Is a Facelift Painful?

Most patients experience minimal discomfort during their facelift surgery, which is performed under general anesthesia. You will be unconscious during the surgical process. Afterward, Dr. Soto will make sure you are comfortable with prescription pain medications. Most patients switch to over-the-counter painkillers within a few days.

How Many Appointments Will I Need?

In addition to your consultation and surgery date, you will need to return to Dr. Soto’s office in Houston, TX, several times to remove sutures and drains and for the doctor to ensure your healing process is on track.

How Long Until I See Results?

Most residual swelling will fade by the third or fourth week, and you will begin to see the very natural results and rejuvenated appearance you envisioned.

What Will the Scarring Look Like?

Any visible facelift scars are inconspicuous, as they are well-hidden within the hairline and the folds of the ears. While they may appear a little red and raised initially, they will smoothen out and fade in color over time. Once your scarring reaches optimal healing, you can speak with Dr. Sato about skin resurfacing treatments to further improve the appearance of your visible scars.

When Can I Exercise Again After My Facelift?

Most patients can resume exercise within four to six weeks or as directed by Houston facelift surgeon Dr. Erika Sato. After a few days of rest, you will be encouraged to do some light walking to prevent blood clotting, but you should only return to more strenuous activities.

Will I Need to Worry About Facial Aging After My Facelift?

A facelift can do wonders, knocking your facial appearance back almost a decade. Unfortunately, the human body will continue to age, and as you’ve experienced, time, the environment, and lifestyle choices will eventually take their toll. If you live a healthy lifestyle, practice routine skincare, and are aware of your sun exposure, you can enjoy the results of your facelift for a very long time.

Can I Combine a Facelift With Other Procedures?

Yes. Our Houston patients often have their facelift procedures paired with a neck lift, blepharoplasty, brow lift, dermal fillers, or facial fat transfer. Speak with Dr. Soto during your private consultation to learn more about combining treatments.

What Are the Risks Associated With a Facelift?

Surgical risks are greatly reduced by choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon such as Dr. Soto in Houston, TX. However, some inherent risks exist with any surgery. For a facelift, these include but are not limited to: Poor scarring Infection Bleeding Hematoma Nerve injury Anesthesia risks Hair loss at the incision sites Swelling Skin discoloration Asymmetry Fluid accumulation

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

When choosing a plastic surgeon for any cosmetic procedure, there are many factors to consider, including the provider’s experience, training, credentials, results, and demeanor. It is critical that you work with a surgeon with whom you can communicate well and who understands your unique aesthetic tastes and goals. When you meet with experienced and board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Erika Sato (who has performed thousands of facelifts and other facial plastic surgeries for her satisfied Houston area patients), you can discover her reputation for surgical excellence and her compassionate, patient-centric approach. Call today to get started with a private consultation.

Houston, TX

In Houston

Facelift

Introduction to Facelift

A facelift is considered a gold-standard cosmetic surgery for rewinding the clock on aging, as it provides long-lasting and dramatic changes. During surgery, sagging skin in the cheeks and jowls is trimmed and pulled taut while wrinkles and lines are meticulously smoothed away. Dr. Erika Sato, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Houston, TX, draws on nuanced artistry and precision to deliver a natural-looking transformation that enhances self-confidence.

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What is a Facelift?

A facelift (rhytidectomy) is a facial plastic surgery designed to restore the facial shape after aging, which has led to drooping contours and loss of jawline definition. It addresses cosmetic concerns in the lower third of the face, concentrating on the cheeks, jowls, and upper neck. A facelift addresses jowling, deep wrinkles and folds, lax skin, and tightening loose underlying muscles, making it a fantastic, long-term solution for achieving more youthful, natural-looking results.

Facelift surgery can be combined with chin and neck liposuction to eradicate stubborn pockets of fat and a double chin, or it can be paired with a neck lift, brow lift, or blepharoplasty procedure for more comprehensive improvement. Because a facelift does not address volume loss, the surgery is often performed in tandem with dermal fillers or fat transfer, which can provide supple fullness in the midface, temples, and lips.

