Facelift &
Mini-Facelift
Facelifts At A Glance
A facelift (rhytidectomy) is a surgical procedure that tightens sagging skin and removes excess fat on the lower two-thirds of the face and neck.
Two main types: a full facelift (more extensive, for significant signs of aging) and a mini facelift (less invasive, for early signs of aging).
Typical recovery: most patients return to work within two weeks; visible bruising and swelling resolve within that same time frame.
Performed under general anesthesia, outpatient, typically 2–4 hours.
Average cost (all-inclusive for surgeon’s fee, operating room, anesthesia, pre- and post- appointments): $14,500-$15,000 for a full facelift; $7,800-$8,400 for a mini facelift.
Other types of facelifts include liquid facelift and facial fat transfer.
In today's world, the way that you look has more of an impact on your personal and professional life than it ever did before.
From Zoom meetings with corporate executives to perfecting that selfie smile for Instagram, you need to look as young as you feel at all times.
Given the fact that your appearance plays such a pivotal role in your life, it's no surprise that a facelift in Atlanta is quickly becoming one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures. An Atlanta facelift will not only change the way that you look, but it also will transform the way that you feel about yourself.
To get started, schedule a consultation with Sheldon Lincenberg, MD, FACS, a Mayo Clinic trained, double board-certified plastic surgeon in Atlanta.
What is a Facelift?
A facelift is a cosmetic surgery procedure that is designed to minimize the signs and symptoms of aging on the face and neck. During this procedure, the plastic surgeon will remove excess skin or tighten sagging skin on the face in order to reduce the impact of aging on a person's appearance.
A facelift can address a variety of issues, including:
Loose or sagging skin around the cheek or jawline.
Shifting fat on the face.
Loose or sagging skin around the neck.
The facelift procedure is performed on the bottom two-thirds of the face, but it can easily be completed in conjunction with other cosmetic surgery procedures in order to achieve more comprehensive results. Many patients, for instance, opt to have a brow lift or an eye lift performed simultaneously along with their facelift in Atlanta.
What’s the Difference between a Full Facelift and a Mini Facelift?
The facelift is a common cosmetic surgery procedure, but many patients do not realize that there are two distinct types of facelifts – a full facelift and a mini facelift.
There are also two other options – liquid facelift and facial fat transfer – which are less invasive. While they don’t have the benefits of a surgical facelift, these procedures can give the face a more youthful look
It's important to recognize the differences between these procedures so that you can choose the one that is right for you.
Mini Facelift
The mini facelift procedure is an alternative cosmetic surgery procedure that is geared toward patients who are just beginning to show the first signs of aging. The mini facelift still addresses excess skin and wrinkles on the face, but it focuses on a smaller section of the face. This procedure is less invasive and involves fewer incisions, making it a viable option for busy professionals who want to maintain their youthful appearance.
Full Facelift
The full facelift is the traditional facelift procedure, and the one that most people think of when they consider this type of cosmetic surgery. During this procedure, the surgeon will work to eliminate excess skin from the face, remove fat deposits or replace fat that is lost due to aging. It is a more invasive surgery, but the results are impressive. Most facelift patients in Atlanta feel as if they look nearly 10 years younger once their recovery is complete.
The full facelift is recommended for patients who are showing significant signs of aging, including sagging skin, deep wrinkles and excess fat deposits on the face. It is important to work with a cosmetic surgeon in Atlanta who is committed to delivering personalized results. Dr. Lincenberg customizes the facelift to meet the unique needs of each patient.
Facial Fat Transfer
Facial fat transfer is a minimally invasive procedure that removes a small amount of excess fat by liposuction from another part of the body and injects it into the face to restore volume for a more youthful appearance.
Fat in the face slowly diminishes as a person ages, creating a bony or gaunt appearance. Gravity also slowly weakens the support ligaments and causes the skin to loosen and to sag, allowing the remaining fat in the face to sink inward.
Fat grafting to the face adds new fullness to surround the eye sockets, restores rounder cheeks and fills in hollowed temples. Fat grafting is used in most facial rejuvenation procedures.
What are Liquid Facelifts and Facial Fat Transfer?
Liquid Facelift
Liquid facelift is a non-surgical cosmetic procedure that provides subtle improvement for early signs of aging. Liquid facelift uses injectable fillers to restore volume and contour to the face by plumping up the skin.
