Facelift Los Angeles

To some degree or another, everyone experiences changes in their face in the way of living life and growing older. Dr. Lee performs exceptional facelifts in Los Angeles with personalized, nuanced, and elegant results.

Transform Your Appearance with a Natural Looking Facelift

With maturity comes a wealth of wisdom, knowledge, and experience; however, these assets are often accompanied by the symptoms of physical aging, which can cause a loss of self-confidence. A surgical facelift is among the most popular and effective methods of reversing facial aging, and when performed conservatively with natural-looking results, it can truly transform your appearance and restore a positive self-image.

What is a Facelift?

A traditional facelift is designed to refresh and revitalize the lower two-thirds of the face including the jawline. It will tighten the underlying facial muscles, creating a more youthful structure to support the features over time. If additional cosmetic issues such as fat volume loss are present, a facelift can be combined with dermal filler treatments to achieve viable 3D improvements. If a client is suffering from a drooping brow, sagging eyelids, or creeping and wrinkling in the neck, Dr. Lee can perform a full panel of corrective surgeries including a neck lift, brow lift, and eyelid surgery to completely overhaul the appearance, rolling back the clock on aging from all fronts.

Why Have a Facelift?

It is an inescapable truth that as we age, we lose muscle tone as well as elasticity in our skin, causing a loss of facial volume, facial sagging, and wrinkling. As the skin sags, fat and tissue can accumulate under the chin area. Increased sun exposure, or even one’s genetics can accelerate the aging process as well.

Our Los Angeles facelift with Dr. Lee can improve the appearance of the face as well as parts of the neck, restoring an energized and vivacious countenance. Dr. Lee uses a multifaceted approach, so that each of her patients may achieve natural, lasting facial rejuvenation.

What Sets Dr. Lee’s Approach Apart?

Dr. Lee understands that a customized approach is the best route for achieving natural-looking results that complement and balance your unique facial features. Each and every patient is different, and therefore each has particular needs and desires. It is Dr. Lee’s unwavering dedication to thoroughness and her painstaking attention to detail that establishes confidence in her clients.

Dr. Lee makes every effort to ensure you won’t appear overstretched or pulled taut. Her goal is to give you a subtly refreshed, natural-looking appearance.

She is able to accomplish this by using smaller, cleverly camouflaged incisions. These meticulous incisions result in well-hidden scars that are not easily noticeable behind the ear.

Facelift Before & After

Facelift in Los Angeles before and after photos

What Are The Benefits of a Facelift?

Facelift surgery is considered the “gold standard” when it comes to facial rejuvenation, thanks to the way it can comprehensively address a wide range of age-related imperfections. The procedure can help combat sagging in the midface, restore a firmer, more youthful-looking jawline, reduce stubborn submental fat, correct jowling, and reduce lines, wrinkles, and folds. Additionally, the underlying facial muscles are tightened to provide a strong foundation for the surface layers of the skin.

In terms of its emotional benefits, facelift surgery can provide long-lasting changes that lead to increased self-confidence and a positive self-image. This can help the client to feel more secure both socially and professionally.

Finally, opting for a facelift in Los Angeles could prove to be a more economical choice in the long term compared to undergoing numerous non-invasive treatments that may fall short in delivering the significant transformation you desire.

How a Facelift is Performed

Excess skin caused by decreased elasticity in the dermis typically results in the formation of facial wrinkles and folds. During your facelift procedure, Dr. Lee will conservatively remove excess skin so as to avoid that unwanted look of a “deer in the headlights” after surgery.

To achieve natural results, Dr. Lee will gently tighten the underlying facial muscles so that the overlying skin can be re-draped, resulting in a rejuvenated, yet organic appearance that is exquisitely balanced to fit your features.

Patient Testimonial

Dr. Lee is an amazing Surgeon. Her bedside manner and meticulous attention to detail is reassuring and makes you know without a doubt, that you are in the best and most skilled hands. My Mother chose Dr. Lee to perform her facelift surgery after doing extensive research, and I can’t put into words how beautiful it turned out. It’s given my Mother newfound confidence. It looks so natural. Her friends are all lining up to have theirs done with Dr. Lee next!

J.W.

Where are the Incisions Made?

Typically, facelift incisions are strategically placed behind the ears, extending to the area behind the tragus so that scarring is hardly noticeable. For women incisions are strategically positioned behind the ears, extending to the area behind the ear to ensure minimal visibility of scarring.

When performing a facelift for men, the initial incision is placed behind the sideburn area within a naturally occurring crease that extends behind the ear. If there is excess submental fat, a separate incision can be made within the natural crease underneath the chin.

