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Facelift San Diego

artistry, meticulous surgical technique

At Sadrian Plastic Surgery, a large percentage of our facelift patients come to us through word-of-mouth. Why? Our founder, Dr. Sadrian, is a highly-skilled, board-certified plastic surgeon with another specialty certification in oral and maxillofacial surgery. His artistry, meticulous surgical technique, and almost two decades in practice has given him the ability to create a very natural, fresh, youthful look. Tired of seeing sagging, aging skin, and want to look as young as you feel? We invite you to meet with us in a private consultation for facelift surgery at our San Diego office.

Facelift San Diego

What is a Facelift?

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure designed to rejuvenate the face by tightening sagging skin, repositioning underlying tissues, and removing excess fat. This treatment restores a more youthful, refreshed appearance while maintaining the natural contours of your face. At Sadrian Plastic Surgery in San Diego, we use advanced techniques tailored to each patient’s anatomy and goals, ensuring results that look natural—not overly tight or artificial. Whether you’re addressing deep wrinkles, jowls, or sagging skin, a facelift can help you feel as vibrant as you look.

What Does a Facelift Address?

A facelift focuses on rejuvenating the lower two-thirds of the face and upper neck. Common concerns a facelift can address include:

  • Sagging Skin: Restores firmness and elasticity to drooping skin.
  • Jowls: Eliminates sagging skin along the jawline for a more defined contour.
  • Deep Wrinkles: Reduces the appearance of deep creases, particularly around the mouth and nose (nasolabial folds).
  • Neck Bands: Often combined with a neck lift to smooth vertical banding and tighten loose skin under the chin.

By focusing on these areas, a facelift creates a refreshed and youthful appearance while preserving your unique features.

Is a Facelift Right for Me?

Modern aesthetic technology offers many non-surgical treatments for facial rejuvenation, and we offer the best of the treatments now available in the USA. In cases of more extreme facial sagging, wrinkling, or jowls, a surgical procedure will be needed to restore facial skin, tissue, and muscle structure. Every facelift is a custom surgery. The condition of your skin, the extent of skin laxity, and the degree of sagging or drooping is all taken into account when planning surgery. If your facial skin cannot be rejuvenated through non-surgical means, and you are in good general health, you are a candidate for Dr. Sadrian's facelift surgery in San Diego.

Facelift San Diego

Why Should You Get a Facelift?

Dr. Sadrian's facelift surgery can fully rejuvenate your appearance. It is the advised procedure for you if you live with any of the following problems:

  • You want to look as young as you feel.
  • You have developed deep lines, wrinkles and creases.
  • When you look in the mirror, you feel you look old and tired.
  • You have sagging skin and tissue on face, under chin, and upper neck.
  • Your facial appearance makes you less confident, affecting all areas of your life, from social to business.

Different Types of Facelifts

Facelifts come in several variations, each tailored to specific aging concerns and desired outcomes. At Sadrian Plastic Surgery, we carefully select the most appropriate technique for your unique facial anatomy and aesthetic goals. Here’s a closer look at the most common types of facelifts:

Standard Facelift

The standard facelift is the gold standard for addressing moderate to severe signs of aging. This comprehensive procedure targets sagging skin, deep wrinkles, and jowls in the mid-face, jawline, and neck. By repositioning deeper tissues and removing excess skin, a standard facelift provides dramatic, long-lasting results. Patients who undergo this procedure often experience a significant boost in confidence as their refreshed appearance looks natural and rejuvenated.

Mini Facelift

For patients experiencing early signs of aging, such as mild skin laxity or subtle jowls, a mini facelift offers a less invasive solution. This technique involves shorter incisions and focuses on the lower face, making it an excellent choice for patients in their 40s or early 50s. With quicker recovery times and a focus on maintaining natural contours, the mini facelift provides a refreshed look without the need for extensive downtime.

Deep Plane Facelift

The deep plane facelift represents a more advanced surgical approach, ideal for patients seeking the most natural-looking results. This technique lifts and repositions deeper facial tissues, addressing mid-face sagging, volume loss, and prominent nasolabial folds. Unlike traditional methods that focus on the skin, the deep plane facelift restores youthful contours by working on the underlying structural layers. This method achieves subtle yet transformative results with less swelling and a shorter recovery time.

SMAS Facelift

The SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system) facelift targets the foundational support structures of the face for a lifted, youthful appearance. By tightening and repositioning this key facial layer, the SMAS facelift effectively addresses sagging skin, drooping jowls, and volume loss in the cheeks. This technique strikes a balance between dramatic improvement and natural results, making it a popular option for patients with moderate signs of aging.

