We understand that your aesthetic goals may vary over time. Our experts tailor facelift surgery to address your evolving needs, from keeping wrinkles at bay to taking years off your appearance:
La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre 9850 Genesee Ave Suite 130
La Jolla, CA 92037 Call: (858) 452-1981Text: (858) 203-2944 M–F: 7:30 a.m.–6 p.m.
Facelift in San Diego
Do you find yourself holding your phone up high for a more flattering selfie angle—one that minimizes jowls and wrinkles on your lower face? A facelift might be an even better (and less temporary) solution. At La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, facelift surgery is the gold standard for facial rejuvenation with our San Diego patients.
If you look older and more tired than you wish, consider a facelift with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons. They’ll help you turn back the clock with results that look natural and bring out the very best in your face.
Facelift At A Glance
Goal: Younger-looking cheeks, chin, jawline and neck
Anesthesia: General or local with sedation
Average Procedure Time: 2 to 5 hours
Recovery: 2 to 3 weeks
Resume Exercise: 4 to 6 weeks
Final Results: 3 to 6 months
Longevity: 10+ years with sun protection and a healthy lifestyle
Here in Southern California, the youth orientation and Hollywood culture are all about looking as young as possible for as long as possible. While most of us don’t—and shouldn’t—expect to look like celebrities, we certainly can make the best of what we have and who we are.
The cosmetic choices available to us today make it possible to look more naturally rejuvenated than ever. We can look and feel better about ourselves and shave a few years off our appearance at the same time. One thing that’s sure: Facial rejuvenation is a worthwhile investment that is helpful to people in the peak years of their careers, as well as in their social lives.
"My result exceeded my expectations. I feel younger looking without looking like I had "work done." And most importantly, I look like me. The…"
Apr 5, 2026
"I have so much confidence in Dr Breister that the results will be natural and provide the tightening and refreshed look I am aiming for. My …"
Apr 2, 2026
"From the initial consultation to the pre-op, the morning of surgery, waking up in the recovery room- it was such a nice experience. Care was…"
Mar 6, 2026
Considering Facelift Surgery in San Diego? Here’s How To Determine if You’re a Candidate
The best candidates for facelift surgery are nonsmokers in overall good health. The best way to determine if you’re a good candidate is to speak with a board-certified plastic surgeon, but there are a few criteria to consider:
Do you have sagging skin around the jawline, mid-face, and neck?
Are deep facial folds making you look older?
Is your jawline losing its definition due to jowls?
Would you like to look an average of 10 years younger?
If the answer is yes, a facelift may be right for you. Patients considering facelift surgery should also ensure they’re at or close to their ideal weight before surgery. If you’re above your ideal weight, you may want to consider our medically assisted weight loss prescription programs ahead of surgery to ensure that facial fat loss doesn’t diminish your surgical result.
What Is the Right Age To Get a Facelift?
There is no “right age” for a face and neck lift. Anyone over 35 can experience visible signs of aging on the face and neck, though it’s more common starting in your 40s and 50s. For women, the aging process often speeds up after menopause.
If you can pinch a good bit of skin in the areas of your face and neck that bother you, it may be time to consider surgical rejuvenation. A facelift typically looks more subtle and natural the earlier you choose to have the procedure. It’s wise to stay on top of facial aging with smaller procedures at intervals. Still, a well-done rejuvenation can look natural at any age, provided your surgeon has an artistic touch and doesn’t overdo it.
What Is a Facelift?
A facelift usually includes tightening the underlying facial muscles as well as removing excess skin. As it is commonly performed along with a neck lift, muscles are tightened and excess skin and fat are removed from the neck as well.
This procedure addresses a variety of concerns, including:
Creases between the base of the nose and corners of the mouth
Jowls
Facial and neck wrinkles
Loss of youthful chin and neck contours
A tired facial appearance
Design the New You
Not sure how to get the look you want? Tell us about your goals, and we’ll show you the possibilities.
Why Should I Combine My Facelift With a Neck Lift?
