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What is a Facelift?

A facelift is the single most powerful technique for reducing signs of aging in the face, particularly in the midface and lower face. The procedure is currently one of the only aesthetic surgeries that can get rid of loose, hanging skin in the lower-third of the face and attain long-term improvements that endure for years.

The overly tight or “frozen” appearance often associated with a poorly executed facelift can be avoided with modern facelift techniques. Thanks to advancements in facelift surgery that have developed just in the past decade, results from Dr. Luck’s facelifts can be incredibly powerful while maintaining a natural and soft appearance. The before-and-after photos in our patient gallery can provide you with a visual understanding of the stunning outcomes possible with facelift surgery.

What Can a Facelift Improve?

Patients who wish to improve the quality of their neck, jawline, cheeks, and overall facial appearance may be appropriate candidates for a facelift. This can be assessed during a personal consultation with Dr. Luck, where he will ask you about your goals and evaluate your concerns to confirm whether a facelift would help you achieve your desired look. Sometimes, a neck lift is required at the same time as a facelift to improve aging in the neck. In general, the full facial rejuvenation procedure with a facelift and neck lift can effectively address:

  • Jowls or sagging skin along the cheeks and jawline
  • Deep creases in the mid- to lower face
  • Loose neck skin, or a “turkey neck”

The indications above are among the most obvious signs of aging that cause patients to look older than they feel. A facelift is one of the most effective ways to reverse the effects of age and improve:

  • Jawline contour
  • Mid-face projection
  • Skin quality
  • Youthfulness
  • Confidence and attractiveness

Although a facelift is only intended to treat the middle and lower face, signs of aging in the upper face can be addressed with other procedures like blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) and/or a brow lift. If desired, you can combine a facelift with other facial procedure(s) to achieve a more balanced and comprehensive outcome. Dr. Luck also performs complimentary facial skin resurfacing with a CO2 laser at the end of each facelift.

Is a Facelift Right for Me?

A facelift can be an excellent procedure for any patient seeking long-term results in facial rejuvenation. This surgery can be ideal for men and women who have signs of aging in the middle and lower face that they would like to soften or improve. In addition to having the necessary concerns typically corrected with a facelift (jowls, loose hanging skin, neck laxity, etc.), patients considering surgery should:

  • Be in good physical health with no uncontrolled medical conditions
  • Have a good understanding of facelift surgery and realistic expectations for the final results
  • Not smoke, or be willing to quit smoking before their facelift

Dr. Luck will review your medical history, ask you about your goals, and examine your unique features to help you decide whether you could benefit from a facelift. He will also discuss any risks and limitations associated with facelift surgery during your consultation.

How Do I Prepare for My Facelift?

At Gryskiewicz Twin Cities Cosmetic Surgery ®, Dr. Luck and his dedicated team will guide you through each stage of your facelift journey to make your experience as smooth and successful as possible. During your consultation, Dr. Luck will assess your goals and recommend the best combination of procedures to achieve the harmonious and youthful results you desire. There are many pre-operative steps you can take to prepare for your facelift surgery:

  • Medical Exam and Labs: Schedule a pre-operative medical examination and laboratory testing with your primary care doctor to ensure you’re healthy enough to undergo surgery.
  • Smoking and Tobacco: Refrain from smoking, tobacco use, and vaping before and after surgery, as smoking inhibits blood flow and delays healing.
  • Alcohol and Medications: Avoid alcohol, aspirin, and other anti-inflammatory medications for at least one week before your procedure to minimize bleeding. Dr. Luck will give you specific pre-operative information so you know what to expect.
  • Fasting: Do not eat or drink for 8 hours prior to surgery.
  • Skin Care: After your consultation, you will receive a complimentary facial and skincare analysis from our professional aestheticians to help optimize your skin quality in preparation for surgery.
  • Logistics: Arrange for transportation to and from the surgery center. It is also important to have a friend or family member stay with you overnight after your procedure.

