Medically reviewed by Dr. Thompson
Double Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Expert Facelift Surgery Serving the Park City Area
Advanced Deep Plane and Facelift Surgery for the Park City Area, Just Minutes Away in Heber, Draper, and Layton.
Utah Facial Plastics provides facelift surgery for Park City area patients through nearby offices in Heber City, Draper, and Layton, with surgery performed in accredited surgical facilities. Our practice is facial-exclusive: our Double Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeons focus only on the face, head, and neck.
Park City patients often consider a facelift when sagging, jowls, neck laxity, and lower-face aging begin to change how they feel day to day. Dr. Scott Thompson and Dr. Douglas Henstrom bring more than 60 years of combined facial plastic surgery experience to modern techniques designed for natural-looking results, not a tight or overdone appearance.
Explore what's possible for you. Call to learn more 385.469.2550. Financing available.
Key Takeaways
- A facelift addresses what non-surgical treatments cannot fully correct: loose skin, sagging tissue, jowls, deep folds, and neck laxity.
- The Deep Plane facelift repositions the deeper muscle and support layers beneath the skin, rather than just tightening the surface, which is what produces a natural, lasting result.
- Utah Facial Plastics offers multiple techniques: Deep Plane, MACS (mini), Mid-face, Awake, and Preservation facelifts, plus Lower Face and Deep Neck Contouring.
- Utah Facial Plastics performs a drainless facelift technique for appropriate patients, which can simplify recovery.
- Surgery is performed by Double Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeons, including Dr. Scott Thompson and Dr. Douglas Henstrom, with 60+ years of combined experience.
- Utah Facial Plastics serves the Park City area from nearby offices in Heber City, Draper, and Layton. The practice is not physically located in Park City.
What Our Patients Are Saying
Experience the compassionate care and surgical expertise that sets Utah Facial Plastics apart.
I couldn’t be happier with the results of my face lift. The staff is terrific and so caring.
I met Dr. Thompson in person for the first time today. I am having a deep plane facelift, fat grafting, lower bleth, a lip revision and TRL treatment tomorrow. I live out of state. I loved their office and Dr. Thompson didn’t rush me, reassured me and answered all of my questions. I feel confident that I will have a good result based on his website pictures and his surgery experience. If you are considering plastic surgery, I think you should schedule a consultation with him.
Serving patients in Draper, Layton, Heber and Park City, UT.
Financing available. Call today 385.469.2550.
Meet The Facial Plastic Surgeons
Our Double Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeons are true facial specialists, dedicating their careers exclusively to face and neck surgery and the art of natural rejuvenation. Recognized with Best of State honors and voted among Utah’s top plastic surgery practices, Utah Facial Plastics offers personalized facelift consultations in Draper, Layton, and Heber, bringing elevated facial expertise closer to home.
Double-Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon & Founder of Utah Facial Plastics
Dr. Scott Thompson
Double-Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Doug Henstrom
When a Facelift Is the Right Option
A facelift addresses facial aging that non-surgical treatments cannot fully correct, particularly loose skin, sagging tissue, jowls, deep folds, and neck laxity. When the deeper structures of the face have descended, surgery is often the more complete option.
That does not mean it is the only option, or the first one for everyone. Less extensive aging can sometimes be addressed with injectables, laser resurfacing, or energy-based skin tightening. But when the goal is structural improvement that lasts, a facelift does what those treatments cannot. The right answer depends on your anatomy and goals, which is what a consultation is for. At Utah Facial Plastics, the plan starts with your face, your goals, and the recovery that fits your life in the Park City area.
Deep Plane Facelift
The Deep Plane facelift is the most comprehensive option for many patients with moderate to advanced aging, and it is the technique most associated with natural, long-lasting results.
Instead of simply tightening the skin, a Deep Plane facelift releases and repositions the deeper facial layers, including the SMAS and the ligaments beneath it. By lifting the soft tissue, fat, and support layers together as a unit, it improves the cheeks, jowls, jawline, and neck with less tension on the skin itself.
That is the key difference from a traditional skin-only lift. A skin-only facelift mainly tightens the surface, which can risk a pulled look. The Deep Plane approach works below the skin, where facial aging actually happens, which is what helps results look natural and last. It is often best suited to patients with midface descent, jowls, deeper nasolabial folds, lower-face heaviness, and neck laxity. Many full facelift patients are in their 50s or 60s, and some patients in their 70s may be candidates depending on health and anatomy. Suitability is always determined case by case at consultation. You can read more on our Deep Plane Facelift section.