Results are visible almost immediately, however they are temporary, lasting several months up to 18 months, depending on a number of factors including:
Location of the injection and how active the muscles in that area are (areas of frequent movement such as around the mouth and lips metabolize faster);
your body’s metabolism (which determines how fast it is absorbed by the body); and
the specific product used.
Although the results are temporary, they can be maintained by follow-up injections.
There generally is no downtime. However, patients who bruise easily could experience some bruising at the injection site.
Before & After
Facelift surgery is a powerful procedure, and the results of the surgery will allow you to look and feel your best at all times. Browse this gallery, which contains before and after images of patients who had both the facelift as well as the mini facelift procedure. You will quickly see that this procedure, when performed by a skilled cosmetic surgeon like Dr. Sheldon Lincenberg, can provide you with natural, dynamic results.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Facelift?
When you are considering a facelift, you are likely focused more on the results than the procedure itself. However, it's important to keep in mind that a facelift in Atlanta is still a major surgical procedure. You need to be aware of what the experience is going to be like, from the moment you decide to have it performed until the time that you are fully recovered from the surgery.
Making the Decision
Deciding to have a facelift or mini facelift is a major decision, and one that should not be taken lightly. First, it's important to consider if you are a good candidate for the facelift.
The best candidates for the facelift procedure are:
Healthy adults who are experiencing the signs or symptoms of aging, including deep lines and wrinkles as well as sagging skin. You should not have this procedure if you have underlying health conditions that put you at a higher risk for complications during or after the surgery.
Adults who do not smoke or suffer from substance abuse disorders. Substance abuse can inhibit the results of the facelift as well as put you at higher risk for complications during or after the surgery.
Adults who have a realistic understanding and expectation of the procedure. The facelift can greatly reduce the number of lines and wrinkles on your face, but it does not address other areas of your face, such as your eyelids, forehead or brows. You need to work closely with your cosmetic surgeon in order to understand what features of your face will be worked on during the facelift.
If you feel that you are a good candidate for the facelift procedure, the next thing you should do is search for a reputable plastic surgeon in Atlanta and schedule a consultation appointment. Read Choosing a Plastic Surgeon for tips on selecting a few plastic surgeons to consider and then make your decision.
What Happens During a Facelift Consultation?
The consultation appointment is an opportunity for you to meet with Dr. Lincenberg and discuss the facelift procedure. During this appointment, you will be providing the doctor with detailed information about your goals and desires for this procedure, and the surgeon will provide you with insight into the procedure itself as well as the results that you can expect.
The surgeon will create a surgical plan during the consultation appointment and will explain what will be addressed during your procedure. At this time, he also will discuss what you need to do to prepare for the procedure itself as well as the recovery. You need to have an in-depth understanding of the surgery and a realistic expectation of the experience before you can make your final decision.
It is important to work with an experienced and qualified cosmetic surgeon who is going to be honest with you about the capabilities of the facelift procedure. You should leave the consultation appointment feeling confident, knowing that your doctor is going to deliver personalized results that will allow you to look as young as you feel.
Preparing for Your Facelift
In order to enjoy natural-looking, long-lasting results, you need to properly prepare for your facelift. Here are several ways you can do that:
In the weeks leading up to the procedure, adopt a healthy lifestyle in order to prepare your body for surgery. If you smoke, you should plan to quit smoking completely at least four weeks before your surgery. Be sure to enjoy a healthy, well-balanced diet prior to your surgery and stay as hydrated as possible.
In the days leading up to your surgery, do not use aspirin, ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory medications. These medications can increase the risk of bleeding or bruising during your surgery, so it is best to avoid them if at all possible.
In the hours leading up to your surgery, you may need to apply specific products to your face. Your surgeon will provide you with information about moisturizing your face or treating your skin prior to the procedure.
You also will need to make logistical arrangements prior to your facelift surgery. You are going to need someone to drive you to and from the facility, and you also may need someone to help care for you in the hours immediately following the surgery.
The Facility
The facelift is most often performed as an outpatient surgical procedure. You should discuss the facility that will be used with your cosmetic surgeon and determine whether it is the best place to have your facelift performed.
