What is The Cost of a Facelift?
During your consultation, we will discuss the treatment options available to meet your goals and provide you with a quote. Facelift costs in Toronto Plastic Surgeon starting from $21,999.
Recovery Period Following a Facelift?
Post-op, a loose-fitting dressing is applied. There is typically some discoloration and swelling around the face and neck, but this should improve within a week. It’s recommended that you keep your head elevated as much as possible and avoid strenuous activity for 2-3 weeks. Most patients return to work after 3 weeks.
The length of time it takes for a facelift procedure depends largely on the type of technique we decide upon during your pre-consultation, and whether you’ll be undergoing other procedures at the same time. However, a facelift usually takes about 4 hours.
What is a Facelift?
A ‘face lift’ procedure can refer to a number of different procedures designed to change the appearance of the lower face–including the cheeks, jowls, and neck. Typically, incisions are placed in front of and behind the ear.
People choose facelift surgery in order to achieve a smoother, more youthful and lifted facial appearance overall. Ultimately a facelift can be a truly effective way to counter the effects of aging, gravity and sun exposure, which can leave your face looking older than you actually feel.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Facelift?
Good facelift candidates include those who have sagging cheeks, a loss of facial fat and soft tissue volume, early jowls, hanging face and neck skin, and those who can easily pull back their facial skin and see a more youthful appearance.
Patients should be in good health and free of any major medical conditions prior to surgery. This is key for proper healing and recovery. Most importantly, you should have realistic expectations. As always, the best way to determine if you’re a good candidate is to come in for a consultation.
Facelift Benefits
We can help you attain a smoother, tighter, more youthful face. A facelift can provide the following benefits:
Tightens loose skin
Taut, firm facial skin is a sign of youth. Our facelift techniques can completely remove loose skin from the lower face and neck and improve midface sagging to create a more vibrant, youthful appearance.
Removes wrinkles
When the facial skin is tightened, many wrinkles are eliminated or greatly diminished. Facelift surgery can reduce folds, including marionette lines and deep creases under the eyes.
Repositions facial fat
Sometimes, unflattering facial contours are the result of the positioning of fat deposits on the face. Our surgical techniques include repositioning these deposits to achieve more appealing facial contours.
Increases jawline definition
A facelift also works to increase definition in the jawline region. Many facelift procedures also include a neck lift to further address this area as there is typically an additional need to reduce neck sagging.
Facelift Risks & Complications
As with any surgery, there are risks involved with a facelift. All risks will be thoroughly discussed at your consultation. The best thing patients can do to minimize the likelihood of complications is to select a trusted surgeon, including the Toronto Plastic Surgeons. Possible complications include:
- Infections: Infection is possible with any surgery, and antibiotics are often administered preventatively. At the first sign of a fever or other unusual symptoms, always contact us.
- Scarring: Incision scars from a facelift are permanent but are typically ‘invisible,’ as they’re concealed by the hairline and natural contours of the face and ears.
- Bruising: Bruising is perfectly normal in the first couple of weeks. Expect bruising and swelling to decrease to socially acceptable levels within 14-20 days.
- Facial nerve damage: Although nerve injury is rare, paralysis of a select muscle can result in an uneven facial appearance or loss of sensation for a few months to a year. This may be improved surgically.
Why the Toronto Plastic Surgeons?
At TPS, we’ve been performing exceptionally natural-looking facelifts for more than 20 years. Dr. Thomas Bell uses the most advanced techniques available today to dramatically diminish the signs of aging and restore youthful vitality. Our goal is a natural-looking face that isn’t ‘overdone.’ Our facility is state-of-the-art, and our surgeons are pioneers. A rhytidectomy at Toronto Plastic Surgeons ensures discretion, comfort, safety, and the highest quality care.
As a surgeon who has mastered the fuller range of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures, Toronto’s Dr. Thomas Bell chooses to emphasize his work in facial aesthetic surgery. He is one of Canada’s most reputable and experienced plastic surgeons and has performed over 5000 cosmetic facial procedures in his 25+ years of practice.
