Is a Facelift Painful?

Patients will be administered anesthesia when undergoing facelift surgery, ensuring a pain-free surgery. Patients should expect mild to moderate discomfort post-surgery, but Dr. Vagotis can prescribe pain medication to alleviate any discomfort. The majority of patients take Tylenol for pain relief the first day or two after surgery. They should also keep their head elevated to aid with swelling.

What Are My Choices for Anesthesia?

Local anesthesia is available for your procedure. We use a “twilight sleep” anesthetic that does not require intubation. You will not feel pain during your facelift.

How Many Appointments Will I Need?

After your surgery, you can expect to return the next day so Dr. Vagotis can monitor your healing and remove any drains that might have been placed. She will then want to see them a week after surgery to remove the sutures. Beyond that, Dr. Vagotis will typically see you around two months and six months after surgery to track your healing and take photos.

How Long Until I See Results?

Even though patients might see immediate changes right after surgery, the bruising and swelling during the first few weeks will obscure the final result. While a majority of the swelling resolves after about three weeks, most patients will require about six months to a year to see their optimal facelift results.

What Will the Scarring Look Like?

The scarring depends on the type of facelift. For a deep-plane facelift, the scars are along the hairline of the scalp, hidden in the folds of the ear, and around the back side of the ear into the hairline. For a mini-facelift, the scarring is hidden in the same location, only in the area in front of the ear and in the hairline. The scars will initially be pink and fade to the patient’s skin color with time. Patients are recommended to keep the incisions clean and dry, rest, hydrate, and follow post-operative instructions.

When Can I Exercise Again After My Facelift?

We understand the eagerness to resume your normal routine, but resting during recovery is incredibly important. Patients are recommended to start with gentle walks the day after surgery to prevent any blood clots. They should avoid strenuous exertion or any activity that increases the heart rate or blood pressure for the first two to three weeks. Patients can return to heavy lifting and strenuous exercise with no restrictions after three weeks.

Can I Combine a Facelift With Other Procedures?

Of course! Many of our Grand Rapids facelift patients opt for additional procedures in order to address multiple issues in the same surgical appointment. Other procedures, such as facial liposuction , lip augmentation, forehead lift , eyelid surgery , facial implants , fat transfer, and nose reshaping , can be combined with a facelift to help achieve a more youthful appearance. No matter what your aesthetic goals are, please feel free to discuss them with Dr. Vagotis during your initial consultation. She will be able to make some procedure recommendations tailored to your needs.

Are There Other Options for Younger-Looking Skin If I’m Not Ready for a Facelift?

Some people who are unsure about getting a facelift may want to consider getting a neck lift first. A neck lift is a lesser procedure that can give you great results and help you become more confident with surgical procedures in general. Find out more about the neck lift here.

What Are the Risks Associated With a Facelift?

Even under the skilled hands of an expert facelift surgeon like Dr. Vagotis, a facelift is still surgery, so it’s important to understand its potential risks. Anesthesia risks Bleeding Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications Facial nerve injury with weakness Fluid accumulation Infection Hair loss (risk is minimized with Dr. Vagotis’ technique) Hematoma (collection of blood under the skin) Numbness or other changes in skin sensation Persistent pain Scarring While many of these side effects should heal on their own over time, if patients experience any long-lasting or unexpected reactions, we recommend they contact our office immediately.

How Do I Find the Best Grand Rapids Facelift Plastic Surgeon Near Me?

Making the right decision when choosing a facelift plastic surgeon is important. We recommend that patients investigate the surgeon’s board certifications and education. They should also research the surgeon’s facelift patient reviews of other patients in Grand Rapids and the surrounding area. During your consultation, it is important to see before and after photos of other surgical patients who have undergone the same procedure that you are considering. This will give you a better feel of the natural results the physician has to offer. Finally, we recommend that patients schedule an in-person consultation with the surgeon to learn their bedside manners. Your face and health are your responsibility, and you have the final and ultimate say on how you want to proceed. Give yourself the time and space to make the right choice.

Is Dr. Vagotis Well-Versed in Facelifts?

Very. Dr. Vagotis did a fellowship in Santa Ana, California, under renowned plastic surgeon Bruce Connell, whose technique was highly sought after and widely imitated but never duplicated. Dr. Connell is now deceased, and there aren’t a lot of other surgeons who have had the privilege or opportunity to study with Dr. Connell. Dr. Vagotis is the only practitioner in the state of Michigan who has used Dr. Connell’s surgical technique for long-lasting results in facial rejuvenation. She’s the go-to surgeon in Michigan for facelift procedures and one of the ASPS member surgeons (American Society of Plastic Surgeons).

