Facelift Plastic Surgeon Serving San Diego County

Which Facelift Approach Fits You Best?

Facial aging is more than skin deep—it’s a gradual transformation that affects the contours, support structures, and volume beneath the surface. Dr. D’Souza takes a holistic, precision-based approach to facial surgery, offering a full range of facelift techniques tailored to your specific anatomy and goals. From subtle enhancements to comprehensive lifting procedures, his work is designed to restore balance, definition, and confidence—never the “done” look.

A facelift is a surgical procedure that improves visible signs of facial wrinkles and sagging skin by tightening the underlying facial tissues (SMAS). The procedure also removes excess skin from the face to create a more rejuvenated facial structure. The facelift adds volume to the face in areas where aging has caused loss of fullness and can also lift lax tissues to a more aesthetic and youthful position. Dr. D’Souza performed over 130 facelifts during his year at the renowned Cleveland Clinic and his expertise will give you a refreshed and natural look.

A deep plane facelift is a surgical procedure performed to address signs of aging in the face and neck. It is a more advanced technique compared to traditional facelift procedures. During a deep plane facelift, the surgeon repositions and lifts the deeper layers of facial tissues, including the muscles and fat pads, to achieve a more natural and long-lasting result. This technique allows for a more comprehensive rejuvenation of the midface, jawline, and neck areas. By addressing the deeper layers, a deep plane facelift can provide improved contouring and a more youthful appearance.

A mini facelift is a less invasive surgical procedure designed to address mild to moderate signs of aging in the lower face and neck. It is a shorter and less extensive version of a traditional facelift. During a mini facelift, smaller incisions are made, typically around the ears, and the underlying tissues are tightened and repositioned to improve facial contours and reduce sagging. This procedure focuses on the lower face, including the jawline and jowls, and may also address the neck area. A mini facelift generally has a shorter recovery time and less scarring compared to a traditional facelift. However, it is important to note that the results of a mini facelift may not be as dramatic or long-lasting as those of a full facelift.

The neck begins to sag with age as supportive tissues deteriorate. Many patients have concerns with loose skin on their neck – “turkey neck” – as well as the jaw line. A neck lift is a surgical procedure that enhances the appearance of the neck by tightening the skin and underlying muscles (platysma bands) and smoothing out the contour of the jawline. During a neck lift, Dr. D’Souza will make incisions either behind the ears or under the chin to access and tighten the underlying muscles and tissues. Excess fat may be removed through liposuction, and any loose or sagging skin may be trimmed or repositioned. The goal of a neck lift is to create a more defined and youthful neck contour.

What do I need to know about facelift surgery?

It’s important to have realistic expectations about what you will look like after a facelift. Understanding that there will be a few weeks of downtime is important so you can plan to accommodate any leave of absence from prior commitments. There are also many factors that can influence your facelift recovery time. Your age, health status, nutritional habits, the skill of the surgeon, and the quality of your post-operative care.

The procedure improves lines, wrinkles, folds and lax skin and muscle. Facelifts can be performed in conjunction with any of the following facial procedures to maximize results.

What to expect during the facelift procedure

The facelift is performed in the operating room. The incision is hidden in the hairline and behind the ears. All incisions will be discussed in detail with you before starting the procedure. To safely provide you with the best results an anesthesiologist will administer anesthesia during the procedure. Following the inducement of anesthesia, the incision will be made and the tissue under the skin is tightened. The skin is then resected and your incisions are carefully closed. Depending on your needs, Dr. D’Souza can perform other procedures at the same time of your facelift such as a brow lift, eyelid surgery, neck lift, chin implants or fat grafting. Overall the procedure can take anywhere from 4-6 hours. We will leave small drains in the neck for about a week after the procedure.

What to expect after the facelift procedure

After the facelift, the incision site will likely be covered with medical bandages that provide gentle pressure to help minimize any swelling and bruising. All bandages will be removed the following day and you will be asked to start showering in 24 hours. You will be asked to stay at our adjoining hotel or nearby for the first night. You will be bruised and swollen for approximately 1-2 weeks but most people can resume normal activities around the house in 3-4 days. Pain and discomfort can be controlled with medication during your recovery period. The scars heal amazingly well and are nicely hidden behind the ear or with hair.

Am I a Good Candidate for a Facelift?

A facelift can be an effective method to improve appearance and boost self-confidence, however, it is not for everyone. Scheduling a consultation is important because the medical personnel you will be speaking with will advise you if you’re a good candidate for a facelift, or if an alternate procedure would best be suited. The best facelift candidates share one of the following factors:

Lax skin in your midface and/or jawline
Marionette lines (lines extending from each corner of your mouth down to the chin)
Jowls (sagging and loss of muscle tone in the lower face)
Deep folds near your nose
Deflation downward descent of volume in your cheeks

If you would like more information about our facelift procedure, please reach out to our Carlsbad plastic surgery office for a consultation. Iconic Plastic Surgery proudly serves Carlsbad, Vista, Oceanside and areas north of San Diego, CA.

Disclaimer: The information throughout this plastic surgery website is not intended to be taken as medical advice. The information provided by Dr D’Souza and Iconic Plastic Surgery in Carlsbad, CA is intended to provide general information regarding surgical and aesthetic cosmetic treatments for residents of Carlsbad, Oceanside, Encinitas, San Marcos, Vista and all nearby areas in California. Please contact us if you are interested in finding out more about our highly trained plastic surgeon or any of our procedures and treatments offered.

Facelift & Neck Lift Surgery

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Types of Facelifts

Traditional Facelift

Deep Plane Facelift

Mini Facelift

Neck lift

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