A facelift all by itself is a rare operation. Once you begin to notice facial skin laxity, you’re usually experiencing multiple issues. The most common accompanying procedure is a neck lift. Skin sagging in the face is often in tandem with skin sagging in the neck, and correcting only the facial skin may not produce the best results.
Considering Your Next Steps?
Download our free facelift consultation guide to help you plan for your procedure. We cover questions to ask your plastic surgeon, how to prepare for your consultation, and what you need to make the most of this important milestone.
Which Facelift Is Right for You?
Our plastic surgeons tailor their surgical approach after assessing the condition of a patient’s skin and the degree of sagging and discussing their cosmetic goals. A facelift technique that’s appropriate for someone in their 40s concerned about early signs of aging isn’t necessarily a good fit for someone older with significant jowls and sagging cheeks.
In general, your surgeon may use one of 3 customized facelift techniques to create the natural-looking results that patients want. These techniques include:
Full Facelift
During this procedure, the surgeon makes incisions within the hairline (or along the hair margin) above the ear, extending down around the earlobe and ending in or below the hairline behind the ear. This technique is often called a SMAS facelift because it involves elevating a fibrous layer of connective tissue and muscle that provides structure to the face, called the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS).
After lifting this layer to a more youthful position, the surgeon carefully re-drapes the skin and removes any excess before closing the incision. By repositioning the SMAS instead of simply pulling the skin taut, the results look natural and avoid the “windswept” appearance.
While a SMAS facelift addresses soft tissue and muscle closer to the ear, a deep plane facelift lifts the deeper muscles and connective tissues in the area nearer the jowls and folds around the mouth. The surgeon uses similar incisions to a SMAS facelift, but the results may last several years longer than with a full facelift.
This technique, sometimes called a “short scar” facelift, is a less invasive option for women and men who see their jawlines softening and “smile lines” developing around the mouth. Because it’s less invasive, the results aren’t as dramatic as what you get with other facelift procedures, and it’s not the right approach if you also need a full neck lift.
At LJCSC, your facelift will be performed while you are under general anesthesia, which a board-certified anesthesiologist administers. All procedures are performed in our private, on-site QUAD A-accredited surgical facility.
Combining Other Procedures With a Facelift
If you’ve ever remodeled a room in your home and then realized adjacent rooms appear dated, that’s what can occur if you get a facelift without addressing other facial features. Facial aging rarely occurs in just one area, and most facelift patients combine the surgery with complementary procedures for complete facial rejuvenation. A facelift improves the appearance of the lower portion of the face, including the nasolabial folds, cheeks, jowls, and the upper part of the neck.
Here are some of the most common procedures that our surgeons combine with a facelift:
Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is the most common procedure women and men want to combine with a facelift. Sagging eyelids and bulging under the eyes can make you appear tired and older—even after a facelift.
Under-Eye Laser Skin Rejuvenation
We can tighten loose skin under the lower eyelids without surgery using a laser skin treatment.
Some people mistakenly blame their eyelids for how their eye area looks when it’s really caused by a sagging brow. We can correct the tired or angry look and “crow’s feet” at the corners of the eyes with a brow lift during facelift surgery.
Restoring facial volume using a patient’s excess fat can enhance your facelift results. Age-related loss of facial fat primarily affects the cheeks, nasolabial folds, the jawline, and the lips. We specialize in nanofat transfer, an advanced fat grafting technique that optimizes the fat’s regenerative properties to enhance collagen synthesis and tissue repair. This revitalizes your skin’s texture and tone over the long term.
Our surgeons include neck liposuction during almost all facelifts and tighten neck muscles to create a smooth neck and restore definition to the chin and jawline.
If you have a slightly recessed chin, adding chin augmentation to the facelift is a relatively straightforward procedure that involves inserting a small implant. The surgeon uses the same incision made under the chin to access neck muscles, slipping the implant under the chin at the same time. The result is a crisper, more youthful jawline.
