Facelift (Rhytidectomy)

Consultations offered at our two convenient locations in Manhattan, NY and Queens, NY

Facelift (Rhytidectomy) The Everett Clinic Dr. Marc Everett Dr. Ruya Zhao

A facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure designed to address signs of aging in the face by restoring a more youthful-looking appearance. This procedure repositions and adjusts the underlying soft tissues, muscles, and skin of the face and neck to address sagging skin, deep folds, creases, and jowls. (1)

The Everett Clinic, led by board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Marc Everett, is one of New York’s leading practices. Our facelift procedures are performed by Dr. Ruya Zhao, a board-eligible plastic and reconstructive surgeon who specializes in breast, body, and facial aesthetic surgery. She has worked alongside some of the top facial aesthetic surgeons in both New York City and Seoul, Korea.

If you are ready to schedule your consultation and learn more about your facelift options, please submit our online contact form. To schedule a consultation over the phone, call (212) 774-7715 to reach either of our New York City locations.

About Facelifts

A facelift is one of the most powerful procedures to rejuvenate a patient’s face and neck. Our faces are composed of layers of skin, fat, muscle, and connective tissue. Over time, aging, lifestyle habits, and environmental factors can cause facial structures to sag and the skin to lose its elasticity. (2) While injectables like Botox and fillers and minor surgical procedures like threads can provide temporary improvement to facial rejuvenation, a facelift is the most comprehensive and long-lasting solution. Facelifts lift the deeper facial layers (the SMAS, Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System, and platysma) and remove and reposition sagging tissues to restore a more youthful, revitalized appearance.

Benefits

Facelifts offer numerous benefits, contributing to improvements in physical appearance and self-esteem, which also help to boost overall quality of life. Our patients see advantages through:

  • Youthful-Looking Appearance: A facelift can make patients look significantly younger without looking overdone by repositioning the deeper facial structures and trimming excess skin and tissue. The repositioning also improves the appearance of deep folds around the mouth (nasolabial folds).
  • Skin Tightening: This procedure tightens the facial and neck skin to restore a smoother and tighter appearance while also enhancing each patient’s facial contours.
  • Defined Jawline: A facelift can sharpen the appearance of one’s jawline by diminishing sagging and tightening the SMAS and platysma.
  • Long-Lasting Results: Unlike non-surgical treatments, the results of a facelift are designed to be long-lasting and stable.
  • Increased Confidence: Many patients feel more secure and confident in their appearance after a facelift.
  • Tailored Procedure Plans: Dr. Zhao customizes each facelift procedure to address each patient’s unique facial features, goals, and concerns.

Candidates

Each individual has different concerns and reasons for undergoing a facelift. Many patients opt for this procedure to address the appearance of wrinkles, loose skin, or hollowed or sunken cheeks to restore a more youthful-looking appearance. Candidates often have jowls or significant ptosis around the neck, as a facelift is very commonly performed alongside a neck lift.

Facelift candidates are typically between the ages of 40 and 65 years old. (3) However, there is no ‘best’ age for a facelift. More and more patients are opting to undergo a face and neck lift at an earlier age to achieve more natural and long-lasting improvement. The recent rise of GLP-1 agonists has increased the popularity of facelifts as the rapid weight loss leads to loss of skin elasticity and a sunken ‘Ozempic face’. Any patient who wishes to address signs of aging around the face and neck is encouraged to attend a facelift consultation.

Candidates should be generally healthy and hold realistic expectations regarding the outcome of their procedure.

Personal Consultation

Before a facelift procedure, patients attend a personal consultation, or a one-on-one meeting with Dr. Zhao to discuss the details of their procedure. She will ask about medical history, current medications, and concerns, as well as the desired treatment outcomes. She will also evaluate facial anatomy and the condition of the skin.

Dr. Zhao will recommend the most effective surgical strategies for each patient’s goals. Each patient’s treatment plan will be tailored to their unique anatomy and aesthetic preferences.

If you are ready to schedule your personal consultation, we encourage you to submit our online contact form. For those who wish to schedule a consultation over the phone, The Everett Clinic can be reached at (212) 774-7715.

Preparation

To prepare for a facelift, Dr. Zhao will provide detailed instructions to each patient that cater to their specific medical history and treatment plan. Patients will likely be advised to avoid certain blood-thinning medications and supplements. Transportation home from the procedure should be arranged, and any necessary prescriptions should be filled in advance. If applicable, nicotine use should be ceased completely before the procedure and avoided throughout recovery. Any further instructions will be discussed with Dr. Zhao.

