Facelift in Palo Alto & Los Gatos

Facial aging happens on three levels at once: the skin and connective tissue lose elasticity and begin to sag, the deeper support structures descend, and the face loses volume. Together these create the changes most people first notice:

• Jowls forming along the jawline
• Deep folds running from the nose to the mouth (nasolabial folds) and downward from the corners of the mouth (marionette lines)
• Hollowing under the eyes and flattening of the cheeks
• Excess skin and fat beneath the chin
• Looseness and vertical banding in the neck

Because people now stay active and healthy later in life, this loss of definition often appears before someone feels older. Closing the gap between how you look and how you feel is what modern facial rejuvenation is designed to do, by restoring the face’s underlying structure rather than simply tightening skin.

A facelift repositions the deeper tissues of the face and removes excess skin to reduce sagging and restore definition along the cheeks, jawline, and neck. People typically choose it to address specific, structural signs of aging:

• Sagging skin on the face and neck
• Deep folds and creases on the cheeks and around the mouth
• Jowls along the jawline
• A loss of contour beneath the chin
• Volume loss in the cheeks

A facelift does not change who you are or freeze your expression. Done well, it makes you look rested and like yourself at an earlier point, not operated on.

A good candidate for a facelift is an adult in good general health who wants to correct moderate to significant sagging and folds in the face and neck. The most common signs that someone is a candidate include:

• Deep wrinkles on the cheeks and folds around the mouth
• Loose or sagging skin on the face and neck
• Noticeable jowls
• Volume loss in the cheeks and around the eyes

People with milder, earlier signs of aging may be better suited to a less invasive procedure. During a consultation, Dr. Lieberman, Dr. Parikh, or Dr. Curti will assess your anatomy, health, and goals to recommend the procedure that fits, which is not always the most extensive one.

No. A facelift repositions sagging tissue and removes excess skin, but it does not reduce blemishes, scars, redness, hyperpigmentation, or age spots. To even out skin tone and texture, the most effective options are skin-resurfacing treatments:

• Chemical peels
• Laser resurfacing
• Dermabrasion

These treatments address concerns like melasma, age spots, and acne scarring, and they can be combined with a facelift for a more complete rejuvenation. If skin quality is your main concern, resurfacing rather than surgery is usually the right starting point.

Yes. Because the surgeons at L&P Aesthetics focus specifically on the face, facelifts are frequently combined with other procedures to achieve balanced, natural results. Common pairings include:

• Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) or a brow lift, to rejuvenate the upper third of the face that a facelift does not address
• A neck lift or neck liposuction, for sagging or excess fat below the jawline
• Volume restoration with fat transfer or dermal fillers, to refill sunken areas
• Rhinoplasty, chin or facial implants, ear surgery, or hair restoration, for patients who want broader changes

A standard facelift addresses the face from the eyes down, so eyelid and brow procedures are a common addition. Your surgeon will help you decide what to combine in a single stage and what is better staged separately.

There is no upper age limit for a facelift. Candidacy depends on your health, not your age. Patients in their 30s through their 80s have all had successful facelifts, and the right time depends on your degree of facial aging and your goals, not a number. Before recommending surgery, your surgeon reviews several factors:

• Overall health and medical history
• Skin laxity and quality
• Risk of complications

There is no single right age for a facelift, which is why the decision is always based on a thorough, individual assessment.

Facelift incisions are placed within the hairline and in the natural creases around the ear, so any resulting scars are well concealed and typically fade over time. Every incision leaves some mark as it heals, but several factors keep facelift scarring minimal:

• Incisions are kept small and placed in discreet locations
• Healthy, hydrated skin heals more cleanly
• Keeping healing incisions out of direct sunlight prevents darkening, since UV exposure can make lines more noticeable

With careful incision placement and good aftercare, facelift scars are designed to be difficult to detect once healed.

Most patients report only mild discomfort after a facelift, which is well controlled with medication. The surgery itself is performed under anesthesia, so you do not feel pain during the procedure. Afterward:

• Pain is typically mild and manageable with prescribed or over-the-counter medication
• Bruising and swelling are common in the first one to two weeks and can feel tight or uncomfortable
• These symptoms subside gradually as the results settle

Everyone’s tolerance is different, but significant pain is not a typical part of facelift recovery.

A revision facelift corrects or refreshes the results of a previous facelift. Most often it is done years later to restore the youthful result of the original surgery. In some cases, it addresses problems left by an earlier operation, such as:

• An overdone or pulled appearance
• Unsightly scarring from excessive tension on the skin
• Distortion of key structures, such as a pixie ear (a pulled-down earlobe) or a cobra deformity in the neck

How long a first facelift lasts depends on the technique originally used. Revision surgery is technically demanding because the anatomy has already been altered. Dr. Lieberman, Dr. Parikh, and Dr. Curti work across all facelift techniques and regularly handle revision cases, building a customized plan around your exam and concerns.

