Facelift cosmetic surgery improves your facial appearance and makes you “look good for your age”. Looking many years younger is not necessarily the goal. Orange County’s Dr. Sikorski’s professional focus is that of restoring a natural, well cared for appearance that leaves you looking rested, energetic and healthy without changing the uniqueness of what makes you look like “you”. Older standardized surgical techniques that are not customized to the individual can actually create a generic appearance that is neither attractive nor unique.

What a Facelift Can and Can’t Do

A facelift can’t stop the aging process but it can “set back the clock,” improving the most visible signs of aging that show in the neck, jaw line and mid to lower aspect of your face. The improvements can be dramatic. By tightening underlying structures and removing loose skin, Dr. Sikorski redefines the facial/neck structure while achieving a natural, non-stretched, non-surgically altered look.

A facelift will improve the major negative aspects of aging, such as loosening of facial skin, folds and creasing around the nose and mouth. Superficial issues such as wrinkles, lines and skin appearance are managed through dermatological procedures.

Deciding to enhance appearance through facelift procedures

If you are bothered by the signs of aging in your face, a facelift may be right for you. Technically known as rhytidectomy, a facelift is a surgical procedure to improve visible signs of aging in the face and neck, such as:

  • Sagging in the mid-face
  • Creases or hollows below the lower eyelids
  • Deep creases along the nose extending to the corner of the mouth
  • Fat that has fallen or is displaced
  • Loss of muscle tone in the lower face resulting in jowls
  • Loose skin and excess fatty deposits under the chin and jaw which can make even a person of normal weight appear to have a double chin

Facelift Procedure with Dr. Sikorski M.D.

Rejuvenation procedures typically performed in conjunction with a facelift are brow lift, to correct a sagging or deeply furrowed brow, and eyelid surgery to rejuvenate aging eyes. 

Specific surgeries for specific areas

A facelift can be one or a number of surgical procedures performed together. In general, a “facelift” is accomplished by repositioning the skin and deeper tissues of the mid face. Improving the neck and forehead are often assumed to be part of a facelift procedure but actually, procedures to lift the brow or tighten the neck can be, and often are, separate procedures.

An eyelift removes excess fat and loose skin to reduce the droopiness in the eyelids, while a brow lift releases tissues in the forehead allowing Dr. Sikorski to raise the eyebrows and reduce frown lines. A necklift is used to redrape loose skin from the neck, tightening the contours of the chin and jawline. Most Orange County patients who choose to have facelift surgery also opt for necklift surgery to enjoy a unified appearance.

Which Kind of Facelift Surgery Should I Choose?

From comprehensive lifts to mini lifts, almost any variation and extent of surgery can be crafted to meet your facial improvement goals. Every facelift surgery is highly individualized. Dr. Sikorski’s dual specialty of cosmetic surgery and dermatology allows for a wide range of options from purely surgical to mini-surgical, surgical with dermatology or, for Orange County patients who wish to avoid any type of surgery, nonsurgical cosmetic dermatology.

Dr. Sikorski provides complimentary consults so that you can weigh the various options. With a complete assessment consultation you’ll understand the options, what each will accomplish and associated procedure costs.

About Facelifts

Some comprehensive facelifts such as the “Composite facelift” include a complete rejuvenation of the neck, face, eyes and brow in one procedure. When an overall aging is apparent this provides the most natural appearance in that all of the parts of the face that have shown aging are repositioned uniformly at the same time. A facelift will generally provide benefits lasting from 5 to 10 years.

The SMAS lift treats the underlying tissue layer or layers and muscles to provide the longest facial rejuvenation benefit. The procedure can greatly improve the appearance of the face for older Orange County patients who wish to see a dramatic change and have moderate to deep signs of aging.

SMAS lift is the classic, most popular face-and-neck lift. Its success relies primarily on lifting the cheek/neck contour. The ideal age for this procedure is from 45 years onward. As well as smoothing the skin, the operation also tightens the face’s subcutaneous layer of muscles, connective and fatty tissue, the so-called SMAS layer (Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System). At the same time, the neck region is corrected, for example in case of so-called turkey-gobbler neck. This platysmaplasty tightens the neck muscle. Contracted regions are fixed with non-dissolving sutures; the skin is smoothed, then sutured.

Mid-face lift lifts sagging cheek tissue below the lower eyelid, which also corrects pronounced nasolabial folds and drooping corners of the mouth. A mid-face lift is not inclusive of a necklift.

