What Is a Facelift? A Complete Guide to Facial Rejuvenation

You catch your reflection in a car window, and something feels off. The face looking back is yours, of course, but the jawline is softer than it used to be. Your cheeks settle lower than you remember, and a tiredness has crept into your features that no amount of sleep, sunscreen, or serum quite removes. Maybe you’ve been thinking about it for a while, quietly to yourself. Maybe a single recent photo finally convinces you that it’s time.

Facelift surgery has grown into one of the most asked-about facial procedures in the world. According to ISAPS, 737,028 facelifts were performed globally in 2024, a 7.4 percent jump from the year before. That steady rise isn’t a passing trend. More and more people simply want the face in the mirror to match the energy they still feel inside, and modern techniques finally make that possible.

At Aesthetic Arts in Commerce, Georgia, the facelift conversation starts with a hands-on assessment and a plan built around your goals, not a one-size template. Triple board-certified surgeon Dr. Michael Kluska has practiced cosmetic and plastic surgery for over 25 years. This guide covers what a facelift is, the techniques surgeons use today, who is a good candidate, how to prepare, what recovery looks like, and how to think clearly about cost.

Key takeaways

• A facelift, medically called a rhytidectomy, repositions skin, fat, and the deeper SMAS muscle layer to address sagging in the mid and lower face and the upper neck. It does not erase sun damage or fine surface wrinkles.
• Three main techniques exist: mini, traditional SMAS, and deep plane, and the right one depends on your anatomy, the depth of sagging, and how much downtime you can take.
• The best candidates are healthy adults with good skin elasticity and realistic expectations. Smoking, uncontrolled medical conditions, and very recent major weight changes can disqualify you.
• Recovery moves in predictable stages. Most traditional facelift patients return to desk work in 2 to 3 weeks (closer to 10 to 14 days for a mini), with final results visible 6 to 12 months after surgery.
• Cost varies widely by technique, surgeon experience, geography, and what’s included. Insurance does not cover purely cosmetic facelift surgery, but financing can make it manageable.

What exactly is a facelift, and what can it do for your face?

A facelift, or a rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that improves visible signs of aging in the face and neck. The name comes from the Greek words for “wrinkle” and “removal,” but that translation undersells what’s actually happening. A modern facelift doesn’t just trim loose skin. Your surgeon makes small incisions, separates skin from the underlying tissue, repositions or tightens the deeper SMAS muscle layer, removes or reshapes excess fat, redrapes the skin, and trims what’s no longer needed.

The procedure targets specific changes that show up in the mid and lower face. According to ASPS, a facelift addresses five visible signs of aging:

• Relaxation of facial skin
• Deepening of the fold from the nose to the corners of the mouth (the nasolabial fold)
• Loss of muscle tone in the lower face that creates jowls
• Fat that has either fallen or disappeared from where it used to live
• Loose skin and fat along the neck

If that list sounds like what you’ve been seeing in the mirror, you’re exactly who this procedure was designed to help. And the changes you’re noticing aren’t a personal failing; they’re simply biology at work.

Collagen, the protein that keeps skin firm and springy, naturally starts to slow in your 30s. Years of sun exposure speed up that breakdown, so by your 50s the effects become visible even in people who’ve been careful with sunscreen.

Add in genetics, life stress, weight changes, and the natural shift of facial fat pads downward, and the face you grew up with starts to soften and settle. None of that is a personal failing. It’s biology, working normally.

Here’s the part that matters for managing your expectations. A facelift will improve and enhance the contour of your face and jawline. It will not correct sun damage or fine wrinkles that have developed on the skin’s surface. That’s the truth most consultations spend a long time clarifying. A facelift won’t:

• Erase fine lines around your eyes or mouth (those need skin resurfacing, laser, or fillers)
• Lift heavy upper eyelids (that’s blepharoplasty, often combined with a facelift)
• Smooth pigmentation or sun damage on the skin itself
• Stop the underlying aging process going forward

So how does it compare to non-surgical options? Treatments like Botox, dermal fillers, microneedling, and laser resurfacing work on the surface and at the muscle level. They can soften lines, restore volume in specific spots, and improve skin texture. A facelift works deeper, down to the structure of the face itself. For mild concerns, non-surgical care is often the right starting point. When tissue laxity is the real issue, no amount of injectable will lift it the way surgery can. Curious to see what a real lift looks like in actual patients? Browse the face gallery to compare before-and-after results from facial rejuvenation patients.

What are the different types of facelifts, and which one is right for you?

Not all facelifts are the same procedure, and that’s actually a good thing. Different patterns of aging call for different approaches. Most surgeons today work with three main techniques, plus they assess candidacy carefully so the technique matches the face in front of them.