Awake Facelift
The Awake Facelift refreshes the face and neck in the same way as a Deep Plane Facelift, just without the use of general anesthesia. By tightening the deeper SMAS layer (Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System), this advanced technique smooths jowls, refines the jawline, and enhances neck definition, while also creating the smooth, natural transitions also associated with a deep plane facelift. Patients enjoy comprehensive, natural-looking results with what is often a smoother recovery experience.
While outcomes can closely resemble those of a deep plane facelift, midface lifting is more limited due to the nature of performing the procedure under local anesthesia.
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MACSlift or Mini Facelift
A MACSlift is a great option for those in their 40s or 50s experiencing early to moderate signs of aging, particularly in the lower face and jawline. This procedure effectively "lifts" sagging tissues to restore a cleaner jawline and a more energetic appearance with less downtime than a full deep plane procedure. The less invasive approach uses shorter incisions, with subtle lifting and definition that refreshes the face without looking overdone.
A MACSlift is performed using local anesthesia and is an excellent choice for patients seeking subtle, natural enhancement by lifting the jowls and improving jawline definition.
Preservation Facelift
A preservation facelift is a modern, anatomy-respecting approach designed to maintain the face’s natural structural support while subtly repositioning descended tissues. Rather than extensively releasing ligaments or widely separating tissue layers, this technique focuses on strategic lift and refinement, preserving what is youthful and correcting what has shifted.
Ideal for patients with early to moderate signs of aging, a preservation facelift can restore jawline definition, soften nasolabial folds, and improve midface contour while maintaining authentic facial movement and identity. Many patients choose this approach when they want elegant, under-the-radar rejuvenation that respects their natural anatomy and avoids more extensive surgical disruption, while still delivering meaningful, lasting improvement.
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Lower Face Contouring
Lower face contouring is a refined surgical approach designed to enhance jawline definition, reduce early jowling, and create a smoother, more sculpted transition from the face to the neck by addressing the deeper structural layers. Think of this procedure as the neck portion of a Deep Plane Facelift. By precisely tightening and repositioning tissues, muscles, and the deeper structures, this procedure restores youthful contours of the neck, while maintaining your natural facial identity. It is often ideal for younger patients or those experiencing early signs of aging who want improved lower face definition without undergoing a more comprehensive lift.
The result is a cleaner jawline and improved profile with a recovery typically shorter than the full Deep Plane facelift techniques.
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Deep Neck Contouring
Deep neck contouring is a specialized surgical procedure designed to subtly address the fullness beneath the chin and the jawline. By tightening superficial tissue and removing excess fat, this technique restores a sharper neckline and smoother profile.
Patients often choose deep neck contouring when they struggle with a heavy or undefined neck despite being at a healthy weight and want long-lasting, transformative improvement to their profile and lower face contour.
The Facelift Before & After Gallery
Explore real facelift results from patients in Draper, Layton, Heber, and Park City, Utah, showcasing natural, balanced rejuvenation performed by our award-winning facial specialists with precision, artistry, and an unwavering commitment to authentic outcomes.
Interested in learning more? Give us a call today 385.469.2550.
The Art & Science of Facelift Surgery
In this video, Dr. Scott Thompson, Double Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeons and co-founder of Utah Facial Plastics, explains what truly happens to the face as we age and how advanced facelift techniques restore natural, long-lasting rejuvenation.
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Why skin elasticity and facial support structures change over time
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What causes sagging in the cheeks, jawline, and neck
- How advanced facelift techniques create long-lasting results by addressing the deeper structural layers of the face, not just tightening the skin
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How the Deep Plane facelift differs from more superficial techniques
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Why his philosophy centers on restoring, not altering, your natural beauty
- Who is an ideal candidate for facelift surgery
Are you ready to get started? Give us a call today 385.469.2550.
Ask about our flexible financing options.
Recovery & Follow-up
Recovery varies by patient, procedure, and the extent of surgery. A Deep Plane facelift typically involves more swelling and bruising than mini or awake procedures, and many patients plan for a few weeks of social downtime, though exact timelines are not guaranteed. Post-operative care includes incision care, activity guidance, and scheduled follow-ups. Park City area patients often plan around work, travel, and ski season, and because of Utah's dry mountain climate, hydration and sun protection help protect healing skin.
Your Facelift Recovery Package
A Complimentary Medical-Grade Skincare Kit
Your customized post-procedure kit includes professional-grade products specifically selected to support healing, reduce inflammation, protect your investment, and enhance long-term results. We guide you step-by-step on when and how to introduce each product.
