Category: Facelifts

One of the most common questions people ask is: What is the right age for a facelift? The answer varies depending on factors like a patient’s aesthetic and personal goals and skin elasticity. This blog will guide you through the best facelift options for every age group, as well as ways to get the most comprehensive results by combining procedures.

When Is the Best Time to Get a Facelift?

Facelift surgery, also known as a rhytidectomy, is a popular cosmetic procedure designed to restore a youthful appearance by tightening sagging skin, reducing wrinkles, and enhancing facial contours. It works by lifting and repositioning the underlying facial muscles and tissues while removing excess skin, resulting in a smoother, firmer look. A facelift can address deep creases, jowls, and loss of skin elasticity caused by aging.

A facelift can benefit individuals at different stages of life. Here’s what to consider at each age:

In Your 30s

Most people in their 30s do not need a full facelift, but they may start noticing early signs of aging. Non-surgical treatments like dermal fillers and BOTOX® Cosmetic can be effective for maintaining a youthful appearance by reducing fine lines and adding volume to areas that are beginning to lose elasticity. Mini facelifts are a viable option for some patients in this age range.

In Your 40s

Fine lines, wrinkles, and mild skin laxity become more noticeable in your 40s, making it an ideal time to consider facial rejuvenation. A mini facelift is a great option for those looking to refresh their appearance without undergoing a full facelift, as it targets early signs of aging with less invasive techniques and shorter recovery times.

In Your 50s and 60s

Deeper wrinkles, volume loss, and significant skin sagging often appear in your 50s and 60s, making a traditional facelift an excellent option. This procedure provides dramatic and long-lasting results by lifting and tightening the skin, restoring a firmer and more youthful look while addressing deep facial creases and sagging jowls.

In Your 70s and Beyond

As you enter your 70s and beyond, skin elasticity continues to decline, and deep creases may form. A traditional facelift can still be performed if you are in good health, and it can provide transformative improvements by tightening sagging skin and refining facial contours, helping to achieve a refreshed and rejuvenated appearance.

What Are My Facelift Options?

There are different types of facelifts to suit various needs and lifestyles. For example, a busy professional in their 40s looking for subtle rejuvenation might prefer a mini facelift with minimal downtime, while someone in their 60s seeking more dramatic results may opt for a traditional facelift.

Factors such as skin elasticity, recovery time, and desired results all play a role in deciding the best option. Consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Robert Wald can help you determine the most suitable procedure for your specific concerns.

Traditional Facelift

• Addresses deep wrinkles, sagging skin, and volume loss in the midface, jawline, and neck.
• Involves incisions around the hairline and behind the ears.
• Offers long-lasting, natural-looking results.

Mini Facelift

• Ideal for individuals with mild to moderate skin laxity.
• Uses smaller incisions and requires less downtime than a traditional facelift.
• Great for those in their 40s and 50s who want subtle improvements.

In-Office Facelift Under Local Anesthesia

• A minimally invasive option performed under local anesthesia.
• Shorter recovery time compared to traditional facelift surgery.
• Provides a refreshed look with less downtime.

What Procedures Can You Combine With a Facelift?

For enhanced and comprehensive results, many patients choose to combine a facelift with other facial procedures.

Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery, is a procedure designed to rejuvenate the appearance of the eyes by removing excess skin, fat, and muscle from the upper and/or lower eyelids. The surgery works by creating small incisions along the natural creases of the eyelids, allowing the surgeon to carefully remove or reposition tissue to create a smoother, more youthful look. The procedure:

• Reduces droopy eyelids and under-eye bags.
• Creates a more awake and youthful appearance.

Forehead Lift (Brow Lift)

A forehead lift, also known as a brow lift, is a procedure that lifts sagging brows and smooths forehead wrinkles to create a more youthful and refreshed look. The surgery involves making small incisions along the hairline to reposition the brow and tighten excess skin. The procedure:

• Lifts sagging brows and smoothens forehead wrinkles.
• Enhances the overall results of a facelift by creating a balanced, refreshed look.

Interested in a Facelift in Orange County, CA?

