View Our Philadelphia Facelift Before and After Pictures
Located in Glen Mills, Media and Chester, Providence Facial Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery offers facelift surgery to the residents of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding areas who desire facial plastic surgery.
Dr. Mark Ginsburg, board certified in both facial plastic surgery and head and neck surgery (otolaryngology) by the American Osteopathic Board of Otolaryngology, is the premier facial plastic surgeon in the Philadelphia area. Specializing in facial plastic and cosmetic surgery, Dr. Ginsburg is your first choice for the facelift that you are considering.
What is a Facelift?
Skin on the face often begins to sag and droop with the loss of volume, which comes with age or major weight loss. A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a procedure to improve the neck and jawline as well as facial jowls. While excess skin will be removed with a facelift, this is not the main goal of the procedure. The layer of fibroadipose tissue under the skin known as the SMAS contains fat, fibrous tissue and muscle which contributes to the aging characteristics of the face and neck. Manipulation of the SMAS is what the main part of a facelift procedure involves. This can be done by a process called plication, suturing the SMAS to tighten, imbrication where the incision is made in the SMA and part of it can be elevated and tightened. A more aggressive procedure would be known as a deep plane facelift where most of the elevation is done deep to the SMAS and suiting and tightening of the SMAS with trimming of the skin excess. Which technique is right for you depends on your particular anatomy and desires for outcome. A personalized plan will be developed during your consultation with Dr. Ginsburg.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Facelift?
Many of our patients are unsure of whether or not they are ideal candidates for a facelift procedure. Fortunately, facelifts are beneficial for a variety of individuals. If you are between the ages of 45 and 75 years old, with loose skin and sagging facial muscles, you could benefit from a facelift. Of course, the best way to determine your candidacy is to speak with Dr. Ginsburg directly, so that he can more fully assess your concerns and understand your aesthetic goals.
How is a Facelift Performed?
There are several different incisions which can be done to achieve a facelift, and a complimentary consultation with the physician will determine what procedure is right for you. In many cases, an incision can be made from the ear and into the hairline. The skin is then separated from the underlying tissue which may then be tightened with or without removing some of that tissue. Skin is then repositioned onto the face and any excess skin is removed. Sutures are then used to close the incisions.
A facelift is usually performed under general anesthesia, and surgery time will depend on the nature of the individual’s goals. Smaller facelift procedures can be completed in just a few hours, while more in-depth facelift procedures can take anywhere from three to five hours. Recovery time will vary based on the exact procedure. However, in general, you will need one week of downtime, and in 2 weeks, you would be ready to be seen in public without evidence of facelift surgery. Generally, only minor pain involved.
How Much Does a Facelift Cost in Philadelphia?
The average cost of facelift surgery in Philadelphia is $4,500 – $20,000. However, the cost may vary depending on your specific needs as well as any other procedures that are performed in conjunction with your facelift. To learn more, see our financing page.
Can I See Facelift Before and After Pictures of People in the Philadelphia Area?
Providence Facial Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery will gladly show you before and after pictures of patients who have undergone a facelift procedure during your complimentary consultation visit. You can see for yourself the positive change that a facelift has made for these individuals and their quality of life.
Do I Have to Stop Smoking Before a Facelift Procedure?
We advise that patients stop smoking at least one month before surgery and one month after due to the negative effects that smoking can have on your recovery and increase in rate of complications. Smoking reduces the blood supply to the skin that is necessary for proper healing. We strongly urge our patients to decrease their exposure to secondhand smoke as well. This is all in an effort to improve your results so that you can achieve the look you desire.
How Should I Prepare for Surgery?
You must stop taking any blood thinners and vitamin E supplements at least a week before and after surgery. We recommend that you consult with your primary care physician to safely stop using these medications and obtain medical clearance. Any herbal medication and diet pills, whether prescription or over-the-counter, should be stopped at least two weeks before surgery as well.
In addition, it is important that sun exposure is reduced for several weeks before surgery to avoid any damage to the skin just before the procedure. It may also be advised that you lower your alcohol intake for a short period of time.
Patients are required to be in good general health before an elective cosmetic procedure is performed at Providence Facial Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery. If we have additional concerns about your health and ability to successfully undergo facelift surgery, we may require medical clearance from your primary care doctor.
What Are the Types of Facelifts and How do I Decide Which is the Best for Me?
There are several different types of facelifts including the cutaneous (skin only), traditional or SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system), temporal, deep plane, and more. Providence Facial Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery consults with you to determine which type best fits your individual needs. Our aim is to achieve the best possible aesthetically pleasing result with the least invasive procedure and the least amount of scarring. During your complimentary consultation, we can help determine what type of facelift will work best for you.