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Tailored Facelift Solutions

Facelift Techniques

Mini Facelift

For younger patients who are just starting to see signs of aging emerge, a mini-facelift (also called the “weekend facelift”) can be performed to correct sagging skin and early jowling while still using minimally invasive techniques. This approach is a slightly modified version of a traditional facelift and helps minimize loose skin around the lower portion of your face. Using only local anesthesia and smaller incisions, a mini-facelift offers a shorter scar appearance and a faster recovery process.

Dr. Sato will make discreet incisions behind your ears that are easily hidden once healed. She will carefully tighten your skin and facial muscles through the incision and remove any excess tissue. She will finish by closing the incisions using a precision suturing technique designed to reduce skin tension and minimize visible scarring.

This surgery usually lasts less than two hours. Although you may experience some mild swelling and bruising, a mini-lift has a much less intense recovery than traditional full-facelift surgery.

SMAS Facelift

The superficial muscular aponeurotic system (SMAS) is your face’s most important support structure. It consists of a tissue layer deep within the inner layers of your skin. A SMAS facelift, also referred to as “the two-layer facelift,” helps address the lower two-thirds of your facial region and can achieve long-lasting results.

Your surgery will take place under general anesthesia. Dr. Sato performs the procedure by making incisions along your temple and above the hairline, which will hide any scarring in the skin’s natural creases. Dr. Sato will then lift and reposition the underlying facial muscles and tissue and finish by suturing up the incisions and removing excess skin. This procedure typically takes a few hours to complete.

A SMAS Facelift is great for patients with hollow cheeks, sagging cheek fat, howling, and other lower facial concerns. After surgery, most patients can return to work within two to three days but will need to wait for Dr. Sato’s approval before resuming more strenuous activities.

Deep-Plane Facelift

While both standard and deep plane facelifts are performed under general anesthesia, the key difference between them is that during a standard facelift, the SMAS tissue layer and skin are lifted separately. In comparison, with a deep plane lift, the skin, muscles, and SMAS are all pulled together and then separated, giving Dr. Sato more control to tighten these two layers in different directions for a smoother appearance.

Another important difference between the two types of facelifts is that in a deep-plane technique, Dr. Sato targets the deeper muscles to achieve a better overall lift. By releasing or tightening the muscles of facial impression, Dr. Sato can reduce the tension on your skin, smoothing out any irregularities.

Liquid Facelift

This non-surgical facelift uses only injectables to erase lines and wrinkles and restore youthful fullness to the facial contours. While it can produce beautiful changes, the results are not permanent, and the treatment does not address loose, sagging skin.

What Are the Benefits of a Facelift?

Facelift surgery is among the most universally sought-after cosmetic procedures thanks to its broad range of advantages, including the following:

Trims drooping excess, loose skin
Improves definition in the cheeks and jawline
Tightens neck skin laxity
Corrects the appearance of jowls
Reduces wrinkles and fine lines for smoother skin
Softens nasolabial folds
Creates a more inviting, youthful appearance
Enhances self-confidence
It can be combined with other cosmetic treatments
Long-lasting results from 7 to 12 years on average

Who Are the Best Candidates for a Facelift Procedure?

Ideal candidates for a facelift are typically individuals who have exhausted non-surgical means of facial rejuvenation, including at-home skincare products, injectables, and non-invasive skin tightening options. They are now ready for more dramatic and permanent improvements in the skin’s firmness and vitality. As with all cosmetic procedures, it is critical that patients are healthy non-smokers who are not currently dealing with any uncontrolled medical issues.

Dr. Sato in Houston, TX, will conduct a thorough consultation process to ensure that a facelift is the best choice for you and that your expectations are realistic.

Let’s Get Started

What’s the first step?

As a first step, you will undergo an in-depth consultation with Dr. Sato, who will assess your skin quality, review your medical history, and listen carefully to your vision for improvement. During this initial meeting, you will also have the chance to browse through before and after photos of previous patients. After your candidacy is confirmed and your surgery date has been scheduled, you will need to complete any lab work requested by Dr. Sato and amend your medication schedule according to the doctor’s requests.

Since facelift surgery is performed under anesthesia, you will need to schedule a helper ahead of time who can drive you home and assist you for the first 24-48 hours. It is also wise to fill any prescriptions ahead of time so you have less to worry about once your recovery begins.

What to Expect on the Day of Facelift Surgery

A facelift is an outpatient procedure performed in our accredited onsite surgical facility in Houston, TX, under local anesthesia and IV sedation. The surgical time can vary depending on the techniques used, the extent of correction required, and whether additional procedures are being done concurrently. Dr. Sato will choose the best approach for your individual facial structure and what you wish to accomplish.

