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Facelift

Conveniently located to serve the areas of Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

About Facelifts

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a facial rejuvenation surgery aimed at reducing the signs of aging on the face. Over time, the face loses its youthful appearance due to heredity, stress, and exposure to the elements. Facial tissues begin to sag around the jowls, chin, and neck. Deep creases form on the forehead and around the eyes and mouth, and features start to appear sunken or deflated. Since the first facelift procedure in 1901, science has come a long way in restoring these aging characteristics and presenting patients with fresh and rejuvenated appearances.

Rhytidectomy literally means “wrinkle removal,” but today’s operations can take up to 10 years off your appearance by addressing a wide variety of facial concerns. Facelifts can improve the appearance of sagging skin, double chins, wrinkles, severe wrinkles, and excess fat. All these factors create a deflated appearance that hides your natural contours.

Using small hidden incisions, the surgeons at Cosmetic Surgery Associates tighten underlying tissue, lift sunken features, and re-drape the facial skin to capture a more youthful look. The fact that facelifts are so simple and effective makes them one of the most common cosmetic enhancement procedures of today. Our office is located just 10 minutes away from North Bethesda & Rockville and 11 minutes away from Potomac.

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Types of Facelifts

The term facelift is a broad term that encompasses many different facelift surgeries and procedures. In general, facelifts can be categorized by what part of the face will be worked on and the extent of the work to be done.

Brow Lift

Also referred to as a forehead lift, the upper portion of the face, extending from the hairline to the eyes, is tightened to remove wrinkles in this area. An incision is made just above the hairline, so no scars are visible. Excess skin is removed to give the upper third of the face a taut but natural appearance and it is used to lift sagging eyebrows.

Mid-Facelift

With a mid-facelift, the surgeon focuses on removing lax skin and wrinkles, as well as filling out the appearance underneath the eyes and around the cheeks. Incisions are made along the hairline so the surgeon can reposition soft tissue in this portion of the face. Sometimes, fat grafting is used to fill out the features of the midfacial area such as the cheeks.

Lower Facelift

Lower facelifts focus on improving the bottom third of the face from the base of the nose through the neck. Some common features addressed on the lower face include jowls, sagging corners of the mouth, and deep “smile lines,” also known as nasolabial folds. Incisions for these procedures are concealed along the border of the patient’s ears. This is the surgical procedure referred to as traditional facelift surgery.

There are many different types of facelifts and the right one for you depends on a number of factors including desired improvements, facial anatomy, elasticity, collagen levels, skin care, and any prior cosmetic work you’ve had done. A lower facelift is also combined with a neck lift to remove fat and excess skin from beneath the jawline for a more dramatic rejuvenation.

One of the board-certified plastic surgeons at Cosmetic Surgery Associates will go over all of this information with you during your consultation and determine the best procedure for your individual needs.

Ideal Candidates

Good candidates for a facelift procedure are non-smokers in good health, usually between the ages of 40 and 70. Nonetheless, age is not the most important factor in determining facelift eligibility and younger and older candidates will be considered.

Good candidates for a facelift procedure are non-smokers in good health, usually between the ages of 40 and 70. Nonetheless, age is not the most important factor in determining facelift eligibility and younger and older candidates will be considered.

You should not undergo a facelift if you have a medical condition that may affect your ability to heal properly or are allergic to anesthesia. Some patients may discover that their desired outcome can be achieved with a non-invasive treatment such as our laser skin resurfacing offers. It is important that patients have realistic expectations about the outcome of the surgery.

Contact our Bethesda, Maryland office today to request a facelift consultation with one of our distinguished plastic surgeons.

You should not undergo a facelift if you have a medical condition that may affect your ability to heal properly or are allergic to anesthesia. Some patients may discover that their desired outcome can be achieved with a non-invasive treatment such as our laser skin resurfacing offer. It is important that patients have realistic expectations about the outcome of the surgery.

Contact our Bethesda, Maryland office today to request a facelift consultation with one of our distinguished plastic surgeons.

Your Consultation

During your consultation with Cosmetic Surgery Associates, either Dr. Richards, Dr. Jabs, or Dr. Magge will talk to you about your surgical goals, measure and examine your facial structure, and determine your candidacy for a facelift operation. Be sure to tell the doctor about any allergies, medical conditions, previous surgeries, or medications you currently take.

Once the doctor has performed a thorough evaluation and has a clear sense of your desired outcome they will determine the best procedure for you and go over all pre and postoperative instructions. After the consultation, your surgeon will be able to provide you with an estimation of costs. Feel free to ask about other treatments that can be combined with your facelifts, such as rhinoplasty or eyelid surgery.

Preparing for a Facelift

Preparation for your facelift surgery begins two weeks prior to the scheduled operation. At this time, you should stop smoking and stop taking any anti-inflammatory medications or blood thinners. You should also make arrangements for a ride home after your surgery since you will be under intravenous sedation (general anesthesia) or local anesthesia.

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Our Facelift Technique

SMAS Facelift

The Superficial Musculo Aponeurotic System, or SMAS for short, is the thin layer of muscle and tissue located directly underneath the skin. The SMAS facelift is one of the most common facelift techniques and is usually what comes to mind when people think of a facelift.

In this method, the surgeon will make incisions to access the SMAS layer. The underlying muscle is tightened and the tissue is repositioned to create more shape and contour. The skin is re-draped and excess is removed for a youthful and natural look. This is the most effective and safest technique for natural, long-lasting results.

There are other, albeit less common, facelift techniques available that your surgeon may utilize depending on your desired outcome and existing facial features. These procedures and methods will be discussed at the time of your consultation.

