Facial rejuvenation surgery is more popular today than ever before. As lifestyles improve and people live longer, healthier lives they want to look as good as they feel.
— Dr. Mark Anton, Newport Beach Facial Plastic Surgeon
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A traditional facelift surgery, also known as rhytidectomy, is a type of cosmetic surgery that is meant to improve visible signs of aging in the lower third of the face and neck. It is designed to address sagging facial skin, deep creases, jowls, and other age-related changes to restore a more youthful and rejuvenated appearance.
Modern facelift surgeries often utilize advanced techniques to enhance results and minimize scarring, including deep plane facelifts and SMAS facelifts. Incision sites are made in inconspicuous areas, such as along the hairline, around the ears, and possibly under the chin. Then, the underlying facial tissues, including the facial muscles and fat, will be lifted and repositioned for a naturally youthful look, and any excess skin will be trimmed or removed. Depending on the patient's needs and desired outcomes, facelift surgery can be combined with other cosmetic procedures such as a neck lift, fat transfer, eyelid lift, double chin treatment or brow lift. It is important to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate your specific concerns and goals to determine if a facelift is the best option for you.
Facelift surgeries can help to achieve and regain a more confident, vibrant, and revitalized version of yourself. With renewed confidence, many patients see improvements in both their personal and professional lives as well as their overall well-being. Our facelift patients enjoy a wide variety of benefits, including tighter, firmer skin in both the face and neck, along with the reduction of wrinkles, creases and excess facial fat and any facial sagging, resulting in a more youthful appearance. In addition, fine lines can be smoothed out, improving the complexion and giving the skin a healthier-looking glow. Another advantage of a facelift is added definition in the jaw and chin. Jowls can be eliminated and a well-defined jawline can be restored. Along with addressing signs of facial aging like wrinkles, sagging and loose skin, volume loss can be restored during facelift surgeries for a natural, plump appearance.
A facelift can address multiple signs of aging and correct a variety of concerns. With a facelift Newport Beach patients can see:
Dr. Anton is a renowned specialist in facial plastic surgery, serving as the Newport Beach Facelift expert. In 2019, he performed a remarkable number of facelifts, exceeding the national average by more than double, as indicated by statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Facelifts serve as a testament to a cosmetic surgeon's skill in blending artistry, scientific knowledge, and innovative techniques.
Your face serves as your unique introduction to the world, and choosing the right surgeon is a pivotal decision in attaining your desired outcome. Dr. Anton holds board certification from the American Board of Medical Specialties and has pursued additional advanced training through a Facial Fellowship. This specialized training equips him with an unparalleled understanding of facial anatomy and aesthetics, crucial qualities for achieving natural-looking results in a facelift procedure.
Dr. Anton's signature Enhanced Deep Plane Facelift technique addresses sagging facial skin, and other signs of facial aging by repositioning the SMAS, tucking the cheek, removing excess volume, and restoring lost volume.
This technique requires the cosmetic surgeon to be comfortable operating in and around the facial nerve, to prevent facial nerve injury, which branches out from the ear across the face and varies slightly with each patient. Dr. Anton is one of a few facial plastic surgeons nationwide qualified and comfortable enough to perform facelift surgeries using this technique because of his Facial Fellowship training, which furthered his extensive study of facial anatomy.
Dr. Anton's Enhanced Deep Plane Facelift is customized for each patient depending on his or her facial anatomy and symptoms and includes the following:
A Deep Plane Facelift is achieved with a thorough SMAS (submuscular aponeurotic system) dissection. The SMAS is a thick, fibrous tissue beneath the top layer of facial skin that is repositioned during the procedure to produce the most natural, youthful, and long-lasting facelift results. This facial plastic surgery procedure addresses aging in the neck, jawline, and midface. Additional procedures might include:
There are several major differences between Dr. Anton's Enhanced Deep Plane Facelift technique and other types of more superficial facelift techniques:
Unlike other more superficial facelifts that employ the skin to create the lift and can result in the unwanted, unnatural appearance of being pulled too tight or uneven, the Enhanced Deep Plane Facelift procedure relies on the SMAS to produce the lift. During the procedure, the SMAS is dissected in a rectangular pattern from just above the cheekbone, down in front of the ear to the back of the neck muscle, below the jawline and toward the edge of the nasal labial fold, depending on the position of the facial nerve which varies slightly in everyone.Â
The SMAS is then lifted and anchored behind the ear to tighten the neck, jawline, and lower lateral face. This allows for a more natural and youthful, longer-lasting result than other types of facelifts. After dissecting, lifting, and suturing the SMAS behind the ear, Dr. Anton addresses sagging skin by gently re-draping, trimming, and suturing it into position. The incisions are well hidden in the hairline, inside lower scalp,and behind the ear (tragus) so that patients can wear their hair in a ponytail, up-do, or shorter hairstyles. This is especially important for male patients who can't hide incisions behind long hair.