Different Types of Facelifts
Full facelift
Full facelifts typically refer either to traditional deep plane facelifts or SMAS facelifts. The former is more involved and requires a longer recovery time. We make a deep incision in order to tighten the muscles below the skin. This is a slow and careful technique since the facial nerve is exposed. Deep plane facelifts can reposition skin, fat, and muscle, lifting and draping them over the face. SMAS facelifts are the ‘gold standard’ of modern facelifts and target a sheet of tissue under the cheek skin known as the Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System. By lifting the SMAS, we can correct age-related sagging including jowls and deep smile lines without creating a ‘stretched’ look.
Mid Facelift
Traditional facelifts do not greatly alter the midsection of the face. With a mid-facelift, however, the middle section of your face is also smoothed out and tightened, affecting areas around the nose and under the eyes that a traditional facelift could not have reached. The fat pads in the cheeks can also be elevated to create a rejuvenated, full appearance. This surgery is often performed in tandem with traditional facelifts in order to create better facial harmony.
Mini Facelift
A mini facelift is for those with minor concerns about their cheeks and jowls. It is a great alternative to a full facelift for patients who have undergone previous facelifts, or younger patients in their 30s and 40s who do not yet have an extreme amount of excess skin around their jaw and neck. It can shave years off of your appearance while providing you with a more energized look. Additionally, the procedure involves just a single short scar. We usually combine facial fat grafting and liposuction techniques with a mini-facelift in order to achieve the best results.
Facelift surgery is generally performed using local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia. Additionally, numbing medication may be used to ensure your comfort when you wake up.
We perform facelifts endoscopically, inserting small cameras to allow for smaller incisions. This means less trauma to tissues and a faster recovery time. Incisions are typically made around the ears, in the temple, and behind the ears. The skin is carefully raised from the lower face and neck area, followed by liposuction and fat grafting if required. Then, any excess skin is carefully removed and sutured. Because incisions are carefully placed within the natural folds found in around and inside the ear, scars are usually barely noticeable.
Preparing for a Facelift
At least a few weeks before your surgery, it’s best to:
- Stop smoking.
- Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding and bruising.
- We may also recommend that you adjust certain medications you are on or apply topical skincare products.
What to Expect Post Facelift Surgery
Following your procedure, Dr. Bell and his team may recommend a comprehensive postoperative skincare regime from our Universkin skincare line, which is designed to improve the colour, texture, and tone of your skin after the facelift.
UniverSkin is used to improve skin clarity and texture for a younger-looking complexion and help maintain facelift results for as long as possible and will provide you with beautiful skin that only enhances the confidence-boosting results of the facelift.
Facelift Recovery
The specifics of your facelift recovery will depend in part on what kind of facelift you’ve undergone. Generally, however, here’s what to expect:
Days 1-2: After surgery you may feel unsteady and sleepy. You should plan for family or friends to drive you home and care for you on your first night. The option to sleep over at our clinic is also available. Day one is usually when you most need pain medication.
Days 3-4: Bruising and swelling usually peak around day 3 and 4, but may be present for a few more weeks. Rest is highly recommended.
Days 4-6: You may begin feeling more comfortable moving around or doing light housework. The swelling will continue to go down.
Days 7-14: Remaining swelling and bruising can cause some to experience numbness, tingling or tightness. These are all common and should not cause concern. At the end of the second week, many are ready to return to work and go out walking.
Post 1 month: After a month, you should be back to life as usual–with your new look. It can take up to a year for very minor swelling, bruising, tightness and numbness to go away entirely, but typically you’re the only one who notices.
Facelift FAQ
Is Getting a Facelift Painful?
Minimal initial discomfort (particularly in the first week) is easily controlled with oral pain medication, which we prescribe.
How Long do the Effects of a Facelift Last?
Results can generally last 7-10 years if you follow the post-op care program we recommend to keep your face looking rejuvenated and young.
What Is the Best Age for a Face Lift?
Since people age differently and at different paces, visible signs of aging are a better indicator for when to get a face lift than a specific age range. The following signs of aging can help determine the best time for a face lift: wrinkles underneath the eyes, deep lines around the nose and corners of the mouth, loss of jawline definition, and excess fat deposits in the neck. While it’s true that people in their mid 40s are often best-suited to the procedure, people in their 50s and 60s are also typically considered top candidates for face lift surgery as well, as long as they’re in good health.
Is a Face Lift Better Than Botox?