The Procedure
A facelift is a major surgical procedure, and it's important that you understand what will be done during the surgery to provide you with the results that you crave. When you opt to have this procedure performed by an esteemed cosmetic surgeon in Atlanta, such as Dr. Lincenberg, you will enjoy personalized, natural-looking results.
This procedure is performed under general anesthesia and generally takes between two and four hours to complete. The duration of the surgery can vary based on the work that needs to be done on the individual patient.
During the procedure, the surgeon will make discrete incisions near the hairline and behind the ear in order to perform the facelift. Once the incisions are made, the surgeon will use a precise technique in order to eliminate excess fat, tighten the facial muscles and remove excess skin. The vast majority of patients will not have any visible scarring after their facelift procedure.
How Much Does a Facelift Cost in Atlanta?
Since a facelift is a cosmetic surgery procedure, most patients will have to pay out-of-pocket to have it performed. Most insurance plans do not cover the costs of the facelift procedure.
A traditional facelift costs more than a mini facelift in Atlanta, largely because it takes longer to complete this surgery and more extensive work needs to be done. The average cost of a facelift in Atlanta is between $14,500 and $15,000.
A mini facelift in Atlanta costs less because it does not take as long to complete and there is not as much work to be done during the surgery. A mini facelift costs anywhere between $7,800 and $8,400.
Risks
As with any surgical procedure, there are some risks to having a facelift in Atlanta performed. However, when you partner with a qualified cosmetic surgeon, you greatly reduce the risk of complications with this procedure.
Some of the risks of having a facelift in Atlanta performed include:
Anesthesia complications
Excessive bleeding
Prolonged swelling
Infection
Visible scarring
What is Facelift Recovery Like?
As this is a major cosmetic surgery procedure, it's important to keep in mind that you will need time to recover from your Atlanta facelift. Most patients take about two weeks off of work in order to rest and recover, and most people are able to see the results of their surgery within two weeks.
The recovery timeline for the facelift procedure is as follows:
Immediately following the surgery, you can expect significant bruising and swelling on your face. You may be in some discomfort, but most pain can easily be managed with over-the-counter pain medication. You will want to rest with your head elevated for several hours.
Swelling and bruising will begin to subside within the first week of recovery. For the most part, all swelling and bruising will be gone two weeks after the surgery, and you will be able to enjoy your fresh, revitalized look.
What Our Clients Are Saying
Dr. Lincenberg is proud of the fact that he delivers natural-looking, personalized results for all of his patients. His commitment to his patients and his passion for helping people look and feel their best is evident, not only in the results but also in the words of his former patients. Our practice has received glowing reviews from patients in Atlanta who are thrilled with their new, youthful appearance.
“I had a great experience. The staff is caring, considerate, and compassionate. The office facility itself is top notch-nice, clean, and in a lovely building. Dr. Lincenberg has taken 15 years off my face I never thought I would have a facelift, but as the "turkey jowels" got bigger and bigger, I knew it was critical to my perception of how I look. He truly cared about my happiness with the procedure and results. Bottom line; do it, do it now, and do it with Dr. Lincenberg. I am absolutely delighted." - M
FAQs About Facelifts
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You're likely a good candidate if you're a healthy adult showing visible signs of facial aging, such as deep lines, wrinkles, or sagging skin, and you have realistic expectations about the results.
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Yes, Dr. Lincenberg offers non-surgical facelift procedures including liquid facelift (injectable fillers) and facial fat transfer, for patients who don't want a surgical procedure.
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The results of your facelift will last for years to come. It's a great way to turn back the clock on your face and enjoy a more youthful look for many years.
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A full facelift addresses more extensive sagging, wrinkles, and fat loss across the lower face; a mini facelift is a smaller, less invasive procedure aimed at early signs of aging.
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A full facelift in Atlanta generally costs $11,000–$18,000, and a mini facelift generally costs $6,000–$8,000. Most insurance does not cover the procedure since it's cosmetic.
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Most patients take about two weeks off work, with visible bruising and swelling resolving within that same two-week period.
Schedule Your Atlanta Facelift Today
If you feel that you are a good candidate for a facelift in Atlanta and you are interested in learning more about this procedure, schedule a consultation with Dr. Sheldon Lincenberg today.