If you’re considering a facelift, Dr. Robert Wald can help you determine the best procedure for your needs. Call (714) 312-3549 or visit our contact page to schedule a consultation.

This entry was posted on Friday, April 4th, 2025 at 8:00 am and is filed under Facelifts. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

A facelift (also known as rhytidectomy surgery) is a cosmetic procedure designed to reduce or eliminate visible signs of aging in your face and neck. Whether you want to tighten sagging skin, smooth deep wrinkles and folds, or restore a more youthful contour, a facelift can offer dramatic yet natural-looking results. However, one of the most important steps in your facelift journey is preparation. In this blog, we’ll go through some of the essential steps necessary to prepare for your facelift procedure so that you can enjoy a safe and healthy surgery and recovery.

Are You a Good Candidate for a Facelift?

Not everyone is an ideal candidate for facelift surgery. Some people may benefit from non-surgical options before undergoing invasive surgery. However, if you wish to address more severe signs of aging, a facelift is the answer. The best candidates for a facelift include men and women who are nonsmokers and in good overall health. You should also have good skin elasticity and realistic expectations for your results. Once you’ve had a consultation with Dr. Wald to determine if you’re a good candidate for a facelift, it’s time to prepare for your surgery!

Mentally Preparing for Facelift Surgery

As with any cosmetic surgery, facelift patients need to understand that while the procedure can do wonders for their confidence and turn back the clock on aging, having realistic expectations about the surgery and your results is essential. Some things you should consider before undergoing a facelift include:

Understanding the Limitations of the Procedure

A facelift can address wrinkles and sagging or excess skin, but only in the lower two-thirds of your face. If you have drooping eyelids or eyebrows, adding blepharoplasty (eye lift surgery) or a forehead lift to your facelift may be necessary to achieve comprehensive results. You may also undergo non-surgical skin resurfacing, BOTOX® Cosmetic, or injectable fillers to enhance your facelift results.

Scars Are Inevitable

As with any surgical procedure, scarring after a facelift is inevitable. However, the beauty of a facelift is that incisions are hidden in your hairline or behind your ears and will fade over time.

Be Patient as You Heal

Again, as with any surgery, it takes time to heal after a facelift. While you will see some immediate results, it will take a few months for all swelling and bruising to dissipate, so be patient and follow Dr. Wald’s post-op instructions to ensure the best outcome.

Facelift Results Require Maintenance

While facelift results typically last for as many as ten to fifteen years, the natural aging process will continue. Maintaining the results of your facelift means making good lifestyle choices (including avoiding smoking and following a healthy diet), adhering to an anti-aging skincare routine (including daily broad-spectrum SPF), and possibly undergoing non-surgical skin rejuvenation treatments.

A facelift can give you a more youthful and refreshed appearance; however, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Results will vary from person to person depending on your unique facial anatomy, skin condition, and whether or not you combine other aesthetic procedures with your facelift.

Other Facelift Preparations

Lifestyle Adjustments

Before facelift surgery, you’ll need to quit smoking, as it inhibits circulation and can delay healing. Typically, you’ll need to avoid nicotine for four to six weeks before and after your surgery. You should also avoid medications and supplements that can increase the risk of bleeding, including aspirin, NSAIDs, blood thinning medications, Vitamin E, fish oil, and certain herbal supplements.

Prepare a Recovery Space at Home

After your facelift, you’ll need a comfortable area to rest and recuperate. Preparing your home in advance may include:

• Making sure you have ice packs, gauze, and prescription and over-the-counter pain medications close at hand
• Having soft, nutritious foods available (like soup and smoothies), as eating may be uncomfortable for the first few days
• Creating a comfortable area with enough pillows to elevate your head to help minimize swelling, as well as any books and electronics (including chargers) for entertainment
• Arranging for help transporting kids to and from activities, as well as any other daily tasks, as you’ll need to rest for the first few days after surgery

Make Sure You Have Everything Ready for the Day of Surgery

When you come in for your facelift, make sure you bring the following items with you:

• Photo ID
• Glasses and your contact lens case
• A pillow for the ride home (to keep your head elevated and comfortable)
• Comfortable clothing, like a loose-fitting, button-down shirt to wear home after surgery

Above all, make sure you have arranged for someone to drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours after surgery as you recover from general anesthesia.

