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Facelift Solutions at Albert Plastic Surgery

Getting older comes with wisdom, grace, and experience. However, most people wish they could sidestep the wrinkles, sagging skin, and jowls associated with maturity. A surgical facelift in New York City is the gold standard for rejuvenation, and when performed by a trusted aesthetic expert such as Dr. Albert, results are elegant and highly natural. When the signs of aging compromise one’s appearance, it can be difficult to feel confident. Facelift surgery can restore the jawline, lift sunken contours, and erase lines and wrinkles, helping patients reclaim their quality of life and joy in communication.

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Doctor examining woman's face

What is a Facelift?

A facelift is a surgical procedure that addresses excess sagging skin in the cheeks, loss of definition in the jawline, and wrinkles, lines, and folds, all of which may occur naturally with the aging process. Genetics and significant weight loss may also lead to a change in the skin’s integrity and firmness. As it only addresses the lower portion of the face, a facelift is often combined with a brow lift or blepharoplasty to rejuvenate the appearance more comprehensively.

There are several options for facelifts in NYC with Dr. Albert who can help determine the best approach for your unique anatomy, goals, and preferences. Dr. Albert performs the following facelift procedures:

  • Full facelift – A full facelift can be performed independently or in tandem with facial fat grafting for a more relaxed, inviting appearance. The surgery helps restore balance and harmony along the jawline and in the lower cheeks. Dr. Albert takes special care to avoid an overly tight or “windswept” outcome.
  • Deep plane facelift – A deep plane facelift tightens the underlying facial layers, resulting in organic-looking changes. During surgery, the facial tissues are separated from the muscle and fascia layers, which are repositioned to promote youthfulness and natural beauty. 
  • Mini facelift – A mini facelift may be an ideal solution for patients just beginning to notice the signs of aging. The procedure is designed to address mild facial sagging, depleted contours, and the appearance of wrinkles and lines.

Facelift Before & After

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What are the Benefits of a Facelift?

This procedure is among the most popular and requested procedures in the country. The majority of Dr. Albert’s NYC facelift patients are youthful, vivacious, and energized and they wish to look on the outside how they feel on the inside. The following are among the key benefits of a facelift:

  • Trims excess drooping skin
  • Refreshes the cheeks and lower face
  • Combats jowls and lack of definition in the jawline
  • Smooths away wrinkles, lines, and creases
  • Creates a more youthful-looking countenance
  • Elevates self-confidence
  • Can be combined with a neck lift, brow lift, or eyelid lift
  • Nuanced, natural-looking outcome
  • Long-lasting results
  • Surgical technique can be customized to the individual

Who is a Candidate for a Facelift?

Dr. Albert customizes each treatment plan to suit the patient and improve the aesthetic imperfections that trouble them. During your private one-on-one consultation, the doctor will assess your medical history, conduct a physical exam, and discuss your expectations for your results. Candidacy is based more on overall health than age. The average age for a facelift is 50-65, although both older and younger patients undergo the surgery successfully, provided they are in good health. In general, candidates should be:

  • Physically and emotionally healthy
  • Free from any untreated medical concerns that might interfere with surgery or recovery
  • Non-smoking, or willing to quit for several weeks before and after surgery 
  • In possession of a realistic attitude toward their results
  • Unhappy with the appearance of sagging skin, jowls, loss of jawline definition, or wrinkles
  • Willing to follow Dr. Albert’s express instructions before and after surgery

What Kind of Results can I Expect After a Facelift?

Around 30 days after your procedure it will be difficult for anyone to detect you’ve had cosmetic surgery. You should be enjoying all your normal activities without restrictions by this point. There may be very mild swelling, numbness, and tightness present for up to one year; however, these sensations will only be noticeable to you. Because of this, it is best not to judge your facelift results until 12 full months after surgery. While a facelift on its own will not stop the aging process, it will help you to feel more beautiful and confident and to maintain a more youthful appearance overall. Facelift results typically last 5-10 years. 

How is a Facelift Procedure Performed?

