with a wide base, making the face appear “bottom heavy.” Altering this shape with cosmetic surgery creates a refreshed look with more youthful angles, proportions, and balance. The procedure can address more serious issues that cannot be corrected with cosmetic injections alone.
What Is a Mini Facelift?
The mini facelift is the most popular face improvement procedure performed by plastic surgeons. It works by restoring definition to the chin by tightening up facial tissue while removing excess fat. This procedure also smooths out wrinkles and tightens up drooping or sagging skin in the lower part of the face.
Who Is a Candidate for A Traditional or Mini Facelift?
Patients who make the best facelift candidates have sagging in the mid-face, jawline, or both. They also typically have deep, extending creases that run from the nose to the outer edges of the mouth (known as nasolabial folds), lines that extend from the corner of the mouth on both sides and run downward toward the chin (marionette lines), fallen or displaced facial fat (decreased volume), sagging and decreased muscle tone seen in the lower portions of the face (jowls), loose and excess fat deposits under the jawline and chin (double chin), and wrinkled, creased, and sagging skin on the neck. You might not be a good candidate for a facelift if you have overly thick or severely sun-damaged facial skin. The facelift procedure works best for patients whose bone structure is strong and well-defined. It is best suited for those whose skin still has some elasticity.
Young adults who are in good health who wish to address issues with the appearance of the lower third of their face may benefit from a mini facelift, as their age prevents the necessity of a full facelift. A mini facelift can also benefit individuals who have previously undergone a full facelift but now need some additional tightening of their facial skin and tissue.
When you come in for your consultation, Dr. Buinewicz will help you determine if the mini facelift procedure is right for you. Dr. Buinewicz will assess your medical history, the condition of your face, your goals, and needs, and then discuss your options. Dr. Buinewicz will also discuss how the mini facelift procedure will be performed, give you instructions on what to do following the procedure, and what to expect from your mini facelift over both the short and long term.
Many individuals benefit from a mini facelift because it rejuvenates the appearance of their face with fewer incisions and less downtime than a full facelift. The small incisions are used to pull your skin upwards and correct sagging skin. For patients who are prone to scarring, the smaller incisions that are used in a mini facelift can be helpful.
These procedures will not dramatically change your fundamental appearance. They also will not address superficial wrinkles, sun damage, or skin color irregularities.
Facelift FAQs
What Are the Details of a Facelift at the Philadelphia Area's Buinewicz Cosmetic Surgery?
Before any facelift surgery decisions are made, Dr. Buinewicz leads a thorough consultation with the patient. This allows him to get a medical history, ask questions in order to understand the ultimate aesthetic goals, develop a personalized treatment plan, answer questions to ensure patients are fully informed and comfortable with his recommendations, and more.
There are two types of facelift surgery Dr. Buinewicz performs: traditional and mini facelift. These techniques differ a bit in how they work, as well as in the results that are possible. Dr. Buinewicz will suggest a specific strategy, chosen based on the degree of correction needed.
All facelift surgeries involve the use of an anesthetic to reduce sensation and keep the patient comfortable. This can range form an "awake facelift" performed in the office under local anesthesia to a full general anesthesia where the patient is completely asleep.
Sometimes patients have other issues as a result of aging that can be addressed at the same time. These can include textural changes and wrinkles that can be addressed with lasers or volume issues that can be addressed with either fat injections or fillers.
What Happens After a Facelift?
A patient's recovery timeline and experience will depend on the type of facelift they receive, as well as individual healing factors and other unique variables. In general, expect a degree of swelling, bruising, and discomfort in the days after the surgery. These side effects can last for a few weeks but will gradually ease and resolve on their own.
Dr. Buinewicz typically recommends that patients take a week to rest and keep their head elevated in order to minimize swelling. Side effects tend to peak at day three or four. The first week post-op typically ends with removal of any sutures. After this, most facelift patients can return to work and light activities—but nothing that could increase their blood pressure and heart
rate, such as strenuous exercise. All normal activities may typically be resumed after four to six weeks, and the ultimate results should be apparent by the third month after the surgery.
Throughout all this time, it is important to avoid direct sun exposure and to wear sunscreen whenever going outside. In addition to prematurely aging the skin, ultraviolet rays can also cause healing scars to darken and become more visible.
How Long Do Results Last?
Patients can expect a more youthful and rested appearance, along with a boost in confidence. The results of a full facelift will generally last for ten years or more, but it won’t prevent your face from continuing to age. The results of a mini facelift depend on the individual and the extent of the procedure which can vary by the health of their skin, environmental factors, and genetics. Nonetheless, most patients will benefit from the results of a mini facelift for between five to ten years or even longer.
