Facelift & Neck Lift
Consultations offered at our three convenient locations in Austin, TX, San Antonio, TX and Westlake Hills, TX
A facelift is a procedure that rejuvenates the neck and lower face. By addressing deep folds, jowls, and fine lines, it effectively reverses prominent signs of aging to “turn back the clock.”
Modern facelift techniques prioritize natural-looking outcomes by repositioning the deeper underlying tissues rather than merely stretching the surface skin. This attention to detail prevents a strained or artificial appearance. As a result, patients can achieve a more youthful facial profile with enhanced contours while continuing to look completely natural. At Austin Plastic Surgeon, our surgeons strategically place incisions along the hairline and the natural borders of the ear, minimizing the appearance of scars.
We can help you achieve an elegant, rejuvenated appearance with advanced facelift methods. From your first appointment through your entire recovery, we will work with you to deliver the best surgical care.
Get started on the path to facial rejuvenation with the specialists at Austin Plastic Surgeon by scheduling an appointment online or calling our office location most convenient to you.
Contents
Before and After Photos
About Facelifts
As a result of the aging process and exposure to various environmental factors, our skin gradually loses collagen and elasticity, which contributes to the formation of wrinkles, jowls, deep creases, and diminished volume around the face and neck. A facelift aims to aesthetically reverse these changes by surgically repositioning facial tissues and restoring elevated, youthful-looking contours. At Austin Plastic Surgeon, we work beyond simply tightening the superficial skin layer, focusing instead on creating lasting structure that supports natural facial expression and increased definition.
Traditional Face and Neck Lift (SMAS)
The superficial musculo-aponeurotic system, or SMAS, is a layer of tissue located beneath the skin that covers all the muscles of the face and neck. (1) A traditional facelift addresses the face’s underlying musculature by gently lifting and tightening the SMAS layer. Your surgeon creates strategic incisions, usually along the hairline or around the curves of the ears, to access and reposition the SMAS layer and deeper tissues. This reinforced support of the internal structure allows the skin to be redraped without tension, smoothing severe lax skin, deep creases, and jowling in the lower face and jawline.
Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift
The deep plane technique is an advanced facelift method that addresses the underlying causes of facial aging at the source: the deeper layers of tissue beneath the SMAS. This technique involves the release of anchoring ligaments and fascia to create a strong, lasting lift to the midface, jawline, and neck. (2) By tightening the underlying neck muscles (platysma) and removing excess tissue, this technique can significantly reduce, and in many cases, erase, the “turkey wattle” and help smooth vertical muscle banding, restoring a firmer, more youthful neck and jawline without visible tension on the skin.
Benefits
A facelift achieves transformative and long-lasting rejuvenation by restoring balance and youthful lift to the face. By adjusting the deep tissues, our surgeons ensure natural-looking results that avoid a stretched appearance.
Other key benefits of a facelift include:
- Refined Facial Contours and Profile: By eliminating sagging jowls and removing or smoothing excess skin, a facelift creates a better-defined jawline and more distinctively youthful facial profile.
- Restored Volume: Advanced techniques allow for the repositioning of facial fat pads to naturally restore fullness where necessary.
- Smoother, Firmer Skin: Lifting and tightening sagging areas smooths wrinkles and deep creases where they had previously gathered amongst loose skin.
- Long-Lasting Effects: The structural, deep tissue changes made during a facelift can help support a more youthful appearance for a decade or more.
Candidates
A facelift appeals to a range of patients of various ages and backgrounds. All potential patients must be in overall good health and have a desire to address moderate to severe facial aging. These visible signs include:
- Extensive skin laxity, sagging, and jowling.
- Neck muscle banding, or “turkey wattle.”
- Fine lines, deep wrinkles, and creases, particularly around the mouth and lower face.
All potential patients must be non-smokers or willing to quit for an extensive period before and after surgery. They must hold realistic expectations for surgical outcomes and be willing to follow all pre- and post-operative instructions to support a safe procedure and successful recovery.
Personal Consultation
During your initial consultation, your surgeon will conduct a comprehensive assessment, starting with a review of your surgical and medical background, followed by a physical examination. This exam focuses on identifying your specific aging patterns by evaluating muscle tone, skin elasticity, and facial anatomy. We encourage you to use this time to openly share your aesthetic goals and any concerns you may have. Using these insights, your surgeon will develop a personalized treatment plan, detailing whether the deep plane or SMAS technique is most appropriate, where they will place incisions, and what to anticipate during recovery. Our goal is to provide the education and safety measures necessary for you to feel fully prepared and confident in your decision.
When you are ready to start planning your facial rejuvenation, schedule an appointment online or call the closest Austin Plastic Surgeon location to speak to a member of our team.
