Facelift Surgery in Salt Lake City, UT

Patients should consider Utah Facial Plastics surgeons for their facelift surgery due to several compelling reasons. First and foremost, Utah Facial Plastics specializes in facial procedures, including facelifts, ensuring a high level of expertise and specialization in this specific area. Their surgeons are highly skilled and experienced, often performing numerous successful facelift surgeries.

Drs. Thompson, Henstrom, and Manning employ advanced techniques and state-of-the-art technology, ensuring optimal results and minimal risk. They prioritize patient safety and satisfaction, providing personalized care and attention throughout the entire process. Additionally, the practice maintains a reputation for delivering natural-looking outcomes, tailored to each patient's unique facial anatomy and desired aesthetic goals.

Furthermore, Utah Facial Plastics emphasizes ongoing education and training for their surgeons, staying abreast of the latest advancements in facial rejuvenation procedures. This commitment to excellence and innovation instills confidence in patients seeking facelift surgery, knowing they are in capable hands. Our patients appreciate 

In addition to the expertise and advanced techniques offered by Utah Facial Plastics, patients can expect a kind demeanor and compassionate care from their surgeons. The team understands the importance of empathy and emotional support during the surgical journey, and they strive to create a comfortable and supportive environment for each patient.

In summary, patients should choose Utah Facial Plastics for their facelift surgery due to their specialized expertise, advanced techniques, commitment to patient safety and satisfaction, and reputation for delivering natural, high-quality results.

An ideal candidate for a facelift, rhytidectomy, is typically in their 40’s or older, has significant jowling and neck laxity with a desire for a more comprehensive, longer lasting approach to the alternatives. It’s important that the patient is in good to excellent health and does not smoke. Individuals with good skin elasticity and strong bone structure will have the best possibility for an excellent surgical outcome. Patients can address earlier or more advanced signs of aging the same with a facelift.

Utah Facial Plastics board certified surgeons in Utah, have extensive experience performing facelift surgery. During your consultation, they will discuss your concerns as well as your goals and motivations for surgery. An exam and review of your current and previous health history will also take place. They will then examine the structures of your face and neck, assess the quality of your skin tone and bone structure, and will make recommendations he feels will help you achieve your aesthetic goals. Your surgeon will discuss the procedure(s) he recommends and give information on where incisions will be placed, possible risks and complications, and make any non-surgical recommendations to enhance the overall surgical outcome. These options may include dermal fillers, Botox®, laser treatments, and/or professional skincare, some of which may be included in your surgical package. They will advise you to avoid taking aspirin, ibuprofen products, Vitamin E and certain herbal medications before surgery, as these medications can cause increased bleeding and/or bruising. They will also insist that you discontinue smoking for at least one month prior to surgery to ensure proper healing, if applicable. More information is given at your pre-operative appointment 2 weeks prior to surgery. Your Patient Care Coordinator will then provide you with all the financial details on any procedure discussed at your consultation and give financing options if applicable. She can also help facilitate the next step in the process and/or provide additional resources, such as before and after photos, articles, educational videos, etc.

During UFP's Exclusive deep plane facelift surgery, Drs. Thompson and Henstrom begin the incision in the area of the temple, just above and in front of the ear. The incision continues under the earlobe and follows the back of the ear and blends into the hairline. The skin is gently lifted and repositioned and the underlying muscle and connective tissue is tightened. Fat is often removed as well as excess skin. For men, the incision line often blends into the natural line of the beard. In all cases, they place incisions where they’ll fall in line with natural skin creases. Fine sutures hold incisions in place. Surgery last anywhere from 3-5 hours depending on the case and is done in a surgical facility under general anesthesia. Dressings and a head wrap are applied to protect the entire area where the incisions have been made and hold things in place.

Utah Facial Plastics has an on site accredited surgical center in our Draper location. Between this facility and Lakeview Hospital we are able to offer the highest standards of care. Our surgeons have performed hundreds of facelift surgeries in their surgical facility with great success. Patients appreciate the high level of care they receive from such an experienced team of healthcare professionals. The surgical center at Lakeview Hospital is JCAHO certified, which means it has passed the highest level of federal inspection for safety. Utah Facial Plastics leaders believe a fully accredited surgical center is in the best interest of his patients, as well as a board-certified anesthesiologist who has completed medical school, residency, and board certification with years of experience. They have worked closely with the anesthesia group at Lakeview Hospital and has been trusting his patients in their care for nearly ten years. Hospitals only allow plastic surgeons certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery to perform cosmetic procedures in their operating rooms. The credentialing process the surgical center undergoes is extensive. Subsequently, the process to credential practicing surgeons is also very thorough and often takes months to complete. The surgeon has to provide proof of competency, training, and an accredited residency as well as proper board certification. You can rest assured you’ll receive exceptional care from the combined efforts of the staff at Utah Facial Plastics and the surgical team at Lakeview Hospital. With years of experience and successful outcomes, facelift patients trust that their safety and satisfaction are of utmost importance to all professionals involved. “In June, 2014, I had facial surgery at Lakeview Hospital. Though the procedure itself may not sound fun, the staff at the hospital were absolutely wonderful. From the intake (which was very fast), through the surgery and recovery and right through release, everyone (and I do mean everyone) gave excellent professional care. My wife was treated just as well. With timely updates during surgery and great hospitality, she was blown away. My surgeon, Dr. Scott Thompson and the attending anesthesiologist were also outstanding. The entire experience was exceptional, exceptional, exceptional. Having been in the health care field for 28 years before retiring, I would say that Lakeview Hospital and wonderful staff deserve a 3 thumbs up (yes, a 3).” For more information about Lakeview Hospital, click on the map below. Information about accommodations and transportation near Lakeview Hospital can be found on our Out Of Town Patients page.

