Houston & Pearland, TX
facelift

Introduction to Facelift

You may be one of many women or men wanting to regain a youthful appearance. You desire your face to enhance your natural contours and hide any signs of aging! A Facelift in Houston is the procedure that you can benefit from. At Premier Plastic Surgery, Dr. Christopher Hankins offers his patients natural-looking facelifts with or without surgery.

Dr. Hankins is a well-known expert in improving the appearance of sagging skin on the face, an aging neck, and excess fat around the eyelids with his advanced techniques for residents in and around South Houston, including Houston, Pearland, Marvel, Friendswood and Lake Jackson.

Home | Facial Plastic Surgery | Facelift

What is a Facelift?

As we age, our facial characteristics change due to the effects of gravity, signs of aging, sun exposure, and facial fat. In addition, all elements of the face experience atrophy, including our bone structures, excess fat, and loose skin, resulting in an overall deflation of the face and the appearance of sagging skin on a skinny, bony frame. Facelifts are also an option for individuals recovering from a facial nerve injury, in which case facial rejuvenation surgery will help them regain their lives before the trauma. Your surgeon may have you undergo a physical exam before you are considered a candidate for cosmetic surgery.

A facelift is a popular form of plastic surgery that can restore a more youthful-looking face, eliminate loose neck skin, create a chic brow lift, and hide facial aging.

Other Types of Facelifts We Offer

Dr. Hankins advises his patients that there are a number of different facial plastic surgery procedures. The detailed descriptions below will help you with the terminology and give you a basic understanding of surgical techniques and other procedures. Due to the complex nature of this cosmetic surgical procedure, it is best to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hankins so that he can evaluate your facial aesthetic goals, examine your skin, and review any past medical conditions. Dr. Hankins will spend the necessary time to discuss each approach’s options, advantages, and disadvantages and provide you with a recommendation that will address your facial skin renewal goals and produce natural-looking results.

Mini-Facelift

Also called a Limited-Incision Facelift or “weekend” facelift, this cosmetic surgery is a variation of the full facelift but is a less invasive alternative that can address mild-to-moderate signs of aging. Patients who get a mini-facelift are typically younger and have tighter skin, requiring less skin removal.

Your mini-facelift incisions will be discreet and hidden in the natural creases of your skin, usually have a faster recovery time than a traditional facelift, and can be done using local anesthesia.

Deep Plane Facelift

This procedure involves releasing the four ligaments that connect the deep plane layer of your facial anatomy. This enables tension-free movement and avoids creating tightness traditionally associated with the visuals of a facelift. The procedure’s name comes from the anatomic plane between the superficial muscle and fascia of your face and the deeper layer of muscles that allow you to smile and make other facial expressions.

Deep plane facelifts might be an ideal choice for those looking for even more dramatic results than a typical mini-facelift. This procedure utilizes shorter incisions than a full facelift, which requires less tissue removal to eliminate sagging while still providing visible improvements without altering other features too drastically, which can lead to unwanted changes in one’s appearance over time.

Subcutaneous Facelift

A subcutaneous facelift is performed either under general anesthesia or with twilight sedation (also called local anesthesia). The first step is a careful neck lift incision that is carried down from either behind the sideburn area to in front of the tragus (or vice versa) and, afterward, carried around the ear to the posterior hairline.

Next, a skin flap is elevated from the face and neck, pulled in an intermediate vector, and tightened as appropriate to reduce skin laxity. (Note: the skin flap is not raised to the level of the SMAS in an SQ facelift.)

Any excess skin is trimmed, and the skin edges are carefully approximated with a fine nylon suture. A soft dressing and a drainage tube are often applied, and the patient is discharged following a 23-hour period of observation. This procedure is rarely performed in our practice, as the durability of the lift is limited by the elasticity of the skin, which tends to stretch over time. As a result, the effects of facelift surgeries can be short-lived and result in a “wind-swept” appearance, especially after the skin tension relaxes.

SMAS Plication

In this technique, the skin flaps are elevated in a manner analogous to the procedure described above, with the exception of the Minimal Access Cranial Suspension (MACS) lift, in which there is no incision in the hairline behind the ear.

Because the SMAS retaining ligaments are not released, there is limited movement of the SMAS layer, which limits the results that can be obtained.

The Lifestyle Lift™

As you are probably aware, this branded facelift procedure was heavily advertised with little downtime and one that can be performed within an hour. Important considerations involve a few assumptions to meet this promised hour-long procedure.

