Facial Rejuvenation, Atlanta
Facelift in Atlanta
Natural, graceful facial rejuvenation by female plastic surgeons with more than 25 years of experience.
CONSULTATION
Personalized, in person
SURGERY LENGTH
3.5 to 4.5 hours
ANESTHESIA
General
SETTING
Northside Hospital, 23-hour observation
PRESENTABLE IN PUBLIC
About 2 weeks
FOLLOW-UP
5 visits, 3 with lymphatic massage
The Approach
Restoring the Beauty Beneath the Surface
A facelift restores the natural contours of your face by lifting the deeper structures that soften over time. Your surgeon gently repositions the muscle, fat, and supportive tissue beneath your skin, removes excess skin, and redrapes what remains for a refreshed, natural look. The result is a renewed jawline, a smoother neck, and the graceful contours you remember.
Because a facelift focuses on structure, it pairs beautifully with treatments that refine the skin itself. Sun damage, fine lines, texture, and pigment are best addressed with lasers, resurfacing, and skincare. Your surgeon will create a thoughtful plan that brings both together, so your results look radiant from every angle. Learn more in How Does a Facelift Work?
Candidacy
Is a Facelift Right for You?
A facelift is our most comprehensive facial procedure, involving about four hours of surgery, an overnight stay with dedicated nursing care, and a recovery measured in weeks. It is also one of the most transformative and rewarding procedures we perform.
If a nonsurgical treatment can help you reach your goals, your surgeon will share that with you. With a full range of surgical and nonsurgical options under one roof, your plan is always designed around what is best for you. Wondering about timing? Read When Should You Get a Facelift?
You may be an ideal candidate if you:
- Notice loose skin on your face and neck, along with deeper tissues that have softened over time
- Have jowls, a less defined jawline, or midface descent that nonsurgical treatments have not improved
- Do not smoke, or are ready to stop, since healthy blood flow is essential for safe healing
- Have a stable weight
- Can set aside about two weeks of downtime, and six weeks before strenuous activity
- Would like a plan that refreshes both facial structure and skin quality
Scope
What a Facelift Can Do for You
A Facelift Beautifully Improves
Softened muscle, fat, and deeper tissue, gently repositioned. Jowls and a less defined jawline. Midface descent. Loose skin on the face and neck. And the harmony between your face, neck, cheeks, and jawline, so every area looks naturally balanced together.
Treatments That Complement Your Facelift
Skin quality concerns such as sun damage, fine lines, texture, and pigment respond best to laser and resurfacing treatments. Volume loss can be restored with filler or fat grafting. If your face is aging gracefully and your neck is your main concern, a neck lift on its own may be ideal.
The Procedure
How Facelift Surgery Works
Your facelift takes three and a half to four and a half hours under general anesthesia at Northside Hospital, with continuous monitoring throughout. Incisions are thoughtfully placed along the hairline and around the ear, where they blend naturally.
Your surgeon repositions the deeper muscle, fat, and supportive tissue, then lifts and redrapes your skin over this refreshed foundation and removes the excess. Repositioning the deeper layers is what creates soft, natural, long-lasting results, never a tight or pulled look.
Throughout your procedure, your surgeon considers your face, neck, cheeks, and jawline together, so every refinement works in harmony. See Natural Looking Facelift Results and Types of Facelifts.
Throughout your procedure, your surgeon considers your face, neck, cheeks, and jawline together, so every refinement works in harmony. See Natural Looking Facelift Results and Types of Facelifts.
Choosing
Facelift or FaceTite: Which Is Right for You?
Facelift
Surgical
- Repositions deeper tissues and removes excess skin
- Ideal for jowls, midface descent, and significant laxity
- About 2 weeks before most patients feel ready to be out
- The most complete and longest-lasting rejuvenation
FaceTite
Minimally invasive
- Reduces fat and tightens skin from beneath, without repositioning tissue
- Ideal for mild to moderate laxity with good skin elasticity
- About 5 to 7 days of downtime
- A beautiful option when tissue has not significantly descended
A neck lift is often the perfect partner to a facelift, since the face and neck age together and look most natural when refreshed in harmony. Many of our gallery patients chose both. Your surgeon will recommend the approach that gives you lasting, balanced results, whether that is a full facelift, a more targeted procedure, or a combination. Read Full Facelift vs. Targeted Procedures and Lower Facelift and Neck Lift.
Longevity
How Long Does a Facelift Last?
A facelift typically lasts ten to fifteen years. It gently turns back the clock, and you continue to age naturally from your refreshed starting point. Because your deeper tissues are repositioned, your results hold beautifully over time. Daily sun protection and a thoughtful skincare routine help you enjoy your results for as long as possible.
Recovery
A Recovery Experience Designed Around You
At Artisan, your comfort after surgery is a priority. Following your facelift, you will stay for a 23-hour observation at Northside Hospital, cared for by attentive nursing staff, with icing to ease swelling and bruising and time to rest fully before going home. For a week-by-week guide, read our Facelift Recovery Timeline.
Night of surgery
A 23-hour observation at Northside Hospital with nursing care and icing.
First 3 to 4 days
Ice for up to 20 minutes every hour while awake, with a barrier between your skin and the ice. Avoid hot compresses. Rest on your back with your head elevated, and enjoy soft or liquid foods for comfort..