Another key difference between Newport Beach board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Anton's surgical procedure and other facelifts like the SMAS-plication lift is that his eliminates the need for a medial platysmaplasty (incision under the chin). Instead, the deep plane SMAS layer dissection addresses tightening the neck and jawline as one anatomical unit. In fact, Dr. Anton refers to a medial platysmaplasty as evidence of an "old-style" traditional facelift that "assists gravity rather than fighting against it" (gravity being the most significant aging force on the body). Plus, the scar from a medial platysmaplasty can contract and pull downward, leaving the unwanted appearance of a "witch's chin."
While most other facelifts do not address mid-face aging, the Enhanced Deep Plane Facelift involves a cheek tuck. As part of the procedure, Dr. Anton sutures the fibrofatty layer that rests between the skin and the SMAS. This signature tuck serves to reshape and define the cheekbones to create a more youthful, heart-shaped face.
It is important to understand the techniques involved in a facelift surgery but also know that each one is, in essence, customized to the particular facial anatomy of the patient, the integrity of the skin, and the patient's concerns. Some patients present with very full faces, for example, while others appear hollow and gaunt. Dr. Anton uses liposuction to remove excess fat in the nasal labial fold, neck, double chin and jawline and transfers fat to cheeks, temples, and lips that lose volume with age. Liposuction and fat transfer help to customize and further balance the results of a facelift.
Dr. Anton's Facelift achieves a natural and long-lasting facial rejuvenation by repositioning the fibrous facial tissue beneath the skin. It effectively addresses aging in the face and neck, jawline, and midface, providing patients with a more youthful appearance.
Patients who seek to improve the youthfulness of their appearance also inquire about their eyes, forehead, lips, and skin texture. Very often Dr. Anton performs an upper and lower Blepharoplasty (eye lift), a Lip Lift, and his signature Skin Stacking with PRF procedure for skin rejuvenation and retexturing along with an Enhanced Deep Plane Facelift.
A Blepharoplasty addresses lower eye bags, which may entail repositioning the fat pads under the eyes to improve hollowness and remove excess skin around the eyes. It is not uncommon in an Enhanced Deep Plane Facelift surgery to require removing a pinch of skin from the lower eyes to accommodate the overall natural result of the lift. Upper eyes involve removing the excess skin that causes hooding of the lids, resulting in a more tired appearance.
In some instances, patients will require a Brow lift, also known as a forehead lift, to remove excess, sagging skin in the forehead and raise and reposition the underlying muscle and tissue.
Brow lifts correct heavy, sagging, uneven brows and eliminate or diminish deep forehead furrows. However, they do not address the "elevens," the lines that form between the brows. These are easily remedied with Botox.
Because balance is key to a youthful appearance, the importance of the lips cannot be understated. In aging, lips lose volume and shape and become thinner. The space between the bottom of the nose and the top of the lip lengthens, and the philtrum columns flatten. Fillers like Juvederm Ultra Plus add volume to the lips, but they do not lift the lip. When filler is applied where surgery is required, it begins to distort the shape of the lip and creates an imbalance in the face.
A Lip Lift corrects the lips by placing a small incision along the base of the nose. The skin is lifted to shorten the distance from nose to lip, reveal more of the tubercles (the pink, fleshy area), and restore the Cupid's Bow. Once the shape of the lip has been surgically restored, fillers can enhance volume, diminish vertical "smoker's lines," and further define the philtrum columns.
