Golden Triangle Plastic Surgery
Golden Triangle Plastic Surgery Medspa
Facelift in San Diego
The desire to turn back the clock has become a growing concern for patients, especially as we continue to live longer and healthier lives. Facelift surgery has become increasingly popular among women and men due to these ever-increasing concerns to eliminate wrinkles and restore the face to its once youthful characteristics. By repositioning soft tissue in the face and neck and removing sagging skin, patients can experience a reinvigorated appearance that can be compared to how they looked in the past.
Finding the best facelift surgeon for your procedure is paramount to having a successful and fulfilling experience. Dr. Roy David is a double-board certified plastic surgeon who has committed his life’s work to fulfilling his patients’ needs, earning their trust through masterful skill and over a decade of experience.
Natural Results
Dr. David performs an Extended Deep Plane Facelift (known in our San Diego practice as the Extended La Jolla Lift®). A deep plane facelift involves lifting the cheeks, jawline, and neck as a unit, creating a beautifully natural, dramatic, and long-lasting result.
This is achieved by lifting a layer of tissue in the face called the SMAS (subcutaneous musculoaponeurotic system) layer, which overlies the facial muscles and supports our fat and skin. This SMAS layer continues in our necks as the Platysma muscle (the muscle that forms those lines when we show our teeth). Whereas traditional “SMAS facelifts” (not deep plane) involve minor manipulation of this layer (such as placing simple sutures to cinch it), the Deep Plane Facelift involves additional undermining and lifting anteriorly toward the corner of the mouth, as well as over the cheek bone, thereby lifting the drooping fat and skin that cause deep smile lines (also called nasolabial folds). In the neck, the platysma muscle is lifted and tightened posteriorly, creating a crisply defined jawline.
Dr. David’s extended deep plane facelift involves a vertical vector of lifting. In this way, your skin and fat are repositioned in their natural locations, as opposed to the “windswept” look that can accompany a more posterior vector of pull. To maintain harmony in the face, the lateral brow (outer third of the eyebrow) is also lifted slightly in most cases, accentuating a feminine arc in female patients, and correcting lateral hooding of the eyelids in male patients.
Benefits of Extended La Jolla Lift® (Deep Plane Facelift):
1. More comprehensive/ full facelift: Brows, Cheeks, Jawline, and Neck.
2. Dramatic, natural appearing rejuvenation may be achieved.
3. Vertical nature of the lift leads to a shorter incision behind the ears for many patients and almost all patients under fifty.
4. Round cheeks (buccal fat hypertrophy) may be reduced at the same time.
5. Longer lasting results due to the release of ligaments that otherwise hold the tissues in an aged position.
Incisions for a deep plane facelift are meticulously hidden around the ears, and most patients can resume wearing a ponytail within several weeks.
Anesthesia for this procedure is performed by a board certified anesthesiologist in our AAAASF accredited surgical center, and is either a gentle IV sedation or general anesthetic depending on preferences and needs of the client.
Procedures commonly performed at same time as deep plane facelift:
1. Eyelid surgery
2. Laser resurfacing
3. Fat transfer
4. Lip Lift
Recovery from a deep plane facelift in San Diego is remarkably quick. While most patients sleep or rest immediately after surgery, you can easily go for a short stroll the next day, as well as resume a regular diet. Some bruising and swelling is normal in the postop period, with most patients resuming activities within a week and even traveling within two weeks. Return to work is typically 10 days to two weeks.
In expert hands, the deep plane facelift is a safe, trusted technique that produces beautiful, long-lasting results. Dr. David is a double board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon with 20 years’ experience and has performed over 1,000 facelifts. Contact our office to find out if you are a candidate for the extended deep plane facelift (Extended La Jolla Lift®).
What Are the Benefits of Facelift Surgery?
Corrected Signs of Aging
Facelift surgery repositions the underlying tissues of the face and tightens the skin to reduce the signs of aging, such as sagging, shifted or loose skin, wrinkles, or fine lines. With the combination of techniques (like facelift with the direct neck lift), our surgeon can extend the removal of excess tissue to the neck to get rid of the vertical banding, more commonly known as the “turkey neck.” Furthermore, Dr. David has evolved the mini facelift (the La Jolla Lift®) to serve patients who are seeking less invasive facelift treatments that produce equally outstanding results.
Revitalized Youth
Our facelift surgery techniques are dedicated to providing comprehensive results for a more youthful, natural-looking appearance. Our practice and plastic surgeon deeply understand what causes our skin to age, and use the most advanced facelift techniques to restore a patient’s face to their natural youth. Whether it is a targeted procedure dedicated to the middle and lower thirds of the face or a combination of treatments that address the loss of volume in the temples or around the eyes, a facelift can provide more vibrant definitions and youthful contours.
Revived Self-Confidence
Facelifts are cosmetic procedures, but the fulfillment of their benefits can go beyond just the physical aesthetics. The differences in our appearance that arise as we age can sometimes shock us and even cause discouraging insecurities. Looking as energetic and youthful as you feel is an integral part of aging, providing mental clarity and a positive and confident self-image. A facelift can restore your face to one that is familiar from times that have passed and empower you to enjoy your quality of life more fully.
Patient Testimonials
What Are My Facelift Options?
Full Facelift
A full facelift tightens a patient’s face while paying equal attention to lifting and repositioning of the appropriate areas for your needs. Dr. David carefully tailors his techniques to most accurately suit your anatomy and personal goals. At our practice, a full facelift generally includes liposuction or deep fat removal of the neck and jowl region as well as tightening of the muscles responsible for loose ‘bands’ in the neck. Dr. David utilizes the proven results of the deep plane facelift technique to lift the deeper layer of tissue beneath the skin over the appropriate areas (cheeks, jowls, neck, etc.). The deep plane facelift is known for its ability to create prominent but natural-looking rejuvenation of the face.