Pretty Older Women Leaning Against A Window With Big Smile

Who is a Good Candidate for a Facelift?

A facelift in Los Angeles is an ideal treatment for men or women who would like to achieve a dramatic facial rejuvenation. Ideal candidates for a facelift procedure should meet the following general requirements:

Are in good health without serious medical concerns
Do not smoke
Are experiencing significant sagging skin on the face and neck
Have realistic expectations about what can be achieved with a facelift procedure
Have lost facial volume, resulting in sunken cheeks and hollow areas
Have a double chin and/or jowls

Your Private Consultation

During your private consultation with Dr. Lee, she will perform a physical examination along with a thorough review of your medical history. She will assess your skin quality and the degree of laxity present. You will discuss your goals and wishes with the doctor, who will present you with before and after photographs that match your chosen procedure. Dr. Lee will go over the risks and benefits of your treatment, what to expect from recovery, and what kind of expectations you can form regarding your final results. She will then create a personalized treatment plan that is unique to you.

What Are the Different Types of Facelifts that Dr. Lee Performs in Los Angeles?

Mini-Facelift

The mini-facelift suits those with limited sagging or excess skin in the midface, jawline, and neck, and few concerns with a droopy brow. These facelifts are less invasive and use short-scar and endoscopic techniques to reposition the underlying facial tissues for a more youthful contour. Smaller incisions placed at the temples and in the hairline minimize postoperative scarring. If you choose to have a mini-facelift in your 40s, the rate at which the lower part of your face ages may be lessened. It's becoming more common for women in their 40s and 50s to have smaller facelifts to correct early signs of aging and improve definition.

Procedure Time: The mini-facelift procedure is about 60-90 minutes long.

Recovery Time: A mini-facelift takes about one to three weeks to fully recover.

Lasting Results: The more elastic your skin is, the longer-lasting the results will be - up to eight to twelve years.

Mid-Facelift

The mid-face/cheek area is a key component in the formula for a more youthful appearance. With age, the fatty tissue that normally drapes over the cheekbones can sag. The result is less prominent cheekbones and a droopy fold of skin and fat between the nose and the cheeks (referred to as the nasolabial folds). By elevating and tightening the underlying structure of the cheeks and removing any extra skin in the area, the mid-face has a more youthful look to it with improved definition. Many doctors elect to use an endoscope (a special tool with cameras that allows your surgeon to view and reach distant anatomies through small incisions) when operating on the mid-face. Dr. Kimberly Lee likes to perform this type of facelift as it makes for a minimally invasive procedure with reduced scarring and expedited recovery.

Procedure Time: The mid-facelift procedure is approximately two to three hours long.

Recovery Time: A mini-facelift takes about one to three weeks to fully recover.

Lasting Results: Results after a mid-facelift can last up to 10 years.

Full Facelift

The traditional facelift (technically known as rhytidectomy) is the most comprehensive way to address multiple signs of aging from the forehead to the neck and all areas in between. If you opt for a traditional facelift in your 50s or 60s, your face will age more slowly, and you'll enjoy an elegant, engaging appearance for years to come. This type of lift allows for fat redistribution, muscle repositioning, and removal of excess skin in order to provide the most long-lasting results of all types of facelifts available today. When Dr. Kimberly Lee performs a full facelift, she hides the incisions in the ear contour, around the earlobe, and/or in the hairline. A small incision under the chin might be necessary if fat is removed and the muscle in the neck requires additional smoothing. For the most natural look, Dr. Lee uses the short scar SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system) technique, where the deeper layers of tissue and the muscle below the skin are tightened and excess skin is removed, which smooths out deep wrinkles for a refreshed and rejuvenated appearance.

Procedure Time: A full facelift procedure takes about two to four hours to perform.

Recovery Time: It will take about one to two weeks before most patients feel comfortable in public. It can take a few months for all the swelling and bruising to go down and up to six months for scars to fade.

Lasting Results: Results are permanent in that you'll always look seven to ten years younger than if you hadn't had it done but you will continue to age with time.

TAKE YOUR FIRST STEP

Schedule Your Consultation

In Office Virtual

How Can I Best Prepare for a Facelift?

One to Three Months Before

Prepare your skin with regular use of A retinoid and treatments like chemical peels and microdermabrasion. Avoid the sun at all costs. If you are a smoker, stop smoking at least three weeks before and after surgery.

Two to Four Weeks Before

Get medical clearance from your primary physician. Your plastic surgeon will order blood work to assess your health and detect any issues that may compromise your recovery.