Facelift

In Grand Rapids, MI

Introduction to Facelift

Your face usually reveals the first visible signs of aging. Both gravity and loss of volume affect facial features, resulting in drooping skin, wrinkles, and that older look you want to reverse. Men and women contemplating facelift surgery do so for many reasons, including the concern of looking older than they feel. The extent to which a person’s age is determined by factors such as genetics, exposure to environmental elements, and the normal activities of living. But you can rest easy, as we’re one of the premier providers of facelifts in the Grand Rapids area!

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Facelift B&A

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What is a Facelift?

A facelift, or Rhytidectomy, is a cosmetic surgical procedure that can target various features of the facial anatomy, such as the jowls, the brow, and the cheeks. It is a custom-made package for each patient based on their aesthetic needs. Patients who undergo a facelift can look forward to a more refreshed and youthful appearance.

A facelift is the right choice if you have visible aging signs on the face and the neck, including:

Deep creases located below the lower eyelids
Middle-face sagging
Deep creases that start on the nose and extend to the mouth corners
Loose skin under the jaw and chin
Excess fat under the jaw and chin
Jowls to the lower face as a result of loss of skin tone
Genetics
Exposure to environmental elements and everyday living activities determine the age and rapidity with which a person shows signs of aging. For example, sun tanning or smoking accelerates the breakdown of skin and the underlying tissues.

But you can rest easy, as we’re one of the premier providers of facelifts in the Grand Rapids area. We also offer other facial cosmetic surgeries!

In recent years, younger patients have turned to facelift plastic surgery because it is a full-measure and lasting approach to restoration rather than a maintenance treatment. Older patients continue to choose facelift surgery because it allows them to look their best and set the clock back 10-15 years without regular facial contouring and maintenance provided by injectables.

Types Of Facelift

In a thoughtful, customized, and multimodal approach, Dr. Vagotis approaches the three most apparent age-related facial changes: sagging tissue, lost volume, and reduced skin quality. She lifts what has fallen to restore your natural facial anatomy to what it was 10 or 15 years earlier.

The Traditional Full Facelift The SMAS Gold-Standard Procedure

As your facial skin ages, there is a loss of elasticity in the epidermis, the upper layer of skin, and the SMAS membrane. The SMAS contains the nerves, blood vessels, fat, and fibrous tissue that connects the facial skin to its underlying musculature. Operations that rejuvenate the face (“facelifts”) often revise or sculpt this tissue to reduce age-related sagging or drooping. This drooping results in the sagging of your cheeks along the jaw bone, which causes fleshy jowls and often results in a double chin. Cheek fat then sags forward to increase the appearance of the nasolabial folds. Now, the SMAS descends on the lower two-thirds of the face and the neck with aging. The front edge of the muscles in the neck becomes visible and forms the “turkey neck” look.

Mini Facelift

A mini facelift targets a small area, usually the midface, jaw, and lower cheeks. Young people with the first signs of aging are the most common group opting for this procedure. A mini facelift requires a little less work during the recovery time because it involves much smaller incisions than a traditional facelift and does not include rejuvenation of the neck.

There are many factors to consider when contemplating mini facelift surgery. In most cases, Dr. Vagotis will make the incisions in the hairline in front of the ear and in places where there are natural facial creases. This incision placement allows for better healing and will hide the scarring from the surgery, creating nearly invisible scars.

What are the Benefits of a facelift

Patients come to our practice to seek practical, targeted, and long-term facial rejuvenation through facelift and neck lift procedures. A well-performed surgery by Dr. Vagotis will transform an individual’s features to a younger state rather than radically changing one’s appearance. Below are some of the following benefits our Grand Rapids patients have cited from their procedures:

A toned and younger-looking neck, chin, and jaw
Smoother features and less prominent wrinkles and folds in the skin
The added volume in the upper face and cheeks
A lifted brow and eyes appear more rested and youthful (with the facelift, brow lift, and blepharoplasty)
Diminished vertical necklines

A facelift may be the right choice if you have visible aging signs on the face and the neck. With Dr. Vagotis, a natural-looking rejuvenation through restorative techniques is offered. Specific improvements may include:

Returning facial features to a more youthful position
Bringing back softness and more balance to the face and skin
Addressing sagging skin and wrinkles

Who are the best candidates

The facelift is a highly effective method of improving your physical appearance, and no creams or other products can come close to achieving the same results as this surgery. However, some patients need to fit the criteria according to which candidates are chosen. You are a good candidate for a facelift in Grand Rapids if you have:

Flexible, elastic skin that will lead to successful healing
A robust and well-defined bone structure that will provide the necessary support
Good overall health, on which the healing depends
Realistic expectations and understanding that the facelift does not stop aging or change the face foundation
Loose skin, either on the neck or the face, can be tightened by removing the excess skin

What’s the First Step?