Revision Facelift

For patients who are dissatisfied with the results of a previous facelift or wish to refresh aging from an earlier procedure, a revision facelift can help. This surgery corrects issues such as overly tight skin, uneven contours, or excessive scarring. It’s also ideal for addressing new signs of aging that have developed over time. With meticulous care, Dr. Sadrian works to restore balance and enhance the overall outcome, ensuring patients achieve the natural, youthful look they desire.

Revision Facelift Surgery: Righting the Wrongs

It is unfortunate, but some facelifts don’t turn out as they should. Patients who are unhappy with the results of facelift surgery often come to Dr. Sadrian for revision surgery. Whether you need to correct a poorly-performed facelift that appears pulled tight, excessive scarring, or restore a facelift performed years in the past that need to be refreshed, we can help. Dr. Sadrian is known for his artistry and exceptional surgical skills and is well-qualified to assist you in this important procedure.

Facelift San Diego

Facelift Add-ons and Alternatives

For enhanced results, a facelift can be combined with complementary procedures:

  • Neck Lift: Addresses sagging skin and fat under the chin and along the neck, often performed with a facelift for a cohesive look.
  • Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty): Refreshes tired eyes by removing excess skin and fat from the upper or lower eyelids.
  • Brow Lift: Lifts a heavy or sagging brow, opening the eyes and smoothing forehead lines.
  • Fat Grafting: Restores youthful volume to the cheeks and under-eye hollows.
  • Non-Surgical Alternatives: Patients with mild signs of aging may benefit from dermal fillers, Botox, or laser skin resurfacing as less invasive options.

If you’re exploring non-surgical options, treatments like the "20-Minute Facelift" use advanced injectable techniques to achieve subtle lifting effects without downtime.

Neck Liposuction: Removing Excess Fat in a Facelift

It may be necessary to remove excess fat lodged beneath your chin and on the neck to create the fresh, youthful look you envision. If you have a double chin or have fatty deposits drifting downward on your upper neck, a gentle, custom liposuction treatment may be employed to remove the fat as part of your procedure, or as a single procedure for patients with a high level of skin flexibility.

Facelift San Diego

What is the Cost of Facelift Surgery in San Diego?

A facelift is a custom procedure, each one being entirely unique to the person's anatomy and the desired outcome of the procedure. The cost of a facelift and neck lift with Dr. Sadrian ranges between $30,000 to $32,000 and can vary depending on how much correction is needed and the surgical technique employed. That ballpark price does include ALL fees however, including surgeon's fee, operating room fees, anesthesia and before and after surgery visits. Please contact Dr. Sadrian to set up a private consultation, during which you can discuss if you are a candidate for facelift surgery and establish the cost for your custom-tailored procedure.

Recovery Timeline After a Facelift

Healing from a facelift is a step-by-step journey, with noticeable improvements at each stage. Here’s a detailed timeline to guide your expectations:

First Week:

Swelling and bruising will peak during the initial days but can be effectively managed with prescribed medications and cold compresses. It’s essential to rest with your head elevated and avoid strenuous activities. Short, gentle walks are encouraged to promote healthy circulation and reduce the risk of blood clots. Most patients will experience mild tightness and discomfort, which is temporary.

Two Weeks:

Sutures or staples are typically removed, and noticeable swelling and bruising begin to subside. You can resume light activities, such as returning to work or social engagements, depending on your comfort level. Makeup may be used to conceal any residual discoloration.

One Month:

By this stage, swelling significantly decreases, and your enhanced contours become more defined. Many patients feel confident going out without concealing their results. While most daily activities can be resumed, vigorous exercise and heavy lifting should still be avoided to ensure proper healing.

Three to Six Months:

Residual swelling continues to diminish, and scars gradually fade into discreet, nearly invisible lines. Your results will appear more natural and refined. You can confidently enjoy your rejuvenated, youthful appearance, knowing the most significant part of your recovery is complete.

Post-Operative Care Tips for a Smooth Recovery

  • Follow Instructions: Carefully adhere to Dr. Sadrian’s aftercare guidelines, including incision care and prescribed medications.
  • Keep Your Head Elevated: Use pillows to maintain an elevated position while resting, which helps reduce swelling and promotes healing.
  • Stay Hydrated and Eat Nutritiously: Proper hydration and nutrient-rich foods support your body’s recovery.
  • Avoid Smoking and Alcohol: These can impair healing and prolong recovery time.
  • Use Sun Protection: Shield your face from direct sunlight to prevent scar discoloration and maintain results.
  • Be Patient: Full recovery takes time, but each step brings you closer to the final, refreshed appearance you envisioned.