First week
Avoid bending over. Wear your facial compression garment as much as possible. You may shower and shampoo after 24 hours, then shampoo daily to keep incisions clean, washing your face gently with your fingertips.
Weeks 1 to 2
Avoid lifting, pulling, pushing, or straining, and continue wearing your compression garment. Some swelling, bruising, and redness in the eyes is normal during this time.
2 weeks
Most patients feel comfortable being out in public and return to desk work between one and two weeks.
2 to 3 weeks
Swelling and bruising usually resolve. Avoid hot hair dryers and chemical hair treatments for three weeks.
1 month
Limit prolonged sun and heat, and wear a wide-brimmed hat outdoors. Your refined results begin to appear between four and six weeks.
6 weeks and beyond
Return to strenuous activity once cleared. Your results continue to soften and refine over the following months.
Your recovery program includes red light therapy, lymphatic massage at three visits, a vitamin program, bruise cream, arnica, bromelain, and a facial compression garment for the first two weeks. Our team has refined this protocol over many years to help you heal comfortably and feel like yourself again as soon as possible.
Your Experience
Your Personalized Facelift Experience
Consultation
Your surgeon learns about your goals, health history, and timeline, and assesses your face, neck, cheeks, jawline, and skin quality to recommend the best approach. Many patients visit twice before deciding, and we warmly welcome that.
Surgery
Three and a half to four and a half hours under general anesthesia at Northside Hospital, with deeper tissues repositioned, skin gently redraped, and incisions placed discreetly along the hairline.
The first night
A 23-hour observation with dedicated nursing care and icing, so you can rest fully before going home.
Recovery and Results
Five follow-up visits, including lymphatic massage at three, plus red light therapy, a vitamin program, and a compression garment. Most patients feel ready to be out at about two weeks, with refined results at four to six weeks and continued improvement over the following months.
The Practice
Why Patients Choose Artisan
Atlanta's First All-Woman-Physician Practice
Founded in 2000, Artisan was Atlanta's first plastic surgery practice led entirely by women physicians, with female surgeons bringing more than 25 years of experience.
An Exceptional Recovery Program
An overnight stay with nursing care, five follow-up visits with lymphatic massage at three, red light therapy, and a vitamin program, all designed to help you heal beautifully.
Guidance You Can Trust
With surgical and nonsurgical treatments under one roof, your surgeon will always recommend the approach that best fits your goals, even when that is a less invasive option.
A Complete Plan for Radiant Results
Your surgeon will pair your facelift with skin treatments when helpful, so both your structure and your skin look refreshed and luminous.
FAQ
Facelift FAQs
Will a facelift improve my skin quality?
A facelift restores your facial structure, while skin quality concerns such as sun damage, fine lines, texture, and pigment are best treated with lasers, resurfacing, or skincare. Your surgeon can plan these alongside your facelift for complete, radiant results.
Should I choose a facelift or FaceTite?
If you have jowls or noticeable descent, a facelift offers the lift you need. If your laxity is mild and your skin is still elastic, FaceTite may provide lovely results with a shorter recovery. We offer both and will guide you to the best fit.
Do I need a neck lift too?
Often, yes. The face and neck age together, and refreshing both creates the most natural, balanced result. Your surgeon will assess both at your consultation.
Will I stay overnight after my facelift?
Yes. You will enjoy a 23-hour observation at Northside Hospital with nursing care and icing. This first night is an important part of our recovery program and helps you rest comfortably.
What are the risks of a facelift?
Risks include hematoma, which is the most common complication and one reason we monitor you overnight, as well as rare nerve injury, skin healing concerns (especially in smokers), scarring, asymmetry, changes in sensation, and the possibility of revision, along with general surgical risks. Read Facelift Risks and Safety.
How much does a facelift cost in Atlanta?
Your cost depends on your technique, whether a neck lift or eyelid surgery is included, anesthesia, and Northside Hospital fees, including your overnight stay. You will receive personalized pricing after your consultation, and financing is available. See our Facelift Cost Guide.
Will I look pulled or windswept?
No. A tight look comes from pulling skin without lifting the deeper tissue. Your surgeon repositions the deeper structures first, then gently redrapes your skin, for soft, natural results that look like you, refreshed.
How long does a facelift last?
Typically ten to fifteen years, with sun protection and good skincare helping your results last even longer.
Where will my facelift scars be?
Incisions are placed along the hairline and in front of and behind the ear, where they blend naturally and fade over time.
How long is facelift recovery?
Most patients feel comfortable in public at about two weeks, return to desk work between one and two weeks, and resume strenuous activity at six weeks.
Does a facelift hurt?
You will sleep comfortably during surgery. Afterward, some discomfort is normal, and our overnight care, icing, lymphatic massage, and pain management are all designed to keep you comfortable. Many patients find recovery easier than they expected.
What happens at my follow-up appointments?
You will have five: lymphatic massage at three days, suture removal and massage at seven days, staple removal and massage at ten to fourteen days, a progress check at four weeks, and a visit with your surgeon at six weeks, plus red light therapy and a vitamin program throughout.
Is a mini facelift an option?
For younger patients or those with early changes, a mini facelift may offer subtle, refreshing results. Read Mini Facelift in Atlanta.
Rediscover Your Most Radiant Self
Many people consider a facelift for years before taking the first step. When you are ready, our female surgeons will welcome you with honest guidance and a plan designed entirely around your face and your goals.