Learn More About Facelift Surgery in Orange County, CA

If you’re ready to take the next step in facial rejuvenation, it’s time to explore the benefits of a facelift at The Aesthetic Institute in Orange County. Once you’ve determined that you’re a good candidate for a facelift, Dr. Wald will go over the specifics of the surgery with you, helping to set you up for a successful experience from consultation to recovery. To schedule a facelift consultation with Dr. Wald, call our office today at (714) 312-3549 or complete the online contact form.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 18th, 2025 at 8:00 am and is filed under Facelifts. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Undergoing facelift surgery, or rhytidectomy, can produce a significant change in your appearance and boost your confidence by removing excess loose skin, smoothing creases, correcting sagging jowls, and rejuvenating your face. One of the most essential factors in the success of your facelift is your recovery period, which may be daunting if you are unaware of what you should expect. Below is a timeline of what you can expect during your recuperation.

Your First Week of Recovery

Directly after your facelift surgery, you can expect to experience bruising, swelling, and redness. Feelings of discomfort or nausea may occur, which can be relieved by pain medication and rest. Some patients experience sensations of tingling, burning, tightness, tenderness, or numbness in their face, ears, and neck for the first week. Having a friend or loved one as your caregiver for the first one or two days is an excellent way to ensure a comfortable recovery. Drainage tubes and light surgical dressings may be applied after your surgery and will help reduce side effects. Keeping your head in an upright, elevated position is advised. After one or two days, patients should begin to gently walk to the restroom and around the house a few times every day, slowly adding more light activities. Your first week should be focused on relaxing and getting plenty of sleep.

After One Week

Swelling, bruising, and tightness should begin to subside at this point. Direct sun exposure should be prevented. Light activities are permitted, but strenuous activities should still wait until you have recovered further. Some of the other symptoms should also begin to dissipate after the first week.

After Two Weeks

Most symptoms should completely resolve at this point. Patients are cleared to begin laying in a reclined position, but sleeping flat on your back should still be avoided for another week or so.

After Six Weeks

All side effects should dissipate at this point, and scars begin to fade. It can take up to one year for scars to fully heal and become almost invisible. Regular activities can be resumed, including some exercising. Make sure to consult with your surgeon to see what activities are permitted.

Your Final Results

The outcome of your facelift surgery will be determined by your surgeon’s experience and skills, and your body’s recovery process. It can take up to 12 months for everything to heal and for your final results to become evident. Most patients look significantly younger with a smoother, refreshed facial appearance. Following your surgeon’s post-surgical care instructions, taking the time to rest and fully recover, and maintaining a positive outlook will increase your satisfaction with your facelift results. It is recommended that you use a quality skin care regimen to help maintain your results. In the future, non-surgical options for maintaining a youthful appearance can include injectable fillers and BOTOX® Cosmetic to address sagging, loose skin, wrinkles, and hollowed areas of the face to replenish volume. INFINI™ radiofrequency (RF) microneedling can enhance skin quality and eliminate wrinkles and fine lines. Most facelift procedure results last up to ten years, and taking preventative measures can help prolong your results.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Wald or learn more about facelifts, call our office at (714) 312-3549 or fill out our online contact form.

This entry was posted on Monday, June 3rd, 2019 at 8:00 am and is filed under Facelifts. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Patient underwent facelift and neck lift surgery with Dr. Wald.

Nobody wants to admit they are aging, but our faces can slowly betray us and tell a different story. Facial aging affects everyone, and if you live a harsh lifestyle that may involve excessive alcohol consumption and significant amounts of sun exposure, visible aging might affect you sooner. Luckily, we can slow and improve facial aging through at-home creams, non-surgical treatments, and surgery. But the wrong treatment can leave you with lackluster results that do not create the youthful appearance you desire.

At-Home Creams

At-home products are ideal for keeping your skin hydrated, preventing acne, and occasionally treating discoloration. However, you shouldn’t be fooled by products that claim they will reverse wrinkles through a cream or serum. Collagen loss deep in the facial tissues is what cause wrinkles and laxity. At-home products cannot penetrate deeply enough to provide you the correction you desire.

