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At Illuminate we understand that your beauty can be a source of self-confidence. In this era of selfies, video calls and social media, you could be thinking about something that gives you back a youthful, smooth, and vibrant appearance and helps you to say yes to more of life’s pleasures. We are here to listen to your concerns and determine if a facelift is right for you. Read on to learn about how facelifts, with our highly experienced and trusted plastic surgeons in San Jose and Palo Alto can help you look and feel your best.
3-4 Hours
10-14 Days
1
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At Illuminate Plastic Surgery in Palo Alto and San Jose facelifts are the most effective approach to addressing an aging face. Also known as "rhytidectomy", facelifts deliver a more youthful appearance by eliminating excess skin, tightening underlying muscles, and repositioning or adding fat to areas lacking volume. In many cases, facelift results are the longest-lasting of any facial rejuvenation procedure. A facelift may also be combined with other procedures, such as blepharoplasty, brow lift, or facial fat transfer for a customized treatment and more comprehensive results. Prior to scheduling, Dr. Leader or Dr. Boudreault will begin by evaluating your unique facial structure, understanding your aging concerns, and recommending the ideal solution to help you realize your personal aesthetic goals.
Facial aging is a complex process that enhances the skin and supportive structures below it. During your facelift Palo Alto plastic surgeons Dr. Leader or Dr. Boudreault will skillfully reposition and tighten your underlying muscles, move or reduce unwanted facial fat and skin, and then carefully restore your facial contours to achieve a naturally rejuvenated look aligned to your structure and personalized goals.
A facelift aims to create a smoother, more youthful appearance and usually involves removing and tightening sagging, excess skin, lifting the cheeks and firming the jawline (jowls), lifting the corners of the mouth, and smoothing the creases between the cheeks and the lips (marionette lines).
If you are a healthy non-smoker experiencing moderate to severe signs of facial aging or facial fat you may be an ideal candidate for a facelift with Illuminate. Having sufficient skin elasticity is a plus as well. Dr. Leader or Dr. Boudreault will listen to your concerns and provide the answers you need to make the right decision.
Choosing a surgeon that appreciates your goals and that you can trust to give you the best results should be top of mind always. Training, skill, and experience matter. Dr. Brittany Leader and Dr. David Boudreault are extensively trained and experienced facial plastic surgery specialists who are relentlessly dedicated to delivering the best possible results for every one of their patients.
We’ll help you set up a 30 to 60 minute consultation with Dr. Leader or Dr. Boudreault. During this time, we will begin with a review of your medical history and make a note of all medications and supplements you are taking. Be prepared to ask questions and describe your aesthetic goals, and we’ll discuss options that will work best for you.
During the facelift procedure, discreet incisions are made around the natural creases of your ears and hairline.
The skin is elevated to expose the underlying area of musculature of the face (also known as the superficial muscular aponeurotic system or SMAS), which is suspended higher on the cheekbone or plicated (folded) to broaden the upper face width, restoring your face to its youthful shape and contour. Fat and excess skin may also be removed or redistributed to eliminate the appearance of sagging jowls. Dr. Leader also offers an advanced facelift technique. A deep plane facelift leaves the skin’s connection to underlying facial structures intact to produce impeccably natural results.
By focusing on your face’s structural elements, you can achieve the most authentic and longest-lasting results possible. A neck lift (platysmaplasty) is often included as part of a facelift to reduce fat deposits and excess, sagging skin on the neck. If there’s minimal skin sagging, a “mini” facelift may be done, which may be less comprehensive, but will have shorter incisions. Facelifts are performed at our AAAASF accredited surgical facilities in Palo Alto and San Jose under general anesthesia. The procedure can take anywhere from two to four hours, depending on the intricacy of your individually-tailored surgical plan.
After surgery, you will return home with a head bandage and small drainage tubes, which are removed the day after surgery at a follow-up visit.
It’s also a good idea to have a friend or family member to serve as a care partner as needed for you during the first 24-48 hours. You may experience some discomfort in the first several days following surgery, which will be managed with pain medications prescribed to you by your doctor at your pre-operative appointment. It is normal to expect some swelling and bruising, which will reach its peak by about day three or four and resolve within a few weeks. Incisions and bandages must be kept dry, and you should follow specific instructions about bathing and washing.
Most patients can shower the day after surgery, after the bandages are removed by your surgeon. Numbness and muscle stiffness is normal for some time and will gradually subside over a period of weeks. While you will be encouraged to move around soon after your surgery, you will need to wait a minimum of four to six weeks to engage in vigorous exercise. Our doctors take a thorough approach to each patient’s healing to ensure a speedy recovery and help facilitate the best possible result.
As your bruising and swelling subsides, you will begin to see your results taking shape. Bruising typically disappears completely within two weeks, while swelling will last a few weeks to months. Your post-op plan may include lymphatic massage after surgery to reduce post-operative swelling, which is available in our practice.
Dr. Brittany Leader is a Beverly Hills trained facial plastic surgeon specializing in gorgeous and natural-looking facelifts. You may know her name from her time performing surgeries on the E! TV series “Botched”, where she was part of a team of elite plastic surgeons that corrected and improved patients' previous procedures. Dr. David Boudreault is a renowned and highly experienced general and plastic surgeon with a deep understanding of anatomy throughout every area of the body. Dr. Boudrealt focuses each patient’s treatment to their individual needs to produce stunningly natural results and an optimal experience from start to finish. We look forward to helping you in your journey to your best look and rediscovery of a more youthful and natural looking you. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Leader and Dr. Boudreault today.
You will have some discomfort for a couple of days following your surgery. However, your doctor will prescribe a pain narcotic as appropriate to ensure a comfortable recovery.
The average cost of a facelift is between $21,000 to $28,000, depending on the surgical technique used and patient goals. This estimate includes all fees, such as anesthesia, facility fees, and any follow-up visits you will need. If you would like to space out the payments in smaller monthly increments over time, we encourage our patients to apply for financing through CareCredit or Alphaeon. Many patients have also applied for credit cards with longer terms at 0% interest.
There is no restrictive age range, but most facelift patients are in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. In more recent data, there is a growing number of facelift patients in their 30s. Your trusted surgeon will customize your surgical plan to you, and may even suggest alternative non-surgical treatments.
All surgeries carry some risks. During your pre-operative appointment, our doctors will assess your medical history and discuss these risks with you and offer their expert guidance. Possible risks may include:
Results from a facelift can last for up to 15 years, particularly if you continue to practice a good skin care regimen and avoid sun damage. Along with a great skin care regimen, results of your facelift can last a lifetime.
There was a time when the large majority of facelift patients were women. But a rapidly growing number of men have discovered the personal, professional, and confidence-inducing benefits of getting a facelift.
Since a facelift is a cosmetic procedure and is not deemed medically necessary, your insurance will not cover the costs.
At Illuminate we’re with you during every step of your journey toward greater self-confidence. Schedule a consultation with us today and let Illuminate’s expert team listen to your concerns and guide you through treatments and procedures to help you reach your individual goals. We look forward to seeing you and celebrating your renewed appearance and realized potential.