Technique	Best for	Incisions
Mini facelift	Mild jowling, early sagging in 40s	Shorter, around the ear
Traditional SMAS	Moderate sagging, mid-40s to 50s	Standard, along hairline and around ear
Deep plane	Significant tissue descent, deeper folds	Similar length, dissection below SMAS

Traditional SMAS facelift

The Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System, usually shortened to SMAS, is a continuous layer of fibrous tissue and muscle that runs from your neck up through your cheeks. A traditional SMAS facelift repositions this layer along with the overlying skin, addressing the muscle and the surface in a coordinated lift. The technique works best for patients in their mid-40s to 50s with moderate sagging, visible jowls, and softening along the jawline. It’s the most established of the major facelift techniques, with decades of refinement behind it.

Deep plane facelift

The deep plane facelift, first described by Dr. Sam Hamra in 1990, takes the dissection one layer deeper. Instead of moving the skin and the SMAS separately, your surgeon lifts a composite flap of skin and SMAS together and releases the deeper ligaments that anchor the face. According to research on facelift techniques, this approach allows for more dramatic repositioning of the mid-face and is often recommended for patients with significant descent in the cheeks and deeper nasolabial folds.

Mini facelift

A mini facelift addresses surface-level skin and some SMAS tightening through smaller incisions, typically tucked around the ear. It’s a better choice when the patient has mild to moderate aging signs and wants shorter downtime, often 1 to 2 weeks versus 2 to 3 weeks for a full lift. It works well for patients starting earlier rather than waiting for advanced aging. It’s not just a “lite version” of a traditional facelift. It’s a different conversation, suited to a different stage.

Good candidates and disqualifying factors

The right technique only matters if you’re a candidate for surgery in the first place. According to ASPS, good facelift candidates are healthy adults without conditions that impair healing, nonsmokers (or able to quit several weeks before surgery), and people with realistic expectations. Skin elasticity matters too, because the skin needs enough flexibility to redrape smoothly over the lifted tissue.

A few specific factors can disqualify you temporarily. These include uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled high blood pressure, immune system conditions, active smoking, and recent significant weight loss without weight stabilization. Realistic motivation matters just as much as physical health. A facelift can refine and restore your features, but it can’t resolve a deeper unhappiness with how you look, which is why a thoughtful surgeon makes sure your goals are rooted in what surgery can truly deliver.

That’s where Dr. Kluska’s training really matters. He brings triple board certification in Cosmetic, Plastic/Reconstructive, and General Surgery, plus residency and fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Health System. His approach to candidacy is thorough by nature. He’ll evaluate your skin quality, bone structure, soft tissue distribution, medical history, and goals before recommending a specific technique.

How do you prepare for facelift surgery, and what happens during the procedure?

Good preparation begins a few weeks before your surgery date, and the reassuring part is that none of it is complicated. Each step is simple on its own, and together they quietly set you up for a smoother recovery and a better result. Think of it as gently stacking the odds in your favor, one easy step at a time.

Your consultation, what to ask, and what to expect

The consultation is the foundation. A facelift consultation should cover your general health and risk factors, the techniques best suited to your anatomy, your skin condition and bone structure, photographs, and a realistic look at outcomes. It helps to walk in with a few specific questions ready. How many years of facelift experience does the surgeon have? How often do they perform this procedure? Are there recommended alternatives? Will they be performing your procedure personally? What’s their complication rate?

Think of it as a two-way evaluation. This isn’t just a chance for your surgeon to assess you. It’s equally your chance to assess your surgeon. You should leave feeling heard, informed, and a little less anxious than when you walked in. Our consultations are in-person at the AAAHC-accredited Commerce surgical center. You’ll see the facility, meet the team, and ask everything that’s on your mind. 

Brenda, a patient at the Commerce office, described her consultation experience this way:

“I cannot say enough wonderful things about Dr. Kluska. From the very first consultation, he made me feel completely at ease and truly listened to my goals and concerns. His professionalism, kindness, and meticulous attention to detail exceeded every expectation I had.”

To help make your goals more accessible, we offer flexible financing options through Alphaeon Credit, CareCredit, Cherry Credit, and PatientFi, so you can choose a payment plan that fits your budget.

Medications and supplements to stop

Several common medications need to be paused before facelift surgery to reduce bleeding risk. ASPS guidance is to stop aspirin, NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac), and aspirin-containing products at least 2 weeks before surgery. All herbal supplements, vitamins, and natural products should be disclosed to your surgeon and stopped before surgery, with a focus on the bleeding-affecting culprits like fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo, garlic, ginger, ginseng, and turmeric. Prescription blood thinners (warfarin, Plavix, Eliquis) require individualized planning with the doctor who prescribed them, not unilateral stopping. Your surgeon will give you a personalized list.