Many people wanting to avoid surgery wonder if Botox can serve as a nonsurgical face lift. While it’s true that Botox sessions are quick and painless with no downtime, undergoing a procedure which only addresses some of your concerns may not be worth it. Botox relaxes overused facial muscles, smoothing wrinkles like crow’s feet and worry lines, but it won’t restore volume or lift loose skin, although it can be combined with dermal fillers to address some of these concerns. A face lift is more involved, but can eliminate wrinkles, sagging skin and loosened facial muscles, so if your concerns are beyond just lines and wrinkles, a face lift may be a better fit.
Will a Face Lift Get Rid of Wrinkles?
Our facial tissue naturally loses its elasticity as we get older, which in turn leads to sagging and wrinkles. A face lift, however, can surgically lift and tighten these facial tissues, remove excess skin, and smooth out folds and wrinkles. Face lift surgery only focuses on the bottom two-thirds of the face and sometimes the neck, depending on a patient’s needs. It does not include a brow or eye lift, although you can choose to undergo these or other procedures at the same time.
Can a Face Lift Look Natural?
While unnatural looks have certainly resulted from face lift surgery, these cases are the exception, and are typically the work of inexperienced surgeons who fail to note the underlying causes of aging in their patients. At the hands of an attentive surgeon, face lift surgery can be extraordinarily natural looking, leaving you with a deeply rejuvenated and more youthful appearance. To ensure the success of a face lift, it’s vital that you choose an experienced and skillful surgeon who will know how to use the right techniques and avoid mistakes like overstretching the skin, which can lead to unnatural looking results.
What Is a Lunchtime Face Lift?
A “lunchtime face lift” is essentially a mini face lift, but a nonsurgical one, and includes any procedure that can be done with little to no downtime and close to immediate results. These “lunchtime” face lifts include Botox treatments to reduce the appearance of frown lines, dermal fillers to fill out wrinkles and restore fullness to your face, and a variety of laser procedures to do away with bumps, age spots, and scars. The popularity of the lunchtime face lift can be attributed in part to the fact that it can often be completed in less than 60 minutes.
When Can I Sleep on My Side After a Face Lift?
For at least a week after face lift surgery, you must sleep with your head elevated using 2-3 pillows, a foam wedge, or simply by sleeping in a recliner. It’s important to remain sleeping on your back and avoid rolling over onto the side of your face for a period of about two weeks. Some patients prefer an airline pillow for comfort and to help ensure they do not move their head to the side. A large pillow known as the “husband” is also a popular choice, as it has extensions which go under the arms to provide added support.
Are Face Lifts Still Popular?
In spite of the huge rise in popularity of nonsurgical cosmetic procedures, surgical face lifts remain a very popular option for those seeking drastic and long-lasting facial rejuvenation. The reality is that although nonsurgical treatments have their purpose, they do not offer the same results as an expertly performed face lift. In today’s modern, fast-paced world, the surgical face lift is still considered the gold standard for those who wish to revitalize their appearance. Since not all surgeons excel at all things, always do your homework and make sure your plastic surgeon specializes in face lifts if you’re considering undergoing the procedure.
How Much Is a Partial Face Lift?
A partial or mini face lift is a modified, less invasive version of a traditional face lift in which small incisions are placed around your hairline to correct sagging skin by lifting up the lower half of your face. The cost of a mini face lift can vary based on location and the track record of your provider. Fees associated with facility use and anesthesia can result in additional costs. A mini-face lift cost at Toronto Plastic Surgeons starts at $13,999.
What Is a Mini Face Lift?
The mini-face lift procedure uses minimal incisions to remove sagging or excess skin around the face, jaw and neck. These tiny incisions are hidden in the natural folds located behind the ear and the hairline in order to avoid any visible scarring. If you’ve experienced a loss of muscle tone and skin elasticity on your lower face and neck, or have sagging jowls, a mini-face lift may be the solution. Mini face lifts are often combined with fat transfer procedures to restore volume to the face. Fat transfers involve harvesting unwanted fat from other areas of the body and then using it to improve facial balance and structure.
What Type of Anesthesia Is Used for a Face Lift?
Face lift surgery is typically performed using general anesthesia, but local anesthesia with sedation may be sufficient for less extensive procedures. Your surgeon will recommend the best option for your unique needs based on the specifics of your case, such as what technique is being used, your facial anatomy, the extent of the face lift (mini vs. standard), and whether or not an additional procedure is being performed at the same time. The more extensive the procedure, the more likely it is that general anesthesia will be required.
1 (647) 723-3739
