Facelift in Scottsdale

As the face ages, several frustrating concerns may arise, including sagging skin, frown lines, and jowls. For many patients, these changes cause distress and self-consciousness. Facelift surgery has long been considered the gold standard when it comes to comprehensive rejuvenation. Dr. Repta in Scottsdale delivers beautiful, nuanced results that are finely curated with the individual’s wishes and goals in mind.

Facelift Overview

Feel More Youthful and Energized With a Customized Scottsdale Facelift

Our facelift in Scottsdale does more than just improve your contours and lift drooping skin. It can also provide a new lease on life, boosting self-confidence and joy. Many patients find they are more comfortable in both social and professional situations after a facelift, as they feel more like their authentic selves. Dr. Repta understands the physical, emotional, and social repercussions of undergoing a facelift. He creates a compassionate practice environment where transparency, trust, and optimal communication combine to ensure a successful result.

What Is a Traditional Facelift?

Facelift surgery involves the careful reshaping of the facial tissues, skin, fat, and muscle to produce a more youthful and inviting countenance. While several different techniques can be used to perform a facelift, the goal is always to deliver natural-looking changes that preserve individuality and spontaneity.

What Are the Benefits of a Facelift in Scottsdale?

Rewinds the clock on aging
Improves facial symmetry
Trims excess sagging skin
Tightens and firms the underlying facial structures
Enhances self-confidence
Helps create a more favorable first impression
Can be combined with other cosmetic procedures
Elegant, natural-looking results

Before and After of Facelift in Scottsdale

Facelift By Dr. Repta Before & After Photos

This patient desired to refresh and rejuvenate her face and neck. Her goal was to look rested, vibrant, and natural. To accomplish her goal we performed a face lift, neck lift, and eyelid lift. She is shown here eight months after her surgery with good contour, natural results, and well concealed incisions.

Our wonderful patient shown here wanted to achieve a refreshed look and was worried about looking 'fake' or 'operated'. To help refresh and rejuvenate her appearance we performed a face-lift and neck-lift to help clean up the jawline and lessen the weight and width of the bottom third of her face around the mouth. We also performed fat transfer in the cheek and under-eye area to help replenish the volume lost in that area from aging. She is shown here at six months following her procedures.

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Facelift Terminology

During your consultation, you will learn about every stage of facelift surgery in Scottsdale and the techniques that will allow you to achieve your unique goals. Dr. Repta believes that educating his patients is essential and a powerful way to achieve superior outcomes. You may hear or read any of these words when investigating facelift surgery:

Jowls: This term refers to the drooping skin, tissue, and fat around the jawline and cheeks. Factors like aging, diminished collagen production, genetics, and sun exposure contribute to the development of jowls.
Marionette lines: These are pronounced lines stretching from the mouth corners to the jawline, attributed to the loss of facial volume. They can remind one of the mouth structure on a marionette puppet.
Glabellar lines: Often referred to as "frown lines," these vertical creases or wrinkles appear between the eyebrows. They can become more pronounced due to repetitive facial expressions and aging.
SMAS (Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System): A pivotal component of the face's structure, the SMAS is a muscle layer connecting the facial and neck muscles to the overlying skin. Loss of elasticity can lead to facial sagging.
Nasolabial folds: Originating from the nostrils and culminating at the mouth corners, these folds, often called "smile lines," become deeply etched into the skin as the years pass.
Fat grafting: This innovative technique involves transferring healthy, live fat cells from one body area to another. Natural fat grafting replenishes facial volume to create a fuller, softer look.
Rhytidectomy: This is the medical term for facelift surgery.
Mid-facelift: This procedure addresses the middle section of the face, including the cheeks and under-eye area.
Deep plane facelift: Going beyond the superficial layers, a deep plane facelift targets the deeper structural tissues of the face, particularly beneath the SMAS layer. This technique offers a comprehensive lift, addressing sagging around the cheeks, jowls, and neck with longer-lasting and more natural-looking results.

Dr. Repta and his professional, caring team are dedicated to providing a transparent, informed patient experience.

What Can I Expect From the Facelift Procedure?

Dr. Repta will start with a thorough consultation, during which he will examine your face, study your skin type, take photographs, and discuss your expectations about the surgery.

When you are ready to move forward, the first step of the procedure is general anesthesia. From that point, Dr. Repta will make incisions around the forehead, behind the ear, and inside the hairline. Dr. Repta uses a unique approach to create firmer and more refined facial contours by sculpting and repositioning the tissue of your face and lifting the muscle. When this is complete, he will drape the skin over the facial contours, trim any excess skin, and close the incisions.

Who Is a Candidate for a Facelift?

Patients who desire to look younger and enjoy a more sculpted, contoured facial appearance may be good candidates for a facelift in Scottsdale.