Types of Facelift Surgery

Numerous facelift techniques have been developed, and there is a great deal of heterogeneity within each specific technique. Dr. Luck offers the most contemporary facelift techniques available, and will make specific procedure recommendations depending on your unique anatomy. While most patients are best served by the deep plane facelift, some individuals have features and concerns that can be better addressed with high SMAS, SMASectomy or SMAS plication techniques. A customized facelift design allows for a uniquely tailored procedure to best achieve your desired outcomes.

Deep Plane Facelift

The deep plane facelift is a sophisticated technique that addresses the deeper layers of the face rather than the skin. Often considered the “gold standard” facelift technique, the deep plane facelift works by elevating and repositioning the deep structural layer of the face, known as the Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System (SMAS) while maintaining its attachment to the overlying skin. Dr. Luck’s deep plane facelift provides the most powerful, yet natural facelift results.

High SMAS Facelift

SMAS facelifting techniques also address the deeper layers of the face by lifting the Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System (SMAS). Unlike the deep plane approach, the high SMAS facelift separates skin off of the deeper layer, allowing the skin and the underlying SMAS layer to be moved in different directions. This technique may be recommended for a select group of patients who are unhappy with their facelift results from other surgeons, and for patients who demonstrate different vectors of aging between their muscles and skin.

SMASectomy and SMAS Plication

For patients with more specific needs related to the width of the midface, Dr. Luck may recommend a SMASectomy or SMAS plication. These techniques involve customized SMAS designs to address targeted areas of the face. An SMASectomy involves removing excess SMAS tissue, while SMAS plication involves folding the SMAS layer onto itself to provide volumetric augmentation and support in the cheek region.

Quick Recovery Facelift

Some patients may be candidates for our Quick Recovery Mini Facelift, which is a targeted facial rejuvenation procedure that uses special techniques to reduce swelling and bruising while enhancing recovery and the overall quality of the result. During your consultation, Dr. Luck will perform a detailed facial analysis, review your unique case, and determine a treatment plan. If the procedure is well-suited to your goals, you will be introduced to our Quick Recovery Mini Facelift and learn the details of surgery. You and Dr. Luck will discuss how this technique can help you look younger, less tired, and more refreshed within weeks. This specialized procedure can achieve results that are long-lasting, look natural, and require minimal downtime compared to other common techniques. “Quick recovery” also means less swelling, bruising, and discomfort after surgery.

How is Facelift Surgery Performed?

A facelift is an outpatient procedure, which means you will be able to return home on the same day as your surgery. At our Minneapolis practice, Dr. Luck performs a facelift by placing an incision that starts at the sideburn, moves along the front of the ear, and curves behind the earlobe partially into the posterior hairline. The skin is then lifted while the excess is removed, and descended musculature and fatty tissues are repositioned. In certain cases, fat injections may also be utilized to restore lost volume as well as to enhance the contour and fullness of the face. Incisions are closed and all scars are hidden in areas of natural anatomic transition, typically forming nearly imperceptible scars that should remain well concealed. Before you wake up, Dr. Luck will perform skin resurfacing with a powerful CO2 laser to complement your surgical results.

Can a Facelift Address the Entire Face?

The rejuvenation achieved with facelift surgery is generally limited to the middle and lower face, with some improvement also seen in the neck — regions in which deflated, hanging skin; deep creases; and jowling are prominent. Although a facelift will reduce jowling and provide modest neck tightening, a neck lift is required for complete neck rejuvenation. Similarly, the procedure is not designed to address signs of laxity and aging around the eyes or forehead, and it is very common for patients to combine their facelift with upper facial procedures to attain a more comprehensive and harmonious outcome. 

Blepharoplasty and brow lift surgery are performed to smooth and lift the skin of the eyelids and brows, respectively. These upper face procedures beautifully complement the middle and lower facial rejuvenation achieved with a facelift, and can be done in the same surgery. Alternatively, non-surgical options to reduce aging in the upper face may include injectable treatments like BOTOX® Cosmetic, JUVÉDERM®, and Jeuveau™, among others. During your consultation with Dr. Luck, a personalized, comprehensive plan will be formulated with your input to achieve the best results possible.