Perioral Dermabrasion
Using dermabrasion to eliminate lip lines and other wrinkles around the mouth during a facelift is exceptionally effective. Dermabrasion is a nonsurgical treatment that involves using a hand-held tool with a rotating tip at the end to stimulate the production of new collagen.
Aging often results in the upper lip becoming elongated, which can hide the upper teeth and make a smile appear sad. After making a tiny, nearly invisible incision under the nostrils, the surgeon removes a small strip of skin to shorten the upper lip. The results look much more natural than those produced by lip injections.
What To Expect at Your Facelift Consultation
Interested in finding out if you are a candidate for a facelift? Make an appointment with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons!
During your visit, you will:
Meet personally for a free consultation with an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon.
Have your face examined and discuss your desires and expectations.
See before-and-after pictures of real patients treated by the surgeon.
Receive information and materials that will help you in the decision-making process.
Get a specific, written quote detailing all the costs.
After scheduling your surgery, you’ll attend an individual “pre-op” appointment to discuss the surgical risks and the steps of the entire operative process so you know exactly what to expect.
A surgeon can choose different approaches and procedures when performing a facelift. The ultimate recommendation by a skilled and experienced board-certified plastic surgeon will be different for different people.
Generally, incisions are made within the hairline (or along the hair margin) above the ear, extending down around the lobe and ending in or below the hairline behind the ear. The subcutaneous layers and muscles are tightened, the facial skin is re-draped and lifted, and the excess skin is removed.
At LJCSC, your facelift will be performed while you are under general anesthesia, which a board-certified anesthesiologist administers. All procedures are performed in our private, on-site QUAD A-accredited surgical facility.
Your Safety Is Our #1 Priority
Since 1988, more than 36,000 patients have had safe, successful procedures at La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre.
As with any surgery, there are possible risks and even complications. Some of the risks specific to facial surgery depend on the procedures you are having done. The risks for facelifts are infection, bleeding, poor healing, injury to facial nerves (usually temporary but can be permanent), and excessive scarring. Your surgeon and anesthesiologist will review your full health history carefully to make sure you are as safe as possible throughout every step of your surgery.
How Long Is Facelift Recovery?
You will likely look and feel back to normal within about 3 weeks. You may be wrapped in a “head-dress” (gauze and bandages) after the surgery and may have drains inserted to keep swelling down. These are usually removed within a day or 2 after surgery.
Within a few weeks, most facelift patients are back to their normal activities. Any bruising that occurs will be the slowest thing to resolve, but makeup (even for men) can help camouflage that side effect.
All surgical procedures result in some level of scarring, but your facelift scars will very likely be minimally visible. That’s because our surgeons take special care to place incisions as inconspicuously as possible, where they are hidden by your hair and natural skin folds. For a facelift, key incisions are usually made in front of or behind the ear and in the natural hairline.
How Much Does a Facelift and Neck Lift Cost?
Ready to minimize wrinkles and creases while maximizing savings? We’ve got you covered! Facelift and neck lift surgery have never been more affordable, thanks to our convenient payment plans. Put down $5,000 and pay only $292 monthly over 60 months with your average credit rating. Save even more per month if you have above-average credit or if you can make a larger initial payment. It’s really that simple! Click here to get prequalified.
The pricing for your procedure may vary depending on your specific needs and goals. Get all the cost info you need, including fee ranges, by visiting our pricing page.
Get started right away by applying for plastic surgery financing online, or we’ll guide you through your options during your consultation. Our team can’t wait to help you look and feel more vibrant!
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![[The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast cover art] San Diego facial plastic surgeon Dr. Kiersten Riedler smiling while examining a patient for facelift](https://www.ljcsc.com/content/uploads/2026/01/LJC224-blog.jpg)
![[The La Jolla Cosmetic Podcast cover art] Male patient before (left) and after (right) facelift with Dr. Johan Brahme](https://www.ljcsc.com/content/uploads/2025/04/LJC191-blog.jpg)
