Conveniently located to serve Atlanta and Sandy Springs

At Monarch Plastic Surgery & Skin Renewal Center, our experienced surgeons perform facelifts for patients throughout Atlanta, Buckhead, and Sandy Springs. Over time, natural aging, sun exposure, stress, and lifestyle factors can cause facial skin to lose elasticity and deeper tissues to descend. These changes often result in sagging skin, jowling, and deeper facial creases that create an aged or tired appearance.

While non-surgical treatments such as Botox, dermal fillers, and facials can soften fine lines or temporarily restore volume, they do not address the underlying structural changes responsible for more advanced facial aging. Facelift surgery works at a deeper level, repositioning facial tissues and removing excess skin to achieve results that are longer-lasting and more comprehensive. If you are ready to restore a more youthful, refreshed version of yourself, read on to learn more about what facelift surgery can offer.

What Is a Facelift?

A facelift, medically referred to as a rhytidectomy, is a facial plastic surgery procedure designed to improve visible signs of aging in the mid and lower face. It addresses concerns such as loose or sagging skin, deep wrinkles, jowls, and loss of jawline definition. By lifting and repositioning deeper facial structures rather than simply tightening the skin, a facelift creates natural-looking rejuvenation that ages gracefully over time.

For patients whose concerns extend beyond the lower face, complementary procedures such as brow lift surgery or eyelid surgery may be discussed during consultation. These procedures can enhance overall facial balance by addressing heaviness or drooping in the upper face and eye area.

Understanding Facial Aging and Why a Facelift Works

Facial aging is a multi-layered process. In addition to skin laxity, volume loss in the cheeks, weakening of connective tissues, and gravitational descent all contribute to changes in facial contour. This is why treatments that focus only on the surface of the skin often reach a point of diminishing returns.

A facelift addresses aging at its source by lifting and repositioning deeper tissues, including the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system). This structural approach restores youthful contours to the cheeks, jawline, and neck while avoiding the overly tight or artificial appearance associated with older facelift techniques.

Pairing a Neck Lift with a Facelift

Many patients choose to combine their facelift with a neck lift procedure.

This combination creates more harmonious results by addressing sagging skin, muscle banding, and excess fat beneath the chin and along the neck.

By rejuvenating both the face and neck together, patients often achieve a smoother transition between facial contours and the neckline, resulting in a more cohesive and youthful appearance.

Good Candidates

Facelift candidates are typically individuals who notice sagging skin in the mid or lower face, jowling along the jawline, or deep facial creases that do not improve with non-surgical treatments. Ideal candidates are generally in good overall health, have realistic expectations, and are non-smokers or willing to stop smoking prior to surgery.

If your primary concerns involve skin texture, fine lines, or upper-face heaviness, treatments such as upper eyelid surgery or non-surgical skin rejuvenation may be more appropriate than a facelift alone. These options can be discussed in detail during your consultation.

Facelift Techniques

Facelift surgery can be performed using a variety of techniques, depending on the degree of aging and individual anatomy. One advanced option is the deep plane facelift, also known as the sub-SMAS facelift. This approach is particularly effective for patients with more pronounced skin laxity and jowling.

The deep plane technique involves lifting beneath the SMAS layer and releasing key facial ligaments. This allows the midface, jawline, and neck to be repositioned as a unit, creating more durable and natural-looking results compared to skin-only facelifts.

The Facelift Recovery Process

Recovery following facelift surgery varies depending on the techniques used and individual healing factors. Swelling and bruising are expected during the first one to two weeks and gradually improve over time. Most patients are able to return to non-strenuous activities within 10 to 14 days, while more vigorous activity is typically resumed after several weeks.

Once swelling and bruising have resolved, patients begin to see their refined facial contours and final results. To better understand realistic outcomes, patients are encouraged to review before and after facelift results.

How Long Do Facelift Results Last?

Although a facelift does not stop the natural aging process, it can significantly set back the clock. Many patients enjoy improvements that last for many years, particularly when combined with healthy lifestyle habits, sun protection, and proper skincare.

Even as aging continues, most patients find that they continue to look younger than they would have without surgery, maintaining improved facial definition and skin tone well into the future.

Arrange Your Facelift Consultation

Patients considering a facelift in Atlanta, Buckhead, or Sandy Springs are encouraged to contact Monarch Plastic Surgery & Skin Renewal Center for a personalized consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons.

To take the first step toward long-lasting facial revitalization, Schedule your consultation today.