Facelift Surgery

In Denver, Colorado
The Art of Compassion    The Science of Beauty

Facelift Before and After Gallery
More Information on Face lift Variations

A facelift tightens the skin of the lower two thirds of the face. It’s effective for jowls, sagging cheeks, wrinkles that run from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth, and generally for that droopy, sad look that belies our natural good spirits.

It can be done in conjunction with other procedures, such as blepharoplasty, laser resurfacing, or Botox® injections. Dr. Fante will listen to your wishes and advise you as to how you can best arrive at the look you want. A facelift can take about 10 years off your apparent age.

How a face lift is done

An incision is made on each side of your face, which begins behind the hairline near the temple, runs down in front and inside of the ear, and back behind the hairline. Another small incision is hidden inside your upper lip and permits Dr. Fante to work also with your cheeks for the best and most natural facial harmony.

From there, the fat and soft tissues are elevated, the muscles are tightened, excess skin and tissue removed, and the incision closed with very fine stitches or small metal clips.

If you have a necklift at the same time, there may be a small incision under the chin. A face and neck lift is often also be combined with liposuction for the fatty pad that gradually forms under the chin as we age. Read more about facelift variations.

It takes from 2 to 4 hours and can be done either with local anesthetic and IV sedation, or with general anesthesia.

What is recovery like?

  • There’s usually not much pain
  • Swelling subsides within a few days
  • Bruising fades after a couple of weeks
  • The feeling of tightness and numbness disappears with a few weeks

Incisions will fade to white, barely visible scars which can be further hidden with makeup. They’re partly under your hair, and/or within the normal creases of your skin.

Recovery takes longer depending on how extensive your facelift is. There can be minimal facelifts, from which recovery is quick and easy, or facelifts combined with other procedures, which involve:

  • Longer swelling
  • Slower recovery
  • A little more risk

How long do they last?

After you recover, you’ll look more youthful and rested. Gradually as you continue to age over the next few years, the tissues will relax.  You’ll look better than you would have without the surgery for about 10 years.

Facelift Frequently Asked Questions
More Information About Facelift Variations

If you’re interested in learning more about eyelid surgery, cosmetic surgery, eyelid lift, facelift, eyelid tuck, necklift, puffy eyelid, brow lift, plastic surgery, blepharoplasty, or any other cosmetic surgery, in Denver or Boulder, Colorado, contact Dr. Fante for an initial consultation.