What is a facelift?

When it comes to rewinding the clock on the signs of aging, facelift surgery is considered the gold standard. It produces dramatic, long-lasting results that cannot be achieved through over-the-counter products or non-surgical treatments.

A facelift can:

  • Elevate the midface contours
  • Correct a loss of definition in the jawline
  • Combat jowls, wrinkles, and lines

It is often combined with blepharoplasty or a brow lift to rejuvenate both the upper and lower face comprehensively. Additionally, a facelift may be paired with fat transfer or dermal fillers to restore lost volume in the cheeks, lips, and temples.

Facial Rejuvenation

Dr. Peter Vila Anwering All Your Facelift Questions

What are my options for a facelift?

There is often some confusion around all the different terms used for different facelift techniques and procedures. The medical term for a facelift is a rhytidectomy. Here are the different techniques Dr. Vila can use to perform your facelift in Portland.

Full Facelift

In Dr. Vila’s practice, this refers to a combined face and neck lift. This is a surgical procedure that helps to rejuvenate jowling of the cheeks as well as a turkey neck to a more youthful appearance.

Mini-Facelift

This is a slightly less aggressive procedure, that addresses the face, but does not get as dramatic of improvement in the neck. It involves a shorter procedure, smaller incisions, and a reduced recovery period.

Liquid Facelift

This is a non-surgical option that uses cosmetic fillers and neurotoxins to provide a more youthful appearance for those who aren’t quite ready for surgery. The results with this technique are less dramatic than with a surgical procedure.

Is a Facelift the Right Choice for Me?

The telltale signs of facial aging are deepening wrinkles, sunken cheeks, jowling (loose skin along the jawline), and loose skin and banding in the neck. 

If this sounds familiar to you, then you are probably an excellent candidate for a facelift. In some patients with very little aging in the neck, sometimes a mini-facelift is appropriate. 

Either way, Dr. Vila will examine and discuss with you which procedure he would recommend to provide you with the best results.

What is the Facelift Procedure Like?

The facelift procedure begins with preoperative markings based on the surgical plan Dr. Vila created in designing your custom facelift. The markings will be made on your face to show where the incisions will be. After this, you will be put under general anesthesia.

Once the anesthesia has taken effect, Dr. Vila will carefully make an incision made in front of the ear to ensure there is minimal scarring. He will use this incision to create firmer and more refined facial lines and contours by repositioning the tissues and tightening the muscles under your skin. The exact steps he takes will vary depending on the type of facelift you’re having and your exact aesthetic needs and goals. Once the tissues have been properly adjusted, Dr. Vila will redrape the skin over the facial contours, trimming any excess, then carefully close the incisions.

Will People Know That I Had a Facelift?

Dr. Vila takes every care to avoid leaving his patients with an “operated” or “surgical” appearance. To the contrary, he’s devoted his practice to providing natural, elegant results to each and every one of his patients.

However, other people will certainly notice that you appear more youthful and refreshed, and they might ask you if you’ve lost weight or slept well. One of the ways Dr. Vila achieves excellent results is by hiding the incisions in areas that are undetectable to the untrained observer, and over time, become almost invisible. Check out the facelift before and after results from previous patients below.

Can I Combine Other Procedures with a Facelift?

In many cases, this is absolutely an option! For patients that have enough facial aging that makes them candidates for a facelift, there are often other areas of the face not addressed with a facelift that would also benefit from a procedure. The benefits of combining these procedures is that there is only one recovery period for all of them, and the results from combined procedures can be incredible.

Vila Facial Plastic Surgery

Brow Lift or Eyelid Surgery

In addition to the face and neck, patients may also have similar concerns about the appearance of their eyes, which can make them seem tired or sad. Adding a brow lift, upper blepharoplasty (eyelid lift), or lower blepharoplasty, can address these issues to create a harmonious appearance to the face.

Chin Augmentation

In patients with a small chin, a chin augmentation procedure is a useful adjunct procedure. Restoring ideal facial proportions makes your brand new neck look even better, and can make some impactful changes in the right patient.

Chemical Peels

While a facelift will remove years of aging and brighten up patients’ faces, it does not address the fine lines and sun damage on the skin. A chemical peel or laser treatment can be used to smooth and tone the skin at the same time, done at the end of the procedure.

What Will My Recovery Period Be Like?

The initial recovery period takes 10 to 14 days for most patients, with some swelling and bruising remaining shortly thereafter. It is very important to wear a gentle dressing that helps keep the skin stay in the ideal position, for the first week, as you heal. Dr. Vila will guide you through the process by answering questions you may have, and we’ll set up an appointment with you the day after your surgery, in addition to follow-ups one week and three months after your surgery, and sometimes more if needed.

How Much Does a Facelift Cost?

Depending on whether other procedures are combined with the facelift (see above), this can increase the cost.  Dr. Vila designs a surgical plan customized to each patient that addresses their specific needs, and sometimes he may recommend additional procedures to ensure the face has a harmonious appearance and appears as natural as possible. 

Patients can expect to pay anywhere from $8,000 to $15,000 for a facelift in Portland at Vila Facial Plastic Surgery, depending on the complexity of the surgical plan.

Schedule a Consultation

If you’re in Portland or the surrounding areas and you’re looking to refresh and rejuvenate your facial appearance, we’re here to help. Nobody should feel like the face that looks back at them in the mirror is older than it should be — reach out and set up your consultation, and learn more about what board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Vila can do for you. His years of experience and commitment to subtle, naturalistic results mean he can have you both looking and feeling your very best, every single day.

Vila Facial Plastic Surgery

When it comes to facial rejuvenation, nobody wants to experience that “had work done” type of look. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Vila prides himself on his commitment to artistic excellence, and he’ll work closely with you to develop a surgical plan that brings you in line with your cosmetic goals. If you’re in Portland or the surrounding areas, reach out to us today! Set up a consultation, and take the first steps down the path to a youthful, rejuvenated you.

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