Most patients feel comfortable in public about 10 to 14 days after a face and neck lift, and see their results look their best around 8 to 10 weeks. Recovery happens in two phases:

• Social downtime (about 10 to 14 days): the point at which most people feel comfortable running errands without feeling self-conscious. Some feel ready for a social event as early as 7 days.
• Final results (about 8 to 10 weeks): when residual swelling resolves and the result looks its best.

These are general ranges. If you combine procedures, such as laser resurfacing with a facelift, the early recovery phase can extend to about three weeks. Your surgeon will give you a personalized recovery plan and ways to optimize healing.

Yes. A facelift uses a combination of permanent and absorbable sutures beneath the skin to lift and hold the deeper tissues in the best direction. These deep sutures do not affect movement or any long-term outcome; they hold the repositioned tissue in place while it heals into its new position. Separately, sutures placed on the skin’s surface are removed in stages as you heal, most commonly at:

• 5 days after surgery
• 7 days after surgery
• 10 days after surgery

The exact pattern of the lift depends on your individual anatomy, facial size, and shape.

Most facelift surgery takes between 2 and 6 hours, depending on the technique and the complexity of your case. Typical durations by technique:

• Mini facelift: under 2 hours
• SMAS facelift: 2 to 4 hours
• Deep plane facelift: 4 to 6 hours
• L&P Signature Facelift: 6 to 8 hours

A more comprehensive technique takes longer because the surgeon is repositioning deeper structures, which is what produces the most natural, long-lasting results. Your surgeon will confirm your expected surgical time during your consultation as part of your customized plan.

Facelift longevity depends on the technique used, your skin quality and genetics, and your sun exposure and lifestyle. Techniques that reposition the deeper tissue tend to last the longest. Typical ranges:

• Mini facelift: 5 to 7 years
• SMAS facelift: 10 to 12 years
• Deep plane facelift: 10 to 15 years
• L&P Signature Facelift: 15 or more years

Beyond longevity, more comprehensive techniques like the deep plane and L&P Signature Facelift provide better mid-face correction and a result that looks refreshed rather than done. Individual results vary based on genetics, lifestyle, and skin quality.

Most patients can take short, local trips about 10 to 14 days after a facelift, and longer trips once swelling has largely resolved. General guidance:

• Light errands and short trips: 10 to 14 days after surgery
• Longer trips: 4 to 5 weeks, once swelling has subsided
• Air travel: may require additional considerations due to cabin-pressure changes

Every patient heals differently, so your surgeon will give you personalized travel guidance based on your recovery. If you are traveling to us from out of the area, our patient coordinators can help you plan timing around these milestones.

Yes. We regularly perform facelifts for men, with techniques tailored to male facial anatomy, hairline, and beard patterns. Male facelifts call for specific considerations:

• Natural hairline and sideburn placement around the ears, with incisions planned around beard-growth patterns
• Preservation of masculine contour and facial angularity
• Results that look energized, not tightened

Dr. Lieberman, Dr. Parikh, and Dr. Curti, double board-certified facial plastic surgeons, plan each male facelift around these factors so the result looks natural and appropriately masculine.

The most effective treatment for sagging skin depends on how advanced the laxity is. Mild looseness often responds to nonsurgical treatments, while moderate to significant sagging is best corrected surgically. A general progression:

• Mild laxity: energy-based skin tightening (such as radiofrequency or microneedling with radiofrequency) and medical-grade skincare can firm early looseness.
• Moderate laxity: a mini or SMAS facelift addresses early jowls and mild neck sagging.
• Significant laxity: a deep plane facelift or the L&P Signature Facelift repositions the deeper facial structures for the most complete, longest-lasting correction.

Sagging happens because the skin, the deeper support tissues, and facial volume all change with age, so the most natural results come from treating the underlying structure, not only the surface. The right option is best determined by an in-person assessment of your skin quality and degree of laxity.

A deep plane facelift lifts and repositions the deeper layer of facial tissue (the SMAS and the muscles and ligaments beneath it) as a single unit, rather than only tightening the skin on the surface. By releasing and elevating the foundation that has descended with age, it restores the cheeks and midface and produces a result that looks natural rather than pulled. How it differs from a traditional facelift:

• A traditional skin-only or basic SMAS lift mainly tightens the surface layers, which can look tight and tends to relax sooner.
• A deep plane lift repositions the underlying structure, which corrects the midface and typically lasts longer (commonly 10 to 15 years).

