A tighter jawline, a smoother neck, or a little lost volume in the cheeks can each call for a completely different approach. Plastic surgery and non-surgical treatment have both advanced enough that you don't need to choose more or less than what your face actually needs.
Richmond Plastic Surgeons' five board-certified plastic surgeons bring more than 25 years of combined experience to facial rejuvenation for patients across Richmond, Midlothian, and the surrounding areas of Virginia. In this blog, we compare these four options so you can see which one fits your face.
What a Facelift Corrects
A facelift, also called a rhytidectomy, suits patients with more advanced signs of aging in the lower face and neck. Instead of pulling only the skin, your surgeon repositions the connective tissue layer beneath it, known as the SMAS, to restore natural contours without a tight, pulled look. A traditional facelift typically lasts 5 to 10 years, while a deep plane facelift, which addresses even deeper facial structures, can last 10 to 15 years.
Facelift surgery can help with:
- Smoothing deep wrinkles and folds
- Lifting sagging cheeks and restoring midface volume
- Redefining the jawline
- Tightening loose skin in the lower face and neck
- Delivering long-lasting, natural-looking results
Ideal candidates are generally between 40 and 60 years old with good skin elasticity, though older patients are often good candidates too. This procedure suits anyone who wants a comprehensive change across the whole face and neck.
What a Neck Lift Targets
The earliest signs of aging often show up in the neck first. A neck lift addresses loose skin, vertical banding, and submental fat, commonly called a double chin, that a facelift alone may not fully resolve. A full neck lift typically takes two to four hours under general anesthesia, with results lasting 10 to 15 years, while a mini neck lift uses smaller incisions and local anesthesia to tighten the jawline in about an hour, with a shorter recovery.
Combining a neck lift with a facelift is common for patients with significant jowling and sagging across the whole face, since treating only the neck while the rest of the face keeps sagging can look unbalanced.
Is a Mini Facelift the Right Middle Ground?
A mini facelift is a smaller-scale version of a traditional facelift. It uses shorter incisions and less tissue repositioning to address early jowling along the jawline, with a shorter recovery period. Because the correction is more limited, results are typically less dramatic and may not last as long as a full facelift.
Talk with one of our board-certified surgeons to find out if a mini facelift fits your goals. They can examine your skin, bone structure, and degree of sagging to recommend the option most likely to hold up over time.
Dermal Fillers for a Non-Surgical Refresh
If you are not ready for surgery, or you mainly want to restore lost volume, dermal fillers can refresh your look in under an hour with no downtime. Richmond Plastic Surgeons offers JUVÉDERM® and other FDA-approved filler lines to smooth lines, restore volume in the cheeks and lips, and soften a receding jawline. Results are visible right away, and most patients need touch-up treatments every three to nine months.
Fillers are also used alongside surgery to complement the tightening and repositioning done during a facelift or neck lift. Because our experienced medical team performs these treatments, they give you a lower-commitment way to test subtle changes before you consider surgery.
Find Your Fit at Richmond Plastic Surgeons
Whichever option fits your goals, our team has spent more than 25 years helping patients across Richmond, Midlothian, and the surrounding areas of Virginia look refreshed and natural. Contact us today to schedule a private consultation and find the option built for your face.
This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not replace a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Outcomes, risks, and suitability vary from patient to patient.