How Do You Preserve Optimal Traditional or Mini Facelift Results?
What you do in the years after your surgery can affect your results, so it’s important to care for your skin. Daily sun protection and maintaining a healthy lifestyle will help to preserve the results of any type of facelift. It’s important to avoid deliberate tanning and wear sunscreen everyday as UV ray exposure can break down important proteins in the skin. Use the right topical skin products for your skin type and concerns. We recommend medical-grade products containing ingredients such as retinoids, peptides,
and antioxidants. You can also use non-surgical cosmetic treatments that complement your skincare regimen such as chemical peels and laser skin resurfacing. These treatments gently remove the outer layer of skin, revealing more youthful and radiant looking skin underneath. You will need to give yourself enough time to fully rest and heal before trying other cosmetic treatments.
Traditional
For a traditional facelift, Dr. Buinewicz makes incisions along the hairline and around the ear, allowing him access to lift and reposition the underlying facial tissues, remove excess skin, and tighten the remaining skin. This procedure can address deep wrinkles, sagging skin, and jowls, resulting in a more defined jawline and smoother, more toned skin. Sometimes the aging process expands onto the neck with excess skin and muscle “banding.” The “turkey gobbler” lines and the neck also get addressed and rejuvenated at the same time.
Mini
Why Choose Dr. Buinewicz?
Triple Board-Certified
Experience is one of the utmost qualities to consider when seeking a surgeon. Dr. Brian Buinewicz is a triple board-certified plastic surgeon, demonstrating expertise in all aspects of cosmetic & reconstructive surgery. Known for his work with Breast Implant Illness and explant procedures, he takes the time to ensure each patient receives the highest quality care. With more than 25 years of plastic surgery experience, he has performed hundreds of surgical procedures and is passionate about furthering education in the fields of abdominoplasty and breast augmentation. Read more about Dr. Buinewicz's experience or explore patient reviews.
If you live in Hunterdon County, NJ, or Bucks County, PA, and are considering surgery, know that the team at Buinewicz Plastic Surgery—with offices in Doylestown, PA, and Flemington, NJ—is ready to help. Please contact us today to speak with Dr. Buinewicz about your next cosmetic procedure
Why Choose Buinewicz Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa for a Facelift in the Philadelphia Area?
As a highly experienced and triple board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Brian Buinewicz has performed hundreds of facelift procedures over several decades. Not only does he focus on delivering beautiful and natural-looking results for his patients, but he has a passion for furthering education in the community of doctors who perform facelift surgery—as well as for patients considering or enjoying the results of their own surgery.
How Much Do a Full Facelift and Mini Facelift Cost?
Buinewicz Plastic Surgery offers all of its procedures at an affordable and convenient price. Our office accepts personal checks, major credit cards, and cash for mini and full facelift procedures, and also offers financing.
Are There More Facial Procedures Besides Facelift Available?
Face surgery options at Buinewicz Cosmetic Surgery include a brow lift for the forehead area, blepharoplasty to address aging eyelids, and rhinoplasty to shape the nose. Many of these procedures can be combined for a full-face rejuvenation. Certain patients may also be good candidates for a neck lift alone, if their signs of aging are limited to the area below the face. Nonsurgical procedures to tighten and refresh the skin, such as Sofwave™ and Exion, or to lift and tighten the muscles and skin, like EmFace, are also available. These treatments offer no downtime or scarring, with a full return to normal activity. Nonsurgical procedures may be more suitable for some patients depending on their overall goals and health. Generally, if you’re more concerned about the volume and texture of your skin than sagginess, we may recommend nonsurgical procedures instead of facial cosmetic surgery.
For patients with fine lines, spots, and other superficial signs of aging to address, nonsurgical strategies like BOTOX®, Daxxify™, and other wrinkle relaxers; RHA®, Juvéderm®, Restylane®, and other dermal fillers; or laser treatments may be more appropriate.
Any and all of these options—and more—can be discussed at the initial facelift consultation. Remember, you don’t have to know what procedure you want. Start with a discussion of the features you want to focus on, and the cosmetic issues you would like to address, and Dr. Buinewicz and his team can develop the ideal plan of action for you.
For a facelift in the Philadelphia area—Doylestown in Bucks County, PA, or Flemington in Hunterdon County, NJ—call Buinewicz Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa at 215.647.9668 or send a message online.