How is a facelift performed?

Technique varies by surgeon and patient

A facelift is a surgical procedure, and the exact technique varies by surgeon and by patient. Four published sources describe the steps, and the questions below help you learn which technique your surgeon would use.

Four facelift sources to read side by side

Each source is written for a different reader:

• A clinical reference chapter on the deep plane facelift is written for clinicians, so expect technical language.
• A national plastic surgery society has a general page on facelift surgery.
• A hospital system explains what a facelift is and what to expect in patient-friendly terms.
• A university medical center describes its facial plastic and reconstructive surgery services.

Where the sources disagree on terms or technique names, note it and ask your surgeon which one applies to you.

A facelift is performed in phases, and technique shapes each one

1. Read at least two of the sources above before the consult.
2. Ask which technique the surgeon recommends for you and why.
3. Ask how many times they have performed it and what they would do differently for a different patient.

Prepare questions before you commit

Use the sources above to prepare questions, not as advice on your own operation. For step-by-step detail, rely on those sources and on your surgeon. If you are still deciding whether to have any facelift, ask your surgeon about sun care, skin health, and the case for waiting before you commit.