Is a Facelift painful?

When undergoing Facelift surgery, you will be administered general or local anesthesia, so you shouldn’t feel pain during the procedure. Whilst individual experiences vary, patients do complain of minor discomfort in the first few days post-surgery but Dr. Yu will prescribe pain medication to help manage this pain and discomfort.

How many appointments will I need?

Dr. Yu will want to see you for your first post-operative a day or two after surgery to remove any dressing and observe your initial recovery, followed by another visit approximately one week after facelift surgery to remove the sutures. You will then need to follow up one month after surgery and usually every three to six months for the first year after your surgery to monitor your healing and satisfaction with the results.

How long until I see results?

Some patients may be able to see visible changes after their surgery, but there will also be bruising and swelling during the first few weeks post-surgery which affects the appearance. While recovery should only take about three weeks, most patients will require about six months to see their optimal facelift results. The best way to achieve optimal results is to follow our post-op instructions and attend your routine check-ups with Dr. Yu at our boutique Arcadia office.

Can I combine a Facelift with other procedures?

Yes, indeed! Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Arcadia Facelift patients at Premier Cosmetic Surgery and Medspa often combine their Facelift with other facial rejuvenation procedures such as a neck lift , eyelid surgery , brow lift , or Fat Grafting . We recommend that you discuss these interests with Dr. Yu at your initial consultation so that he can recommend the best combination of procedures for you given your medical situation.

What are the risks associated with a Facelift?

Even though a Facelift is not a severe surgery given the gamut of plastic surgeries out there, it still does have potential risks associated with it that we like our patients to be aware of. Anesthesia risks Bleeding Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications Facial nerve injury with weakness Fluid accumulation Infection Hair loss Hematoma Nerve injury Numbness or other changes in skin sensation Persistent pain Scarring While many of these side effects should heal on their own over time, if you do find yourself experiencing any long-lasting or unexpected reactions, please be sure to contact our office immediately or if they feel very serious, please do not hesitate to call 911.

Facelift

In Los Angeles

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Introduction to Facelift

Facelift is one of the most frequently performed procedures. It often refers to the lift of the lower face. Depending on the condition of the patient’s facial aging, a traditional facelift is done for a person with more advanced skin aging. If the aging is minimal to medium, some patients may benefit from a mini-facelift or our famous Mini-incisional Deep Plane Facelift could be performed. While a formal facelift could entail a recovery time of one to two months, a mini facelift may only require a recovery time of one to three weeks. This latter benefit is one major factor for the Mini-Facelift or mini Deep Plane Facelift to be our most sought-after procedure performed by Dr. Arthur Yu, the medical director and Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon at Premier Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa. Our practice sees Facelift patients in Los Angeles, Pasadena, and the surrounding Arcadia area.

Facelift Results

Facelift B&A

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What is a Facelift?

We all want to look our best and feel good about ourselves, but aging can become more challenging. Loss of muscle tone, skin laxity, wrinkles in the face, volume loss – these are issues that often lead patients to seek a solution like a facelift. But with so many options available now – from mini facelifts to large-scale reconstructions designed for serious aging concerns – it’s hard to know which might be right for you. Here are some of the facelift procedures we provide:

Full Facelift

A full facelift, medically known as a Rhytidectomy, usually involves making larger incisions along the hairline at the temples reaching around to behind each earlobe. Through these incisions, excess skin can be removed from around areas like sagging jowls or deep line creases before being tightened with strong sutures for an overall improved facial contour. This procedure suspends the platysma muscle to redefine the jawline and neck.

Mini-Facelift (SMAS Facelift)

A Mini-Facelift focuses on improving only certain areas of concern by making smaller incisions near the ear that follow along with their curves into either the sideburn area or temple region, depending on what needs addressing most severely. This type of procedure is best suited for those with milder signs of aging, such as drooping skin under the chin or soft wrinkles around their mouth or forehead regions that require smaller amounts of area adjustment than an entire full-face lift would necessitate

Deep Plane Facelift

This procedure involves the release of the four ligaments that connect the deep plane layer of your facial anatomy, which then enables tension-free movement and avoids creating tightness traditionally associated with the visuals of a facelift. The name of the procedure comes from the anatomic plane that exists 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.

This particular variation might be an ideal choice for those looking for even more dramatic results than what a typical mini-facelift offers. This procedure utilizes shorter incisions compared to a full facelift, which then 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.

What Are The Benefits Of A Facelift?

Our patients who have received any of our Facelifts in the Los Angeles, Pasadena, and surrounding Arcadia area, have reported some of the following benefits:

A more contoured jawline
A tighter neck
Improves the appearance of their nose
Lifted cheekbones
Natural results for a more youthful appearance
Overall tightening up of sagging skin
Reduced wrinkles
Reduces and can eliminate deep creases
Vibrant and youthful appearance

Who Are The Best Candidates For A Facelift?

The best candidates for a Facelift in Los Angeles and Arcadia should have some of the following characteristics:

Be at target weight
Committed to good skincare
Dissatisfied with their facial anatomy
Have sagging facial tissues (i.e. deep wrinkles, jowls, double chin)
Have a positive attitude
Maintain realistic expectations
No serious underlying medical conditions
Non-smoker and committed to staying so
Understand the procedure, recovery time, and risks

Facelift First Step

What’s The First Step?

The first step in getting a facelift at Premier Cosmetic Surgery and Medspa is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Yu. On the day of your appointment, Dr. Yu will evaluate your unique needs, cosmetic goals, and your unique facial anatomy. He will physically examine your unique facial features, including skin quality, skin laxity, soft tissue, sagging jowls, cheeks, and neck muscles.