Facelift surgery takes place at Dr. Albert’s immaculate office suites or surgical center where your safety and well-being are our top priorities. The procedure is performed in several steps as follows:

  1. Anesthesia – General anesthesia is administered in order to ensure the patient is completely unconscious and relaxed during surgery. 
  2. Creation of the incision – There are several options for the incision placement with a facelift and Dr. Albert will discuss the benefits of each choice in detail with you during your private NYC consultation. Incisions may be placed at the temples, around the ears, beneath the chin, or inside the mouth. The size of the incisions will depend on your treatment plan and the type of facelift surgery you are undergoing (deep plane lift, full facelift, or mini facelift.)
  3. Tightening and trimming – During this phase of the procedure, Dr. Albert will tighten the facial muscles, reposition the tissue, and remove excess skin that is compromising your natural facial shape. The goals of each facelift and the techniques used will be discussed in detail during your consultation. 
  4. Closing the incisions – Once Dr. Albert is finished making changes, he will close the incisions using stitches, dissolvable sutures, and/or skin glue.

What is Recovery like After a Facelift?

Recovery will be different for each patient and will depend on a number of factors, including age, overall health, the type of facelift undergone, and natural healing ability. Directly after surgery, you will be in an observation room while you stabilize. Within a few hours, you will be discharged to the care of a friend or family member who can drive you home. Your face will be bandaged to help reduce swelling and bruising. Small drainage tubes may be placed to help excess fluids and blood exit the body as you heal. 

Before you leave, Dr. Albert will provide you with instructions for recovery, prescriptions for pain medications, and a schedule for your follow-up visits. Rest assured, your care does not end the moment you leave the premises. Our team will continue to monitor your recovery and ensure that your healing process is smooth and seamless.

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Will I Have any Noticeable Scars After my Facelift?

Any time incisions are made during surgery, there is a resulting scar. However, the skill of your plastic surgeon plays a key role in minimizing postoperative scarring through careful placement of the incisions in inconspicuous areas. Additionally, scarring can be revised through postoperative scar therapy. Directly after surgery, your incisions may appear dark, raised, and irritated. This is normal. With time, the incision marks will slowly lighten and flatten. The scars will thin out and fade to a pink color. Eventually, the scar will be a closer match to your skin tone.

The best way to care for your incisions after surgery is to follow Dr. Albert’s personalized post-op instructions as follows:

  • Avoid smoking – Scars look best when they heal quickly, and nicotine can undermine and slow down the body’s natural healing process.
  • Take enough time to rest – You should set aside several weeks after your facelift to rest and relax. You can still walk around and do sedentary work but don’t do too much too soon. Engaging in strenuous exercise or heavy lifting too early can complicate your recovery.
  • Stay out of the sun – Harmful UV rays can darken your scars. Make sure you wear a sunhat, sunblock, and sunglasses when you go out. 
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Are there any Risks Associated with a Facelift?

Dr. Albert uses advanced surgical techniques and a conservative approach, which help to reduce the risk of complications. He is also extremely thorough in vetting patients for their procedures. Lastly, Dr. Albert’s surgical environment is immaculate and adheres to the highest safety standards in the industry. Despite this, every surgery comes with risks.

With a facelift, there are four main risks to be aware of. The first is infection. This risk is greatly reduced through the use of antibiotics taken immediately after surgery. The second biggest risk is bleeding. Dr. Albert is painstakingly precise when handling blood vessels, which helps limit postoperative bleeding. To reduce bleeding, patients must follow Dr. Albert’s instructions before their operation, being careful to avoid certain medications, herbs, and supplements that can thin the blood.

The third risk is nerve injury. This risk is best avoided by choosing an experienced, credentialed, specialized plastic surgeon like Dr. Albert, who understands facial procedures' delicate and complex nature. The fourth risk with facelift surgery is scarring. Again, it is critical to choose a plastic surgeon with an artistic eye and the ability to camouflage incisions in well-hidden areas. Dr. Albert intuitively understands how to place incisions to the patient’s advantage based on their facial shape and hairline, achieving inconspicuous scarring.

What Other Procedures can Accompany a Facelift?

