Feel confident and rejuvenated with a facelift procedure that enhances your natural beauty and restores a youthful appearance.
Procedure Summary
A facelift is a cosmetic procedure that reduces the appearance of facial wrinkles, sagging skin, and other signs of aging.
Average Cost
$25,000-30,000
Time Duration
2-4 hours
Alternate Names
Rhytidectomy, Facial Rejuvenation Surgery
These before and after images are from actual patients of Dr. James Lacey. They help you understand your options and set realistic goals for your surgery.
A facelift almost always includes the neck focusing on a smooth jawline. It is a surgical procedure that reduces the visible signs of aging in the face and neck. It involves the removal of excess skin, tightening of underlying tissues, and redraping the skin on the face and neck. My goal is an unoperated look that looks natural but refreshed. I will often ask for older photos of the patient to assist in planning and expectation. Many people choose this procedure because it helps with:
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The goal is to provide a more youthful and rested appearance, with natural-looking results:
A facelift can provide numerous aesthetic benefits. The procedure can:
There are also emotional and psychological effects from feeling more confident in your appearance at work and play.
Ideal candidates for this procedure are in good overall health, with no medical conditions that could impair healing, are non-smokers or are willing to quit before and after the surgery and have realistic expectations about the outcomes of the procedure and understand the limitations.
This is not to say I refuse to operate on a smoker, or a diabetic, or someone with a previous blood clot. All candidates are individually assessed and I have done many facelifts on diabetics, smokers or those with other risks when they are otherwise healthy and consent to the risks.
Facelifts can be described by their incision or dissection layer. Dr. James Lacey has experience with both classic and mini facelifts, and he chooses the method based on your needs.
The incision in front of the ear is behind the tragus of the ear or hidden in the skin fold in front an extends below the sideburn to the border of the temporal hairline and skin. This minimizes hair displacement and avoids an operated look. It also extends behind the ear and onto the posterior scalp to lift and tighten the neck.
This can involve smaller incisions, typically confined to the skin around the ears and is ideal if you need mostly skin work and less correction of sagging tissues.
Almost always combined with a facelift, this incision is made around the ear and extends into the hairline to address the jawline. Occasionally, an incision is also added under the chin to address sagging in the neck area (excess fat or platysma banding etc).
This layer involves lifting the skin only (subcutaneous face and neck lift).
This deeper layer (deep plane) involves lifting or tightening the fat (SMAS) of the face. This can also extend to the muscle (platysma) of the neck. Specifically, with Dr Lacey: SMAS plication or SMASectomy; think minimal SMAS work (mini SMAS facelift). Deep plane with high SMAS fixation to deep temporal fascia (classic high SMAS face lift). Split SMAS flap posterior to ear to deep cervical fascia (classic face with neck lift) Posterior platysmaplasty for cervical (neck) tightening
Some surgeons, more recently, have coined this a preservation facelift. Dr. Lacey has been lifting skin and SMAS together in a single layer for 15 years. Portions of the cheek and neck are lifted with these two tissues attached (composite) and not separated. This technique is especially safe for smokers or diabetics and provides effective correction without a pulled look.
A Full-Face procedure involves combining a brow lift with a facelift and may also include eyelid surgery. This comprehensive procedure takes 6 hours and is performed under a single general anesthesia. You will stay overnight in our fully accredited surgical clinic, a unique facility in Ottawa, with two nurses. Only 7-10 days off work are needed for recovery, regardless of whether the face, brow, or eyelids are done together or separately.
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This facelift is a comprehensive permanent procedure that addresses signs of aging in the cheeks, jowls, jawline and neck. This is the most performed surgical rejuvenation of the face and neck and is thus my workhorse. It involves incisions around ears and extending to the hairline, allowing Dr. Lacey to reposition deeper facial tissues and remove excess skin. By lifting and tightening the underlying muscle and fat layers, a classic facelift provides a more dramatic and long-lasting rejuvenation and always includes the neck.
A mini facelift is a less invasive procedure that tackles early (or minimal) signs of aging, particularly in the face and jawline (but less so of the neck). It is more affordable and should involve some type of SMAS tightening or lift of the cheek to smooth the jawline. The surgery involves smaller incisions, typically around the ears, which allows for minimal scarring and a quicker recovery time. The mini facelift is perfect for those with mild to moderate signs of aging or people looking for a more natural result without the need for extensive surgery.
A mid-facelift focuses on rejuvenating the middle part of the face, particularly the cheeks and areas around the nose. This procedure targets sagging skin, loss of volume, and deep nasolabial folds that develop with age. Dr. Lacey will typically make incisions along the hairline or inside the mouth to lift and reposition the underlying tissues and fat pads of the cheeks. By elevating these structures, the mid-facelift restores youthful contours and adds volume to the midface. Dr Lacey has lots of experience placing cheek implants to permanently restore and lift the cheeks and midface.
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The cost of a facelift varies depending on the extent of the procedure and your specific needs. Generally, a facelift starts around $12000. To get a precise estimate, schedule a consultation with Dr. James Lacey. He'll create a personalized treatment plan based on your goals and discuss the associated costs. You can also visit our page for third-party financial services that help make your desired facial rejuvenation more accessible.