Most patients report minimal pain but often experience a general feeling of tightness for the first 2-5 days. Medications to ease the pain, prevent infection and aid in the healing process are prescribed prior to surgery. Bruising and swelling are to be expected and peaks at approximately 48 hours. It’s recommended to use ice packs during this time to reduce the effects. Our doctors encourage patients to return the next morning to remove dressings and clean incisions, and 3 days later to remove draining tube if applicable. Directions for care of incisions are given with encouragement to keep the head elevated and avoid as much activity as possible. All sutures are removed within five to 10 days following surgery. Most patients are feeling quite well after 1 week but may have signs of bruising and swelling for an additional week or two. Facelift surgery does not provide immediate gratification and you will definitely look worse before you look better. For many, withdrawing socially during recovery, compounded with limited physical exercise, can lead to short-term depression and/or anxiety. Our surgeons feel it’s important to prepare their patients before surgery to help negate or limit these negative feelings that can occur post-operatively. All information will be addressed and discussed at your pre-operative appointment, including the 4 emotional stages of facial surgery as shown in the graphic below. Our surgeons see facelift patients frequently during the first few weeks following surgery to make sure they are healing well and to help them through. Our nurses are also just a phone call or email away. We recognize that it takes a support team to guide you through and it’s very rewarding to see the happiness a patient experiences from facelift surgery once everything has healed. Some things our doctors recommend to help during this time are to avoid mirrors, get outdoors for some fresh air if possible, avoid negative friends and/or family, avoid internet searches on “botched plastic surgery”, and try to do things that you enjoy as long as you don’t overdo it physically.

When it comes to facelift surgery, your surgeon’s experience, your comfort level, and your confidence in them should be the top priority. Choosing based solely on the lowest price can lead to disappointing results or the need for revision surgery later on. At Utah Facial Plastics, our double board-certified facial plastic surgeons, Drs. Henstrom and Thompson, along with the expertise of Dr. Manning offer the skill, training, and aesthetic mastery to deliver natural, lasting results. Facelift costs include three components: the surgical fee, facility fee, and anesthesia fee. According to recent data from The Aesthetic Society and other national sources, the average cost of a facelift in the U.S. typically ranges from $15,000 to $30,000 or more, depending on the surgeon’s experience, geographic location, the complexity of the procedure, and whether it includes additional treatments. There is usually an additional cost for revision facelifts. Drs. Thompson, Henstrom, and Manning's surgical facelift fees typically start around $18,500. Facility and anesthesia fees will vary depending on what is involved with your procedure and range from $700 - $7,000. Your surgeon may recommend a mini lift (MACS Facelift), full facelift, or a combination of procedures best suited to help you achieve your aesthetic goals. MACS facelift procedures typically cost less, while revisions or additional procedures may increase the total price. We recommend scheduling a consultation with one of our surgeons to receive a personalized quote, including all associated fees and financing options. Please note: While anesthesia and facility fees may vary slightly based on the final length of surgery, the surgical fee is fixed and due four weeks prior to your procedure.

The total cost for facelift surgery includes all pre and post-operative appointments and additional products designed to enhance your results and aid in the healing process. Arnica is given at the pre-operative appointment and is a homeopathic medication used to decrease bruising and swelling. Also included is SkinMedica’s TNS Advanced Serum (retail $320) which is an all-in-one anti-aging serum to prepare your skin for surgery and provide facial rejuvenation.  Lastly, SkinMedica’s Scar Recovery Gel ($42) is added to minimize scarring and speed up the healing process. Our surgeons feel a that the overall result is greatly enhanced with the use of this regimen as it includes only the best products available for healing and facial rejuvenation on the market today.

In addition, each facelift patient will receive access to our Insider Membership perks for 1 year following surgery! This includes benefits and discounts to all aesthetic treatments and products with UFP Aesthetics. Learn More Here! 

Additional surgeries are sometimes recommended to obtain the best results possible and the combination can vary depending on the patient’s needs and concerns. Facelift surgeries are typically done with fat injections, as mentioned above, to restore volume loss in the face and make use of the fat taken during the procedure. Sometimes our surgeons recommend a chin implant to strengthen the jaw and neckline or an eyelid and/or browlift to rejuvenate the upper part of the face as well. It’s important to discuss all your concerns with your surgeon at your initial consultation so together you can come up with the best plan possible to achieve your goals.

