Facelift
Austin, TX

When performed with advanced surgical techniques, a facelift leaves you looking refreshed and youthful in the surgical approach. Our double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Marcelo Antunes, has years of additional education and experience specializing in facelifts in Austin, TX.

Facelift in Austin Before & After Photos

View More facelift Photos

What is a facelift?

A facelift is a surgical procedure that improves visible signs of aging in the face and neck. Older techniques did not address the underlying muscle structure, and the results of a facelift may have looked unnatural. Our surgeon uses the latest surgical procedures that treat the entire facial structure, including the deeper layers. This approach achieves a very natural-looking outcome. Dr. Antunes's facelift is 100 percent customized. He says, “There are no shortcuts to quality,” and he lives this philosophy in his surgical planning and performance.

How is a Facelift in Austin performed?

A facelift in Austin is conducted under general anesthesia and typically takes several hours. Dr. Antunes prioritizes precision over speed, employing various surgical techniques, including:

Incisions around the ear structure and possibly beneath the chin.
The procedure involves reconstructing underlying connective tissues and muscles to enhance midface, jawline, and neck support.

Facial fat may be redistributed, and liposuction might be used to address double chin or upper neck fat.
The meticulous removal of excess sagging skin is a key component.
For younger individuals, a limited incision facelift or mini facelift may be performed at Face Austin, resulting in a natural-looking outcome.

How long is the recovery?

Every person heals at a slightly different rate, and the recovery will reflect the extent of the corrections needed. Generally, the timeline is as follows:

Day 1

After your facelift, your face will be bandaged, and you can return home to rest. You must be driven home and arrange for another adult to assist you for the first night. You will have prescription pain medication to stay comfortable and post-surgery directions to follow, including a specific schedule for medications.

Day 2

You will have a follow-up appointment with Dr. Antunes the day after your surgery. Your surgical dressings will be removed and replaced, and your incisions will be evaluated to ensure all is proceeding as it should. The following day, you will start feeling better and likely feel like performing minor tasks. Within a day or two, the swelling will be fading, and you should no longer need prescription pain medication.

Weeks later

You will have several follow-up appointments, and the stitches will be removed when it is appropriate for you. By about the third or fourth week, you should look and feel well enough to engage in your usual social activities or return to work. Some people achieved this landmark earlier.

What are the benefits of a facelift?

A facelift is hailed as the premier solution for facial rejuvenation, and its benefits are numerous.

Here's how a facelift can benefit you:

Addresses volume loss and hollowness in the midface
Corrects sagging cheeks and jowls
Eliminates wrinkles, lines, creases, and folds
Tightens and firms underlying facial muscles
Improves jawline definition
Reduces the appearance of a double chin
Restores a youthful and relaxed countenance
Delivers a natural-looking outcome
Yields long-lasting results
Enhances satisfaction with your overall appearance
Embracing a facelift rejuvenates your facial features and offers enduring benefits, contributing to a more confident and satisfied sense of self

Woman smiling with her hands on her face.

Am I a candidate for a Facelift in Austin?

Your facelift in Austin will be a custom procedure that will address any of the following signs of facial aging:

Wrinkles
Creases
Upper neck fat
Double chin fat
Sagging jowls
Droopy cheeks
Lost jawline definition
“Turkey neck”
Face looks flat
Chin wrinkles and creases

To be a good candidate for a facelift, you should be in good overall health, a non-smoker, and have time off work or other activities to recover.

Why choose Face Austin for a facelift?

At Face Austin, we are focused strictly on facial plastic surgery. Dr. Antunes, our chief surgeon, is double board-certified and fellowship-trained as a facial plastic surgeon specializing in facelifts, deep plane facelifts & mini facelifts. His delicate, precision techniques and dedication have made Face Austin one of the top facial surgery practices in Austin, TX.

Facelift FAQ

Will I have noticeable scars after facelift surgery?

Anytime an incision is created, there will be resultant scarring. However, your surgeon can apply best practices to minimize the degree to which scarring is visible after treatment. Facelift scars generally begin in front of the ears and then extend beneath the earlobes and behind the ears, disappearing into the hairline. An additional incision may be made beneath the chin if neck contouring is required in tandem with a facelift.

Scarring outcomes can be improved through the use of medical grade skincare products that maximize wound healing. Gentle massaging of the scar tissue at around 2 or 3 weeks post op is also effective for reducing their appearance. This practice can help to trigger collagen regeneration, which firms and tightens the skin.

Can a facelift be combined with other procedures?

Most definitely! Facelift surgery can be performed in tandem with a variety of other rejuvenation procedures, both surgical and non-surgical. A brow lift, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, a neck lift, chin augmentation, buccal fat removal, or otoplasty can all be undergone at the same time as a facelift to provide a complete and rewarding anti-aging makeover.

Injectables and dermal fillers can accompany a facelift as well, used to modify facial contours and bring the features into greater harmony and balance. BOTOX can be used to smooth away dynamic wrinkles and lines, improving the facial expression and making the client appear more well rested and relaxed overall.

Are there any risks or complications associated with facelift surgery?

With any surgical procedure, there are always risks. It is a personal matter to weigh out the benefits of cosmetic enhancement and determine if moving forward with a facelift is in your best interest. A skilled and experienced plastic surgeon will do everything possible to minimize these risks, but they cannot be eliminated completely.

Facelift risks may include:

Anesthesia risks
Bleeding
Infection
Poor wound healing
Hair loss at the incision sites
Nerve injuries
Numbness at the incision sites
Prolonged swelling
Unfavorable scarring
Asymmetry
Results that you are unhappy with

Your doctor will discuss these risks and possible complications with you in detail during your confidential Austin consultation. You will be asked to sign consent forms stating you understand the risks but want to move forward anyway.

Can a liquid facelift achieve results equal to a surgical facelift?

A non-surgical facelift performed with dermal fillers, skin resurfacing, natural fat transfer, or other treatments can significantly restore your appearance, but does not achieve the comprehensive results of a custom surgical facelift. When the underlying anatomical structure of the facial tissues, skin, muscles, and fat is repositioned and restored, the result is a far younger, fully refreshed look. Some non-surgical treatments can be combined with a surgical facelift to enhance the overall result.

Will my face look unnatural or pulled after a facelift?

A facelift performed with advanced surgical techniques avoids the unnatural, pulled appearance that is obviously the result of surgery.

Will facelift treat my sagging eyelids?

A facelift addresses the mid to lower face and upper neck regions. To rejuvenate the eyes, eyelid surgery can be performed in the same surgery.

Facelift Austin, TX