Facelift

Wrinkles on your face and neck can be the most frustrating signs of aging because they are so highly visible. A facelift is the go-to option for San Jose women and men who want to reduce their wrinkles and tighten their skin to look as young as they feel. Many people considering this procedure are concerned that they will have an overly tight, fake “wind tunnel” look. When performed by a skilled and experienced board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Steven J. Bates or Dr. Benjamin Maser at Reveal Plastic Surgery, a facelift will produce results that look natural and enhance your beauty.

Request a free consultation with Dr. Maser or Dr. Bates or call (408) 356-4241 to schedule your appointment today.

Facelift
Before & After Photos

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Before & After Facelift Case 636 Front View in San Jose, CA
Before & After
Case: 1 of 8

Case #636

Our patient is stunning, at any age. She is in her early 70s, and is noting some skin elasticity in her neck, portions of her face, and her lower eyelids. After discussions with Dr. Lepore, she decided to proceed with a mid-facelift, neck lift, and lower blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery). Her natural beauty remains center stage following her pr... Read More
Before & After Facelift Case 618 Front View in San Jose, CA
Before & After
Case: 2 of 8

Facelift

Our lovely patient came to us for an update, to refresh and maintain her facial appearance. She's worked hard to improve her fitness, losing weight in the process, gaining loose skin in her face and neck. To help reverse those effects, Dr. Maser performed facelift and neck lift. Her renewed look now reflects her beauty, energy, and spiri... Read More
Before & After Facelift Case 587 View #1 View in San Jose, CA
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Case: 3 of 8

Facelift Case #587

Our beautiful patient is over 60, and looks great. She's had previous surgery, for upper eyelid rejuvenation. Now, she's interested in exploring overall facial rejuvenation. She was disturbed by loose, lower eyelid skin, jowling, and laxity in her neck. Dr. Lepore performed several procedures to address her concerns; including a mid-facelift... Read More
Before & After Facelift Case 517 View #1 View in San Jose, CA
Before & After
Case: 4 of 8

Facelift Case

A patient in her upper 50s, who felt it was time for some facial rejuvenation.. She was unhappy in particular, with changes to her upper face. She felt the heaviness of her brow, was bringing down her entire expression. She opted for a brow lift, to relieve that heavy look. And she also underwent eyelid surgery. Dr. Maser performed upper and... Read More
Before & After Facelift Case 479 View #1 View in San Jose, CA
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Case: 5 of 8

Facelift Case #479

Mini Facelift and fat grafting to face This 58 year old woman had a facelift procedure 8 years prior to being seen in our office. (She has a very important event coming up, and wants to look as great as she feels!) She came to us requesting another facelift to improve her loose skin and wrinkles.  We suggested a combin... Read More
Before & After Eyelid Surgery Case 462 View #1 View in San Jose, CA
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Case: 6 of 8

Eyelid Lift- Facial Rejuvenation

Sometimes, pictures do tell the story. This woman, in her early 60s, had severely drooping and hanging eyelids, and a dramatic surgical result. Her upper lids were draping over her eyes, affecting her vision. It was so severe, that she had developed headaches from constantly lifting her brows to see.  Dr. Bates performed an upper eyelid... Read More
Before & After Facelift Case 438 View #1 View in San Jose, CA
Before & After
Case: 7 of 8

Facelift

This is a 70 year old patient, interested in facial rejuvenation. Dr. Bates performed Facelift surgery, for a noticeable improvement to the contours of her neck and jawline  Here she is in her After photos at 2 months, looking natural and refreshed. Read More
Before & After Facelift Case 420 View #1 View in San Jose, CA
Before & After
Case: 8 of 8

Facelift-Necklift-Browlift-Blepharoplasty

A patient in her mid-50s, came to see Dr. Maser for facial rejuvenation. She was unhappy with the look of extra skin on her neck, as well as sagging of the face and jowls. She hoped to reverse what she felt was a tired look to her eyes, and overall appearance.She had facelift surgery, as well as a neck lift, browlift, and blepharoplast... Read More

Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.

Facelift Candidates

A facelift can address signs of aging in your lower face and neck that can’t be suitably corrected through a nonsurgical approach. These concerns include:

  • Deep creases or folds
  • Loose or sagging skin
  • Jowls
  • Fat deposits

Even with the increasing popularity and effectiveness of nonsurgical facelift alternatives, a facelift remains the best option for women and men seeking long-lasting, significant facial rejuvenation. Dr. Bates and Dr. Maser’s understanding of facial anatomy and the effects of aging on the skin and underlying tissues allow them to create a comprehensive approach to facial rejuvenation that is possible only through plastic surgery.

Can I Combine a Facelift With Other Procedures?

In many cases, our board-certified plastic surgeons combine facelift surgery with other procedures to achieve the best possible results. Dr. Maser and Dr. Bates work with you during your consultation to develop an appropriate surgical plan that may include other types of facial rejuvenation. Popular options include:

  • Neck lift restores youthful-looking tone and contour to the neck, harmonizing it with the face. Although a traditional facelift typically offers some neck improvement, neck lift surgery yields more significant results.
  • Brow lift raises and lightens a heavy brow and smooths away forehead wrinkles.
  • Eyelid surgery can smooth and tighten the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both through small incisions hidden in the lids’ natural creases.
  • Dermal fillers can be administered at the time of your surgery to fill in wrinkles or areas of decreased volume.
  • Fat transfer involves harvesting fat from one area of your body, such as your abdomen, and adding it to areas of your face that lack volume. It can provide you with softer, more youthful-looking facial contours, and because it comes from your own body, there’s very little risk of an adverse reaction.
  • Laser resurfacing can be performed after your procedure to refine and improve the quality of your skin.

