Facelift in New York City

As we age, the visible changes are manifested on a number of levels: skin may become more lax and inelastic, jowls become deeper and more pronounced, the neck slackens, and the youthful volume from the upper cheek region and mid-face decreases. Restoring youthful beauty with our NYC facelift takes all of these elements into consideration. The best approach is always one that reestablishes facial harmony and a refreshed appearance.

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"I have the highest regard, praise and thanks to Dr. Kolker and his great team of professional staff. Being a nurse and healthcare administrator, I had very high expectations for having facial plastic surgery and wanting assurance of a great outcome, which is exactly what I received."

— A.M. / New York

What is a Facelift?

A facelift is one of the cornerstones of facial rejuvenation, and is applicable in circumstances where deeper tissue repositioning, particularly of the jowls and neck, are required.

There has been a paradigm shift in facial plastic surgery and facial rejuvenation, and facelift surgery today is quite different than years past; "tight" or "pulled" have been definitively replaced by soft, gentle, delicate, youthful and natural. There are myriad techniques available to rejuvenate the face, and determining the best facial rejuvenation methods must be carefully choreographed to achieve your unique goals and desires.

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A facelift is a procedure where surgery is used to make the face look younger. This is generally accomplished by gentle repositioning skin on the face to create a more smooth, youthful look.

In youth, our faces are fuller in the cheekbone region, and narrower at the chin and jaw, much like a "heart" shape.

As we age, the upper face narrows with volume loss, and the lower face spreads, with jowls and jaw becoming more prominent, with the face assuming a more "trapezoidal" shape. The best facial rejuvenation approaches do not seek to "pull" this aging relationship back to baseline, rather, it is the gentle repositioning of the descending, wider elements (jowls and lower cheek) to more youthful positions, and repositioning and replacing lost volume to the upper cheek region to reestablish a more beautiful and natural contour.

What cosmetic issues does a Facelift address?

When performed by a qualified New York City facial plastic surgeon, a facelift can take up to ten years off your appearance. During the procedure, Dr. Kolker will reposition the soft tissues to improve age-related concerns such as:

  • Loose jowls
  • Sagging facial skin
  • Poor chin and jawline definition
  • Slackness in the upper neck region
  • Laxity, wrinkles, and fine lines on the lower two-thirds of the face

Who is the ideal candidate for a Facelift?

Most patients who consider a facelift have pronounced signs of facial aging that non-surgical treatments cannot address. The best candidates:

  • Have realistic expectations
  • Do not have serious health issues
  • Do not have a history of keloid scarring
  • Refrain from smoking (or are willing to quit)
  • Understand the risks associated with cosmetic surgery

Dr. Kolker's Message to Those Considering a Facelift

"A facelift is part of a concert of techniques used to refresh and rejuvenate the face. The best facelift is never tight; it is meant to restore the position of neck, jowl, and cheek, and replace volume from whence it was lost. The ultimate goal is the restoration of youthful facial balance and harmony."

Dr. Adam Kolker
American Society of Plastic Surgeons The American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc American Board of Medical Specialties The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery The American Board of Surgery American College of Surgeons American Academy of Pediatrics Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons ​New York Regional Society of Plastic Surgeons

Complementary Procedures

While many patients have fantastic results with a facelift alone, Dr. Kolker may suggest combined procedures in some cases. He will draw on his expertise as a double board-certified plastic surgeon to determine the best method of age reversal for your specific needs. These are some of the most popular combined treatments that he offers.

Facelift and Neck Lift

While a facelift improves a jowly appearance, some patients may benefit from neck lift surgery in conjunction with their facelift. A neck lift entails tightening the platysma muscle to correct vertical neck bands and slackening of the neck.

Facelift and Skin Rejuvenation

Non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatments such as lasers and chemical peels go hand in hand with a facelift. While a facelift primarily addresses laxity, skin rejuvenation aims to improve the vibrancy, texture, and evenness of the overlying skin. Dr. Kolker may also discuss cosmetic injectables such as Botox and dermal fillers if you are a good candidate.

Learn more about skin rejuvenation.

Facelift and Blepharoplasty

For patients with heavy eyelids, Dr. Kolker may suggest an upper or lower lid blepharoplasty. Eyelid surgery is a wonderful complement to facelift surgery for those who need it.

Facelift and Brow Lift

A facelift does not address the upper third of the face. Patients who have deep static wrinkles on their forehead may be good candidates for a combined facelift and brow lift surgery, also sometimes called a forehead lift. Expression lines are best treated with wrinkle relaxants such as Botox.

