Full Facelift & Neck Lift

After a traditional facelift, patients typically experience mild to moderate discomfort, swelling, and tightness for a few days, which is manageable with medication. The mini-facelift generally results in less pain due to smaller incisions and a quicker recovery. A deep-plane facelift may lead to more soreness. In contrast, a non-surgical facelift usually causes minimal discomfort, with patients often feeling little to no pain and experiencing only slight swelling or bruising from treatments such as fillers and BOTOX.

The number of appointments for a facelift, whether traditional, mini-facelift, deep plane, or non-surgical, typically includes three to four essential visits. First, there’s the initial consultation, where you’ll discuss your goals, receive a physical examination, and explore your various facelift options.

Next is the pre-operative appointment, usually scheduled a week or two before surgery. This appointment focuses on final details and preparation. Then, you’ll have surgery day, followed by a few follow-up visits.

For a traditional and deep plane facelift, initial swelling and bruising will subside within the first two weeks, revealing a more youthful appearance. Full results can take several months to manifest as swelling diminishes and the skin settles into its new position.

With a mini-facelift, patients often see quicker results — typically within a few weeks — because recovery is less extensive. Meanwhile, a non-surgical facelift involving fillers and Botox can provide immediate results, with full effects visible right after treatment, though touch-ups may be necessary for optimal results.

While facelift results are long-lasting, it’s important to remember that the natural aging process continues, so maintenance treatments may be needed over time to preserve your rejuvenated look.

In a traditional facelift, incisions are made along the hairline, around the ears, and into the scalp to keep scars well hidden. These scars may start off red and raised, but will fade over time.

For a mini-facelift, the incisions are smaller and placed to minimize scarring. Many patients find that their scars are nearly invisible after healing. The deep plane facelift requires more extensive incisions but aims for a natural look, with scars that tend to fade significantly over time.

In contrast, a non-surgical facelift doesn’t involve any incisions, so there are no surgical scars.

Returning to exercise after a facelift depends on the type of procedure—traditional facelift, mini-facelift, deep plane facelift, or non-surgical facelift—and your healing process. Generally, most patients are advised to avoid strenuous activities for at least two to four weeks.

For a traditional and deep plane facelift, it is crucial to wait three to four weeks before engaging in high-impact exercises like running or weightlifting.

After a mini-facelift, you can return to light activities sooner—usually within 2 weeks—but you should still avoid intense workouts for about 4 weeks.

Recovery from a non-surgical facelift is much quicker, and many patients can resume normal activities, including light exercise, within a few days. However, avoiding vigorous workouts is best until you feel fully healed.

Many patients choose to pair a facelift with treatments such as eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), brow lifts, neck lifts, fat grafting, or lip lifts simultaneously to address multiple areas of concern. An eyelid lift can be a complementary procedure to improve your upper and lower eyelids and enhance facial rejuvenation, while a neck lift can address neck skin laxity, improve neck contour, and restore a more youthful appearance.

Additionally, non-surgical options such as dermal fillers, BOTOX, chemical peels, or laser skin resurfacing can complement a facelift by adding volume and smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, providing a comprehensive rejuvenation.

A facelift procedure – whether a mini-facelift, deep plane, or non-surgical facelift – is a surgical procedure, and like any surgical procedure, it carries certain risks before the procedure. For surgical facelifts, risks include scarring, typically minimized by well-placed incisions, but which can vary based on individual healing. Infection is another possibility, as with any surgery, and hematoma (blood pooling under the skin) may occur, sometimes requiring drainage, along with nerve injury, hair loss, or skin loss.2

In a deep-plane facelift, which targets deeper layers for more comprehensive results, risks include nerve damage that could temporarily or, in rare cases, permanently affect facial movement. Both mini and deep-plane facelifts may yield uneven results or prolonged swelling or bruising, which can extend recovery time. Changes in skin sensation are also possible but usually temporary.

Risks for a non-surgical facelift are generally milder, as no incisions are made. However, temporary swelling, bruising, or skin irritation can occur at injection sites. Dissatisfaction with aesthetic results is a risk across all facelift types, so consulting with your Facial Aesthetic Concepts personal facial plastic surgeon can help ensure realistic expectations and a customized approach for your needs.

To begin your search for a facelift surgeon, focus on finding board-certified plastic surgeons, especially those who are members of the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. It’s also beneficial to look for surgeons who understand facial anatomy and specialize in different facelift techniques—such as traditional, mini, and deep-plane facelifts—so you can find someone who can offer a personalized approach that suits your specific needs.

Take the time to read patient reviews; they can give you a good sense of the surgeon’s skill, bedside manner, and overall patient satisfaction. It’s also helpful to ask for before-and-after photos to see the results they’ve achieved with cases similar to yours. Once you’ve narrowed down your options, schedule a consultation. This meeting is your chance to gauge their experience, discuss your goals, and learn about their approach to facelifts. At Facial Aesthetic Concepts in Orange County, our team is well-known for its personalized care, extensive expertise, and commitment to achieving natural-looking results.