When you look in the mirror, do you feel like your reflection tells the wrong story? Maybe your eyes look tired even when you’re well-rested, or sagging skin along your jawline makes you appear older than you feel. Over time, the face naturally changes. Skin loses elasticity, muscles weaken, and gravity takes its toll. But those changes don’t have to define how you present yourself to the world.
Facial plastic surgery offers precise, customized solutions to restore balance, whether you’re concerned about drooping brows, loose neck skin, or deep facial lines. The key is understanding your options and knowing what to expect so you can make an informed decision that feels right for you.
This guide will walk you through the most common facial procedures, including brow lift, eyelid surgery, facelift, neck lift, and laser resurfacing, including their benefits, surgical process, and recovery experience. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of what each option can achieve and which might be the best fit for your facial rejuvenation goals.
1. Brow Lift
- A brow lift, also called a forehead lift, is a surgical procedure that elevates the position of the eyebrows and smooths forehead wrinkles. As we age, the brow naturally drops lower, which can make the eyes look smaller and give the face a tired, angry, or sad expression.
A brow lift restores the brows to a more youthful position, opening up the eye area and giving the face a refreshed, approachable appearance.
Benefits of a Brow Lift
The benefits go beyond simply raising the brows. By addressing the underlying tissue and muscles, a brow lift can:
Rejuvenate your expression
Lifting the brow reduces the heaviness over your eyes and restores a friendlier, more alert look.
Smooth forehead lines
Horizontal creases and frown lines between the eyebrows can soften significantly.
Enhance other facial features
By opening up the upper face, the eyes appear brighter, and makeup is easier to apply.
Boost self-confidence
Feeling more like yourself can positively impact both personal and professional interactions.
Many patients also find that a brow lift can be paired with other procedures, like eyelid surgery, for even more dramatic improvement.
Procedure Overview
- Brow lift surgery is typically performed under sedation or general anesthesia, depending on the surgical plan. The approach will vary based on your anatomy, goals, and desired recovery time:
Endoscopic Brow Lift
- Uses small incisions hidden in the hairline and a camera-assisted technique to adjust the tissue and muscles. This method is less invasive and often comes with a quicker recovery.
Coronal Brow Lift
- Involves a longer incision across the scalp, allowing for more significant lifting and repositioning of the brow and forehead skin.
Temporal or Limited Incision Brow Lift
- Targets the outer portion of the brow with shorter incisions, ideal for patients with mild to moderate sagging.
Once the tissues are repositioned, the skin is smoothed and sutured into place, with care taken to avoid an overdone look. The goal is always a natural, refreshed appearance rather than a surprised or pulled effect.
Recovery Experience
- After surgery, you can expect some swelling and bruising in the forehead and eye area, which typically subsides within 1–2 weeks. Most patients return to normal daily activities after about 10 days, although strenuous exercise should be avoided for a few weeks. Mild numbness along the incision lines is common and gradually improves as healing continues.
Your surgeon will provide specific aftercare instructions, including how to keep incisions clean, when to remove sutures (if needed), and how to manage swelling. Results can last many years, especially when paired with a healthy lifestyle and good skin care.
2. Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
- Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, addresses sagging eyelid skin, puffiness, and under-eye bags. These changes can occur due to aging, genetics, or even lifestyle factors, often making you look older, tired, or less alert than you actually feel.
The procedure removes excess skin, repositions fat deposits, and tightens muscles to restore a smoother, more youthful appearance around the eyes. Unlike topical treatments or injectables, eyelid surgery creates lasting changes to the structure of the eyelids, delivering results that can last for many years.
Benefits of Eyelid Surgery
Blepharoplasty can improve daily comfort and vision in certain cases, along with the beauty of your face. Some key benefits include:
Refreshed appearance
Removing excess skin and fat opens up the eyes, making you look more awake and youthful.
Improved vision
For patients whose upper eyelids droop into their line of sight, surgery can restore a full field of vision.
Balanced facial harmony
Smoother eyelids can bring more symmetry to your overall facial features.
Long-lasting results
While the natural aging process continues, results often remain noticeable for a decade or longer.
Procedure Overview
Eyelid surgery can be performed on the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both, depending on your concerns.
Upper Eyelid Surgery
The incision is made in the natural crease of the eyelid, allowing the surgeon to remove excess skin and fat while hiding the scar within a natural fold.
Lower Eyelid Surgery
The incision may be placed just below the lash line or inside the lower eyelid. This allows fat repositioning, skin tightening, and wrinkle smoothing without an obvious scar.
The procedure typically takes 1–3 hours and is performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia.
Recovery Experience
- After surgery, you’ll experience swelling and bruising around the eyes, which peaks during the first few days and gradually improves over 1–2 weeks. Using cold compresses and keeping your head elevated can help speed recovery.
Most patients return to work within 7–10 days, though makeup and strenuous activity should be avoided until cleared by your surgeon. Results can be dramatic. Eyes appear brighter, more open, and well-rested, often making a noticeable difference in how others perceive you.
3. Facelift
- A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is designed to address visible signs of aging in the mid-to-lower face and neck. Over time, the skin loses elasticity, facial fat shifts downward, and deep creases form around the mouth and jawline.