Because a facelift only addresses the lower portion of the face, it is often paired with other surgical procedures to reduce the signs of aging more comprehensively. After all, it can look strange if the lower half of the face is rejuvenated while the upper half continues to exhibit wrinkles, sagging, and sunken contours. A facelift can be performed in combination with the following:

  • Brow lift – A brow lift is designed to trim sagging skin in the forehead, elevate drooping eyebrows, and revitalize the facial expression, which may appear tired, angry, or sad due to the signs of aging. 
  • Blepharoplasty – Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery is performed to remove excess skin, fat, and tissue in the eyelids that may be compromising the facial expression or in some cases, obscuring vision. 
  • Neck lift – A neck lift can correct sagging, crepe-like skin and vertical banding, among other imperfections in the neck. The surgery is a perfect complement to a facelift. 
  • Fat grafting – Facial fat grafting can help to combat volume loss in the cheeks, temples, chin, lips, and under-eye area. This is an excellent way to enhance your facelift results without the use of synthetic fillers or injectables.
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Why Choose Dr. Albert for a Facelift?

Dr. Albert combines precision-oriented artistry with empathy and compassion in order to deliver an outstanding patient experience and beautiful, natural-looking results. He is passionate about patient safety and well-being and takes a significant amount of time to ensure patients are educated and informed prior to making any decisions. He is a deep listener who is painstaking about details. When it comes to delicate facial surgeries, he understands that less is more and that results should be nuanced and subtle, preserving each patient’s innate beauty and unique individuality.

Dr. Albert completed among the most elite and prestigious aesthetic surgery fellowships in the country at Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital, preparing him for an illustrious career in cosmetic surgery. He was subsequently named as the director of this fellowship program, and today he continues to teach and develop advanced, cutting-edge techniques in the field of aesthetics. In addition, Dr. Albert is an accomplished fine artist whose interest in drawing and sculpture supports his surgical artistry. 

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FAQ

What can I expect during my facelift consultation?

What is the difference between a facelift and a neck lift?

How long do facelift results last?

Is a facelift painful?

What is the best age to undergo a facelift?

What can I expect during my facelift consultation?

Dr. Albert allocates a generous amount of time and resources to preparing his patients for surgery, making sure they are fully educated and informed before moving forward with their facelift. He carefully analyzes their facial features, reviews their medical history, and discusses their goals in depth to create the ideal treatment plan. Dr. Albert will explain the different facelift options (deep plane, full, mini, etc.) and go over what to expect from the recovery process.

What is the difference between a facelift and a neck lift?

A facelift addresses the lower portion of the face, including the cheeks, jowls, jawline, and areas around the mouth. A neck lift can correct a double chin, vertical banding, sagging skin, and wrinkles in the neck. The two procedures complement each other and are often performed in combination.

How long do facelift results last?

While a facelift can help you to look more refreshed and youthful, it doesn’t stop the natural aging process. Certain factors may accelerate aging, such as smoking, excess sun exposure, and the overuse of drugs or alcohol. Healthy patients can expect their results to last 5-10 years. Non-surgical facial rejuvenation techniques can be used to touch up your results from time to time.

Is a facelift painful?

Facelift surgery is performed under general anesthesia, so there is no pain or discomfort during the procedure. Afterward, Dr. Albert will provide prescription pain medications to make sure your recovery is manageable and stress-free. You may feel a sensation of tightness or pulling for the first week, which is normal. As swelling dies down, you will feel more and more at ease. You can use a cold ice pack to help with the swelling. Patients usually switch to non-narcotic pain medications after a few days.

What is the best age to undergo a facelift?

Each person is unique when it comes to facial aging. The aging process depends a great deal on genetics as well as lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol use, and sun exposure. Therefore each facelift treatment plan is carefully tailored to the individual’s needs. Ideal candidates for a facelift are in good health and are realistic in their expectations for improvement rather than perfection. Dr. Albert conducts a thorough consultation to determine how he can best serve each patient and accomplish their anti-aging goals. He is more likely to disqualify candidates based on poor health than on their age.

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