Smoking, alcohol, and setting up your home

Smoking is the single most controllable risk factor in facelift recovery. Surgeon recommendations vary from 2 to 4 weeks of complete cessation before surgery, but longer is better. Nicotine constricts the small blood vessels that feed the lifted skin flaps, which means oxygen-starved tissue can heal slowly.

Avoid alcohol for the week before surgery, hydrate well, and sleep when you can. Arrange for a friend or family member to drive you home and stay with you for at least the first 48 hours. Set up a peaceful, quiet recovery zone with pillows, easy-to-reach water, soft foods, and your phone charger.

Anesthesia, incisions, and the surgery itself

Facelift surgery typically uses either intravenous (IV) sedation with local anesthesia or general anesthesia. Dr. Kluska recommends the option that fits the technique and your medical profile. At our AAAHC-accredited Commerce surgical center, facelifts are performed under general sedation and normally take 2 to 4 hours.

Medications are given right before surgery to reduce anxiety, and most patients have little memory of the early steps. A traditional facelift incision begins in the hairline at the temples, continues around the ear (following its natural creases), and ends in the lower scalp. The surgeon raises skin from the cheeks and neck, lifts the underlying tissue, redrapes the skin, and trims what’s no longer needed. Stitches and staples are removed about one week after surgery.

Other procedures that often combine with a facelift

A facelift addresses the mid and lower face, but not the eyes, the forehead, or the surface texture of the skin. That’s why combining procedures is so common. The most frequently paired procedures are brow lift and eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). Skin resurfacing, fat transfer, neck lift, and nose reshaping are also commonly combined. A facelift can be done alone or alongside any of these procedures in the same surgical session.

What does facelift recovery look like week by week?

Recovery isn’t a single event. It moves in stages, with predictable milestones, and knowing what to expect at each stage can help take a lot of the anxiety out of it. Here’s the week-by-week picture, with the caveat that every face heals slightly differently, on its own timeline.

The first 48 to 72 hours

The first two to three days are the hardest part of recovery. Pain peaks in this window, swelling and bruising are most noticeable, and most patients describe the dominant sensation as tightness rather than sharp pain. After your facelift, a turban-type dressing is placed around your head and removed in the office the following morning. Medications are prescribed to keep you comfortable. You’ll be told to sleep with your head elevated to help the swelling drain. Plan to rest, and let someone else handle the laundry, the kids, and the cooking.

When swelling and bruising peak

Swelling and bruising typically peak around days 3 to 4. Your face will look puffier and more colorful than you might expect, and that’s normal. About 80 percent of the swelling has resolved by week 3. Most of the remaining puffiness subsides by weeks 6 to 12. Bruising in the face and neck, when it shows up, is usually gone in 3 to 6 weeks.

Returning to work, social life, and exercise

Mini facelift patients tend to return to desk work between days 10 and 14, while traditional facelift patients usually need 2 to 3 weeks before going back. Either way, some residual swelling and bruising may still need camouflage. Strenuous exercise and heavy lifting need to wait 4 to 6 weeks to avoid raising blood pressure around healing tissues. Light walking is typically encouraged in the first week because it supports circulation.

Driving can resume after about two weeks with certain precautions. Contact sports are off the table for at least 3 to 4 months. Plan to wait at least 6 weeks before having hair permed or colored.

Sherry, an MSA patient who had her facelift at the Commerce office, shared this:

“I learned so much during my free consultation! Everyone was so nice and professional. I’m looking forward to my procedure in September!! follow up — I had my facelift in September and am extremely pleased!”

When you’ll see your final results

Final facelift results typically become apparent between 6 and 12 months after surgery, once residual swelling has fully resolved and the scars have matured. The best-results window is often at 3 to 6 months, with continued refinement after that. Be patient with the process. The face you see at week 6 is not the face you’ll have at month 6.

The emotional ups and downs

Almost no one talks about this part out loud. A good portion of facelift patients experience anxiety, mild depression, or mood swings during recovery. Anesthesia, swelling, restricted activity, and seeing your face in mid-transition all contribute. Most cases are temporary and resolve as recovery progresses. If you feel down, that’s not a sign you made a wrong decision. It’s a known recovery phase, and it passes.

Dr. Kluska and our team stay in touch through this period. Communicating with us and following the post-op instructions carefully is the main path to your best outcome.

What are the risks and complications of facelift surgery?

All surgeries carry some level of risk. The good news is that for healthy candidates working with a board-certified surgeon, the overall complication rate is low. A prospective study of 11,300 facelift patients (the CosmetAssure database, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2016) put the overall major complication rate at 1.8 percent. That’s a real number, not a rounding error, but it also means the vast majority of patients go through the process without any serious issue. Here’s what’s worth knowing.

