November 14, 2022
Reveal Plastic Surgery
2581 Samaritan Drive #102
San Jose, CA 95124
Phone: (408) 356-4241
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
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 at Reveal Plastic Surgery, a facelift will produce results that look natural and enhance your beauty.
Request a free consultation with one of our surgeons at Reveal Plastic Surgery or call (408) 356-4241 to schedule your appointment today.
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. Our surgeons’ 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 surgeons combine facelift surgery with other procedures to achieve the best possible results. During your consultation, our surgeons work with you 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 OptionsYour Facelift Surgery
Our surgeons 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.


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 our surgeons’ 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. Our surgeons 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


Facelift FAQ
What is the best age to get a facelift?
Our surgeons 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). Our surgeons 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 one of the board-certified plastic surgeons at Reveal Plastic Surgery or call our office at (408) 356-4241 for an appointment.