Mini Facelift

Patients in their 30s and 40s who are not quite ready for a full facelift yet may be candidates for mini facelift surgery. This procedure aims to correct mild-to-moderate signs of aging on the lower third of the face, such as a jowly appearance, sagging cheeks, or poor jawline contour. The results are more subtle compared to a full facelift. Likewise, the recovery is shorter

Secondary Facelift

While a facelift can reverse facial aging, it does not halt the aging process. Patients may consider having a second facelift later in life to maintain a youthful-looking appearance.

Revision Facelift

Facelift surgery is both an art and a science. It takes a skilled surgeon to produce a result that looks natural. While most patients are thrilled with their results, there can be times when a patient feels their past surgeon did not have a good understanding of their goals. In these cases, Dr. Kolker may suggest a facelift revision surgery.

What are your non-surgical options?

Restoration of volume alone may be appropriate in select cases, as fillers (Juvederm, Restylane, Voluma, Sculptra, and others) or fat (autologous fat transfer from your own body) can reestablish youthful fullness, and may achieve your goals with less downtime. However, when jowls become more prominent and slack, and the skin and soft tissues beneath the chin and of the upper neck become lax, a facelift may be appropriate.

These more architectural changes associated with descent of skin and soft tissues during facial aging can't always be "camouflaged" nonsurgically. When necessary, facelift surgery is frequently performed in conjunction with other facial rejuvenation procedures, and most commonly with the restoration of volume (fat grafting). This allows for more minimally invasive facelift approaches where appropriate, and promotes more natural, balanced and beautiful results.

When jowls become prominent, the lower facial skin and soft tissues become lax, and when the neck begins to drop, replacement of the deeper facial tissues to a more anatomically balanced position is required to restore youthful proportion and shape to the face.

The deeper tissue layers that require repositioning are called the SMAS, which is a firm connective tissue layer, and the platysma, which is a muscle sling in close relation to the cheek SMAS that passes beneath the chin and neck. After a comprehensive personal discussion and physical evaluation in Dr. Kolker's office in NYC, facelift and other facial rejuvenation options that are tailored to your unique goals and desires will be presented.

What are your facelift options?

Dr. Kolker will always present what he feels to be the safest, most effective combination of facial aesthetic procedures, favoring the least invasive methods, to achieve your goals. When a facelift is appropriate, the following techniques will be considered:

  • Short Scar Facelift - this minimal incision facelift approach allows for the repositioning of deeper facial tissues with more limited incisions
  • Classical Facelift - deep tissue repositioning is carried out, and more skin can be removed.
  • Facelift with Neck lift - an incision is often added beneath the chin, and the platysma muscles are repaired
  • SMAS Plication - the SMAS is tightened to lift the jowl and cheek
  • SMASectomy - a strip of SMAS is removed, and then tightened
  • SMAS Flap - SMAS is elevated, and tightened
  • MACS Lift - generally associated with short scar facelifts, purse string sutures tighten the cheek and facial SMAS planes

There are a variety of factors that might make an individual a candidate for a particular facelift technique. Subjective desires are always measured, and it is the union of the improvements you seek and your particular anatomy that inform the best facelift choice.

A facelift, as with any facial rejuvenation process, is about restoring natural balance and facial harmony. As such, most will consider adjunct complementary treatments. Autologous fat transfer is the most common, as the facelift will restore the soft tissue position that has changed, and the addition of fat will restore the volume that has dissipated. Upper and lower lid blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) is also a frequent accompaniment. A chin implant can further improve the definition of the jawline and upper neck, and help to accentuate a more youthful appearance. Brow lift can also be combined with facelift surgery in New York City.

What is the best age to get a facelift?

There is no set age for a facelift. The procedure is ideal for healthy patients in their 40s to 70s who display prominent signs of facial aging. Younger patients might consider non-surgical options or a mini facelift.

How painful is a facelift?

Discomfort in recovery is usually mild to moderate. Most patients find the results of their facelift are well worth the temporary discomfort.

How long do facelift results last?

Depending on the type of facelift, many patients enjoy a refreshed appearance for up to a decade. Factors such as genetics and lifestyle factors such as sun exposure or smoking can affect the longevity of results.

Learn more about your New York City Facelift options

There is no substitute for a personal consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon experienced in facial aesthetic treatments, and the wide array of facelift techniques

Considering your unique needs and goals, Dr. Kolker will formulate a treatment plan that suits you best. Facial plastic surgery requires delicacy, experience, appreciation of anatomy, and artistic vision to achieve the most beautiful and natural results, and the surgeon you choose makes a difference. We invite you to schedule a consultation to discuss your facelift with top facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Adam Kolker at his office in NYC, and we look forward to warmly welcoming you to our practice.

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Adam R. Kolker, M.D., F.A.C.S. New York Aesthetic & Reconstructive Plastic Surgery

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Dr Kolker is a Double Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon In New York City Providing Quality Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, Liposuction, Rhinoplasty, Facelift and other Cosmetic Surgery procedures.