The most common complication

Hematoma, a small pocket of bleeding under the skin, is the most common complication of facelift surgery, occurring at a rate of 1.1 percent in the CosmetAssure cohort. Risk is reduced by stopping blood-thinning medications before surgery and following all pre-operative instructions carefully. Dr. Kluska will explain what to watch for during recovery and how to reach the team if you need a follow-up evaluation.

Nerve concerns and what they actually look like

Because the nerves that control your facial movement run right through the surgical area, nerve injury is one of the risks patients ask about most. The reassuring reality is that permanent nerve damage is rare.

Some patients do notice temporary weakness or a slight droop in part of the face afterward. This is almost always caused by swelling pressing on a nerve, and it fades as the swelling goes down.

This is also where the surgeon’s experience counts the most. A surgeon who performs facelifts regularly knows exactly how to protect those delicate nerves.

Smoking, healing, and skin

This is the single most important modifiable risk. Smoking dramatically increases the risk of skin necrosis, a condition where skin doesn’t get enough blood supply to heal and begins to die. Nicotine constricts blood vessels and increases the stickiness of platelets, which together choke off the small vessels that feed the lifted skin flaps. That’s why surgeons ask you to stop smoking completely for several weeks before surgery, and why it’s so important to be honest with them about it.  

Scarring

Unfavorable scarring is the second most commonly reported facelift complication. The good news is that modern incisions are placed strategically along the hairline and the natural creases around the ear so most scars become very difficult to see over time. Early scars may appear red, firm, or slightly raised, then fade and flatten over 6 to 24 months. Aftercare matters here too. Gentle skin care, sun protection, and silicone scar therapy when your surgeon recommends it all help scars heal as cleanly as possible.

When to call your surgeon

Knowing when to call is its own kind of confidence. Contact your surgeon immediately for severe pain not relieved by your prescribed medication, uncontrolled or excessive bleeding, sudden one-sided swelling, fever, signs of infection (warmth, redness, drainage), or any new facial asymmetry. The team you choose should make this easy. You should never feel like you’re bothering them by asking.

Conclusion

A facelift won’t literally turn back the clock and make you physically younger. But for the right candidate, it can bridge that gap and give you back a version of your face that feels more like you. The goal isn’t to look like a different person. It’s to look like yourself, just rested.

Browsing real patient photos that match your starting point is a helpful next step. When you’re ready, an in-person consultation fills in the details photos can’t show. The face gallery is a good place to start.

Because surgery, skin care, and wellness are all coordinated here under one roof, non-surgical options like BOTOX® and dermal fillers can be planned alongside your surgical care. Patients can apply Allē rewards toward those Allergan treatments. Spa services include Diamond Glow facials, dermaplaning, and microdermabrasion, all of which work well alongside surgical results.

Dr. Kluska and our team in Northeast Georgia believe every patient deserves to feel heard, respected, and confident in their choices. That’s the philosophy behind excellent results with superb customer service. When you’re ready, reach out or (706) 810-4267 (Commerce) or (706) 350-6762 (Buford).

Frequently asked questions

Is a facelift painful?

Most patients find it hurts far less than they feared. In the first few days, your face feels tight, heavy, and full rather than sharply painful. The discomfort is strongest in the first couple of days, then eases quickly.

Prescription pain medicine keeps those early days manageable, and most people switch to over-the-counter relief within the first week.

What is the best age to get a facelift?

There’s no single “best age.” Most facelift patients are in their 40s, 50s, or 60s, when signs of aging become apparent enough to consider surgery and when skin still has good elasticity. Some patients in their 70s and beyond are excellent candidates if they’re in good health.  

Will I have visible scars after a facelift?

Facelift scars are placed strategically in the natural creases around the ear, along the hairline, and behind the ear so they’re well-hidden once healed. 

How soon after a facelift can I wear makeup?

Most surgeons recommend waiting at least 7 to 10 days after facelift surgery before applying makeup, and only once your surgeon has cleared you. Mineral-based or surgery-friendly makeup is gentler on healing skin. After the first two weeks, makeup can help camouflage residual bruising during the return-to-work transition.

What is the difference between a facelift and a neck lift?

A facelift primarily addresses the mid and lower face, including sagging cheeks, jowls, and the nasolabial fold. A neck lift focuses on the area below the jawline, including loose skin under the chin. Many patients benefit from combining both procedures in the same surgery for a coordinated mid-face and neck rejuvenation.

What is a liquid facelift, and is it a real alternative to surgery?

A liquid facelift is a non-surgical combination treatment that uses dermal fillers and sometimes neurotoxins like Botox to restore volume and soften lines. It can be a reasonable option for early aging when tissue laxity is minimal.  

*Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. A consultation with a qualified board-certified surgeon is required to determine the best treatment plan for your individual needs and any questions you may have about a medical condition or procedure.