Dr. Anton refers to his signature procedure, Skin Stacking, as the "cherry on top" of his Enhanced Deep Plane Facelift. As a pioneer of combining RF microneedling with C02 laser skin resurfacing at the time of facelift surgery, Dr. Anton and his patients marvel at the results. Patients describe their skin post-surgically as "glowing," "flawless," and "twenty years younger." Dr. Anton describes Skin Stacking as a dermal/epidermal treatment that allows thermal penetration in the deeper tissues where collagen and elastin are stimulated without harming the more delicate pigment cells just below the skin's surface. Skin Stacking safely and effectively retextures skin by diminishing fine lines, wrinkles, pore size and helps to even skin tone.
The cost of a facelift in Newport Beach can vary depending on multiple factors. The main cost is typically surgical fees which can vary based on the surgeon’s qualifications, reputation, staff assistance, and location. Surgeons with extensive experience and high demand may charge higher fees.
Along with these costs, there will be a facility fee to cover the cost of the operating room, equipment, and other related services. All of these components can also be affected by the geographic location where the cosmetic surgery will occur.
Plastic surgery procedures should be carefully customized to suit the needs of every patient individually.
Certain techniques may not be ideal for everyone, conditions vary from patient to patient. This is especially true for men and women since they tend to age slightly differently and have different aesthetic concerns.
To address this, we ensure our Newport Beach facelift for men is catered to suit the unique facial structure and problem areas for each patient. In particular, we understand male patients may wish for a more chiseled or sharp jawline or facial contour as compared to women, who may opt for a softer facial shape. To address this, we use a slightly different approach for facelifts for men.
A facelift primarily addresses the concerns of sagging skin and under-eye bags, which result from the natural process of aging, gravity, or significant weight loss. However, it does not directly target issues related to skin tone, volume loss, texture, or elastin and collagen production.
When suitable, Dr. Anton includes skin rejuvenation in his facelift surgery procedures, utilizing a combination of Fractora, Morpheus 8 radiofrequency skin tightening, and CO2 laser resurfacing. This approach ensures a safe and comprehensive treatment that minimizes the risks of altered skin sensation, demarcation, hyperpigmentation, and hypopigmentation.
To further reduce the signs of aging and maintain the results of a facelift surgery over time,Dr. Anton recommends monthly collagen building treatments. To facilitate this, he has established The Beauty Bank, a membership program offering a range of modalities for collagen and elastin stimulation, including SkinPen (microneedling), IPL, Chemical Peels, Geneo, LaseMD, and more. Additionally, The Beauty Bank provides discounts on Injectables like dermal fillers and Botox, addressing concerns such as deep wrinkles, fine lines, and volume loss. Botox functions by temporarily freezing the muscles responsible for wrinkle formation.
While a facelift can effectively address specific deep wrinkles and lines, injectables such as Voluma and Juvederm prove highly effective in restoring volume to areas like the lips, cheeks, and temples. It is a common phenomenon to experience fat loss and reduced bone density in our faces as we age. Fillers can play a pivotal role in rebuilding the jawline, addressing "smoker's lines," and redefining cheekbones. To make regular treatments more financially accessible, we introduced The Beauty Bank membership, which includes a monthly collagen-building treatment. For even more comprehensive benefits, our Brilliant and Beyond memberships provide complimentary Botox treatments and offer discounts of up to 20% on all injectables and other skincare procedures. As a bonus, all Dr. Anton's facelift patients receive a 3-month Basic Beauty Bank membership with their surgery.
You made the decision to have a facelift. What happens next? The first step is selecting your surgery date. At this time you will be asked to pay a non-refundable surgery deposit. Dr. Anton requires that facelift patients spend at least one night at a surgical center aftercare facility. Our office is happy to assist with arranging an overnight stay with a caregiver or aftercare facility.
The balance of your surgery payment is due at the time of your facelift preoperative appointment. All pre-op appointments are scheduled 4-6 weeks before surgery in our Newport Beach office with one of Dr. Anton's surgical patient coordinators.
The pre-op is an important step in the success of your surgery. You will review and sign consents, go over pre and post-op instructions, and receive lab orders. All facelift patients require a basic blood test. The majority also require an EKG. Our office issues the lab orders but going through a primary care physician for lab work is also an option.Â
Planning a convenient time to have a facelift is usually the most difficult part of the surgery for the patient. It is ideal to plan this cosmetic procedure for 8 weeks or more (the more time the better) before an important social event, such as a wedding or reunion. You will have a pre-op appointment in the office one month prior to the surgery to review essential medical information.