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What is the Recovery Process after a Facelift?


Dr. Luck utilizes intraoperative nerve blocking methods and advanced techniques to reduce pain after surgery. Most patients wake up ready to return home with only mild discomfort. Your dressings and a small surgical drain will be removed within a day or two of surgery, and sutures removed a week after surgery. Although your healing timeline will depend on your own body’s healing process and the specific techniques and procedures performed in your surgery, you can typically expect most swelling and bruising to subside within three weeks of surgery, and you’ll be ready for professional photography and major events within three months of your surgery.

Although you should get plenty of rest after your facelift, we encourage you to practice light ambulation (walking around, moving, etc.) as much as possible. Exercise should be avoided for at least one month following your facelift. Most patients can return to work within a week or two of surgery.

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Photo Gallery

How Long Does a Facelift Last?

No treatment can completely stop the natural aging process, but facelift patients usually enjoy their results for at least 10 to 15 years depending on their lifestyle habits and the overall quality of their skin. In most cases, the outcome of facelift surgery can be prolonged to some extent by:

  • Applying sunscreen daily and wearing sun protection (sunglasses, hats, etc.) whenever outdoors
  • Not smoking or participating in artificial sun tanning
  • Living a healthy, active lifestyle
  • Using high-quality or prescription-grade skin care products

A facelift offers the longest-lasting facial rejuvenation currently available, and those who received a facelift will generally always look younger than individuals of the same age who did not undergo treatment. Periodically undergoing med spa services like laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels, and facials can also help you further maintain a healthy, glowing complexion.

What is the Best Age for a Facelift?

Dr. Luck has achieved beautiful facelift results for a wide range of patients, whether they were in their early thirties or late eighties. The idea of a “best age” for facelift surgery is a myth, as factors including your general health and tissue laxity are more important than your actual age when evaluating candidacy. In general, Dr. Luck prioritizes results that honor the natural beauty and character of a patient’s face. For this reason, rhytidectomy can often be successfully performed on individuals regardless of how old they are. Please take a look at our patient gallery to view the outcomes achieved for patients from a variety of different ages.

How Much Does a Facelift Cost?

Factors including the extent of your skin aging, structural descent, tissue atrophy, and more must be evaluated during your initial assessment with Dr. Luck in order to develop a cohesive surgical plan, which will affect the cost of your procedure. Although the price range of a facelift varies depending on the complexity of the procedure, the price of your facelift will ultimately be determined by the details of your treatment plan. A facelift is frequently performed as part of a more comprehensive treatment plan, often including a deep plane neck lift, buccal fat removal, blepharoplasty, brow lift, fat augmentation, and/or others. If you opt to include these procedures with your facelift, this will also affect the total cost. Our team will review your surgical plan and break down your cost estimate during your appointment.

Please don’t hesitate to ask about our plastic surgery financing options, which can allow qualified patients to pay for their procedure through a series of low monthly payments. Our practice accepts plans through CareCredit® and ALPHAEON™ Credit, which are two reputable healthcare lending companies that each offer arrangements to suit your personal budget. Please contact our practice if you have any questions about patient financing, or if you would like to speak to one of our team members in person.

Will I Have Noticeable Facelift Scars?

Dr. Luck will be able to show you what you can expect regarding facelift scars during your consultation. Although every procedure will leave scarring to some degree, residual signs of surgery can often lighten and fade over time until they’re virtually undetectable — particularly when patients follow Dr. Luck’s instructions on proper wound care.

Can I Get a Non-Surgical Facelift?

While there are many non-surgical treatments that claim to reproduce a facelift without surgery, a rhytidectomy is the gold standard for authentic improvement of sagging skin in the lower face, a deflated look in the mid-face, and/or an undefined jawline. Understandably, there are several marketing terms and techniques referenced online that can confuse a patient seeking facial rejuvenation. Most of these treatments do not even involve an actual lift, such as the non-surgical “facelift” that utilizes the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in your own blood combined with SkinPen® microneedling to improve your skin quality. Similarly, a “liquid facelift” can be useful, but this technique involves injecting dermal fillers to enhance volume rather than addressing sagging tissues. While improved skin quality and restored facial volume can indeed make patients look younger, non-surgical treatments are not usually effective alternatives to facelift surgery.

