Facelift Fort Worth

Q: When will I see the final results of my face lift?

Most patients see significant results from their face lift within four to six months, although subtle changes may continue to occur for up to a year after the procedure.

Q: Who is an ideal candidate for a face lift?

Ideal candidates for a face lift can have deep wrinkles or sagging skin on their face and neck.

About

Downtime: 2 Weeks

Facelift surgery, also known as a “rhytidectomy,” is one of Dr. Goggin’s favorite procedures to perform. A facelift can address the visible signs of aging that concern you the most while restoring a youthful and rejuvenated facial appearance.

Over time, heredity, gravity, stress, and environmental conditions take a toll on our skin and cause us to look noticeably older. A facelift improves signs of aging in the face and neck, including fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, jowls, marionette lines, and nasolabial folds. At Westside Plastic Surgery, Dr. Goggin is dedicated to helping you achieve your aesthetic goals and desired results.

Plastic surgery before and after photo against a blue background.

What is a facelift?

Dr. Goggin consults a prospective patient in an office.

A facelift achieves the most significant improvement by eliminating signs of aging in all areas of the lower face and produces a very natural appearance. During a facelift procedure, the facial muscles are tightened and sagging skin is removed to provide a more youthful appearance. In some cases, fat may be redistributed or removed with liposuction to provide the most aesthetically pleasing results.

A neck lift is often performed along with a facelift procedure. The surgeon tightens the neck muscles and removes sagging skin to produce smoother, more youthful-looking neck contours. The surgeon can also remove fat deposits in the neck during this procedure.

In many cases, facelift surgery is combined with other facial rejuvenation procedures including a brow lift, eyelid surgery, fat grafting, and laser skin resurfacing.

Is a facelift right for you?

A blonde woman smiles while sitting on a leather couch.

Candidacy for all procedures is on an individual basis. Any man or woman who has noticed the effects of aging may be considered a good candidate. A facelift may be right for you if:

You have fine lines and wrinkles on your face or neck
You have sagging tissues on your face or neck
You always appear tired, sad, or angry because of deep-set wrinkles
You appear older than you feel or older than your actual age

Benefits of Facelift

Some of the advantages of having facelift include:

Reducing lines and wrinkles on the lower portion of the face
Improving jawline definition by removing fat deposits that create jowls
Tightening loose skin on the neck for smoother contours
Elevating soft tissue that droops with age

Types of Facelift

Dr. Goggin uses expert techniques that rely on muscle and tissue manipulation to create a more natural lifting effect. This avoids creating a “pulled” look with the skin that tends to look more artificial:

The SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) technique carefully repositions tissues below the skin to help reduce jowls and smooth out the texture of the skin without needing to pull the skin overly taut.
The deep plane facelift technique reaches muscles even deeper in the face to tighten and lift them for further rejuvenation. This approach can also reposition pads of fat for fuller cheeks.
The mini facelift is a modified version of traditional facelift that deals with early signs of aging —primarily loose skin and jowls along the jawline. Although patients prefer a shorter recovery and less invasive procedure, it is usually not appropriate for more moderate or advanced cases of aging.

Results

Although facelift reverses signs of aging, it cannot stop aging altogether. The rejuvenating effects of facelift typically last about one decade before signs of aging start to reappear. To extend your results for as long as possible, follow Dr. Goggin’s skin care tips, which include moisturizing, avoiding sun exposure, and not smoking.

What to Expect

Consultation

The Westside Plastic Surgery team is excited to meet you! At your consultation appointment, Dr. Goggin will review your medical history, discuss your goals, perform a brief physical examination, and then provide you with his professional recommendations. He will spend time reviewing before and after photos, discuss a variety of treatment options, and answer any questions that you may have. He takes his time to create a personalized plan to reach your desired aesthetic outcome. His team will then provide you information regarding recovery timeline, cost of procedure, and financing options. Dr. Goggin is knowledgeable in the latest research, techniques, and advances in the field to provide you the best care possible.

Pre-surgery

Before your surgery, our team will give you a pre-operative packet with a list of instructions in preparation for your surgery. We will spend time reviewing these instructions with you to ensure that you are confident and comfortable before your procedure. Our goal is to provide education and be there for you every step of the way. Patients should be off all blood thinners 2 weeks prior to surgery. We advise strict smoking/nicotine cessation 6 weeks prior to surgery and 6 weeks after.

Recovery Timeline

Dr. Goggin and the Westside team will give you specific information regarding aftercare to optimize your post-op recovery. Our team will be available to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Recovery time can be variable between patients and surgeries. After facelift surgery, recovery is typically 2 weeks. Most patients will require assistance for the first 24 hours after surgery. We recommend you drink plenty of fluids, eat a healthy diet, and walk often to optimize healing.

Facelift FAQs

Who is an ideal candidate for a facelift?

Ideal candidates for a facelift can have deep wrinkles or sagging skin on their face and neck.

Where are the incisions for a facelift located?

The incisions for all techniques are easily hidden within the hairline. The incision begins in the hairline at the temples, continues around the ear, and ends into the lower scalp. You may also have a small, well hidden scar on the bottom of your chin for access to tighten the neck muscles.

Will there be a noticeable scar left behind?

As with any incision made, there will be a scar left behind. However, incisions are meticulously planned and scars tend to heal exceptionally well. Facelift scars are strategically placed in areas such as the hairline or behind the ears to be as discreet as possible.

What is recovery like?

You should arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and assist you for the first 24 to 48 hours of recovery. As a rule of thumb, there is generally not a lot of pain after a facelift. Your surgeon will prescribe medications to keep you as comfortable as possible. Swelling and bruising may last from a few days to a few weeks. Most patients can return to work within two weeks.

When will I see the final results of my facelift?

Most patients see significant results from their facelift within four to six months, although subtle changes may continue to occur for up to a year after the procedure.

At what age do patients have facelift?

Depending on a person’s genetics, sun exposure, and skin care routine, signs of aging can appear at different times. Most patients choose facial rejuvenation procedures in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, but some people in their 30s who already have visible signs of aging choose to act sooner, while some patients 70 and older who remain in good enough health to have elective surgery decide to have facelift later. What matters more than age is whether the patient wants to reverse signs of aging on the lower face and neck.

What makes neck lift different from facelift?

Neck lift focuses exclusively on the neck region, whereas most facelift surgeries address both the lower face and the neck in one procedure. If your main cosmetic concern is the appearance of your neck, you may be a good candidate for neck lift, but typically dealing with loose jowls and sagging neck skin simultaneously is the best option for achieving a sleek, more youthful neck slope.

Is there a non-surgical alternative to facelift?

Patients hoping to avoid surgery may be able to mimic some of the benefits of facelift by having a “liquid facelift.” This is a combination of strategic dermal filler injections that can restore volume to the lower face and minimize wrinkles. Fillers will not produce results that are as transformative as surgery, and injections are necessary every several months to maintain the results long term, but having no downtime after the treatment may make it an appealing option, nevertheless.