A rhytidectomy, or facelift, is a surgical procedure used to reshape the jaw line; eyelids; cheeks; skin around the nose, the corners of the mouth, and under the chin; the forehead; and/or the neck. There are several different types of facelift surgeries, but each technique is designed to reduce loose or saggy facial skin, face and neck fat deposits, and wrinkles that are caused by aging.

There are many different reasons people have facelifts. Sagging in the middle of the face is a common consequence of aging that can be corrected by a plastic surgeon. Creases below the lower eyelids and along the nose extending to the corner of the mouth are also common age-related facial changes that can be addressed by facelift surgery. Decreased muscle tone in the lower face that creates the appearance of jowls, and loose skin under the chin and jaw that causes a double chin are also common concerns that are targeted by rhytidectomy.

The most appropriate facelift technique for you depends on the shape of your face, the flexibility of your skin, and the degree, amount and location of the sagging or wrinkled skin to be addressed. The best procedure results in natural-looking lift, smoothness, and reshaping, while minimizing the degree of scarring.

Both men and women have facelift surgeries. Most often, people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, elect to have this type of plastic surgery. Because most individuals in these age categories still have good skin elasticity and flexibility, they will experience the most dramatic and long-lasting changes as a result of facelift surgery. However, some individuals in their 70s and 80s are also good candidates for facelifts.

The most natural looking, longest lasting, and safest facelifts are performed by facial plastic surgeons that have completed years of specialized training in facial cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Your surgeon should be board certified.