Can I Have Multiple Procedures Done in Conjunction with a Facelift?
Some patients opt to have an eye lift or done in conjunction with a facelift, but it is best to consult with Dr. Ginsburg before making up your mind. Common procedures done in combination with a facelift include:
- Brow Lift – as the upper 1/3 of the face is not addressed with a facelift alone.
- Fat Injection – volume loss is a large part of the aging process, simply tightening skin will not necessarily give a youthful look, this volume replacement is critical to regaining a youthful, natural appearance to your results, common areas, which require fat injection to improve volume loss are the temples, tear toughs (grooves under eyes), cheeks, nasolabial lines and jawline.
- Eyelid Surgery – an upper or lower bleh may be necessary to improve the bulging or excess skin around your eyes
- Facial Resurfacing – while a facelift may tighten the skin, it may not be able to improve the over a skin consistency and sun damage including fine lines and textural issues. This is where facial resurfacing comes in. This can be achieved with a laser, dermabrasion or chemical peel, which modality is best for you will be discussed at your consultation.
- Liposuction – if your neck has an excess of subcutaneous fat, then liposuction may be required to slim the subcutaneous tissue to maximize your facelift results.
Dr. Ginsburg brings his knowledge and experience to each consultation, listening to your needs and providing his professional guidance to create a satisfactory treatment plan.
Is There a Better Time of Year to Have the Facelift Performed?
It is important that you pick a time for your procedure that will allow enough downtime for post-surgical healing. It can take two to four weeks to recover from a facelift, and you will need to take time off of your regular schedule to heal. You will need to make some temporary changes at work and home due to the common symptoms associated with healing, such as swelling and taking pain medication.
Additional Facial Plastic Surgery Procedures
At Providence Facial Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, we are proud to provide a variety of surgeries to our patients to help them feel confident from the inside out. For more information, do not hesitate to take a look at the following options:
- Rhinoplasty
- Neck Lift
- Facial Liposuction
- Chin Implant
- Eyelid Surgery
- Brow Lift
- Ear Surgery
- Fat Injection
- Earlobe Repair
- Facial Reconstruction
- Scar Revision
Facelift FAQs
How long does a facelift last?
The results from a facelift are particularly long-lasting because of advanced surgical techniques that remodel facial tissue. However, facelifts cannot stop the aging process, and therefore, patients can expect to continue aging after their procedure. Generally, patients can expect the results of a facelift to last about 10 years until the natural aging process catches up and restores the appearance to a pre-facelift condition.
At what age should you get a facelift?
There is no perfect age for a facelift. Instead, patients who are experiencing deep wrinkles, folds and sagging skin can be fitting candidates for a facelift regardless of age. A facelift may become especially appropriate when non-surgical alternatives can no longer provide the rejuvenation benefits that a patient desires. This means that patients in their 40s, 50s or 60s can all be great candidates for a facelift, depending on their cosmetic needs.
How painful is a facelift?
The facelift surgery is not painful at all, as general anesthesia enables patients to sleep comfortably throughout the duration of the procedure. However, patients can expect pain, swelling, bruising and related symptoms during their recovery process. These symptoms will be most severe during the first 2 weeks of recovery, during which time pain medications can help alleviate most of the discomfort. Dr. Ginsburg will let you know what kinds of pain medications and pain relief techniques to use to get through the healing process as comfortably as possible.
How long after a facelift will I look normal?
After a facelift, most of the noticeable side effects will subside within a month of treatment. However, it can take up to 6 months for the face to fully heal and reveal the final results of treatment. This means that patients may notice small abnormalities with their own appearance for a few months, but friends, family and others will observe a “normal” appearance as early as a month after the facelift procedure.
Are facelifts worth it?
A facelift is one of the most effective and long-lasting procedures for addressing signs of aging in the face. While it does come with a significant recovery period, many patients find that overall, facelifts are well worth it. Currently, there are no other treatments that can provide the substantial and long-lasting results that a facelift can.
If you are interested in learning more about our triple board-certified surgeon, feel free to take a look at the bio of Dr. Mark Ginsburg.
Schedule Your Complimentary Consultation Today!
Providence Facial Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery offers facial plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery, and skin rejuvenation to residents of Glen Mills, Media, Chester, and the greater Philadelphia area. Mark Ginsburg, DO, FAACS, is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, general cosmetic surgeon, and head and neck surgeon who combines personalized care with the latest technology to provide each patient with extraordinary and natural results. For more information or to schedule a complimentary patient consultation, call 484-352-3524 to speak to a member of our friendly, knowledgeable staff.