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A facelift, when performed with advanced surgical techniques, 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.

What is a facelift?

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, 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 in Austin is 100 percent customized. In his words, “there are no shortcuts to quality,” and he lives this philosophy in his surgical planning and performance.

Dr. Antunes examining the patients face

Facelift Before & Afters

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What are the benefits of a facelift?

Facelift surgery is considered the gold standard in facial rejuvenation for a good reason. The procedure can shave years off of your perceived age, boosting your self-image and maximizing your confidence, both professionally and socially.  And with today’s rise in video conferencing on platforms such as Zoom and FaceTime, looking your best has never been more urgent.

  • It helps combat volume loss and hollowness in the midface
  • Corrects sagging cheeks and jowls
  • Erases wrinkles, lines, creases, and folds
  • Tightens and firms the underlying facial muscles
  • Improves definition in the jawline
  • It helps reduce the appearance of a double chin
  • Restores a youthful, relaxed countenance
  • Natural-looking outcome
  • Long-lasting result
  • Increases satisfaction with your appearance
Woman smiling with her hands on her face.

Am I a candidate for a Facelift in Austin?

Your facelift 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.

How is a Facelift in Austin performed?

A facelift is performed under general anesthesia. It will require several hours, and Dr. Antunes never rushes the process – his precision techniques take time. Your facelift may include several surgical procedures, including:

  • Incision placed around the ear structure, and in some cases, beneath the chin.
  • The underlying connective tissues and muscles of the face are reconstructed to provide a tauter support to the midface, jawline, and neck area.
  • Facial fat may be redistributed, or natural fat transfer performed.
  • Liposuction may be employed to remove a double chin or upper neck fat.
  • Excess sagging skin is meticulously removed.

At Face Austin, our approach to facelift creates a very natural look. For younger people, a limited incision facelift or mini facelift can be performed.

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:

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

The day after your surgery, you will have a follow-up appointment with Dr. Antunes. Your surgical dressings will be removed and replaced, and your incisions evaluated to ensure all is proceeding as it should. The following day, you will start to feel better and will 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.

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 achieve this landmark earlier.

Why choose Face Austin for a facelift?

Over time, our skin is affected by age, sun exposure, and the stresses of our daily life. A facelift counteracts these factors by removing fat, repairing muscles, and removing excess skin, leaving you looking younger than before. 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. His delicate, precision techniques and dedication have led Face Austin to be one of the top facial surgery practices in Austin, TX.

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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.

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