Your Facelift Journey with Dr. Francine Vagotis

If you’re in Grand Rapids or the surrounding areas and would like to have a more youthful, refreshed appearance, request your one-on-one consultation with Michigan’s finest plastic surgeon. This allows the patient to discuss their reasons for wanting a facelift and their personal goals and will enable them to ask questions. This open communication also lets us clear up any misconceptions you may have regarding the procedure. The information gathered during your facelift consultation, as well as a thorough evaluation of your medical history and current health, are essential for determining what is “out of place” and how to fix it so that the results you receive meet your unique aesthetic needs to look as young as you feel!

What to Expect on the Day of Facelift Surgery

Dr. Vagotis will employ a combination of techniques to achieve an optimal result. This optimal result includes lifting the tissue and muscle, SMAS, that has fallen with age and removing excess skin that has lost its elasticity due to age, gravity, or changes in weight.

A complete SMAS facelift procedure requires the surgeon to make incisions along the area of the hairline in front of the ears that continue downward, within the fold of the ear, closely around the earlobe, circling up behind the ear, and curving into the hairline behind the ear. This incision technique allows only non-hair-bearing skin to be removed, reducing the noticeability of the old telltale signs of a facelift. The skin of the middle, lower face, and neck is then loosened from the underlying tissue. Dr. Vagotis will then release the SMAS layer from the deeper structures, including the retaining ligaments of the midface that anchor the SMAS in place. She will reposition and tighten the underlying connective tissue and muscle of the midface. This is also known as a “deep plane” facelift. Dr. Vagotis may remove some fat from the neck area to further improve the contour of the neck and jawline. Next, the skin is gently redraped, and the excess skin is meticulously removed. After trimming excess skin, the surgeon closes all incisions with fine sutures.

When this procedure is required, Dr. Vagotis can also address various parts of the patient’s face, such as the area below the eyes, sagging surrounding the cheeks, excess fat under the jaw and chin, lines around the mouth, jowls, and more.

Lost volume is fixed with the latest line of fillers that closely match the body’s natural “filler” or with your own body fat. Finally, she can address the skin texture and quality. These final touch improvements create the crowning achievement utilizing techniques learned by studying under world-renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Bruce Connell.

Facelift

Expectations

Facelift Recovery

Your Guide to Post-Facelift Care

Immediately after your surgery, you will be monitored in our recovery room as you come out of sedation. Once you are released, you will need a friend or family member to drive you home safely and potentially help you around the house for the first day or so. You will be instructed to keep your chin and neck at a minimum of 90’, or higher if possible, to allow for the smoothest contour of the neck while healing is taking place over the first few days.

After surgery, some swelling, bruising, and soreness are expected. We recommend that patients take at least one week off from work for the initial recovery. Individuals who can work remotely may be able to return to work sooner than those who need to be seen in person. Most of the swelling will take around two weeks to abate, and patients will start seeing their transformation.

While no surgical result is a permanent, deep plane, facelift results tend to last significantly longer than traditional facelifts. If you had a twin who never underwent the procedure, you would always look significantly younger after the surgery.

*DISCLAIMER: Results will vary from person to person.

How Much Does a Facelift Cost in Grand Rapids, MI?

The cost of a facelift in the Grand Rapids area depends on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, the type of facelift, the complexity of your case, and the surgeon’s fees. On average, patients can expect to pay between $6,500 and $9,500 for a mini-facelift and $9,000 to $15,000 for a full SMAS lift.

To get an accurate estimate of the price, you should schedule your complimentary consultation with Dr. Vagotis so that she can create the proper surgical plan for you. Our Patient Coordinator will then be able to provide you with the cost after your plan is created.

We’ve prepared various options to accommodate your particular financial situation. Please take a look at the financing options available on our financing page.

Cost

Why Choose Dr. Vagotis?

Dr. Francine Vagotis is a board-certified cosmetic plastic surgeon in Grand Rapids, MI, who specializes in facial rejuvenation, breast and body contouring, and skin care, bringing a wealth of experience to every procedure. Dr. Vagotis is one of a select few cosmetic surgical professionals who have had the opportunity to apprentice under the tutelage of renowned facelift miracle worker Dr. Bruce Connell, also known as “the father of the modern facelift.” This unique training equips her with advanced techniques that truly set her apart from other cosmetic surgeons in the Midwest, making her the only surgeon in Michigan with such prestigious credentials.