Mid Facelift
A mid facelift addresses the cheek pads and nasolabial folds to reduce the appearance of dark circles or hollowness beneath the eyes as well as lessen the appearance of smile lines. Heaviness in the skin below the cheeks and above the jowls can also be reduced with the mid facelift as small incisions in the hair-bearing temple or under the eye can be made. Patients in their 30’s or 40’s can benefit from mid facelift surgery, as treating signs of jowling or excess neck skin are not always necessary to improve the midface. The option to combine the mid facelift with a standard facelift is also available.
Direct Neck Lift
Our direct neck lift is an excellent option for patients with prominent aging in their neck, who may not have concerning jowls or cheek regions. Often called a “turkey gobbler neck,” the excess fat and skin in this area can be removed with a well-hidden incision under the chin. This procedure only requires local anesthetic or mild sedation.
Signature Mini Facelift
Our La Jolla Lift® is our signature solution to lower face, jowl, and neck concerns. The La Jolla Lift® was conceived from Dr. David’s desire to provide patients with a facelift that does not require anesthesia, long recovery periods, or significant discomfort. Prioritizing effective results that rival or exceed any full facelift, our La Jolla Lift® efficiently utilizes your valued time without sacrificing the quality of care. Many patients seeking facial rejuvenation are obligated by work and family life, making it difficult for them to commit to lengthy procedures and recovery times. The La Jolla Lift® makes it possible for even someone with the busiest schedule to remove 10 to 15 years of age in just about 120 minutes. This mini facelift does not require the long incisions of traditional facelifts and comes in at roughly half the cost of a full facelift. The La Jolla Lift® is an excellent choice for patients looking for an accessible path to natural-looking rejuvenation.
Head Band Lift™
Dr. David’s “Head Band Lift” procedure involves an endoscopic lateral brow lift and midface (cheek) lift to produce an elegantly refreshed enhancement of the upper face, with no visible incisions!
Combining Treatments
Some patients benefit from adding treatments to their facelift to more extensively reposition or correct specific areas of their face. For example, volume loss is one of the many concerns that aging patients confront when experiencing different signs of aging. Patients can experience a more well-balanced and healthy-looking appearance with the combination of facial implants or fat grafting with their facelift.
More On Combined Treatments
Other patients may want additional repositioning in the brow or forehead region, opting for an added forehead or brow lift. Even eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) or laser resurfacing can be included in your treatment to address the wrinkles around the lower eyes and mouth more precisely.
Patients take a multitude of unique directions with their transformative facelift journey. That is why it is important to thoroughly discuss your prospective treatments and combinations with Dr. David during a consultation. Combining treatments may also result in an adjusted recovery timeline.
Facelift Concerns
How Much Does Facelift Surgery Cost?
The cost of your facelift will vary depending on the extent of the treatment needed to address your concerns, as well as the type of facelift selected. Facelift surgery costs also include anesthesia fees, facility fees, and medical tests, but typically do not include the cost of prescription medication. During your consultation, Dr. David will be able to give you an exact cost for your procedure.
Cosmetic plastic surgery is considered “elective” and is not covered by most insurance plans.
What Is Recovery From Facelift Surgery Like?
Once your facelift surgery is complete, patients have the option to spend the night in a luxurious Sheraton Hotel location, directly neighboring our office. A qualified and thoroughly experienced caregiver or nurse will be available to assist you with any needs and will bring you to your follow up appointment the next morning.
The following morning dressings are removed, and the patient is usually allowed to return home. By one week, most patients feel comfortable enough to resume a majority of activities (with some restrictions). Most patients are able to return to their usual routine within two weeks.
Will I Have Pain After Facelift Surgery?
General anesthesia or gentle twilight sedation will ensure that pain is non-existent during the procedure. Swelling and bruising are normal after surgery but should begin to resolve within a few days. Pain is generally minimal and easily controlled through prescribed medications, although medication is not necessary for every patient.
Will I Have Scars After Facelift Surgery?
While scarring is likely to occur anywhere there is an incision, and it is very common for most scars to fade with time, and incision points are always concealed in areas that are hard to notice. The natural folds and creases of your newly defined contours will easily hide any scarring as it heals.
Frequently Asked Questions about Facelift
If your cheek pads are in a good position and your primary concern is the jowl area and loose tissues under the chin, the La Jolla Lift® may offer you a faster recovery with less expense. Ultimately, the best way to determine this is to come in for a complimentary consultation and evaluation. The benefit of seeing an experienced board-certified facial plastic surgeon is that our office offers both types of facial rejuvenation procedures. We will recommend what is best for you based on your appearance and desires.
In most cases, a traditional mini facelift gives “mini” results. Dr. David’s mini facelift procedure provides the same quality of results in the jowl and neck regions as any traditional facelift. Dr. David’s unparalleled experience allows him to perform the procedure at an average of 90 minutes, whereas similar results may take several hours and be much more expensive elsewhere.
Sometimes, although it is important that you properly discuss which procedures you would like to combine as you may be a more suitable candidate for some procedures more than others. Also, while facial surgeries can often be performed simultaneously, non-surgical laser rejuvenation must be done at a separate time.
Furthermore, adding procedures may alter the original timeline for recovery as well as the overall cost of treatment. Your consultation is an ideal time to ask important questions and confirm or correct research you may have on your own.
San Diego CA 92121