Preparation
We will provide you with detailed, personalized instructions to help you prepare for a successful procedure and efficient recovery period. In the meantime, some general guidelines include:
- Scheduling time off from work and other commitments to recover after surgery.
- Arranging personal transportation and assistance for the day of the procedure and at least 1-2 days of initial recovery.
- Preparing a comfortable, well-stocked recovery space.
- Quitting smoking at least 6-8 weeks in advance (if applicable).
- Avoiding blood-thinning medications and supplements, and abstaining from alcohol for at least a couple of weeks before surgery.
- Filling all necessary prescriptions in advance and completing any required pre-op lab work.
Procedure
At Austin Plastic Surgeon, our surgeons perform facelifts in accredited medical facilities on an outpatient basis. At the start of your procedure, a team member will place you under general anesthesia to keep you comfortably asleep throughout treatment. Then, your surgeon will make careful incisions along the hairline and borders of the ear where they will blend into the natural contours of your face. Through these access points, your surgeon will elevate the SMAS layer into a more vertical position, careful not to cause tension.
If using the deep plane approach, they will release anchoring ligaments and underlying fascia to smooth out sagging around the midface, jawline, and neck. They will gently remove any excess skin and close incisions for minimal visible scarring and smooth transitions.
Before and After Photos
Recovery
We recommend that you prioritize rest and maintain an elevated head position, even while sleeping, during the first week to facilitate the healing process.
Most individuals can return to sedentary work and light daily routines within two weeks; however, it is imperative to refrain from strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, or activities involving significant facial stretching for four to six weeks or until gaining clearance. Adhering to these restrictions is vital for protecting your sutures and ensuring an optimal, long-lasting aesthetic outcome. Throughout your recovery, our team will monitor your progress during scheduled follow-up appointments to remove sutures and ensure you are healing well.
Results
While initial improvements are noticeable shortly after the procedure, your final results will continue to manifest over several months as inflammation and minor bruising fully resolve. Following this period, patients can expect to enjoy a more balanced, refreshed appearance with youthfully restored contours. By surgically repositioning the underlying facial tissues, our surgeons achieve a more distinctive jawline and firmer skin while ensuring a natural aesthetic that avoids a strained or artificial look. The rejuvenating effects of a facelift are enduring, frequently lasting ten years or more. To prolong your results, we recommend maintaining a stable weight, adhering to a consistent skincare regimen, and prioritizing sun protection and hydration.
Corresponding Procedures
Although a facelift offers significant aesthetic enhancement as a standalone treatment, many patients integrate additional facial procedures to achieve more comprehensive rejuvenation with a single recovery period.
- Neck Lift: Designed to address vertical muscle banding, deep neck creases, and moderate to severe sagging—including the “turkey wattle” effect—this procedure tightens the platysma (underlying neck muscles) and trims away excess tissue. These adjustments work together to create a more defined jawline and a firmer, rejuvenated neck profile.
- Brow Lift: Commonly referred to as a forehead lift, a brow lift raises descending brows and smoothes out deep horizontal creases and frown lines. By restoring the eyebrows to a more youthful position, the treatment effectively opens the eye area and refreshes the overall appearance of the upper face.
- Blepharoplasty: Also called eyelid surgery, this aesthetic procedure addresses prominent signs of aging or fatigue around the eyes. Strategically removing redundant skin and displaced fat from the upper and lower eyelids, it corrects drooping lids and diminishes undereye bags. The result is a more alert, refreshed appearance that restores a youthful look to the eyes.
Cost of Facelifts in Austin, San Antonio, and West Lake Hills, TX
The cost of your facelift will vary according to the personalized details of your surgical plan, taking into account your aesthetic objectives, the complexity of the procedure, and the integration of any corresponding treatments. During your private consultation, our team will provide a detailed, comprehensive cost estimate for your unique treatment plan.
To learn more about your facelift options at Austin Plastic Surgeon, schedule a consultation online or call one of our conveniently located offices.
FAQ
At what age should I consider getting a facelift?
Age does not determine candidacy as much as the level of facial aging present, which can happen much younger for some people than others. Candidacy depends on your specific goals and the degree of facial aging present, such as the severity of skin laxity, jowling, and deep creases.
How long do facelift results last?
Results are generally long-lasting. While surgery does not stop the natural aging process, protecting your skin and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help preserve your results for as long as possible.
Will it be obvious that I got a facelift?
Modern surgical techniques work below the skin’s surface to adjust the face’s underlying structure, avoiding the overly-tight appearance of older modalities that merely stretched the skin. Once fully healed, you will appear naturally refreshed.
References
- Whitney ZB, Jain M, Zito PM. Anatomy, Skin, Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System (SMAS) Fascia. [Updated 2024 Jan 30]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519014/
- Hohman MH, Raggio BS, Patel BC. Deep Plane Facelift. [Updated 2026 Jan 31]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545277/