At L&P Aesthetics, deep plane face and neck lifts are performed by Dr. Lieberman, Dr. Parikh, and Dr. Curti, double board-certified facial plastic surgeons with more than 50 years of combined experience.

The three techniques differ in how deep they work, which affects how much aging they correct and how long results last. In short, a mini facelift is the least invasive and best for early aging, a SMAS facelift addresses moderate aging, and a deep plane facelift corrects the most and lasts the longest.

• Mini facelift: best for early jowls and mild laxity; surgery under 2 hours; results last 5 to 7 years.
• SMAS facelift: best for moderate sagging and folds; surgery 2 to 4 hours; results last 10 to 12 years.
• Deep plane facelift: best for significant sagging and midface descent; surgery 4 to 6 hours; results last 10 to 15 years.

A deeper technique repositions more of the face’s supporting structure, which is what produces a natural, long-lasting result. The best choice depends on your degree of facial aging, your anatomy, and your goals, which your surgeon will assess during a consultation.

The most common sign that someone is considering a facelift is sagging in the lower face and neck that skincare and nonsurgical treatments no longer improve. Specific signs include:

• Jowls forming along a once-defined jawline
• Loose or sagging skin on the cheeks and neck
• Deep folds from the nose to the mouth and from the mouth downward
• A tired or heavy look in the lower face, even when well rested
• Loss of contour beneath the chin

A facelift addresses sagging and excess skin; it does not improve skin tone, fine surface lines, or the upper third of the face, which are treated with resurfacing, injectables, or a brow and eyelid procedure. If your main concern is structure and sagging, that is what a facelift is designed to correct.

Facelift cost varies based on the technique, the complexity of your case, and whether procedures are combined, so the most accurate figure comes from a consultation and a personalized quote. Several factors drive the price:

• The technique used (a mini facelift is less involved than a deep plane or the L&P Signature Facelift)
• Whether it is combined with other procedures, such as a neck lift, eyelid surgery, or fat transfer
• Anesthesia, facility, and follow-up care
• The training and experience of the surgeon

Your consultation includes a clear breakdown of what is and is not included, along with financing options. Because a facelift delivers a result measured in years, it is worth weighing cost against the experience of the surgeon and the durability of the technique.

The most reliable way to choose a facelift surgeon is to evaluate credentials, specialization, and actual results, rather than relying on advertising. Key things to check:

• Board certification: look for a surgeon certified in facial plastic surgery, and ideally double board-certified, which confirms specialized training in the face.
• Focus: surgeons who concentrate on the face, rather than the whole body, perform facial procedures more frequently.
• Before-and-after results: review real patient photos for results that look natural, with attention to patients whose starting point resembles yours.
• Technique: ask which facelift techniques they perform, since deeper techniques like the deep plane lift require advanced training.
• Reviews and consultation: read patient reviews, and use the consultation to judge whether the surgeon listens and sets realistic expectations.

At L&P Aesthetics, Dr. Lieberman, Dr. Parikh, and Dr. Curti are double board-certified facial plastic surgeons who focus exclusively on the face, with more than 50 years of combined experience. The right surgeon for you is one whose specialization, results, and approach match your goals.

The pulled or windswept look comes from a technique that tightens the skin under tension, not from facelifts in general. It is avoided by repositioning the deeper facial tissue rather than pulling the skin, and by choosing a surgeon who specializes in natural results.

That tight look happens when the skin is asked to do the lifting work it is not designed to do. Putting tension on skin can also widen scars and distort the earlobe over time. A deep plane facelift instead lifts and repositions the deeper layer (the SMAS and the muscles and ligaments beneath it), so the skin is redraped gently, without tension. The effect moves your face back toward where it sat earlier, rather than stretching it. To lower your risk of an overdone result:

• Choose a surgeon who focuses on the face and can show natural before-and-after results
• Ask which technique they use and why, since deeper techniques avoid putting tension on the skin
• Review photos of patients whose starting point resembles yours

At L&P Aesthetics, Dr. Lieberman, Dr. Parikh, and Dr. Curti use deep plane techniques specifically to reposition the underlying structure, so results look refreshed and natural rather than tight.

A weekend facelift is a marketing term for a quick, minimally invasive procedure with little downtime, usually a thread lift or limited skin tightening. It can refresh very early, mild aging, but it does not address the deeper structures, so the results are modest and short-lived compared with a surgical facelift.