Assuming that the hour stated as the operative time is exclusive of the establishment of anesthesia, prepping, draping, marking, and injections, any dissection performed on both sides of the face within that time frame would be limited in scope, as the time for suturing would be deducted from the total operative time.

In summary, the term was a marketing term as opposed to referring to a specific surgical procedure.

SMASectomy

In this procedure, skin flaps are elevated, as discussed above. A section of the SMAS in front of the ear and overlying the parotid gland is removed; the far cut edge of the SMAS is advanced to the cut edge adjacent to the front of the ear, and the incision is closed.

Similar to the SMAS Plication, the results are limited by the fact that the SMAS retaining ligaments are not released. Furthermore, the SMAS is not anchored to a fixed point, making it hard for your skin to heal properly into the desired fundamental appearance.

High-Lamellar SMAS Lift

This technique, originally described by Dr. Bruce Connell MD, is an extensive dissection that mobilizes the SMAS by dividing the SMAS retaining ligaments, dividing the SMAS at a level superior to the zygoma, and fixation to the deep temporal fascia. Dr. Hankins believes that this method is the only method that can offer superior longevity of the results to this technique.

What are the downsides to this procedure compared to the other facelift techniques mentioned above? The area of transection of the SMAS crosses the path of the temporal branch of the facial nerve. This is the nerve that motors the frontalis muscle or the muscle that elevates the brow. However, at the point that the nerve crosses the zygoma, the nerve is closely approximated to the bone and is covered by a thin sheet of fatty tissue.

What Are the Benefits of a Facelift?

There are many benefits of the Facelift procedure. Our patients in Houston Facelift patients have cited some of the following:

A combined procedure uplifting various features

A more defined jawline

A rejuvenated nasal contour

Boost in self-confidence

Elimination of sagging jowls

Less fine lines and wrinkles

Younger looking face

Who Are The Best Candidates For A Facelift?

The best candidates for a facelift in Houston at Premier Plastic Surgery will possess some of the following characteristics:

Can practice good skin care post-operation

Facial dissatisfaction

Have a healthy diet and exercise habits

No underlying medical conditions

Non-smoker

Realistic expectations

Sagging jowls and double chin

Wrinkles and fine lines

Facelift First Step
What’s the
first step?

The first step in getting a facelift at Premier Plastic Surgery is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hankins. On the day of your appointment, Dr. Hankins will discuss your health history, aesthetic and functional goals, expectations, and concerns. He will then physically examine your facial features, including skin quality, skin laxity, soft tissue, nasal contours, sagging jowls, and neck muscles, and ask you to prioritize what you need to be targeted. Depending on your medical history, he might even recommend a non-surgical facelift for you.

If you are deemed a good candidate for facial surgery, he will create a custom surgical plan, highlighting the target areas and discussing incision points and potential scarring. You can then take your surgical plan to our Patient Coordinator, who will help you schedule your procedure, help price it out for you, and share any pre-operative instructions such as stopping certain medications in the days leading up to the procedure, avoiding sun exposure, and keeping up a thorough skincare routine.

What to Expect On the Day of Facelift Surgery

Dr. Hankins and his staff will ensure you feel comfortable and at ease on the day of your facelift surgery at Premier Plastic Surgery. After sharing the surgical plan with you once more and reconfirming the target areas and techniques, Dr. Hankins will hand you over to the anesthetist, who will administer anesthesia.

Once you are sedated, depending on the type of facelift you choose, Dr. Hankins will start the incisions to manipulate the muscles and tissue toward your desired final look. Once the excess skin and fat are extracted, he will close the incisions with a focus on minimizing scarring. You might have one to two surgical drains placed to remove any excess fluid buildup and have a surgical compression dressing placed to reduce any swelling.

The process can take four to six hours, depending on the complexity of the surgery and the number of additional procedures.

Facelift Recovery

Mild swelling of the face can occur and persist for up to two weeks after surgery. Patients can minimize swelling by elevating the head with two to three pillows at night. If the dressing becomes too tight due to swelling of the face, it is removed and replaced with a looser, more comfortable dressing. Over-the-counter pain medication can be taken as directed by Dr. Hankins.

Dr. Hankins keeps his facelift patients in the hospital for 23 hours for observation and then discharges them home.