Her impressive qualifications include board certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), fellowship status with the American College of Surgeons (FACS), and state licenses in Michigan, Colorado, and Illinois. Dr. Vagotis is also an active member of several esteemed organizations, such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). With Dr. Vagotis, you can expect exceptional training, recognized expertise, and a commitment to delivering natural-looking results that enhance your beauty and confidence!

Why Us?

Facelift FAQ’S

Patients will be administered anesthesia when undergoing facelift surgery, ensuring a pain-free surgery. Patients should expect mild to moderate discomfort post-surgery, but Dr. Vagotis can prescribe pain medication to alleviate any discomfort.

The majority of patients take Tylenol for pain relief the first day or two after surgery. They should also keep their head elevated to aid with swelling.
After your surgery, you can expect to return the next day so Dr. Vagotis can monitor your healing and remove any drains that might have been placed. She will then want to see them a week after surgery to remove the sutures. Beyond that, Dr. Vagotis will typically see you around two months and six months after surgery to track your healing and take photos.
The scarring depends on the type of facelift. For a deep-plane facelift, the scars are along the hairline of the scalp, hidden in the folds of the ear, and around the back side of the ear into the hairline. For a mini-facelift, the scarring is hidden in the same location, only in the area in front of the ear and in the hairline. The scars will initially be pink and fade to the patient’s skin color with time. Patients are recommended to keep the incisions clean and dry, rest, hydrate, and follow post-operative instructions.
We understand the eagerness to resume your normal routine, but resting during recovery is incredibly important. Patients are recommended to start with gentle walks the day after surgery to prevent any blood clots. They should avoid strenuous exertion or any activity that increases the heart rate or blood pressure for the first two to three weeks. Patients can return to heavy lifting and strenuous exercise with no restrictions after three weeks.
Of course! Many of our Grand Rapids facelift patients opt for additional procedures in order to address multiple issues in the same surgical appointment. Other procedures, such as facial liposuction, lip augmentation, forehead lift, eyelid surgery, facial implants, fat transfer, and nose reshaping, can be combined with a facelift to help achieve a more youthful appearance.

No matter what your aesthetic goals are, please feel free to discuss them with Dr. Vagotis during your initial consultation. She will be able to make some procedure recommendations tailored to your needs.
Even under the skilled hands of an expert facelift surgeon like Dr. Vagotis, a facelift is still surgery, so it’s important to understand its potential risks.
- Anesthesia risks
- Bleeding
- Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
- Facial nerve injury with weakness
- Fluid accumulation
- Infection
- Hair loss (risk is minimized with Dr. Vagotis’ technique)
- Hematoma (collection of blood under the skin)
- Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
- Persistent pain
- Scarring
While many of these side effects should heal on their own over time, if patients experience any long-lasting or unexpected reactions, we recommend they contact our office immediately.
Making the right decision when choosing a facelift plastic surgeon is important. We recommend that patients investigate the surgeon’s board certifications and education. They should also research the surgeon’s facelift patient reviews of other patients in Grand Rapids and the surrounding area. During your consultation, it is important to see before and after photos of other surgical patients who have undergone the same procedure that you are considering. This will give you a better feel of the natural results the physician has to offer.

Finally, we recommend that patients schedule an in-person consultation with the surgeon to learn their bedside manners. Your face and health are your responsibility, and you have the final and ultimate say on how you want to proceed. Give yourself the time and space to make the right choice.
Very. Dr. Vagotis did a fellowship in Santa Ana, California, under renowned plastic surgeon Bruce Connell, whose technique was highly sought after and widely imitated but never duplicated. Dr. Connell is now deceased, and there aren’t a lot of other surgeons who have had the privilege or opportunity to study with Dr. Connell. Dr. Vagotis is the only practitioner in the state of Michigan who has used Dr. Connell’s surgical technique for long-lasting results in facial rejuvenation. She’s the go-to surgeon in Michigan for facelift procedures and one of the ASPS member surgeons (American Society of Plastic Surgeons).

Schedule a consultation

If you’re considering a facelift in or around Grand Rapids, MI, we recommend scheduling a consultation with Dr. Francine Vagotis. It’s a great opportunity to chat about your goals, ask any burning questions, and get tailored advice just for you. Use our online appointment request form or call or text Vagotis Cosmetic Surgery + Skin Center today for a free consultation to discuss your facelift or neck lift options.

Schedule a Consultation