The traditional facelift remains the gold standard for comprehensive facial rejuvenation, addressing multiple signs of aging from the mid-face to the neck. This surgical procedure requires careful incisions, typically beginning in the hairline at the temples, continuing around the ear, and ending at the lower scalp. Through these access points, surgeons reposition deeper tissues, tighten underlying muscles, and remove excess skin for a refreshed appearance. The traditional facelift delivers the most dramatic and long-lasting results, with effects often visible for nearly 10 years. This surgery is particularly effective for patients with significant sagging in the mid-face and neck areas who desire substantial correction of moderate to advanced aging signs.
The mini facelift offers a less invasive alternative to the traditional approach, using shorter incisions typically hidden around the ears. This procedure primarily targets early signs of aging in the lower face, including minor jowling and neck laxity. With reduced surgical time and typically performed under local anesthesia with sedation, the mini facelift appeals to younger patients in their 40s and early 50s who want to address early facial aging proactively. Recovery time averages about one week, significantly shorter than full facelifts, making this an increasingly popular “weekend lift” option for those seeking noticeable but subtle improvements with minimal downtime.
The mid-face lift addresses aging in the cheek area, where volume loss and descent create nasolabial folds and a flattened appearance. Unlike other facelift techniques, this procedure focuses exclusively on repositioning the fat pads in the cheeks to restore youthful fullness and contour. Surgeons may perform this through lower eyelid incisions or the hairline, allowing them to lift the soft tissues vertically rather than laterally. This specialized approach is ideal for patients who maintain good jawline definition but experience significant changes in the central face. It is often combined with other treatments like blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) for harmonious results.
Deep plane facelift procedures represent an advanced technique that addresses facial aging at its structural foundation. This approach goes beyond skin tightening to release and reposition facial muscles and deep facial tissues as a single unit. By working beneath the SMAS layer, surgeons can achieve more natural-looking results with potentially longer-lasting effects than more superficial techniques. This method excels at smoothing nasolabial folds and marionette lines that other facelifts might not entirely correct. The deep plane technique requires exceptional surgical skill but offers superior outcomes for patients with significant facial sagging, often lasting 10-12 years with proper skin care and sun protection.
The SMAS facelift is a sophisticated surgical facelift that targets the Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System (SMAS) — a tissue layer connecting facial muscles to the skin. Rather than simply pulling the skin tight, this approach manipulates the underlying structural support system of the face to create more natural-looking, longer-lasting results. The surgeon tightens and repositions this muscular layer before redraping the skin, avoiding the undesirable “windswept” appearance often associated with older facelift methods. The SMAS technique has become a cornerstone of modern facelift surgery because it addresses both skin laxity and the structural changes that occur with aging, providing comprehensive rejuvenation with results typically lasting 8-10 years.
The cutaneous facelift represents one of the earliest techniques occasionally used today, focusing exclusively on addressing loose skin without manipulating deeper tissues. This skin-only approach involves incisions along the hairline and around the ears, allowing the surgeon to remove excess skin and redrape the remaining tissue for a tighter appearance. While simpler and less invasive than deeper techniques, the cutaneous lift provides more modest and shorter-lasting results, typically 3 to 5 years. This option may be appropriate for patients with primarily skin laxity concerns who are looking for subtle improvement, have minimal jowling, or cannot undergo more extensive surgery due to health considerations.
The thread lift offers a minimally invasive alternative to traditional surgical approaches, using specially designed dissolvable or permanent sutures to lift sagging facial tissues. During this procedure, a surgeon inserts thin threads with tiny cones or barbs under the skin, which catch and lift tissue when pulled taut. The procedure typically takes less than an hour under local anesthesia, with minimal downtime and subtle lifting effects that can last 1-3 years. Beyond the immediate mechanical lifting, the threads stimulate collagen production as they dissolve, improving skin texture. This option appeals to patients seeking modest correction in facial sagging without the commitment of surgery or those looking to postpone more invasive procedures
The liquid facelift presents a non-surgical approach to facial rejuvenation using injections of dermal fillers and neurotoxins rather than cosmetic surgery. This customizable procedure combines products like hyaluronic acid fillers to restore volume in hollow areas and Botox or similar neurotoxins to relax wrinkle-causing muscles. The treatment typically takes 30-60 minutes with immediate results and zero downtime, though outcomes last only 6-18 months, depending on the products used. While not replacing the dramatic results of surgical options, the liquid facelift appeals to those seeking noticeable improvement without recovery time, surgical risks, or permanent changes. Many patients use this as an entry point to facial rejuvenation or a maintenance procedure between more extensive treatments.
Often paired with facelift procedures, the neck lift represents a specialized form of facial plastic surgery focusing on rejuvenating the area beneath the chin and jaw. This technique addresses common aging concerns, including “turkey neck,” horizontal banding, excess fat deposits, and platysmal muscle laxity. During the procedure, surgeons make discreet incisions behind the ears and sometimes under the chin to access and tighten underlying muscles, remove or reposition fat, and eliminate excess skin. Recovery typically requires 1-2 weeks, with patients enjoying a more defined jawline, smoother neck contours, and an improved profile. When combined with a facelift, the neck lift creates comprehensive harmony between facial and neck appearance, preventing the disconnected look that can occur when addressing only the face.
Blepharoplasty addresses aging around the eyes by removing excess skin, repositioning fat, and sometimes tightening muscles in the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both. Upper blepharoplasty eliminates the hooded appearance that can make eyes look tired or even impair vision. In contrast, lower eyelid surgery reduces under-eye bags and hollows that create a perpetually exhausted appearance. The procedure typically takes 1-2 hours, with incisions hidden in natural eyelid creases or sometimes inside the lower lid, leaving virtually invisible scars.
Dr. Freeman is a highly specialized facial plastic surgeon focusing exclusively on aesthetic facial procedures. His decades of experience and advanced training translate to superior outcomes for patients seeking facial rejuvenation. Dr. Freeman’s expertise allows for more precise and natural-looking results than general plastic surgeons can achieve.
Only Faces offers cutting-edge facial rejuvenation procedures, including the innovative Signature Lift and Preservation Deep Plane Facelift developed by Dr. Freeman himself. The Signature Lift provides excellent results for younger patients or those with early signs of aging, offering shorter recovery times while delivering noticeable improvement. Dr. Freeman’s state-of-the-art approaches allow for faster healing, reduced downtime, and superior aesthetic outcomes compared to traditional methods.
Dr. Sean Freeman