Facelift Cost
How Much Does a Facelift Cost in Houston?

The cost of a Facelift at Premier Plastic Surgery starts at $13,000 and may increase depending on each patient’s goals and needs.

We recommend scheduling a consultation with Houston Facelift expert Dr. Christopher Hankins for a personalized cost estimate and detailed information about the procedure. During your consultation, our patient coordinator will provide a customized quote and answer any questions you may have regarding a Facelift procedure.

Why Choose Dr. Hankins?

Dr. Christopher Hankins should be your choice for your Facelift in Pearland and the surrounding Houston area. He believes in offering patients only treatments that are in their best interests. His commitment to his patients is to always carefully evaluate the patient, not just the plastic or aesthetic surgery issue under consideration. Dr. Christopher Hankins specializes in face, breast, and body aesthetic surgery. He also has advanced training in hand surgery, breast reconstruction after cancer, and other reconstructive surgical procedures. Dr. Hankins completed five plastic surgery fellowships with highly distinguished physician mentors in the United States and the United Kingdom, including a Plastic and Microsurgery fellowship at the Baylor College of Medicine and a Hand Surgery fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Hankins earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He completed his General Surgery training prerequisite for Plastic Surgery as established by the Residency Review Committee in Plastic Surgery and Anatomic and Clinical Pathology.

In addition to his practice in plastic and aesthetic surgery, Dr. Hankins is actively involved in the study and clinical application of anti-aging medicine. He is a Diplomate of the American Association of Anti-Aging Medicine and a member of the American Board of Pathology (ABP), American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS), American Association of Anti-Aging Medicine (AAAAM), and the Texas Medical Association (TMA).

Facelift FAQ’S

Is a Facelift Painful?

When undergoing Facelift surgery, you will be administered general anesthesia to be pain-free. Post-surgery, patients have reported mild to moderate pain, but Dr. Hankins will prescribe pain medication as well as recovery tips, including compression dressings that can help.

How many appointments will I need?

Dr. Hankins will have you return a few days after surgery to remove any drains if placed and to monitor your recovery. Then, a week after surgery, you will be asked to come back again to remove any sutures. Finally, there is a follow-up visit several weeks after surgery.

How long until I see results?

Even though you might see immediate changes right after surgery, the bruising and swelling during the first few weeks will obscure the impact. While recovery should only take about three to four weeks, most patients will require about six months to a year to see their optimal facelift results and rejuvenated appearance.

What Will the Scarring Look Like?

The surgical scars of a facelift are well-camouflaged and usually heal with unnoticeable scars, as the incision sites are strategically placed at the borders of the aesthetic subunits of the face and neck to produce very natural results.

When Can I Exercise Again After My Facelift?

Given the sensitive nature of this surgery, we highly recommend not exercising for the first month. Gentle walks are encouraged to prevent blood clots, but nothing more than that could strain the settling of the face’s muscles and tendons.

Can I Combine a Facelift With Other Procedures?

Absolutely! However, it is important to note that a facelift is inherently a combined procedure, as various facial features can be manipulated. If you are targeting a certain feature, consider bringing it up to Dr. Hankins during your initial consultation so that he can guide you. For instance, patients have combined a nose lift, a brow lift, or a neck lift during their facelift procedure.

What Are the Risks Associated With a Facelift?

A facelift is a complex procedure, so it is important to know all potential risks. Some of these risks include:

If you experience any long-lasting or unexpected reactions, please be sure to contact our office immediately.

Anesthesia risks
Bleeding
Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
Facial nerve injury with weakness
Fluid accumulation
Infection
Hair loss
Hematoma (collection of blood hematoma under the skin)
Nerve injury
Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
Persistent pain
Scarring

How Do I Find the Best Houston Facelift Plastic Surgeon Near Me?

We recommend that you search patient reviews of facelift surgeons in Houston and schedule consultations to see how comfortable you feel before scheduling a surgery. In addition, it is helpful to see the surgeon’s qualifications and experience in the relevant surgery.

Schedule a
Consultation

If you are tired of your sagging facial features and want to turn back time for your countenance, consider a Facelift in Houston and contact Premier Plastic Surgery today for a free consultation! We’re happy to discuss all your options so you can make a well-informed decision. Contact the office or come by in person today. Our offices proudly serve residents in Houston, Pearland, Lake Jackson, and the surrounding areas of South Houston.

Houston & Pearland, TX facelift