Facelift in Buckhead, Atlanta
Monarch Plastic Surgery & Skin Renewal Center in Buckhead (Atlanta, GA) offers advanced facelift surgery for natural-looking facial rejuvenation. Our practice is led by Dr. Carmen Kavali and Dr. Teri Moak, both of whom are board-certified plastic surgeons with fellowship training and a commitment to personalized patient care.
Dr. Kavali is nationally recognized for her surgical precision – she currently serves as President of the Medical Association of Atlanta and is a member of The Aesthetic Society, in addition to being an Expert Injector listed in peer-reviewed directories. Our female-led surgical team provides expert care in a warm, supportive environment from consultation through follow-up, ensuring you feel comfortable and confident at every step of your facelift journey.
As Seen In
Conveniently located to serve Buckhead and greater Atlanta. At our Buckhead office, Dr. Kavali and Dr. Moak guide you through your facelift experience in a welcoming atmosphere. Both surgeons are board-certified (Dr. Kavali is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery) and highly experienced in facial rejuvenation. You can trust that you’re in the hands of skilled experts devoted to helping you achieve a naturally refreshed, confident look.
What Can a Facelift Achieve?
A facelift (rhytidectomy) is a surgical procedure that addresses aging in the lower two-thirds of the face and the neck. Time, gravity, and lifestyle factors can cause skin to lose elasticity and sag, leading to jowls, deep wrinkles, and a less-defined jawline. A well-performed facelift can correct these issues at their source by tightening underlying muscles and removing excess skin.
This comprehensive approach provides long-lasting rejuvenation that injectable treatments or quick fixes cannot match. In fact, most patients appear about 10 years younger after a facelift, with results that persist for many years.
- Tighter, smoother skin: By lifting sagging cheeks and jowls, a facelift creates a firmer, more youthful facial contour. It smooths lax skin on the lower face for a refreshed appearance.
- Defined jawline: The procedure eliminates jowls and excess fat along the jaw, restoring a clean, contoured jawline profile. This sharper definition can dramatically improve the balance of your face.
- Softened folds and wrinkles: Deep creases around the nose and mouth (like nasolabial folds and marionette lines) are reduced by repositioning and tightening the facial tissues.
- Neck rejuvenation: A facelift often includes lifting the upper neck area. By tightening loose skin under the chin and removing fatty deposits, it can reduce the “turkey neck” effect and give you a more elegant neck and chin transition.
- Long-lasting youthful look: Because a facelift adjusts the deeper structural layers (SMAS) and not just the skin, the improvement is long-term. Patients commonly enjoy their rejuvenated look for 8–10 years or more before significant aging returns.
It’s important to note that a facelift focuses on the mid to lower face and neck. It will not directly address aging around the eyes or forehead. Issues like droopy eyelids or forehead wrinkles are best treated with blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) or a brow lift as separate procedures.
Many Buckhead patients choose to have these treatments in addition to a facelift for more comprehensive rejuvenation. (For further details on what a facelift entails, visit our facelift surgery page.)
For authoritative patient education, visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) – Facelift.
Our Approach to Facelift Surgery in Buckhead
Personalized Planning
Your journey begins with a one-on-one consultation at our Buckhead office. Our surgeons will carefully evaluate your facial anatomy, skin elasticity, and the specific aging patterns you are concerned about.
We take the time to listen to your goals – whether you want a dramatic change or a subtle refresh – and we will explain the best surgical plan to achieve those results. Depending on your needs, the plan may involve either a full traditional facelift or a mini-facelift (for more localized improvement).
Patients with earlier, milder signs of aging (often in their 40s) might benefit from a mini-facelift with shorter incisions, which can delay the need for a more extensive surgery by tightening the jawline and mid-face. Those with advanced sagging in the jowls and neck will likely need a standard facelift to comprehensively lift and remove excess skin.
In some cases, we may recommend combining procedures – for example, adding a neck lift, eyelid lift, or brow lift – to achieve balanced results. Everything is customized to you. By the end of your consultation, you’ll have a clear understanding of the proposed approach, and we’ll ensure all your questions are answered.
Advanced Surgical Technique
At Monarch, our surgeons specialize in state-of-the-art facelift techniques that address not just the skin but the deeper musculature of the face. The key to a long-lasting, effective facelift is lifting the Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System (SMAS) – the connective tissue layer that underlies the facial skin and connects to your facial muscles.
During surgery, Dr. Kavali or Dr. Moak will carefully tighten and reposition the SMAS layer, creating a firm foundation for your refreshed look. By working on these deeper structures, we achieve a significant lift without relying on over-tightening the skin. This advanced approach, which is similar to a “deep plane” facelift, allows for more thorough lifting without that pulled look.
It also tends to provide longer-lasting results than older skin-only facelifts.
Incisions & Scar Placement
Incisions are strategically placed for minimal visibility – typically starting in the hairline at the temples and extending around the natural creases in front of and behind the ears. By hiding incisions along ear contours and within the hair, scars are well-concealed once healed.
Our surgeons use meticulous techniques to gently redistribute or remove fatty tissue, tighten the underlying muscle layer, and trim excess skin. The remaining skin is re-draped smoothly over your uplifted facial framework, restoring a youthful contour to your cheeks, jaw, and neck.
Throughout the procedure, precision is the priority: Dr. Kavali and Dr. Moak are known for their surgical finesse and attention to detail. They close incisions with fine sutures to promote optimal healing. Thanks to these advanced techniques, Buckhead facelift patients can wear their hair up confidently after recovery – even close friends will struggle to spot any scars.
