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What Type Of Facelift Is Right For Me?

Home » Blog » What Type Of Facelift Is Right For Me?

What Type Of Facelift Is Right For Me?

    Your body may change over time, but your facial features typically allow loved ones to recognize you, no matter how much time has passed. Since people look at your face when talking to you, whether at family gatherings or on Zoom meetings for work, it’s understandable to want to look your best.

    Facial rejuvenation procedures have become increasingly popular recently because, at a certain age and stage of facial aging, non-invasive treatments stop making notable differences in keeping you looking youthful. When this time arrives, some begin to look into a surgical procedure to lift and tighten the face, commonly known as the facelift.

    Though many hear the word “facelift” and think of one procedure that does it all for everyone, several options are available, each tailored to address specific goals. According to Mayo Clinic, types of incisions include traditional, limited, and neck lift, and depend on which techniques are used. In this post, we’ll explore the different types of facelifts and consider which is most appropriate for different patients.

    During a traditional facelift, also known as the SMAS facelift, Dr. Kaplan makes incisions around your ears, hairline, and below your chin to pull the skin and adjust the tissues underneath, tightening the supporting structures in your face and neck.

    The SMAS facelift targets the lower third of your face as Dr. Kaplan removes excess skin and tightens the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, or the SMAS layer, in your cheeks and lower face. Tightening these muscles along with the skin promotes long-term results and a more youthful contour. It typically includes tightening muscles and removing excess skin in the neck. A neck lift, combined with a facelift, will leave the face and neck looking more youthful, complementing each other.

    Average cost:

    The SMAS facelift typically ranges between $10,000 and $15,000 in New Jersey and New York.

    Benefits:

    • Well-hidden scars
    • Long-term results
    • Remarkable results as it lifts the face and neck

    What to keep in mind:

    • Includes longer recovery time as the procedure is complex
    • More scarring
    • Does not address the brow line/forehead on its own

    Good candidates for the SMAS facelift:

    • Are looking to achieve complete facial rejuvenation with dramatic improvements in the tightening of their face and neck muscles, and their skin
    • Have loose skin on their cheeks and laxity in the neck area

    During a deep plane facelift, surgeons go beneath the SMAS layer to reposition and reshape the tissue on the level below it. This procedure goes deeper underneath the skin’s surface to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles and promote natural, long-lasting results.

    A deep plane facelift is a popular option for facial rejuvenation because it promotes a natural-looking lift. For some patients, it can eliminate the need for injectables to address fine lines and wrinkles as it targets and adjusts the tissue and other supporting structures beneath the muscles that injectables attempt to freeze. In the long run, some patients save the money they would be spending having injectables.

    Average cost:

    If you are considering getting a deep plane facelift in New York City, be prepared to invest between $15,000 and $25,000 into rejuvenating your face. It requires a high skill level and leaves long-lasting results that no one would guess were through cosmetic surgery.

    Benefits:

    • Better outcomes in the mid-face region
    • Natural results
    • Longer lasting results

    What to keep in mind:

    • Includes longer recovery time as it delves deeper underneath the skin’s surface
    • Involves the possible risk of nerve or vessel injury
    • Recovery includes more pain, swelling, and bruising than less invasive facelift procedures

    Good candidates for the deep plane facelift:

    • Have severe signs of aging, including noticeable loose skin on the face and laxity in the neck
    • Want a long-term solution to years of aging in the face

    As mentioned above, the neck lift, or lower rhytidectomy, is often included in conjunction with the facelift because patients who need a facelift may have excess skin on the neck. The neck lift focuses on the jawline, jowls, loose neck skin, sagging platysma muscles, and fatty deposits under the chin.

    You may not just look younger but slimmer in both the face and neck when you get a neck lift as part of your facial sculpting procedure.

    Average cost:

    A neck lift on its own may cost between $5,000 and $15,000. A neck lift combined with a facelift may cost between $10,000 to $25,000 in New York. The cost can vary depending on the complexities of a patient’s needs. It is rare to perform a facelift or neck lift independently rather than as a combination.