Dr. Sadrian’s team provides personalized support throughout your recovery to ensure optimal comfort and stunning results.

Facelift San Diego

Risks and complications

The risks of a facelift are similar to any surgery, but with an added element: Your face is visible to everyone, and if the procedure is poorly performed, you will require a revision surgery. Always choose your surgeon carefully. Risks include excessive bleeding, infection, reactions to anesthesia, blood clots, and some others. Dr. Sadrian is a double board-certified San Diego plastic surgeon who performs facelift surgeries at his private, state-of-the-art surgery center, equipped with the latest technology to better protect patient health and safety.

Why Choose Dr. Sadrian for a Facelift?

It could not be more important that a facial surgery is performed by a top-rated, highly-skilled plastic surgeon. You will be living with the results of the surgery for many years – you can’t afford to take any chances. Dr. Sadrian is an acclaimed, board-certified plastic surgeon with a reputation for achieving truly excellent results in facelift procedures. His approach involves a thorough evaluation of your current skin quality, the areas that have begun to sag and crease, listening closely to what you hope to achieve. Many patients seeking a facelift have concerns that after surgery, they will look unnatural or be left with a pulled, tight look. Dr. Sadrian is known for his ability to create very natural looking results. We want you to experience increased confidence and quality of life, knowing you look your best.

Facelift San Diego

Facelift Frequently Asked Questions

After a facelift San Diego patients want to look younger, refreshed, and rejuvenated. It is all about the surgical technique used – choose your plastic surgeon by reviewing credentials, experience, and RealSelf rating.

For a facelift San Diego patients aged 40 are typically at the optimal time, as your skin is still flexible. The facelift can be touched up later to maintain the refreshed look.

Modern aesthetic technology has developed many alternatives, such as laser skin resurfacing. However, a facelift is the ultimate age-defying surgery.

Patients aged 75 and older have been found to be at no higher risk in a facelift than many younger patients. The primary concern is being healthy enough to undergo surgery safely.

Full facial rejuvenation may require a neck lift in conjunction with a facelift. A facelift addresses sagging jowls and restores the definition at the jawline. A neck lift will take care of a double chin, sagging skin, and vertical neck bands.

You have the option to undergo a brow lift or eyelid surgery along with your facelift, so your entire look is refreshed and rejuvenated.

For cosmetic surgery, you must be at least 18 – too young to need a facelift. The youngest patients who choose to undergo a facelift are usually in their mid to late 30s.

Health insurance does not cover elective cosmetic surgeries. They do cover reconstructive procedures.

You have several options for financing a facelift with Dr. Sadrian, including CareCredit and Alphaeon, as well as the option of credit card payment.

While complications are rare, risks include infection, bruising, or swelling. Choosing an experienced surgeon like Dr. Sadrian minimizes these risks, ensuring patient safety and exceptional results.

A deep plane facelift or SMAS facelift typically provides the most natural results by addressing underlying structures, not just the skin.

With proper care, results can last 10–15 years. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and skincare routine helps extend your youthful appearance.

Most patients report minimal discomfort post-surgery, managed with prescribed medication. Dr. Sadrian’s techniques prioritize patient comfort during recovery.

Plan on taking two weeks off work. You may feel well enough to return earlier but having enough time to rest and recover is important.

No, in a high-quality facelift, the incisions are carefully placed so they are hidden from view, around the ears.

Avoid sun exposure for four to six weeks. After the healing is complete, wear a high SPF sunscreen. Sun exposure can shorten the results of your surgery.

You should see the final results in about six months to a year – it takes time for residual swelling to disappear, although only you will see it.

You will not be able to exercise for six weeks after your facelift.

Planning on making an appearance at an event or party? Plan your surgery six to eight weeks prior to the event so you look your best.

You will be allowed to shower after the bandages are removed in your follow-up visit.

Dr. Sadrian's San Diego
Facelift Patient Testimonial Video

Patient Testimonial

The decision to undergo a cosmetic procedure is extremely personal. If you are considering an enhancement, you want to be confident that your results will appear fresh and natural – and like you. Dr. Sadrian is among the finest plastic surgeons practicing in the San Diego area and has achieved acclaim for consistently achieving natural-looking results. Schedule an appointment to learn more.

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