Each year thousands of women and men undergo successful facelift procedures, experience no major problems and are delighted with the results. Significant complications from facelift surgery are infrequent. However, make sure you understand what surgery involves, including possible risks, complications and follow-up care.
Dr. Anton reviews facelift risks at your consultation as well as the steps he takes to mitigate those risks both in surgery and with his pre and post-op care instructions. It is important to accurately report your health history including all current medications, vitamins, and supplements that you are taking; any past surgeries and any complications from those surgeries; plus any life circumstances that might be causing excessive stress.
You can help minimize certain risks by following the advice and instructions of your surgeon, both before and after your facelift surgery including:
Dr. Anton emphasizes the importance of allowing your body the time and energy it needs to heal. Proper nutrition, rest, avoiding alcohol, and drinking plenty of water helps your body in its recovery process.
Make a list of important questions you would like to ask Dr. Anton - There is a lot of information available about facelift surgeries on the internet, some good and some bad. Dr. Anton is happy to answer any question about something you may have read or heard. His goal in the facelift consultation is to educate you on the surgical procedure.
Have a good idea of your desired outcome - Dr. Anton will talk to you about your areas of concern and your options. The more specific you are during your consultation with the areas you would like to change, the more realistic your expectations, and therefore, the happier you will be with your facelift results.
Be receptive and keep an open mind - It's Dr. Anton's goal to create a positive relationship to achieve the most beautiful, natural results possible. Today, there are surgical and nonsurgical facelift options available, including the liquid facelift. Dr. Anton is prepared to discuss all potential options to achieve the best results. If you're interested in acquiring a more youthful-looking facial appearance with a facelift Newport Beach facial plastic surgery expert, Dr. Anton, is ready to answer any questions you have and address your concerns during your consultation. Contact us today!
After a facelift Newport Beach patients are required to spend their first night in an after-care, overnight facility. After surgery, an appointed caregiver picks you up at the facility and drives you to a private recovery center.
Your head will be loosely wrapped with two small drains placed behind the ears. Drains are removed the next morning by your caregiver or in our office at your first post-op. At that time a smaller neck wrap replaces the head wrap.
You can expect some swelling and minimal bruising. Dr. Anton’s surgical techniques for handling tissue dramatically minimize swelling and bruising in the face and neck, though each patient is unique. It is important that you follow all post-op instructions. Do not engage in any activities that raise heart rate or blood pressure including exercise, sex, lifting, bending, stress, and other forms of emotional excitement for a minimum of two weeks after surgery to reduce the risk of hematoma and other complications.
Most sutures are removed in the office 7 days after surgery. At that time, you may be allowed to reduce the number of hours required to wear the neck wrap. Minimal swelling can last for several weeks. Facial nerves are numb following surgery and slowly return to normal over three to six months post-op. Most patients return to work and their normal social schedule two weeks after surgery.Â
Generally, your facelift scars from the incisions are hidden within your hair and in concealed skin creases. During your facelift surgery Newport Beach plastic surgeon Dr. Anton designs his scars so that women can wear their hair up or in a ponytail and men can wear short haircuts. Scars can remain pink for a few months and will fade over the next 6 months. Concealing makeup is usually permitted after the first week.
The results of your natural-looking facelift will last for many years. However, the aging process continues. Eating well, reducing alcohol consumption, moderate forms of exercise, sleeping a minimum of 7 hours a night, bio-identical hormones, and a positive mental attitude will enhance the results of your facial surgery, natural contours and slow down the aging process. Dr. Anton recommends monthly treatments like Microneedling and IPL to stimulate collagen and elastin for longer-lasting facelift results.
Facelift Recovery Schedule
Many individuals often suggest the 50s and 60s as an answer. However, it's crucial to note that there isn't a definitive age that suits everyone for a facelift. Presently, the trend leans towards individuals, both men and women, opting for a facelift in their 40s or 50s. Various factors contribute to this shift, including the influence of social media and the desire to remain competitive in today’s job market and dating scene. As people increasingly prioritize their health through proper nutrition, supplements, exercise, mindfulness practices, and bio-identical hormones, they are effectively extending the youthful appearance of their bodies by several decades. Naturally, individuals aspire to reflect their inner vitality outwardly. Unfortunately, the force of gravity doesn't always align with their intentions. A facelift becomes a means to restore youthfulness by addressing bags and sags that aren’t able to be effectively addressed using injectables or non-surgical tightening devices.