Procedure Process

On the day of your procedure, your surgeon will once again go over your individualized surgical plan. The doctor will mark on your face and head where the incisions will go and then deliver a sedative or in some cases general anesthesia. The operation generally takes about 2-5 hours, although this will vary depending on the extent of your treatment.


Patient Reviews

I had an excellent experience with Dr. Magge. I wanted to get rid of my jowls and neck. He did exactly that. I show my friends my before picture and just say that’s why I had this done. They think it was an excellent job as well.

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Facelift Recovery

After surgery, the doctor will bandage your face and provide you with instructions on how to properly clean and care for your incision sites. Symptoms such as swelling or soreness will subside and can be controlled with over-the-counter medication. You should also keep your head elevated and use cold compresses as needed to minimize swelling.

Recovery time after surgery will vary depending on your operation. As a rule, you should avoid smoking, drinking, pools, hot tubs, saunas, and strenuous activity for at least 2 weeks. The surgeon will provide you with more details about the post-operational period during your consultation, including how much time you should expect to take off from work. A follow-up appointment will be made for about a week after surgery.

Schedule a FaceLift Consultation

Patients who are interested in Facelift surgery are encouraged to reach out to our Bethesda office to schedule a personalized one-on-one consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons. During the consultation, our surgeons will go over the procedure in detail, answer all of your questions and determine if you would be a good fit for that procedure. All consultations are done at our Bethesda office which is just 2 miles away from North Bethesda and 5 miles away from Potomac & Rockville.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a facelift make you look younger?

Yes, a facelift will take years off of your face by tightening the deeper supporting layer of the face and removing excess skin as well. The areas that will be most targeted during a facelift are the jowls and neck.

How can I tighten loose skin on my face?

A Facelift, aka an S-lift will tighten the loose skin on the face by tightening the deep SMAS layer of the face. The skin is redraped, and the excess skin is then trimmed.

How do I get rid of my double chins?

There are several options for treating double chins. Kybella is a non invasive option but requires multiple treatments and is not effective for treating loose skin. Liposuction is effective when there is excess fat, and the skin quality is good without loose skin. When there is mild skin laxity, and extra fat, liposuction with Renuvion skin tightening would be an option, and when there is more skin laxity present then a facelift/ neck lift would be best in combination with neck liposuction.

How do I prepare for a facelift?

Prior to a facelift surgery, smoking is an absolute contraindication. Any smokers should have abstained (including vaping) for at least 6 weeks prior. Eating healthy, and having medical problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes under good control are also essential. At the preop visit, our staff will go over medications and foods to avoid in the two weeks leading up to surgery.

Does a Facelift Require General Anesthesia?

Most patients considering a facelift want to know if they will require general anesthesia. Usually, you do not have to get general anesthesia. When you undergo a neck lift or lower facelift, your surgeon will give you an IV sedation, also known as twilight sedation. The level of sedation is much lesser than the general anesthesia and incidences of feeling tired or nausea are less too. However, during your consultation, your surgeon will help determine the best anesthesia for you. If you have chronic back or neck pain, other medical issues or if you are undergoing multiple procedures at the same time, general anesthesia might be in your best interests.

What is best age for facelift?

On average, facelift patients are in the age group of 35 to 65 and most surgeons do not recommend the procedure for those below the age of 35. The optimal age for undergoing a facelift is 45 to 50, but it depends on how you feel about yourself and the aging signs you are experiencing. The goal of the procedure is to maintain your natural face, and it is advantageous to address the aging signs sooner for the results to be better. Facial aging can differ in people of the same age due to genetics, lifestyle choices and environmental factors. Older patients, those at 60 or older, have significant aging and the results will be quite noticeable, which may not always be desired. It is then perhaps safer to say that the best age to get a facelift varies, depending on your facial aging and aesthetic goals as well.

How long does it take for bruising on the face to go away?

Bruising after a facelift procedure should be gone 1 to 2 weeks after the procedure.

Is a facelift permanent?

No. A facelift is not permanent. Often a facelift procedure will last 12 to 14 years. However, even though the skin can loosen, it may not ever get as bad as it was before the facelift.

What is the difference between a deep plane and SMAS facelift?

A deep plane facelift lifts the tissues off of the bone and a SMAS facelift lift the tissue attached to the muscles. The recovery is much longer with a deep plane lift due to swelling and offers no advantage to a SMAS lift.

When should you get a facelift?

When you dont like sagging areas of your face and your plastic surgeon agrees that you are a good candidate for the procedure.

How do you reduce swelling after a facelift?

Head elevation is the best and most common way to reduce swelling after a facelift.

How long is recovery from a facelift?

Most often patients can return to work 1 to 2 weeks after a facelift procedure.

What is a mid face lift?

A mid-face lift will lift sagging or atrophic cheeks.

How painful is a facelift?

A facelift is tender the first 1 to 2 days after surgery.

How long after a facelift can I exercise?

You can do light excercise one week after a facelift and progress to full activity at 2-3 weeks.

How do I reduce swelling in my face?

Head elevation is the best and most common way to reduce swelling after a facelift.

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Our Plastic Surgery Associates team includes Dr. Franklin Richards, Dr. A. Dean Jabs, and Dr. Keshav Magge. Each of our plastic surgeons is board-certified, and together they have over 60 years of combined experience. Drs. Richards, Jabs, and Magge are all highly qualified in procedures for the face, breast, and body, and pride themselves in providing excellent results through our state-of-the-art, Quad A certified operating centers