Facelift

A facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, is a popular surgical procedure that aims to diminish signs of aging in the face and neck. ⁽¹⁾ This procedure can revitalize your appearance by tightening underlying muscles, removing excess skin, and repositioning your facial fat and tissues to restore a more youthful appearance.

Dr. Jacob Gerzenshtein is a fellowship-trained plastic surgeon at Finer You who is board-certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. He offers over 20 years of experience and specializes in facial procedures, including facelifts.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Gerzenshtein and learn more about how you can benefit from a facelift, please submit our online contact form or call our office in Lakeland at (863) 647-2200.

Before and After Photos

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About Facelifts

Facial aging can be accelerated by numerous factors, such as genetics, lifestyle habits, and environmental factors. ⁽¹⁾ Each of these changes can cause the skin to lose its elasticity, resulting in the development of deep creases, wrinkles, hanging or loose skin, and more. Dr. Gerzenshtein can perform several different variations of the facelift to address these concerns, including the traditional facelift, SMAS facelift, subperiosteal facelift, and the deep midface lift.

Traditional Facelift

A traditional facelift tightens the superficial skin and underlying muscles and tissue to address facial aging. A facelift primarily improves the appearance of the lower two-thirds of the face, often leaving the upper cheeks and lower preorbital area unaltered.

SMAS Facelift

The superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) is a structural layer of tissue in your face that connects the outer layers of facial skin to your underlying muscles. This variation of the facelift provides longer-lasting results and more comprehensive rejuvenation, as it addresses both the superficial layers of the face in addition to the underlying muscles.

Subperiosteal Facelift

A subperiosteal facelift is primarily performed if you are experiencing significant signs of aging and possess high amounts of loose or drooping facial skin around your midface. ⁽²⁾ Dr. Gerzenshtein performs this type of facelift by lifting the tissues in the midface off the periosteum layer–a layer of connective tissue that covers the surface of your bones–before making adjustments. Subperiosteal facelifts are more extensive than other variations of facelift, as they reposition the entire midface structure and soft tissues.

Deep Midface Lift

A deep midface lift is a specialized variation of a facelift that focuses on enhancing the appearance of the midface, rather than the jawline or upper neck. This variation repositions the SMAS layer, malar fat pads, and cheek tissues to help reduce the appearance of deep nasolabial folds, as well as restore a youthful-looking fullness to the cheeks and under-eye area. ⁽³⁾

Benefits

Undergoing a facelift comes with numerous benefits, including:

Candidates

Suitable candidates for a facelift include anyone experiencing signs of aging around their face and neck, such as sagging skin, deep creases, wrinkles, fine lines, or sunken and hollowed cheeks.

All interested patients should be in good general health without any underlying medical conditions that may affect their recovery or results. Realistic expectations about results should also be held. Those who are immunocompromised are not recommended to undergo this procedure ⁽¹⁾ but are still encouraged to reach out so that we can recommend an effective alternative. Dr. Gerzenshtein will determine each patient’s candidacy during their personal consultation.

Personal Consultation

The first step to rejuvenating your appearance is attending a personal consultation with Dr. Gerzenshtein. During this consultation, he will meet with you individually to discuss your facelift procedure. He will ask about your medical history, current prescriptions, and your facial concerns and goals. He will also evaluate the condition and quality of your facial skin.

After gathering the required information, Dr. Gerzenshtein will develop your treatment plan, fully tailoring it to your anatomy, goals, and concerns. He will also prepare and provide you with a set of personalized pre- and post-operative instructions.

Submit our online contact form or call (863) 647-2200 to schedule your consultation and begin planning your facelift.

Preparation

Proper preparation is key to a successful procedure. Dr. Gerzenshtein will provide you with a set of instructions that caters to your specific treatment plan and medical history. Leading up to your procedure, you will need to refrain from taking medications or supplements that contain blood-thinning properties. Transportation home from the procedure should be arranged, and it is strongly advised to fill any necessary prescriptions in advance. You will need to take time away from your career and other responsibilities to focus on healing. If applicable, nicotine use should be ceased at least two to four weeks before your procedure, and maintained for at least one month after. ⁽¹⁾ Any further instructions will be discussed with Dr. Gerzenshtein.

Procedure

On the day of your procedure, you should arrive with a clean face that is free from any makeup products or skincare residue. You will be led to a private room where your skin will be cleansed and sanitized, and then you will receive general anesthesia. From there, Dr. Gerzenshtein will begin the procedure. The details of your procedure will be discussed with you in advance, as they may vary depending on the type of facelift being performed.

Generally speaking, Dr. Gerzenshtein will place discreet and inconspicuous incisions near the treatment area to gain access to underlying tissues while minimizing the likelihood of any potential scarring. He will lift the skin to access the underlying layers of your tissue, facial fat, and muscle, then reposition or tighten them as needed. The skin will be redraped after each adjustment is made, and any excess tissue or skin will be removed to create a smoother appearance. Dr. Gerzenshtein will carefully close each incision and allow you to rest under the care of the Finer You team until you are released.

Recovery and Results

Following your facelift, you can expect to experience swelling, bruising, and mild discomfort. These effects typically subside within several days to weeks, and may be managed using prescribed medications and proper post-operative care. During this time, we recommend resting with your head elevated to help minimize swelling. Most patients can return to work within 10–14 days, though full recovery and return to strenuous activities may take several weeks.

The full results of your procedure will gradually become more apparent as any swelling subsides and your facial tissue starts to settle into its new position. You will be able to experience tighter, smoother skin as signs of aging are corrected. The natural contours of your face will also be more defined, restoring a more refreshed and youthful appearance. Your renewed appearance may also enhance your self-confidence and self-esteem. The results of your facelift are designed to be long-lasting, with effects that can be seen for up to a decade.

Corresponding Procedures

Several procedures can be performed in conjunction with your facelift to provide more comprehensive results. Many patients choose to undergo a brow lift, also known as a forehead lift, to help address signs of aging around their forehead and eyebrows. This procedure may be performed to help address deep wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin that can contribute to an aged or angry appearance. Dr. Gerzenshtein can perform a brow lift using several different surgical techniques to help you achieve comprehensive full-facial rejuvenation.

Cost of Facelifts in Tampa and Lakeland, Florida

The cost of each facelift will vary depending on several different factors. Dr. Gerzenshtein will discuss the cost of your facelift with you during your consultation once the details of your treatment plan are established.

Finer You also offers several different financing options to help you reach your goals without a financial burden.

To learn more about the cost of your personalized facelift, please schedule a consultation online. If you have any questions or would prefer scheduling a consultation over the phone, please call (863) 647-2200.

References

1. Yang AJ, Hohman MH. Rhytidectomy. Nih.gov. Published March 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564338/#article-28568.s4
2. Lucas Gomes Patrocínio, José Antônio Patrocínio, Hugo Gonçalves Couto, Muniz H, Paulo. Subperiosteal facelift: a 5-year experience. Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology. 2006;72(5):592-597. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/s1808-8694(15)31014-4
3. Pérez P, Hohman MH. Mid-Face Facelift. PubMed. Published 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563237/