He will review your medical history to ensure you are a good candidate for facial surgery. For instance, if you are on medications for hypertension, you might be better served with nonsurgical facelift options such as PDO Thread Lift.

If you are deemed a good candidate for a Facelift procedure, Dr. Yu will discuss what a surgical facelift involves, the pros and cons of the latest surgical techniques available, and which method would be best for you. He will also show you where the various incisions will be placed and what you can expect from scarring.

Once you are satisfied with the direction of your procedure, Dr. Yu will create your custom procedure plan. Our Patient Coordinator will help schedule your surgical date and provide you with detailed pre-operative instructions on how to prepare for your surgery including maybe stopping certain medications in the days leading up to the procedure, avoiding sun exposure, and keeping up a thorough skincare routine pre and post-operation.

What to Expect on the Day of Facelift Surgery

On the day of your facelift procedure, you can expect to spend two to five hours in our office, depending on the procedure you’re receiving. We will review any necessary information with you before beginning. With a full facelift and deep plane facelift, twilight anesthesia is used for your safety and comfort during the surgery. However, a mini facelift can be done through local anesthetic. We are committed to ensuring all patients have the best facelift results possible. That is why we take special care when deciding on the anesthesia for each facelift surgery.

Once you are sedated, the incisions will be placed in a natural skin fold to minimize any appearance of scars post-healing. Dr. Yu will take your gender, ethnicity, and physical anatomy into consideration as he shapes your face. Once the excess skin and fat are extracted, Dr. Yu will close the incisions with sutures to create minimal scar tissue.

After your surgery, a compression dressing will be gently applied to protect the incisions and prevent any collections of fluid.

Facelift Recovery

After your facelift procedure and the placement of bandages, keeping them dry until they are due to be removed during your first follow-up appointment is vital. Cleaning and aftercare instructions will be provided, along with a timeline of what to expect as your facelift surgery heals over time.

Generally speaking, mini facelifts require two to four weeks, while full or deep plane facelifts require four to six weeks for complete healing. Following proper aftercare instructions and managing expectations can help ensure your facelift looks precisely how you want!

Facelift Cost

How Much Does a Facelift Cost In Arcadia, CA?

The cost of a Facelift in Los Angeles, Pasadena, and the surrounding Arcadia, CA area is widely determined by the type of Facelift you choose, the complexity of the procedure, and the surgeon and associated anesthetist’s fees. The best way to find out how much it will cost for you is to come in for your initial consultation and let Dr. Yu create your surgical plan. Once the plan is made, our Patient Coordinator will be able to show you the price breakdown for your procedure.

Why Choose Premier Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa?

Conveniently located to serve clients in Los Angeles, Pasadena, and the surrounding Arcadia areas, we are excited to help you reach your aesthetic goals, and give you back the body and face you want and deserve. Come and see Dr. Yu and his team for your Facelift surgery today.

Premier Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa is the practice you want to choose for your Facelift. It was established in 2006 by Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Arthur Yu who has amassed over 19 years of plastic surgery experience with successful procedures of generations of patients now under his belt. He is the inventor of ART TIPLYFT® and an award-winning surgeon with his most recent awards of Best Threads Treatment and Top 3 Best Surgery Body Shaping at the 2023 AMWC Monaco conference.

Dr. Yu completed his plastic surgery training at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic and has learned from some of the world’s most admired and respected masters of plastic and cosmetic surgery. He completed his general surgery residency at Cornell University Brooklyn Hospital Center. He completed an additional fellowship in Head and Neck Surgery at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is a top-ranked international organization. He is a proud member of the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS).

Facelift FAQ’S

Dr. Yu will want to see you for your first post-operative a day or two after surgery to remove any dressing and observe your initial recovery, followed by another visit approximately one week after facelift surgery to remove the sutures. You will then need to follow up one month after surgery and usually every three to six months for the first year after your surgery to monitor your healing and satisfaction with the results.
Some patients may be able to see visible changes after their surgery, but there will also be bruising and swelling during the first few weeks post-surgery which affects the appearance.
While recovery should only take about three weeks, most patients will require about six months to see their optimal facelift results.

The best way to achieve optimal results is to follow our post-op instructions and attend your routine check-ups with Dr. Yu at our boutique Arcadia office.
Yes, indeed! Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Arcadia Facelift patients at Premier Cosmetic Surgery and Medspa often combine their Facelift with other facial rejuvenation procedures such as a neck lift, eyelid surgery, brow lift, or Fat Grafting. We recommend that you discuss these interests with Dr. Yu at your initial consultation so that he can recommend the best combination of procedures for you given your medical situation.
Even though a Facelift is not a severe surgery given the gamut of plastic surgeries out there, it still does have potential risks associated with it that we like our patients to be aware of.
- Anesthesia risks
- Bleeding
- Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
- Facial nerve injury with weakness
- Fluid accumulation
- Infection
- Hair loss
- Hematoma
- Nerve injury
- Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
- Persistent pain
- Scarring
While many of these side effects should heal on their own over time, if you do find yourself experiencing any long-lasting or unexpected reactions, please be sure to contact our office immediately or if they feel very serious, please do not hesitate to call 911.

Schedule a Consultation

If you are in the Los Angeles, Pasadena, and surrounding Arcadia area, and would like to refresh your countenance, a Facelift procedure from Premier Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa could be an excellent solution. To schedule your initial consultation, please contact our office or use our website to fill out a consultation request form. We look forward to taking the first step with you in achieving your desired facial aesthetic.