Yes, Utah Facial Plastics surgeons perform his in-office MACS Facelift procedure often. The benefits include shortened recovery time, smaller incisions, no general anesthesia and lower cost. You can learn more on UFP's Exclusive Lower Face Contouring procedure on our MACS Facelift page. Our surgeons have both researched many minimally invasive facelift options, such as the Lifestyle Lift, and prefer the MACS facelift technique. This technique has been developed and refined over several decades and is performed not just by our doctors and a few other surgeons, but by hundreds of skilled and competent plastic surgeons. This means that the MACS facelift is accepted and endorsed by a huge body of plastic surgeons as an effective and safe procedure. The result of this collective experience is that the MACS facelift has been modified and improved as necessary and has proven itself as a reliable, consistent procedure with long-lasting results. Techniques that are developed and performed by only one or two surgeons by definition cannot benefit from the experience, improvements, and refinements of multiple skilled plastic surgeons.

A facelift can take 10-15 years off of a person’s appearance and feels like a fresh start in many ways. Once surgery has been performed and the SMAS layer, deep muscle, has been lifted and properly secured, it’s not necessarily going to drop back down on any certain day or number of years later. The aging process does continue after facelift surgery no matter what is done. This process is determined by many factors, including one’s genetics, hormones, activity level, nutrition, skincare regimens, stress levels, etc. Those deep tissues will become weaker over time and results are not completely permanent.

That being said, with a facelift or MACS facelift performed at Utah Facial Plastics, the improvement does last forever even though the aging process still continues. So years after a facelift, it may not look exactly the same as it did 2 months after surgery, but will still look much better than you would had you not undergone facelift surgery.

Also, the quality of one’s skin before surgery will have an effect on the lasting results. A heavy smoker or sun worshipper may experience signs of neck laxity sooner than someone with healthy skin would following facelift surgery. As mentioned above, sticking with a good skincare regimen with daily sunscreen use will not only enhance your overall results but maintain them as well. We see many patients following facelift surgery for skincare purchases and sometimes minor small touch-ups years later. Good habits and minimal maintenance can really keep your face looking fresh and youthful.

Overall, a facelift procedure that lifts the deeper tissues and not just the skin will provide the longest lasting results possible when performed by an experienced surgeon. Experience and training are not only important for long-lasting results but to prevent unwanted results. We have all seen people who clearly look like they had work done, obvious scars and/or ears that are no longer in their natural position.

As with any plastic surgery, a facelift with Dr. Thompson or Dr. Henstrom is not a cure all. It can’t stop the aging process, obviously. And it can’t overcome skin damage. Some patients believe a facelift will take 20 years off their facial age, but at Utah Facial Plastics we believe that the procedure simply revitalizes the features of your face. Yes, you’ll look younger, but you’ll still look like you. That’s our goal — to perform facelifts that rejuvenate your face, but without making it obvious that you had surgery.

Facelifts at Utah Facial Plastics return tone to your face by tightening the underlying support tissues and muscles. By removing loose skin that has sagged with volume loss and sun damage, we are able to remove jowls, turkey wattles, drooping skin around the eyes, and that overall feeling of facial sagging. We do this without stressing the skin, which keeps the skin from appearing unnaturally stretched. Our comprehensive facelifts seek to address the three areas that contribute to facial aging: the cheeks, the lower face (jowls), and the neck.

It’s also important to note that, despite the name, a facelift does not address the entire face. For the upper third of the face, a brow lift is performed.

Facelift surgery with the team at Utah Facial Plastics is major surgery, and the risks with any surgery are applicable with a facelift: bleeding, poor incision healing, infection, and reaction to anesthesia. These are specific risks that apply to this procedure:

• Injury to the nerves that control facial muscles (usually temporary)
• Numbness or tingling around the incision areas (temporary)
• Hair loss at the incision sites
• Skin discoloration (rare but can continue for several months)
• Skin healing issues (more common with smokers)

The peak age for facelift in the US is around 55. Most women seeking full face lift are between the ages of 50-60 and that is a very appropriate age. Certainly based on health we are doing facelifts on patients in their 70’s.

For mini facelifts we are more commonly doing that on patients in their 40’s into early 50’s.

So depending on age there may be a couple of good options for a patients seeking a facelift.

A full facelift is performed under a general anesthetic with a patient completely asleep. Incisions are made from in front of the hairline and ear, all the way on the back side of the ear and into the posterior hairline. A majority of the time we also include an incision under the chin for better access into the neck. Facial and neck tissues are elevated in a way to release them from deeper attachments and allow them to be lifted and supported in a superior direction. Permanent sutures are then placed in the elevated deeper muscles layers of the face to lift and suspend. The strength of the lift is truly in lifting the deeper tissues and placing the tension on that tissue. Excess skin is then excised all around the incision and the incision is closed with sutures that will be removed over the intervening 7-10 days. We typically use 2 drains under the skin to help evacuate any excess fluid from under the tissues and help prevent a hematoma.