Whatever age you decide is right for you to have a facelift, it is important to keep in mind that the more youthful your tissues are the better and longer lasting result you will achieve. Tissues can maintain their youth with monthly collagen building treatments like SkinPen or IPL combined with medical grade skin care products like our signature CORE line. Every person concerned with the signs of facial aging should be using a medical grade retinol, vitamin C and sunscreen.
Assessing pain levels can be challenging as individual thresholds for pain vary. However, it is important to dispel the misconception that a facelift is inherently excruciating for Dr. Anton's patients. In fact, many patients find that they require minimal pain medication beyond the first night.
Realistically, patients can expect moderate to mild discomfort for approximately four to five days following the surgery. By diligently following the pre-operative and post-operative instructions and taking pain medication as directed or as necessary, most patients report little discomfort. One of the most commonly reported complaints is experiencing pain behind the ears. To address this issue, Dr. Anton has developed a distinctive intra-operative pain management technique that significantly reduces his patients' ear pain.
Typically, most facelifts last anywhere from 10-12 years. It's important to note that the longevity of the results is influenced by various factors, including the age and overall health of your facial tissues themselves. While a facelift cannot halt the natural aging process, the rate of aging is influenced by multiple factors, such as:
Dr. Anton has successfully treated patients who continue to express satisfaction with the results of their facelift, even after a remarkable 16 years since their surgery. Those who have gotten the longest-lasting results have effectively preserved their outcomes by adhering to consistent treatment schedules and diligently following a comprehensive skincare regimen, which incorporates the use of top-tier products such as our esteemed CORE line.
Let's address another misleading notion: the belief that it takes six months for a facelift to 'settle' and for the results to appear natural. Not a quality facelift! For a high-quality facelift performed by an experienced facelift specialist, such as Dr. Anton, patients typically resume their work and normal social activities within two to four weeks, without arousing suspicion about having undergone a facelift. One of Dr. Anton's patients, only three weeks after the facelift, had her mother visit and she couldn't even tell that her daughter had undergone the procedure. Instead, her mother attributed the refreshed appearance to a new hairstyle, weight loss, or regained rest.
Dr. Anton's expertise and techniques result in significantly reduced swelling and minimal bruising during the postoperative period, facilitating a faster overall healing process. Most of the numbness and swelling can take up to 3 months to subside, and complete resolution can take up to a year.
It's natural to feel apprehensive considering a facelift, particularly concerning the potential changes in your appearance. It's important to acknowledge that there are numerous subpar facelift procedures being performed.
However, Dr. Anton's facelift patients not only maintain their own identity but also radiate an enhanced version of themselves. While they undoubtedly appear noticeably younger, their distinct and inherent beauty remains intact, shining through.
Instead of focusing on a specific numerical age, Dr. Anton guides his patients by explaining that they will embody a youthful version of their current age. Setting expectations based on exact years, such as appearing 10 or 20 years younger, can be subjective and arbitrary. Youthfulness transcends numerical values. Additionally, many patients choose to complement their facelift procedure with other treatments to enhance their overall appearance further, with other procedures including:
Dr. Anton simplifies the answer: You can have as many facelifts as you desire, as long as the previous surgeries were not flawed. It can be difficult to correct poor results from a facelift, such as excessive skin tightness, unnatural or exaggerated facial expressions, or a "Joker's smile" appearance.
Dr. Anton tells each patient that the ideal is no one should be able to tell that you’ve gotten a facelift. He conceals incisions inside and behind the ear so that women can wear their hair up or men can wear their hair short without revealing any obvious signs of facelift scars. One patient who combined the skin stacking with her facelift told her family that she had a laser but didn't mention the facelift. One week after surgery she got together with her family and not one of them suspected she had had a facelift. She had no bruising, minimal swelling (what you might expect from a laser) and her face moved and looked natural.
Get a private and personalized consultation with Dr. Anton in his beautiful practice in Newport Beach, CA.
20331 Irvine Avenue Suite E6, Newport Beach, CA 92660
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