In a traditional facelift, an incision is made along or just inside the hairline in the temple region, in front and around the ear, and then into the hair behind the ear. To lift the neck, an incision is made under the chin. The muscle is tightened, excess tissue, fat, and skin are excised, and the skin is then re-draped and sutured for a new contour that is naturally tighter.

Facelift Recovery

When you wake up after the procedure, your head will be loosely wrapped in bandages. If subcutaneous drains were placed intraoperatively, you will be given instructions on managing them at home. Mild discomfort, swelling, numbness, and bruising will present, as is common with most aesthetic surgeries. The length of time it will take for these issues to subside depends on the type of facelift performed and if any other procedures were done concurrently. Keeping your head elevated while resting will help to reduce these effects.

Most people can go back to work in 2-3 weeks after getting a facelift in Houston, but strenuous activity should be avoided for at least four weeks. Once recovery is complete, you will be able to enjoy the full results of your rhytidectomy.

How Much Does a Facelift Cost in Houston, TX?

The price of a facelift in Houston depends on the details of each procedure. It is based on factors such as total procedure time, the facelift technique, and anesthesia. During your private consultation, Dr. Sato will provide you with a detailed and personalized quote for services.

Why Choose Dr. Sato?

In Houston, TX, Dr. Erika Sato is an internationally revered plastic surgeon board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). She is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the Texas Medical Association (TMA), and the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS). Dr. Sato performs the full gamut of cosmetic procedures and treatments for the face, breasts, and body with the goal of providing patients with outstanding concierge care in a technologically advanced practice setting. Her facility is equipped with two AAAASF-certified operating rooms and is located next door to the Memorial Houston Surgery Center to ensure each patient’s experience is streamlined, convenient, and stress-free.

Throughout her robust career, Dr. Sato has been honored with countless accolades, including the Texas Super Doctors award by Texas Monthly Publication from 2022 to 2024. In 2021 and 2023, Newsweek chose Dr. Sato as one of America’s “Best Plastic Surgeons for Liposuction.” She was also named a Top Doctor by TX Top Doc and was the Houston Chronicle’s choice for Best Plastic Surgeons in Houston. Dr. Sato was also chosen as a cast member on Bravo’s Married to Medicine Houston, allowing her to share more of her personal life.

Facelift FAQ’S

Any visible facelift scars are inconspicuous, as they are well-hidden within the hairline and the folds of the ears. While they may appear a little red and raised initially, they will smoothen out and fade in color over time. Once your scarring reaches optimal healing, you can speak with Dr. Sato about skin resurfacing treatments to further improve the appearance of your visible scars.
A facelift can do wonders, knocking your facial appearance back almost a decade. Unfortunately, the human body will continue to age, and as you’ve experienced, time, the environment, and lifestyle choices will eventually take their toll.

If you live a healthy lifestyle, practice routine skincare, and are aware of your sun exposure, you can enjoy the results of your facelift for a very long time.
Surgical risks are greatly reduced by choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon such as Dr. Soto in Houston, TX. However, some inherent risks exist with any surgery. For a facelift, these include but are not limited to:
- Poor scarring
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Hematoma
- Nerve injury
- Anesthesia risks
- Hair loss at the incision sites
- Swelling
- Skin discoloration
- Asymmetry
- Fluid accumulation
When choosing a plastic surgeon for any cosmetic procedure, there are many factors to consider, including the provider’s experience, training, credentials, results, and demeanor. It is critical that you work with a surgeon with whom you can communicate well and who understands your unique aesthetic tastes and goals. When you meet with experienced and board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Erika Sato (who has performed thousands of facelifts and other facial plastic surgeries for her satisfied Houston area patients), you can discover her reputation for surgical excellence and her compassionate, patient-centric approach. Call today to get started with a private consultation.

#dr.erikasato

@dr.erikasato

Schedule a consultation

If you are in the Houston, Texas, area and would like to learn more about your options for facial rejuvenation with Dr. Erika Sato, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team today and schedule your facelift consultation. We look forward to answering your questions with care and precision and empowering you with the information you need to confidently move forward along the path to a refreshed and revitalized appearance.

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