Surgery is appropriate for those who:

Do not smoke
Are generally in good health
Are not suffering from untreated medical conditions
Are realistic in their expectations

Dr. Remus Repta

Why Choose Dr. Repta for My Facelift in Scottsdale?

A facelift, when performed by Dr. Repta, will involve advanced surgical techniques to reposition the tissues, performed with meticulous attention to detail and nuanced artistry. Dr. Repta will work closely with you as a supportive partner, creating a refreshed, natural look with long-lasting results.

Dr. Repta has world-class technical skills, having trained under the most internationally acclaimed and lauded plastic surgeons. He brings his unique philosophy of care, the highest ethical standards, and refined techniques to every facelift surgery. When seeking a board-certified plastic surgeon in Scottsdale with a passion for excellence, you can feel confident in choosing Dr. Repta, knowing you are in capable, caring hands.

The SMAS Facelift

One popular option for facial rejuvenation is the SMAS facelift. SMAS is an acronym for Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System. It is the layer of tissue that lies on top of the deeper tissues and structures of the face and neck, including the entire cheek area. It is also attached to the platysma—the superficial muscle covering the lower face and neck. The ‘SMAS’ weighs more than the skin itself. As such, this weight can drag the skin downward.

During a ‘SMAS’ facelift Dr. Repta will lift the underlying muscle and tissue, rather than just pulling or stretching the skin over a sagging face. With Dr. Repta’s years of experience and precise surgical skills, you will be receiving one of the best SMAS facelifts that Scottsdale has to offer.

Issues Addressed By a SMAS Facelift

Commonly referred to as a “muscle lift,” the SMAS procedure is very popular with patients in their 40’s and 50’s. A SMAS facelift can correct and improve the following issues:

Loss of volume in cheeks
Loose and saggy skin
Wrinkles
Nasolabial folds
Sagging jowls
Excess skin on the neck

Who Is a Candidate for a SMAS Facelift?

Candidates for a SMAS facelift struggle with sagging skin in the cheeks and a loss of jawline definition. They seek long-lasting results that will help them to reclaim their self-confidence through a more youthful, engaging appearance. The surgery is not recommended for smokers or those with a history of bleeding disorders or keloid scarring. Dr. Repta, often considered one of the best facelift surgeons in Scottsdale, will conduct a thorough consultation to ensure that the procedure will be safe for you and that it will accomplish your unique rejuvenation goals.

Recovery and Healing After a SMAS Facelift

Immediately following your procedure, your head will be wrapped in bandages. It is important to keep your head elevated for the first 24 hours to help reduce swelling. Most patients return to their normal activities in about two weeks following surgery. While swelling is greatly reduced within the first couple of weeks, it may take up to six months for the last vestiges of swelling to disappear and the final results of the SMAS facelift to manifest. Tiny incisions are carefully placed along the hairline and behind the ear, resulting in minimal scarring that often remains completely undetected. The results look highly natural and last for many years.

The Deep Plane Facelift

During a deep plane facelift, Dr. Repta will reshape the face by lifting the entire facial structure, including muscle, tissue, and fat, as a single unit rather than just pulling the superficial layers of skin, as is common with other techniques.

The advantage of the deep‐plane facelift is that more blood supply to the skin is maintained, and the amount of bruising is reduced. It is best suited for certain facial types since the deep‐plane facelift does not allow the deeper tissues and the skin to be moved separately or in different directions.

What Are the Benefits of a Deep Plane Facelift in Scottsdale?

While conventional facelifts focus on the outermost skin layers, creating that “done” look most people associate with facelifts, the standard facelift today goes a bit deeper into the superficial musculoaponeurotic system or the SMAS layer. The SMAS layer lies beneath the facial fat and is made up of fibrous connective tissue. It separates the deeper facial structures, such as nerves and the muscles that control facial movements, from the superficial layers of the face. Although the SMAS facelift is an improvement over the more archaic skin-only facelift, it has only a minute effect on the deeper tissues. For this reason, some degree of skin pulling is necessary to achieve the desired result. The benefit of the deep plane facelift is that it repositions the deep facial tissue beneath the SMAS layer, allowing the entire face to be elevated. Additionally, the layer between the skin and SMAS is maintained, improving the blood supply to the skin.

Am I a Candidate for a Deep Plane Facelift?

Patients who desire significant rejuvenation in the mid to lower face are generally good candidates for the deep plane facelift in Scottsdale, as these are the areas most significantly affected by this procedure. This is because the fat pads in the cheeks are lifted and repositioned, eliminating facial hollows and restoring volume in the cheekbones. In addition, since the SMAS layer is connected to the muscles of your neck, a deep-plane facelift is also highly effective in creating a smoother, more elegant neckline.

What Is Recovery Like After a Deep Plane Facelift?

