Facelift in Raleigh

There is no ideal age for a facelift, as the aging process is different for everyone. Some women benefit from facelift surgery in their 40s, while others may not need to consider it until their 60s or 70s. Factors like sun damage, smoking, and genetics will also play a role in determining when you will benefit most from cosmetic surgery. It is always best to address the signs of aging early before they are deeply established. In the case of facelifts, earlier is often better.

For many, the first signs of aging tend to be noticeable in individuals that develop deep and/or sagging jowls. This facial change occurs as gravity pulls down any loose or sagging skin from the jawline to the neck region. This is often due to genetics, so people who have parents or other close relatives that develop this feature are more likely to develop jowls as well. The facelift procedure is highly effective when it comes to fixing this telltale aging sign by stretching and trimming excess jowl/neck skin folds and reattaching them to stable facial structures, leaving the lower face and neck area smoother and better contoured for a more youthful appearance.

A facelift alone will not fix each and every aging facial characteristic. Additional facial cosmetic surgeries may also be necessary for things like drooping eyelids, crow’s feet, or additional eye wrinkles. If needed, Dr. Zenn can perform a number of cosmetic eye area procedures, including blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery, to specifically target and repair drooping eyelids. Eyelid surgery can take place concurrently with a facelift, or it can be offered on its own. Patients who don’t yet need lower face or surgery may still be candidates for blepharoplasty. Eyelid surgery can also be performed alongside a brow lift procedure.

While a facelift can diminish those deep creases that often form near the base of the nasal tip and extend downward to the outer corners of the lips, a facelift will not change the overall appearance of your natural nose. If you are interested in reshaping your nose, fixing nasal cartilage bumps, or otherwise altering the size and projection of your nose, you will need to undergo a rhinoplasty procedure.

Individuals often begin to lose their normal facial skin volume due to the natural aging process. This can sometimes be caused by weather damage to the delicate skin near your eye and cheek areas, which can result in deep hollows surrounding the eyes and near the cheekbones. In this case, a facelift alone won’t restore lost facial skin volume. However, Dr. Zenn can expertly remove unwanted fat from other areas of the body and transfer this fat to your face in a process known as facial fat transfer. This procedure plumps up the areas of the face that may have lost some of their natural volume and can be performed at the same time as a facelift.

Facelifts can help turn back the clock, but they don’t stop it from ticking entirely. Older facelift techniques, which many surgeons still use, rely on pulling and tightening the skin. Unfortunately, gravity will prevail, and the skin will eventually begin to loosen and sag again. That said, Dr. Zenn’s cutting-edge techniques address the supporting structures of the face, for longer-lasting results.

Your facelift will be an outpatient procedure, and you’ll be seen the next morning in our comfortable office. After that, you’ll be encouraged to stay home and rest for one week. You will be seen in our office at one- and two-week intervals for suture removal. You will be able to reach Dr. Zenn or his nurse 24 hours a day for any questions that may arise post-surgery.

Dr. Zenn is extremely meticulous with the placement of his facelift incisions and understands how to place them to ensure that their appearance and size will be minimal. To do this, Dr. Zenn will choose discreet and inconspicuous places for the incisions such as the natural folds of the ears, the hairline, or under the chin so your scars end up in your natural creases or obscured by your hair. After the initial healing is complete, most patients can’t even tell where the incisions were. Best of all, the scars will continue to fade over time.

At Zenn Plastic Surgery, we take the time to understand your desires for seeking a facelift, and Dr. Zenn will work closely with you to determine what procedures will create your ideal results. All of Dr. Zenn’s plastic surgery procedures are uniquely tailored to fit each individual client’s needs. Your facelift plan may involve components of skin removal, deep support, fat grafting to replace volume, and eye rejuvenation, among other possibilities. At Zenn Plastic Surgery, your quoted package price will be all-inclusive. This means that your total package price will cover your initial consultation, the pre-op appointment, before and after photos, scar gel, garments, all follow-up appointments, and any facility and anesthesia fees. Additionally, all facelift patients receive a complimentary skin care evaluation with our injector and a 10% discount on all skin care products for one year following surgery. In order to make this procedure more accessible, Dr. Zenn offers several convenient payment options and plastic surgery financing through Care Credit and Alphaeon Credit. Reach out to our practice and set up your consultation when you’re ready to learn more.