Unfortunately, there is no ultrasound therapy, dermal filler, neurotoxin, or radiofrequency treatment that can substitute for a facelift. Rhytidectomy requires careful attention to detail, meticulous surgical technique, and extensive training in plastic surgery.

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Are There Adjunctive Treatments That Can Be Performed With a Facelift?

Non-surgical procedures may not be able to replicate the powerful results achieved by Dr. Luck’s facelift and neck lift techniques, but other facial rejuvenation treatments can complement — and ultimately enhance — the outcomes of surgery. Many patients are already aware of the synergistic effects of adding a deep neck lift to a facelift, but there are many other procedures that help to obtain a more harmonious facial rejuvenation. These include (but are not limited to):

  • Blepharoplasty: This procedure lifts and smooths the skin of the eyelids, reducing puffiness and sagging that can make you look tired or older.
  • Brow Lift: A brow lift targets the forehead area to address wrinkles and sagging brows, often alleviating an angry look or a permanently furrowed brow.
  • Deep Neck Lift: A neck lift complements a facelift by addressing skin laxity and aging of the deep structures in the neck, providing a more streamlined and youthful contour from the jawline to the neck.
  • Lip Lift: A lip lift addresses signs of aging or volume loss in the lips by elevating the upper lip and enhancing lip fullness. This procedure can help restore a more youthful and defined lip shape.
  • Buccal Fat Removal: This procedure targets excess fat in the lower cheeks, which can contribute to a rounded or “chipmunk” appearance. By selectively removing this fat, buccal fat removal creates a more sculpted appearance. This technique is ideal for individuals seeking a more angular and contoured facial profile.
  • Facial Fat Grafting: Often incorporated in a “lift and fill” approach, facial fat grafting involves harvesting fat from other areas of your body and injecting it into areas of the face that have lost volume. This technique not only provides lift but also restores youthful fullness and contour to the cheeks, temples, and other areas, enhancing the overall results of a facelift.
  • Skin Resurfacing: Whether with a powerful CO2 laser or our advanced PiXel8-RF® radiofrequency microneedling system, our skin resurfacing tools target surface irregularities and deep wrinkles by removing damaged skin layers and stimulating collagen production. Laser- and radiofrequency-based skin resurfacing noticeably enhances the overall texture and tone of your skin for optimal results.
  • Neurotoxins (e.g. BOTOX® Cosmetic): Helps smooth out dynamic wrinkles by temporarily relaxing the muscles responsible for facial expressions.

In addition to lifting and rejuvenating the structural layers of the face surgically, the health and appearance of the skin is vitally important to looking more refreshed and youthful as you age, which is why Gryskiewicz Twin Cities Cosmetic Surgery ® offers the full spectrum of skin care before and after your facelift/neck lift. You can learn more about these options by perusing our medical spa services. These treatments may be performed alone or in conjunction with a facelift for additional skin rejuvenation.

In order to achieve the very best results, Dr. Luck ensures all of his facelift patients undergo a complimentary facial and skincare analysis from our professional estheticians prior to surgery. This analysis will identify areas for improvement in your skin’s texture, tone, and health. In addition, all patients undergoing a facelift will receive complimentary CO2 laser resurfacing treatment at the time of surgery.

Who’s Performing Your Procedure
About Dr. John Luck

Dr. John Luck is a highly skilled plastic surgeon specializing in facial and neck rejuvenation, as well as breast enhancement and body contouring procedures. With a passion for precision and first-rate results, Dr. Luck combines cutting-edge techniques with a patient-focused approach to maintain unmatched levels of patient satisfaction in deep plane facelifts, deep neck lifts, and more. As a graduate of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Dr. Luck was one of only four graduates in the world selected to receive world-class plastic surgery training at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is heavily involved in research and has published numerous articles in the top academic journals in the country.

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