Immediately following your procedure, your face and neck will be wrapped in surgical garments. This is done primarily to catch some of the remaining numbing medication but also to add some mild compression to the area. It is important to keep your head elevated for the first week or so. Most patients return to their normal activities 2-3 weeks following surgery. While swelling is greatly reduced within the first couple of weeks, it may take up to 6 months for the last vestiges of swelling to disappear and the final results to manifest.

The Mini Facelift

Some patients wish to address just a few specific areas of the face. In such patients, the mini facelift can accomplish dramatic improvements while remaining far less invasive than traditional facelift procedures. This is particularly applicable to relatively young patients (in their 30s or 40s).

Dr. Repta is considered one of the top facelift surgeons in Scottsdale, delivering some of the best endoscopic and mini facelift results. With countless surgeries under his belt and an aesthetic eye for natural results, he has truly mastered the art of the mini facelift.

What Will My Mini Facelift in Scottsdale Entail?

Instead of the longer incisions typically made during a traditional facelift, a mini facelift requires incisions less than an inch in length. Dr. Repta will carefully and discreetly place the incisions above the hairline or behind the ear, resulting in a virtually scar-free facelift.

Once the incisions have been made, Dr. Repta will insert a tiny camera, allowing the procedure to be seen on a monitor. Small surgical instruments are then placed throughout the remaining incisions. These are used to reposition and tighten the deeper tissues of the face. As a result, you are left with an elevated, more youthful appearance.

Am I a Candidate for a Mini Facelift?

The best candidates for an endoscopic or mini facelift are patients with minor to moderate facial aging, primarily in the upper third to upper half of the face. Ideal candidates are typically in their 30s or 40s and still have somewhat supple skin. Common issues that can be addressed with a mini facelift are sagging cheeks, temples, and eyebrows, deep nasolabial folds, and downturned lips.

Benefits of a Mini Facelift in Scottsdale

In addition to producing nearly scar-less results, a mini facelift allows patients to improve areas that are difficult to reach with more traditional facelift procedures. In particular, areas toward the center of the face, such as the nasolabial folds or creases around the mouth, are often hard to reach during traditional facelift surgery. Less invasive than a traditional facelift, a mini facelift has a shorter operative time and less risk of complications.

What Is Recovery Like After a Mini Facelift?

Because an endoscopic or mini facelift involves a few tiny incisions, it tends to produce less bleeding and swelling and requires much fewer stitches than a traditional facelift. For these reasons, the recovery period following a mini facelift may be a little easier than with a conventional facelift. Most patients see visible results almost immediately and are back to work within 1–2 weeks, making this procedure very convenient for the modern on-the-go patient. While swelling and bruising will decrease dramatically within the first week, it may take a few months for all residual swelling to subside and the final results to set in.

Mini Facelift FAQs

What's the difference between a mini facelift and a facelift?

A mini facelift causes less trauma and is designed to address earlier signs of aging or specific areas, while a full facelift is more extensive, addresses a wider range of concerns, and achieves rejuvenation for more significant signs of age.

How long will my face be swollen?

Swelling will subside after 1-2 weeks.

How long is the procedure?

A mini-facelift generally takes 3-4 hours to perform.

Will there be scarring?

Incisions are carefully made around the ears, hidden in the natural folds of the skin.

When will I be able to return to work?

Many patients are able to return to work after 7-10 days.

How much younger will I look?

Patients rate themselves to look an average of 10 years younger after a mini facelift.

Will I have scars after my mini-facelift?

Dr. Repta understands the importance of well-hidden incisions and does everything possible to place them inconspicuously, enhancing the patient’s self-confidence after surgery. Scarring is typically unnoticeable within the hairline or the natural skin folds.

What are the risks of a mini-facelift?

The risks of a mini-facelift include bleeding, infection, poor reactions to anesthesia, poor wound healing, temporary numbness, nerve damage, changes in sensation, and fluid buildup, among others. Complications are rare, however, when you choose an experienced, precision-minded surgeon such as Dr. Repta. He will fully explain the risks and benefits of a mini-facelift during your detailed private consultation.

What is the cost of a mini facelift?

A mini facelift is performed with an incision in front of the ear, addressing the lower third of the face. For a mini facelift, the cost ranges between $20,000 and $35,000. The cost is increased for patients who wish to add a fat transfer, neck liposuction, or other facial contouring and rejuvenation procedures to achieve a more youthfully refreshed, significant result.

Get Started with Dr. Repta Today By Scheduling Your Private Consultation

If you are interested in learning more about our customized options for one of the best facelifts in Scottsdale, call today and schedule your private consultation with one of Scottsdale’s most trusted plastic surgeons, Dr. Repta. Your safety will be prioritized at our state-of-the-art surgery center, where every staff member and medical professional is here to support your successful cosmetic journey.

Office waiting area at Dr. Repta's office