Facelift reverses the most common signs of aging — all at once.

For some patients, a surgical facelift may not be necessary. If not, the surgeons at Clevens Face and Body Specialists will introduce the possibility of a non-surgical treatment like the highly effective C-lift or other facial surgeries, such as brow lift surgery, chin implant surgery, or dimple area surgery. Liposuction may also be a viable addition to your treatment if excess neck fat needs to be addressed. 

No, not necessarily. Aging affects people at different rates depending on their genetics, diet, and other factors. If you have drooping cheeks, jowls, a loose neck, or other severe problems, a facelift may be a good option for you regardless of your chronological age. A consultation with Dr. Clevens and Dr. Khelemsky will be the best way to determine the extent of your issues and whether they can be improved with less invasive measures like fillers or fat transfer.

Fortunately, that stereotypical pulled-tight look associated with aging celebrities is mostly a thing of the past. Modern facelift techniques, like the deep plane method performed by Dr. Clevens and Dr. Khelemsky, will preserve your unique facial characteristics and add volume to provide a look that is youthful but still very natural. You should look like a rested, more youthful version of yourself. 

The scarring from a facelift is usually surprisingly minimal since incisions are carefully placed and typically turn out to be quite flat and narrow. Your incisions are hidden in the hairline, in front of the ear, and inside the ear canal so very little of the incision is ever visible. You can wear your hair up, in a ponytail, or pulled back, and the incisions are still hidden. Your exact scars will vary depending on factors like genetics and nutrition, but you can help minimize them by not smoking, avoiding unprotected sun exposure, and carefully avoiding infection. Scar massage and corticosteroids will also help reduce scarring.

Loose facial skin as a result of weight loss is common, and a facelift can certainly correct this. Often, however, the problem will resolve itself with time, particularly if you are young. Waiting for a year to see how much the skin will tighten on its own is a good idea before undergoing surgery. Depending on the extent of the loose skin, Dr. Clevens may also advise fillers or fat grafting as an option.

Think of it like setting back a clock. While you will continue to age after getting your facelift, you will always look 10 to 15 years younger than if you had not gotten the facelift. In fact, you will always look better having had a facelift, so some patients feel it lasts ‘forever’ because of this. You can help extend the results even further by avoiding smoking, unprotected sun exposure, or large weight changes since all of these will harm your skin elasticity and cause you to look older faster.

To ensure your safety and comfort, Dr. Clevens and Dr. Khelemsky perform facelift surgery in a state-licensed, fully accredited ambulatory surgery center or outpatient surgicenter that meets all the same stringent safety standards as a hospital setting to ensure the safety of our patients. Dr. Clevens does not perform this type of procedure in an office setting, as this is generally considered unsafe. The surgery center is conveniently located in Melbourne, Florida, just an hour east of Orlando.

Dr. Clevens and Dr. Khelemsky typically perform facelift with either general anesthesia or a combination of local anesthesia and sedation. Regardless, a board-certified physician MD anesthesiologist will be responsible for administering your anesthesia or sedation. Dr. Clevens and your anesthesiologist will help determine what best suits your particular needs.

To ensure your safety and comfort, Dr. Clevens performs facelift surgery in a state-licensed, fully accredited ambulatory surgery Center of Outpatient Surgicenter. Dr. Clevens does not perform this type of procedure in an office setting as this is generally considered unsafe.

Dr. Clevens typically performs facelift with either general anesthesia or a combination of local anesthesia and sedation. Regardless, a board certified physician MD anesthesiologist will be responsible for administering your anesthesia or sedation. Dr. Clevens and your anesthesiologist will help determine what best suits your particular needs.

Facelifts typically require two to three hours to perform.

For a traditional facelift, the incision usually begins at the temples just above the hairline and runs in front of and then behind the ear into the lower scalp. If the neck requires work, a small incision may be made just under the chin.

It should be noted that the incisions for a facelift are different in men than in women. In women, the hairline and border of the ear hide the scars. If these incisions were made the same way in men, beard growth and pattern would be altered. For this reason, in men, the incision is made in front of the ear, where it can be hidden by sideburns.

Dr. Clevens and Dr. Khelemsky take great care to make inconspicuous facelift incisions that will become the least visible scars possible. Before your procedure and during your aftercare, you will receive advice from the surgeons at Clevens Face and Body Specialists and our staff on how to care for your incisions.

Patients may experience some discomfort after the facelift procedure, though this pain is typically mild and can be easily controlled with prescription pain medication that Dr. Clevens will provide.

Exercise and strenuous activities will need to be avoided for one month after your facelift. Take it easy, and though your mind may feel restless, make a conscious effort to give your body time to catch up and recuperate to achieve the best results of your facelift.

It is also wise to limit sun exposure for several months after your facelift procedure, as the tissues in your newly youthful face may be fragile.

Our surgeons use dissolving stitches that vanish a few days after your procedure.

Patients should be informed that every surgical procedure carries certain risks and the potential for complications. The potential complications associated with the facelift procedure may include the following: bruising, swelling, sensitivity to anesthesia, asymmetry, infection, nerve injury, and poor healing. In the hands of an experienced facial plastic surgeon, complications are very uncommon.

Exercise and strenuous activities will need to be avoided for one month after your facelift procedure. Take it easy, and though your mind may feel restless make a conscious effort to give your body time to catch up and recuperate to achieve the best results of your facelift.

It is also wise to limit sun exposure for several months after your facelift procedure, as the tissues in your newly youthful face may be fragile.

Dr. Clevens uses dissolving stitches that vanish a few days after your procedure.

Patients should be informed that every surgical procedure carries certain risks and the potential for complications. The potential complications associated with the facelift procedure may include the following: bruising, swelling, sensitivity to anesthesia, asymmetry, infection, nerve injury and poor healing.

Facelifts are a purely cosmetic procedure and are therefore not covered by insurance.