The Insider Membership
All cosmetic surgical patients are automatically enrolled. Complimentary for the first year following surgery.
This exclusive membership includes:
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One complimentary BBL HEROic treatment
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One complimentary HydraFacial treatment
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$1 off per unit of Botox or Dysport
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$100 off each full-size syringe of filler
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$50 off each half-size syringe of filler
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10% off aesthetic treatments, wellness services, and skincare products
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25 complimentary units of Botox or Dysport
Because we offer multiple advanced facelift techniques, your recovery timeline will depend on the approach selected and your individual anatomy. Give us a call at 385.469.2550.
The Drainless Advantage
A modern approach designed to minimize downtime, reduce swelling, and support a smoother healing experience.
Utah Facial Plastics performs a drainless facelift technique for appropriate patients. Instead of external drains, our surgeons use meticulous tissue handling and closure methods designed to reduce the spaces where fluid collects, which can support comfort and simplify post-operative care. Not every patient is a candidate; the decision depends on the procedure, anatomy, and the surgeon's judgment. For many patients, though, avoiding drains is a meaningful part of an easier recovery.
Our Facelift Process
Consultation. Your visit begins with a comprehensive facial analysis: the skin, neck, jawline, cheeks, and underlying support structures. Your surgeon reviews your goals and helps determine whether a Deep Plane, MACS, Mid-face, Awake, or Preservation facelift, contouring, or a combination, best fits your anatomy. Imaging may be used as an educational tool during the consultation, but imaging is not a guarantee of outcome.
Pre-surgical planning. This includes a detailed surgical plan, medical review, and clear pre-operative instructions, along with any additional medical clearance and guidance on preparing for anesthesia and recovery.
Surgery day. Facelift surgery is performed in an accredited surgical facility. A Deep Plane facelift is typically performed under general anesthesia. Less extensive options, such as MACS or Awake facelift, may use different anesthesia approaches. The drainless technique is used when appropriate.
Recovery and follow-up. After surgery, your care continues with a clear recovery plan. The team walks you through incision care, activity guidance, and what to expect as swelling and bruising settle, then sets your follow-up visits. Because a Deep Plane facelift is more involved than a mini or awake procedure, most patients set aside time for social downtime, though every recovery is individual and no timeline is guaranteed. For Park City area patients, we help you plan around work, travel, and the ski season, and we offer guidance on hydration and sun protection for healing skin in Utah's dry mountain climate.
Why Utah Facial Plastics
Utah Facial Plastics focuses exclusively on the face, head, and neck, which lets our team offer specialized facial expertise rather than general cosmetic surgery. Care is led by Double Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeons with more than 60 years of combined experience, including Dr. Scott Thompson, the practice's founder, and Dr. Douglas Henstrom, who trained at the Mayo Clinic and completed a fellowship at Harvard through the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. You can meet the full team on the Meet Our Surgeons page.
Have questions? Give us a call at 385.469.2550.
Facelift Frequently Asked Questions
A Deep Plane facelift works below the skin, releasing and repositioning the SMAS and deeper retaining ligaments. A traditional skin-only facelift mainly tightens the surface. Because the Deep Plane approach places less tension on the skin and addresses the deeper layers where sagging originates, it can produce more natural, longer-lasting results, especially when the cheeks, jowls, jawline, and neck are involved together.
A good candidate is generally healthy, has realistic expectations, and has facial aging that matches the procedure considered. Candidacy is not based on age alone. Some patients in their 40s or early 50s do well with MACS, Awake, or Preservation techniques, while others need a Deep Plane facelift or neck surgery for more complete rejuvenation. A consultation determines the safest, most appropriate plan.
For appropriate patients, a drainless facelift avoids external drains after surgery, which can improve comfort and simplify recovery. Candidacy depends on the procedure, anatomy, and the surgeon's judgment.
It depends on where and how much aging is present, skin quality, neck laxity, recovery goals, and anesthesia preferences. A Deep Plane facelift suits more structural rejuvenation, while MACS, Awake, Mid-face, or Preservation options may fit earlier or more targeted concerns. Your surgeon reviews your anatomy and explains the trade-offs at consultation. You can also review the main Facelift page for a broader overview.
Park City area patients consult at nearby Utah Facial Plastics locations in Heber City, Draper, and Layton. We serve the Park City community but do not have a physical Park City office. Contact us to choose the most convenient location and time.
Facelift Resource Guide
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