Weekend facelift is not a single defined operation. It typically refers to thread lifts, limited mini-lifts, or energy-based skin tightening marketed on speed and low downtime. Because these work on the surface rather than the deeper support layer, they suit early, mild laxity, not moderate to significant sagging. They are also temporary: a thread lift, for example, typically lasts around 1 to 2 years, compared with 10 or more years for techniques that reposition the deeper tissue. When each makes sense:

• A quick, minimally invasive option may suit someone with very early, subtle changes who wants a small, temporary improvement
• Moderate to significant sagging is better treated with a SMAS or deep plane facelift, which lasts far longer

Paying repeatedly for short-lived treatments can cost more over time than a single, longer-lasting procedure, so whether it is worth it really depends on your degree of aging and how long you want results to last. For most patients with real jowling or neck laxity, a properly performed facelift is the more durable investment. A consultation with Dr. Lieberman, Dr. Parikh, or Dr. Curti can tell you which category you fall into.

Both techniques lift the deeper structures of the face, but they work at different depths. A SMAS facelift tightens and repositions the SMAS (the connective-tissue layer over the facial muscles), often by folding or trimming it. A deep plane facelift goes one level deeper, releasing the ligaments beneath the SMAS and lifting the SMAS and overlying tissue together as a single unit.

• SMAS facelift: treats the SMAS layer, mainly improves the jawline and lower face, places low tension on the skin, and typically lasts 10 to 12 years.
• Deep plane facelift: releases the ligaments beneath the SMAS and lifts as one unit, improves the jawline, lower face, and the midface and cheeks, places no tension on the skin, and typically lasts 10 to 15 years.

A SMAS facelift is a reliable, widely used technique that improves the lower face. A deep plane facelift is more technically demanding and takes longer in surgery, but because it releases the deeper attachments, it also lifts the midface and tends to look more natural and last longer. At L&P Aesthetics, Dr. Lieberman, Dr. Parikh, and Dr. Curti specialize in deep plane techniques. Which approach is right depends on your anatomy and goals, which they assess during a consultation.

The right type of facelift depends on three things: how much sagging you have, your skin quality, and how long you want results to last. There is no single best option; the goal is to match the technique to your degree of aging. As a general guide:

• Early, mild laxity: a mini facelift, or in some cases nonsurgical skin tightening, may be enough
• Moderate sagging and folds: a SMAS facelift addresses the jawline and lower face
• Significant sagging or midface descent: a deep plane facelift or the L&P Signature Facelift repositions the deeper structures for the most complete, longest-lasting result

Facial aging is individual, and the same age can call for very different procedures in two different people. Factors like skin thickness, bone structure, prior surgery, and your recovery timeline all influence the recommendation, which is why self-selecting a procedure from a website is difficult. The most reliable way to know which facelift fits you is an in-person assessment. During a consultation, Dr. Lieberman, Dr. Parikh, or Dr. Curti will evaluate your anatomy and goals and walk you through your options. Ready to see what is possible? We would love to hear from you.

The best option depends on how much volume you have lost and how permanent you want the result. In short: fillers are temporary and require no surgery, fat transfer is longer-lasting and uses your own tissue, and implants are permanent and best for adding structure to areas like the cheeks or chin. Each option has a different role:

• Dermal fillers: nonsurgical, immediate, and reversible, but temporary (typically several months to about two years). Useful for trying out volume or for smaller, gradual changes.
• Fat transfer: uses fat harvested from your own body, so results look and feel natural and can last for years. It is a minor surgical procedure, often performed at the same time as a facelift.
• Facial implants: a permanent solution for adding definition to the cheeks or chin, suited to structural augmentation rather than soft-tissue volume.

Volume loss and sagging are different problems, and a complete rejuvenation often addresses both. A facelift repositions tissue that has descended, while volume restoration refills areas that have hollowed; combining them, often with fat transfer during surgery, produces a more balanced result than either alone. Because the right choice depends on your anatomy and goals, Dr. Lieberman, Dr. Parikh, and Dr. Curti will recommend the option, or combination, that fits during your consultation.

A rejuvenated, natural result comes from restraint and proper technique: repositioning tissue rather than over-tightening it, restoring only the volume that has actually been lost rather than over-filling, and allowing early swelling to settle before judging the result. A puffy or overdone look usually traces to one of three causes:

• Over-filling: adding too much volume with fillers or fat, which can look puffy. The fix is conservative, gradual volume restoration.
• Over-tightening: pulling skin under tension, which creates a tight or windswept look. Deeper techniques avoid this by lifting the underlying structure.
• Mistaking swelling for the result: faces look fuller in the first weeks after surgery. Early puffiness is normal swelling, not the final outcome, which settles over about 8 to 10 weeks.

You can protect a natural result by choosing a surgeon whose before-and-after photos look natural rather than done, favoring a structure-first approach over aggressive filling or tightening, and giving your face time to settle before evaluating it. Natural results are the core of how Dr. Lieberman, Dr. Parikh, and Dr. Curti approach facial rejuvenation: restoring your own features rather than changing them, so you look refreshed and like yourself, not overdone.