A facelift procedure cannot:
First things first, an initial consultation with Dr. James Lacey is necessary to discuss your medical history, current medications, and cosmetic goals. Dr. Lacey will examine your facial structure and underlying skin excess and fat sagging. This is to determine the best surgical approach (subcutaneous, mini (think minimal SMAS) or classic (full SMAS) that meets your goals, is safe and gives a predictable result. This will detail whether your facelift will also include an ancillary procedure such as brow lift (becoming a full-face procedure), fat grafting, liposculpture with J-Plasma, or eyelids, while still allowing for a single recovery.
At the in person (or virtual) pre-op you will meet with Dr Lacey again to identify important concerns or priorities particular to you. You will also meet with a member of the nursing team for your pre-op history and physical, before photos (then after!) and to provide you with detailed pre and post-operative instructions. Feel free to ask any questions you may have about the procedure.
He’ll also take before-and-after photos and provide you with detailed post-operative instructions. Feel free to ask any questions you may have about the procedure.
Once you’re briefed and prepared for the facelift, the following are the steps to expect during the surgery:
If a classic facelift you will be administered general anesthesia by an anesthesiologist to ensure your experience is as comfortable and painless as possible. If subcutaneous or mini, Dr Lacey and you will choose either wide-awake local anesthesia, or general anesthesia depending on your preferences and general health.
Once you are asleep or sedated, Dr. Lacey will make the necessary incisions. These are typically placed in natural skin folds to minimize the appearance of scars post-healing. Next, he will lift and tighten the underlying muscles and tissues, remove excess skin, and re-drape the skin. Lastly, he will close the incisions with sutures over a drain.
After surgery, you will be monitored in a recovery room until you are stable and ready to go home or stay the night (the Ritz Carleton experience!) Surgical drains may be placed to promote the removal of excess fluid and removed the next morning. There is no big fancy dressing as the modern approach is to be able to easily monitor the skin and tissues during the acute healing phase. A simple chin strap is usually placed the next morning after drain removal.
The surgery is typically an outpatient procedure, so you will need someone to drive you home and stay with you for the first 24-48 hours. It is crucial to rest and allow your body to heal immediately after the procedure. You may experience swelling, bruising, and discomfort, which can be managed with prescribed medications and homeopathic arnica montana.
Follow-up care begins one week after surgery when sutures are removed. Regular follow-up visits with Dr. Lacey will ensure proper healing and address any concerns. This initial period is also when you will be able to go out in 2-3 days, wearing sunglasses and a high collar or scarf to protect the healing areas.
Recovery will take 7-10 days, depending on your tendency to bruise and swell. Prescribed painkillers are usually only necessary for the first few days, as this is not a particularly painful procedure. Mild asymmetry that only you or Dr. Lacey may notice is possible, and is often present before surgery. Most people can apply some cover-up makeup if necessary and return to regular work within 10 days.
Full recovery can take several weeks to months. It’s important to follow post-operative care instructions, avoid strenuous activities, and protect your skin from the sun. Most people feel comfortable being out in public after two weeks, though bruising and swelling can take longer to fade completely. Roughly four weeks after surgery, you’ll be able to return to your regular routine.
Immediately after surgery, you’ll experience some swelling and bruising, which will gradually subside over several weeks. However, the full effects of your facelift, including improved skin tone and texture, will become apparent over time. It may take several months for the final results to become visible.
Other procedures that complement facelift include:
Like any surgical procedure, a facelift carries potential risks. While complications are rare, it’s important to be informed. Potential risks include:
Choosing an experienced and board-certified surgeon like Dr. James Lacey and following all pre- and post-operative instructions can help minimize these risks.
If you’re not ready for surgery, then no worries. At Kanata Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, we offer tons of non-surgical options to help you achieve a more youthful appearance without going under the knife. Although the duration of the results achieved from non-surgical varies.
Dermal fillers are injectable treatments used to restore volume, smooth wrinkles, and enhance facial contours. Plus, they add fullness to areas like the cheeks, lips, and under-eye regions. Fillers provide immediate results with minimal downtime. They are ideal if you’re looking for enhancements or for those who want to delay more invasive procedures.
Botox is a popular injectable treatment that temporarily reduces the appearance of fine lines by relaxing the underlying muscles. It works by blocking nerve signals that cause muscle contractions, which smooths out wrinkles in areas such as the forehead, between the brows, and around the eyes. The results typically last 3-6 months, after which maintenance treatments are needed to sustain the effects.
A thread lift is a minimally invasive procedure that uses absorbable sutures to lift and tighten sagging skin. Threads are inserted under the skin through small entry points, where they are then pulled to create a lifting effect. This technique not only provides immediate tightening but also stimulates collagen production for longer-lasting results.
Why Cosmetic Fillers Might be Right For You Cosmetic fillers are a non–surgical type of cosmetic treatment used for facial rejuvenation and enhancing overall facial
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