A facelift repositions the deeper facial tissues, removes excess skin, and restores youthful definition to the cheeks, jawline, and neck. A skilled facelift preserves your natural character while subtly rolling back the clock.
Benefits of a Facelift
A facelift offers comprehensive rejuvenation for the lower two-thirds of the face. Benefits include:
Defined jawline
Sagging jowls and loose skin along the jaw are tightened and lifted.
Reduced deep wrinkles
Nasolabial folds (lines from nose to mouth) and marionette lines are softened.
Youthful facial contours
Fat and tissue are repositioned to restore volume in the cheeks and mid-face.
Long-lasting impact
Results typically last 10 years or more with proper skin care and a healthy lifestyle.
Procedure Overview
Facelift techniques can vary depending on your needs:
Traditional Facelift
Involves incisions along the hairline, around the ears, and sometimes under the chin. This approach allows significant lifting and repositioning of deep tissues.
Mini Facelift
Uses shorter incisions for patients with mild sagging, offering quicker recovery while still providing noticeable improvements.
During the procedure, underlying muscles (SMAS layer) are tightened, fat may be redistributed, and excess skin is trimmed. Incisions are carefully placed to be hidden along natural contours and hairlines.
Recovery Experience
- After surgery, you’ll experience swelling, tightness, and some bruising, particularly around the jawline and neck. These effects improve significantly within 2–3 weeks, with most patients returning to work after about 2 weeks.
Full healing and settling of results may take a few months. The results of a facelift can be transformative. You’ll notice a firmer, smoother jawline, more youthful cheeks, and a face that better reflects how vibrant and active you feel inside.
4. Neck Lift
- A neck lift targets loose, sagging skin, muscle banding, and excess fat in the neck area. As we age, the skin loses elasticity, fat can accumulate under the chin, and the platysma muscles in the neck may separate, creating vertical bands.
Even if your face looks youthful, these changes can make your neck appear aged or heavier than you’d like. The procedure reshapes and tightens the neck, restores smooth contours, and can create a more defined angle between the jaw and neck, often called the youthful neck profile.
Benefits of a Neck Lift
Sharper definition
Tightening loose skin and muscles creates a clean, sculpted neckline.
Younger appearance
Reduces sagging and wrinkles that can make you look older than you feel.
Improved balance with facial features
A youthful neck complements a rejuvenated face, especially when combined with a facelift.
Permanent fat removal
If unwanted fat under the chin is contributing to fullness, it can be removed for lasting results.
Procedure Overview
Neck lifts typically involve small incisions under the chin and/or behind the ears. Through these incisions, the surgeon can:
Tighten the platysma muscles
Remove excess fat through direct excision or liposuction.
Lift and re-drape the skin
For patients with more advanced aging, a neck lift is often paired with a facelift to address both the face and neck in harmony.
Recovery Experience
- Expect some swelling, tightness, and mild bruising for the first couple of weeks. You’ll likely wear a supportive compression garment for the first few days to aid healing and maintain the new contours. Most patients return to light activities after 7–10 days, with full recovery in 4–6 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions About Facial Plastic Surgery
- How do I know which facial surgery is right for me?
The best procedure for you depends on your facial structure, skin condition, concerns, and desired results. During your consultation, your surgeon will assess your anatomy, discuss your goals, and recommend a personalized treatment plan that may involve one or a combination of procedures.
- What’s the difference between a facelift and a brow lift?
A facelift addresses sagging skin, deep wrinkles, and volume loss in the mid-to-lower face and jawline, while a brow lift targets the upper face by lifting the eyebrows and smoothing the forehead. Sometimes, both are performed together for a balanced, comprehensive result.
- How long do results from facial surgery last?
Results can last many years, depending on the procedure, your skin quality, and lifestyle factors like sun protection and smoking. While surgery can’t stop the aging process, it can set the clock back significantly.
- Will I have visible scars?
Skilled surgeons place incisions in discreet locations, such as along the hairline, behind the ears, or in natural creases, so scars are minimal and typically fade over time with proper care.
- How much downtime should I expect?
Recovery varies by procedure. Minor surgeries, like eyelid surgery, may require 1–2 weeks before returning to normal activities, while more extensive procedures, like a facelift, may need 3–4 weeks for optimal healing.
- Can I combine multiple facial surgeries in one session?
Yes, many patients combine procedures to address multiple concerns at once, reduce overall downtime, and achieve harmonious results. For example, a facelift and neck lift are often done together.
- Is facial plastic surgery painful?
You won’t feel pain during the procedure due to anesthesia. Some swelling, bruising, and mild discomfort afterward are normal and can be managed with medication and proper aftercare.
Take the Next Step Toward a More Confident You
- If you’ve been thinking about facial plastic surgery, you already know it’s more than just a cosmetic choice. It’s an investment in how you feel about yourself every day. Whether your goal is to restore a youthful contour, smooth deep lines, or refine specific features, the right procedure can help you look as confident as you feel.
Dr. Matthew Stanwix, at Stanwix Plastic Surgery in Richmond, offers personalized, precision-focused surgical care tailored to your unique facial structure and goals. Your journey begins with a detailed consultation, where you’ll discuss your vision, review potential options, and design a surgical plan that fits your needs.
The changes you want are possible. The next move is yours. Call us at 804-724-7244 to schedule your private consultation today or request your appointment online.