What’s the Difference Between a Facelift and a Mini Facelift?

The traditional facelift treats the lower two-thirds of the face, where most people see the most significant signs of aging. A mini facelift is often recommended for patients who have less significant signs of aging, as well as those who have a good amount of skin elasticity.

Financing Made Easy

You have options when it comes to paying for your procedure. Patient financing makes it affordable and stress free.

See Financing Options

Your Facelift Surgery

Dr. Maser and Dr. Bates perform facelift surgery as an outpatient procedure using general anesthetic or local anesthetic with sedation. The type of anesthesia you have depends on your overall health and the specifics of your procedure. For example, less invasive surgery often requires less significant anesthesia. Either way, our surgeons will discuss their surgical plan with you well before your surgery, so you remain fully informed.

The traditional facelift uses an incision that starts within the hairline, runs around the ears, and ends at the lower scalp. Sometimes, a second incision under the chin is necessary. The mini facelift requires a shorter incision that begins along the lower hairline. Through these incisions, our surgeons redistribute fat, reposition underlying tissue, and lift skin and muscle. The incisions made during a traditional facelift typically result in very discreet scars that are hidden beneath the hairline.

Traditional and mini face incisions Traditional and mini face incisions

Your facelift may take several hours to complete, depending on the type of correction you desire and whether you undergo multiple procedures at once. If you have fat grafting added to your facelift, your surgeon will harvest your donor fat via liposuction while you are still anesthetized.

Facelift Recovery

While facelift surgery is an outpatient procedure, the medicine we give you during surgery will make you feel groggy. It’s important to have a trusted friend or family member drive you home and stay with you at least for the first night. Following your surgeon’s instructions for caring for yourself after surgery is crucial to developing the results you want. Swelling is a typical side effect, and it’s important to keep your head elevated at all times – including overnight – in order to minimize it. Any discomfort you may experience while you recuperate is managed with prescribed medication.

Although there are no dietary restrictions after facelift surgery, some people find it more comfortable to stick to soft foods for the first few days while their incisions heal. Dr. Maser and Dr. Bates also stress the importance of getting enough lean protein in your diet to encourage healthy healing. Fiber is also important to keep your GI system moving even while you’re spending most of your day at rest.

Most patients feel good enough to return to work and other social activities after about 2 weeks. By this point, the sutures will have been removed and the majority of swelling and bruising will be resolved. Any remaining discoloration can be easily covered with makeup. However, you’ll likely need to continue to postpone vigorous activity for several more weeks to allow the deeper structures of your face to heal undisturbed. During your follow-up procedures, your surgeon will gradually clear you to resume your favorite activities.

Your Facelift Results

Although no facelift surgeon can stop the aging process, we can make you look significantly younger with results that will last for many years. Our surgeons have the skill and experience necessary to ensure that you will look natural, never too tight or artificial.

Our Plastic Surgeons

Our board-certified plastic surgeons have decades of combined experience performing cosmetic procedures for the face, breasts, and body. Their expertise, superior care, and impressive outcomes draw patients from across the San Francisco Bay Area. Their caring, down-to-earth personalities cultivate lasting doctor-patient relationships.

Credentials you can trust

ASPS, ABMS, ASF, and Aesthetic Society logos ASPS, ABMS, ASF, and Aesthetic Society logos

Facelift FAQ

What is the best age to get a facelift?

Dr. Maser and Dr. Bates tell their facelift patients that there is no “perfect” age to undergo surgery. Instead, candidacy is determined by physical symptoms, which can affect different patients at different times. The best candidates are healthy adults bothered by significant laxity in the lower face, including on the jawline and chin. A facelift can also reduce unwanted fat deposits for a sleeker, smoother profile. If you are a healthy adult experiencing these symptoms, you may be a good candidate regardless of age.

I’m concerned by lines and wrinkles around my eyes. Will a facelift help?

Facelift surgery focuses primarily on the lower face, so lines around the eyes, such as crow’s feet, will not be affected. However, many patients who wish for more comprehensive improvement often get a combination procedure that includes upper face surgeries, such as blepharoplasty (or eyelid surgery). Dr. Bates and Dr. Maser frequently perform facelift surgery using this combinational approach, enhancing the final result and minimizing total recovery time.

What is the best nonsurgical alternative to a facelift?

For patients who wish to avoid an operation, we offer an array of minimally invasive treatments to improve the look of the face. Strategic use of injectable fillers, for instance, can create a lifted appearance, easing lines and wrinkles and adding volume to sunken areas. BOTOX® Cosmetic relaxes the muscles of the upper face to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Although their results are temporary, these treatments can make a big difference on their own or even when added to surgery.

We also offer topical skincare lines such as Obagi® and SkinMedica®, and our registered nurses perform light treatments including the Obagi Blue Peel®. They can also answer questions about LATISSE® eyelash enhancement and other popular products available at our practice.

Your Next Step

To learn more about facelift and other facial rejuvenation options, request a free cosmetic consultation with Dr. Bates or Dr. Maser or call our office at (408) 356-4241 for an appointment.

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