Fillers to Erase Wrinkles

Wrinkles from volume loss are typically the result of collagen loss, which occurs as a natural part of the aging process. You can begin to develop wrinkles as early as your late 20s. If you’ve begun to show signs of wrinkles, but your skin has still retained its youthful firmness, then fillers are the ideal treatment for you. Dermal fillers, or other injectables like BOTOX® Cosmetic, are ideal for treating the following:

• Nasolabial folds
• Crow’s feet
• Under eye wrinkles
• Smile lines
• Volume loss at the cheeks

Facelift to Improve Sagging

The primary goal of a facelift is to reverse sagging that has caused a drooping appearance. A facelift address aging of the lower-third of the face including the cheeks, jawline, jowls, and neck. During facelift surgery, we remove excess hanging skin and lift the weak facial tissues. This deep correction is the key to achieving natural and long-lasting results.

Facial Enhancement Alternatives

If you are experiencing aging in the upper face that is caused by sagging skin, you may consider a combination procedure that includes one or more of the following:

• Blepharoplasty for the eyelids
• Brow lift for drooping brows
• Facial liposuction for a double chin

To discuss your facial needs with a board-certified plastic surgeon, schedule a consultation by calling 714-312-3549.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 29th, 2018 at 3:35 pm and is filed under Facelifts, Injectable Fillers. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

We all want to look and feel younger. Unfortunately, time can become our enemy as the aging process takes hold. Fine lines, wrinkles, and creases seem to develop very quickly before we even realize it. Many people try various at-home treatments to remedy their signs of aging but see very little satisfying results.

Surgical Facelift

When a person decides that enough is enough, they may start leaning towards the idea of facelift surgery. Even though a facelift makes you look 12 years younger according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, surgical procedures can be intimidating. Surgery entails a long recovery, anesthesia, and postoperative pain and discomfort.

Non-Surgical Facial Rejuvenation

The INFINI™ radiofrequency (RF) microneedling device uses the latest technology to eliminate wrinkles and improve the quality of the skin. INFINI™ is a non-surgical facelift option that offers a less invasive approach than traditional facelift surgery. Depending on each patient’s facial anatomy and preferences, they may choose to undergo a traditional facelift or an INFINI™ non-surgical facelift procedure.

Which facial rejuvenation procedure is right for me?

When deciding on a facelift option, it is important to understand what each procedure is designed to target and what outcome you can potentially achieve.

Traditional Facelift Surgery

• Procedure: Through an incision made along the hairline, loose skin and fat are removed. Excess skin is trimmed, and the remaining skin is pulled back and sutured.

• Benefits:
  • Offers long-lasting results
  • Smoothes fine lines and wrinkles
  • Eliminates excess skin
  • Corrects sagging jowls

• Cons:
  • Long recovery
  • Anesthesia

Before and After Facelift Surgery

INFINI™ Non-Surgical Facelift

• Procedure: High intensity focused RF (radiofrequency) is used to deliver thermal energy deep into the dermis to stimulate collagen production to create smoother facial skin.

• Benefits:
  • Tightens and lifts the facial skin
  • Eliminates fine lines and wrinkles
  • Improves skin quality
  • In-office procedure
  • Minimal discomfort

• Cons:
  • Doesn’t correct significantly sagging facial skin
    
    

    Before and After INFINI™ Laser

Both the traditional facelift and the INFINII™ non-surgical facelift can help a person achieve amazing results. They will notice their facial skin is more taut and firm with a dramatic reduction of fine lines and wrinkles. Dr. Wald can evaluate your facial anatomy and severity of facial aging to help you decide on the right procedure.

To learn more about facelift surgery and the INFINI™ laser, schedule your consultation with Dr. Robert Wald today! He is an experienced plastic surgeon who can help you achieve smoother, more youthful facial skin. Contact us by calling (714) 312-3549 or by filling out our online contact form.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 30th, 2016 at 3:00 pm and is filed under Facelifts, Infini Laser, Non-Surgical Procedures.