The ActiveLift ™ is more of a “mini lift” and is the least invasive facelift approach. Developed by Dr. Sikorski, the Activelift provides a faster recovery solution in younger Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach and Orange County patients who are not yet true facelift candidates. The ActiveLift utilizes minimal incisions to remove excess skin for tightening and lifting facial contours along with optional fine cannula liposuction of fatty areas. The Activelift does not affect the facial muscles as in a classic SMAS lift. Orange County patients may opt for local anesthesia for the ActiveLift. Learn more about Dr. Sikorski’s ActiveLift.

Patience and Precision – Your face deserves both

Dr. Sikorski completes one side of the face at a time. The exact placement of incisions and the sequence of events depend on your facial structure. Incisions usually begin above the hairline at the temples, extend in a natural line behind the ear and continue behind the earlobe to the lower scalp. If the neck needs further work, a small incision may also be made under the chin to tighten the muscles under the chin. Stitches secure the multiple layers of tissue. Excisions are closed in multiple skin layers so that there is no tension on the skin closure.

The objective in cosmetic surgery is to have as natural a look as possible – and this includes taking the time and patience to create the least possible scar lines.

Note: Dr. Sikorski does not use staples for skin closure. Although this is a common practice for some surgeons, she does not take this “short cut”- which can leave a patient with uneven and excessive scarring.

Facelift Adjunctive and Alternative Procedures

Costs of Cosmetic Surgery

At Natural Image OC in the Orange County area, we maintain a top-level integrated, AAAHC accredited outpatient surgery center. This helps reduce the costs of cosmetic surgery because we are not tied to the additional costs of a satellite surgical center, nor do any “overtime” costs that can accrue from extra surgery time or anesthesiologist fees. In the end, this can save up to 25% over what many surgeries might cost elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a facelift cost?

Well, that depends. Because every patient is unique, each procedure is unique as well. There are several different options for facelift surgery, and only Dr. Sikorski will be able to tell you which one will be best for your case. During your initial consultation, Dr. Sikorski will be able to carefully examine your face, and you will be able to ask her any questions you have about the procedure and explain to her your desired outcome. Once you’ve had this initial appointment, you will be provided with an estimation of costs for your specific procedure.

How long does a facelift procedure take?

On average, a facelift procedure takes between 2 and 4 hours, depending on the type of facelift you are having done and the condition of your skin. If you choose to combine your facelift surgery with another procedure such as a brow lift or neck lift, your surgery time could increase by several hours.

Can’t I get the same results with a non-surgical option?

Not exactly. As we mentioned above, there are several other options you could qualify for that are considered non-surgical; however, the results you receive through a facelift procedure last exponentially longer than the results you get from chemical peels, laser treatments, or injections. Often, men and women in Orange County use these other procedures to slow down the effects of aging and delay their need for a facelift, but most patients eventually realize the results they desire can only come from a facelift.

How long will my recovery process be?

Everyone is different, and every facelift is different, so individual recovery times vary. However, most patients find that they are able to resume their normal daily activities after one or two weeks. Be sure to follow Dr. Sikorski’s detailed post-operative instructions to know how to best care for yourself after a facelift. Dr. Sikorski has performed thousands of procedures in the Orange County area and will use her artist’s touch and a skilled eye to provide you with your ideal look, but if you do not follow your post-op instructions, you could delay your healing and end up with less than perfect results.

At what age should I get a facelift?

Typically, men and women in the Orange County area who are between 40-60 years old consider facelift surgery. This is generally because time and gravity have taken their toll on your skin, and elasticity has been lost, and sagging has increased. However, a facelift can be done for patients in their 70s or 80s as well, depending on their overall health and skin condition.

I had a facelift performed elsewhere, and I’m not happy with the results. Can Dr. Sikorski help me?

Of course! Dr. Sikorski is a recognized expert in skin care and facial surgery. She has over 20 years of experience as a cosmetic surgeon and dermatologist and has high standards for providing her patients with attractive and graceful change. If you have had a negative experience at another practice, she will take great care to be sure you fully understand what realistic results she will be able to provide in order to correct your previous outcome.

Dr. Sikorski HeadshotYour consultation visit

You’ll enjoy a relaxing visit to our office where you can ask questions, meet our staff, take a tour of our office and surgical suite and view additional photo results of our Orange County patients.

Your consultation assessment is with Dr. Sikorski, not an impersonal or commissioned sales person. Fees and procedure preparations are discussed with our patient coordinator, who will detail the surgical experience with you.

We look forward to meeting with you and helping you find the simplest solution to achieve the goals you desire. Contact Dr. Sikorski in the Mission Viejo and Orange County area to schedule a facelift consultation. Call (949) 448-0487.