Natural-Looking Results
Our philosophy is that the best facelift results look completely natural. The goal isn’t to change who you are, but to help you look like a younger, well-rested version of yourself.
Dr. Kavali and Dr. Moak take great care to avoid any exaggerated tightness or “wind-tunnel” effects. By repositioning the deep facial tissues and lifting from within rather than just pulling the skin, we preserve your natural expressions and personality.
The improvement is noticeable yet subtle – your jawline regains definition, and your cheeks have a youthful softness, but your overall appearance remains authentically you.
Our facelift patients in Buckhead often tell us that friends and colleagues remark on how refreshed or vibrant they look, or ask if they’ve been on vacation, without guessing that surgery was done.
This discretion is a hallmark of our approach. We also match our surgical plan to your features – for instance, adjusting the lift to maintain proper balance with your eyes and brow – so that everything looks harmonious.
In the end, you’ll simply look naturally younger, as if time rolled back. (We invite you to browse our facelift before & after gallery to see real examples of the subtle, natural results our surgeons achieve.)
The Facelift Procedure & Recovery
Your Surgery Day
Facelift surgery is typically performed as an outpatient procedure in a fully accredited surgical facility. On the day of your surgery, you will meet with your surgeon (Dr. Kavali or Dr. Moak) to review the surgical plan and address any last-minute questions.
The procedure is done under anesthesia for your comfort – in most cases general anesthesia or deep IV sedation. This means you’ll be safely asleep and feel no pain during the operation.
The surgery can take anywhere from about 2 to 4 hours, depending on the complexity of your case and whether additional procedures are being done in combination.
After the surgery is complete, you will rest in our recovery suite under close monitoring by our anesthesia and nursing team. We will keep you until we’re confident you’re waking up comfortably. Because this is outpatient surgery, you’ll be able to go home the same day – but you will need a friend or family member to drive you and stay with you initially.
We’ll wrap your face in soft dressings or a compression garment as needed, and you’ll be given detailed instructions for care. Before you head home, we’ll ensure you have everything you need (prescriptions, follow-up appointment scheduled, etc.) and that you’re feeling good.
Facelift Recovery & Results
Recovery from a facelift is a gradual process, but most patients find the downtime is manageable with proper care. In the first week after surgery, it’s typical to experience swelling, bruising, tightness, and mild discomfort around the lower face and neck.
We will provide medications to control pain and swelling, as well as specific instructions (such as keeping your head elevated while resting and applying cold compresses). You will return to our Buckhead office for a check-up within a day or two, so we can monitor your incisions and ensure you’re healing well.
Bruising and swelling are usually at their worst during days 3–5, then will start to improve. By about one week out, most patients notice that any skin discoloration is fading and the swelling has begun to go down. Within 10 to 14 days, you should be feeling much more comfortable and looking presentable with makeup or concealer.
From the 2-week to 1-month mark, your healing progresses steadily. You’ll have additional follow-up visits so we can track your recovery and remove any stitches if needed.
Typically, by the end of week two you can resume light daily activities and you’ll be comfortable being seen in public. By around one month post-op, patients often feel well enough to do almost all normal activities and exercise (aside from very high-impact workouts).
Your final results will take shape gradually over the course of a few months. Even in the early weeks, you’ll notice a significant improvement – a firmer jawline, lifted cheeks, and a smoother neck. However, some subtle swelling can persist for several months, which means things get even better with time.
By around 3 months, most swelling has resolved and the surgical areas have softened, revealing a refreshed and natural-looking appearance. You’ll be able to truly appreciate the outcome: you look like you, but about 10 years younger.
Throughout your recovery, our team is here to support you. We’ll schedule several post-op appointments (typically at 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and beyond) to check on your healing and answer any questions. We pride ourselves on being responsive and caring – you’re not just a patient, you’re part of the Monarch family.
Facelift in Buckhead – FAQ
What signs of aging does a facelift address?
A facelift primarily targets aging in the lower face and neck. It is very effective for sagging cheeks, jowls along the jawline, deep folds like nasolabial folds, and loose or hanging skin under the chin. By tightening the underlying facial muscles and removing excess skin, a facelift restores firmness and smoother definition.
How long do the results of a facelift last?
Facelift results are known to be long-lasting. In general, you can expect to enjoy your rejuvenated look for around 8 to 10 years – and often even longer – before the natural aging process catches up again. Every person is different, and lifestyle factors such as skincare, sun protection, and overall health influence how long your results last.
Will I have visible scars after a facelift?
Scarring is minimal and discreet. Incisions are typically made within the hairline and around the ear’s natural curves, allowing scars to blend seamlessly into natural folds. Proper aftercare, sunscreen use, and time will help scars fade beautifully over 6–12 months.
What is the recovery time after a facelift?
Most patients take 10–14 days off work. Light activity can resume after about 2 weeks, with exercise at 4–6 weeks. By 3 months, swelling subsides and results look refined, natural, and confident.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re ready to refresh your appearance and feel more confident in your skin, we invite you to schedule a private facelift consultation at our Buckhead office.
During your consult, Dr. Kavali or Dr. Moak will examine your features, discuss your goals, and create a personalized surgical plan to enhance your natural beauty.
Contact Monarch Plastic Surgery & Skin Renewal Center today to get started – we’re conveniently located for patients in Buckhead and the greater Atlanta area.
Call us at (404) 250-3333 or contact us online to book your appointment.
Your journey to a more youthful, confident you begins here.
Explore more resources:
Facelift Overview |
Before & After Gallery