    Benefits:

    • Dramatic improvements in the appearance of the neck, chin, and jawline
    • Included with a traditional facelift in most cases
    • Ensures the face and neck balance in contour and youthfulness
    • Most patients consider their neck lift scars barely noticeable

    What to keep in mind:

    • May include a lengthy recovery time

    Good candidates for the neck lift:

    • Are looking to improve laxity, muscle banding, and excess skin on their neck, jawline, and chin
    • Want to improve the appearance of their “double chin” or “turkey neck”
    • Wish to improve their jawline definition

    Most patients need their mid-face and possibly their brow line and forehead rejuvenated along with their lower face, so mini facelifts are not a very common procedure. However, they can be helpful for younger patients who may be showing slight signs of early aging without having drastic amounts of excess skin and wrinkles. During the mini-facelift, Dr. Kaplan lifts your lower face and neck area.

    The mini facelift is commonly done in conjunction with eyelid surgery or a brow lift for more balanced results as it only targets the lower half of your face, Healthline says.

    Average cost:

    As the mini-facelift only targets part of the face, the average price is usually lower than other facelifts. The average price of a mini-facelift is around $7,000.

    Benefits:

    • Shorter downtime
    • Smaller scar
    • Long-term results for mild signs of aging

    What to keep in mind:

    • Could not promote dramatic improvements for patients in need of more complex procedures
    • Only targets the lower part of your face and part of your neck

    Good candidates for the mini facelift:

    • Have mild to moderate signs of aging in their lower face
    • Have slight jowling and mild amounts of excess skin
    • Want a faster recovery period

    Your cheeks are a significant part of your face, and keeping them looking tight, lifted, and smooth is essential in maintaining a youthful-looking facial appearance. During a mid-facelift, Dr. Kaplan places small incisions in the temporal hairline to reposition the tissue and tighten the skin on your cheeks.

    Average cost:

    The mid-facelift targets only a specific area of the face, but the cheeks are a vital part of the face, so it typically costs more than a mini-facelift. The average price is between $6,000 and $8,000 but can cost as much as $15,000 in some areas and depending on the individual.

    Benefits:

    • Shorter procedure time
    • Smaller scar
    • Promotes lifted, contoured cheeks

    What to keep in mind:

    • Does not address the lower face, the jawline, or sagging in the neck
    • Less dramatic results compared to a complete facelift

    Good candidates for the mid-facelift:

    • Notice excess skin and other aging signs, for example, fine lines in the cheek area
    • Have visible signs of aging in their mid face

    A brow lift, or forehead lift, works to lift and smooth your forehead, removing wrinkles & frown lines and lifting any sagging skin or fatty deposits around your eyebrows. Dr. Gordon Kaplan specializes in brow lift and forehead lift procedures for his patients. Many patients often find that as they approach their late 40s to early 50s, their brows begin to lose a youthful appearance and look to have a brow or a forehead lift.

    Average cost:

    The average cost of a brow lift is $3,900, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

    Benefits:

    • Helping with the downward migration of the eyebrows as you age
    • Reduce/eliminate forehead wrinkles
    • May slightly lift your upper eyelid to give you more alert-looking eyes
    • Promotes significant results in making you look more alert and youthful when paired with eyelid surgery to rejuvenate the eyes

    What to keep in mind:

    • Does not target the mid-face, lower face, jawline, or neck and works better in conjunction with other facial rejuvenation procedures

    Good candidates for the brow lift:

    • May have drooping brows and/or heavy upper eyelids
    • May notice they naturally have an angry or tired appearance due to aging
    • Have horizontal lines across the forehead
    • May want an extra lift along with a blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)

    The non-surgical Silhouette Instalift is a thread lift that reduces sagging skin on the cheeks and jowls. Sutures placed under the skin create more definition in the neck area and lessen nose-to-mouth lines. The threads are absorbed, no removal is necessary, and patients see immediate results. The sutures also stimulate collagen production to delay further signs of aging. This procedure often suits younger candidates.

    As you research each type of facelift procedure, consider every factor: cost, downtime, candidacy, and goals. Look at these factors for each surgery to get an idea of what may be best for you.

    Once you know what you are looking for, schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in facial rejuvenation, such as Dr. Gordon Kaplan. Dr. Kaplan will listen to your goals, ask you all the right questions, consider your answers and expectations, and provide you with the best options.

    The Kaplan Center

    The Kaplan Center is a medical practice ran by board-certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Gordon Kaplan in Edgewater, NJ. With over two decades of experience, The Kaplan Center specialises in plastic and reconstructive surgery for the face and body, along with a number of non-surgical treatments.