One to Two Weeks Before

Avoid taking anti-inflammatories, aspirin, and certain herbs and vitamins, which can increase the risk of bleeding. Preoperative photographs will be taken. You'll be asked to sign informed consent documents that spell out the procedure you're having, what to expect, instructions to follow, and any possible risks.

The Day Before

Eat well and try to avoid anything spicy, rich, or greasy. Pack a bag, and be sure to include comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that you don't need to pull over your head, and a hat or scarf to wear on the way home.

What Can I Expect from My Facelift Recovery?

Los Angeles facelift clients can recover at home if they have a responsible adult with them for at least the first 24 hours. This is a safety precaution in the rare event that complications arise following surgery. More realistically, a helper makes the first days of recovery much easier by preparing meals, ensuring medication is taken as prescribed and handling the routine chores that must be done.

First Week Post-Op

Facelift recovery is accomplished in phases, with the first week being the most challenging. Following Dr. Lee’s post-operative instructions as closely as possible will make recovery easier and ensure your results are everything you were hoping for. It is important to follow her instructions concerning taking over-the-counter medications, as some types can cause bleeding.

Second Week Post-Op

Patients can usually return to work and other activities after two weeks, provided they feel comfortable being seen. Swelling can be greater on one side of the face, as each side has a separate muscle structure. Applying cold packs as instructed will greatly help reduce swelling.

Tips for Recovery

Refraining from smoking for the amount of time recommended is extremely important. Nicotine in any form, including patches and vapor cigarettes, can cause skin cells to die, which will adversely affect your results. Patients are also advised to abstain from alcohol for the first few days or until they are no longer taking prescribed pain medications.

Why Choose Dr. Kimberly Lee for My Facelift?

Dr. Lee is both nationally and internationally recognized for her expertise, attention to detail, caring nature, and skillful artistry. She dedicates herself to ensuring every facelift she does leaves the most minimal scarring possible with the most dramatic benefits and outstanding results that can be attained with the procedure. She uses the most advanced surgical techniques available, and she genuinely cares for every patient she treats. Dr. Lee is an Assistant Clinical Professor serving at the Division of Head and Neck Surgery at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and on staff at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. A graduate of the prestigious Stanford University School of Medicine with impressive medical experience and significant media attention for her authority and expertise, Dr. Kimberly Lee is one of the most highly trusted and recommended plastic surgeons practicing. If you wish to learn more, contact us today and schedule a consultation for a facelift in Los Angeles.

Facelift FAQ's

Will I be awake during a facelift?

Will my wrinkles still exist after surgery?

Will I look different?

Will there be pain?

Will there be stitches or drains used? How can I minimize scarring after the procedure?

Can I enhance my facelift with laser resurfacing?

How can I make my results last?

Will I be awake during a facelift?

There are several options for anesthesia when it comes to facelifts. Depending on which type of facelift you choose to have, surgery may be performed under local sedation or general anesthesia.

Will my wrinkles still exist after surgery?

The goal of facelift surgery is to rejuvenate your overall facial appearance. Some soft wrinkles are necessary to allow facial movements and to allow you to turn your neck.

Will I look different?

Depending on the facelift you choose to undergo, the goal is for you to look 10-15 years younger while still looking like yourself. Because faces are in 3-D, it's important to revolumize the face at the same time as lifting to achieve a balanced and natural-looking result, without over-tightening or overstretching the skin.

Will there be pain?

In general, most patients do not experience much pain after surgery. If needed, pain medication can be prescribed, but it usually isn't necessary beyond one or two nights after surgery.

Will there be stitches or drains used? How can I minimize scarring after the procedure?

Fine stitches will be used to minimize any potential scarring on the face. Dissolvable stitches placed behind the ears are typically used to maximize the lifting action of the facelift. Dr. Lee recommends using an anti-scar regimen after the procedure to minimize any visible scarring.

Can I enhance my facelift with laser resurfacing?

Improving the skin quality with laser resurfacing will definitely enhance your results! Dr. Lee can recommend additional adjunct procedures or treatments that will help you look your best.

How can I make my results last?

Just like working out requires maintenance, continued maintenance of your face with good quality skincare, laser treatments, Botox Cosmetic, and fillers can extend the longevity of your results and allow you to continue to age gracefully while looking natural.

Meet Dr. Kimberly Lee

A graduate of the esteemed Stanford University School of Medicine, Dr. Kimberly J. Lee is a highly sought-after facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, as well as an accomplished ear, nose, and throat specialist.