Procedure

Facelifts and necklifts are performed on an outpatient basis, usually lasting between two and five hours. The procedure time will vary between patients, depending on the extent of correction and techniques employed.

Facelift

Our facelift procedure begins with the administration of either general anesthesia or local anesthesia with intravenous sedation. Dr. Zhao will place incisions around the ears, temple, and hairline to access underlying structures while minimizing scar visibility. The number of incisions will depend on the areas being addressed, as well as the extent of correction. The incisions usually heal well and are well-hidden so as not to be noticeable at conversational distance. Through these incisions, she will tighten the underlying facial structures to help restore a smoother, more youthful-looking appearance.

Neck Lift

A neck lift is often performed alongside a facelift to address neck banding, bulging fat, excess skin, and jowling around the lower face, jaw, and neck. Dr. Zhao may use liposuction to remove fat from around the jaw and neck. Dr. Zhao will tighten the underlying muscles of the neck and remove excess skin to create a smoother neck appearance. After achieving the desired results, Dr. Zhao will close the incisions and apply the dressings.

Adjunct Procedures

Face and neck lifts are often combined with other procedures, as we lose skin elasticity and volume when we age. Dr. Zhao will discuss possible combining procedures with browlift, blepharoplasty, fat grafting, and skin resurfacing in the consultation. In patients with limited donor sites for fat grafting, she may also use alloClae, a revolutionary fat injectable, to restore facial volume.

Recovery

Patients can expect their recovery to last between two and four weeks. Common recovery symptoms include swelling, bruising, and feelings of tightness; however, these effects often subside on their own. During this time, we recommend that each patient rest with their head elevated to help minimize swelling and mitigate discomfort with prescribed pain medications.

Most patients find that they can return to work within ten days, depending on the nature of the job. High-impact and physical activities may gradually be resumed over six weeks, or with approval from Dr. Zhao.

Results

Facelift (Rhytidectomy) The Everett Clinic Dr. Marc Everett Dr. Ruya Zhao

A facelift can make one look younger by tightening the deeper facial structures, removing skin, and sculpting a more youthful look. Facelift results are designed to last, offering improvements for several years. Scarring typically fades, becoming less noticeable over time as it blends with the surrounding skin. Dr. Zhao will discuss what results you can expect after learning more about your goals and concerns during your personal consultation.

How Much Does a Facelift Cost in New York City?

Each facelift procedure is tailored to address the anatomy and concerns of each individual, meaning pricing will vary. Our team considers multiple factors, such as the surgical techniques employed, the extent of correction, and whether or not additional procedures are being performed simultaneously. Dr. Zhao will discuss the cost of each patient’s facelift once their procedure plan has been established.

To receive an estimated quote for your facelift, please schedule your personal consultation by submitting our online contact form or calling (212) 774-7715.

FAQ

How long will the results of a facelift last?

The results of a facelift can vary depending on several factors, such as each patient’s skin quality, age, lifestyle habits, and the surgical techniques used. Facelifts are designed to have long-lasting results that can last from 10-15 years.

Who is too young for a facelift?

There is no ‘best’ age to receive a facelift. However, the majority of patients who undergo a facelift are between the ages of 40-6. Age is not the deciding factor for whether or not a patient qualifies for a facelift. Dr. Zhao will determine each patient’s candidacy based on their concerns, skin quality, and ability to recover safely.

What is the difference between a facelift and a necklift?

A facelift is designed to help address descended midface volume, deep nasolabial fold, and loose or hanging skin from the face, while a necklift is designed to improve the appearance and contours of the jaw and neck. These procedures are typically performed during the same appointment, as the face and neck age together.

Will there be any obvious scarring after my facelift?

Although incisions are made during the facelift process, Dr. Zhao carefully places them to ensure they are well-concealed and discreet. Over time, scarring tends to fade significantly until barely noticeable.

Is it safe to get a facelift?

As with any procedure, there are inherent risks to undergoing a facelift. These risks are significantly minimized when being performed by an expert surgeon. We recommend discussing any concerns with Dr. Zhao during your personal consultation.

Is it possible to combine other cosmetic procedures with my facelift?

Yes, we can perform several procedures simultaneously to enhance the overall results. Many patients choose to include an eyelid lift or brow lift in their treatment plan to address the upper face. For personalized suggestions and further information, we recommend scheduling a personal consultation.

References

  1. Yang AJ, Hohman MH. Rhytidectomy. PubMed. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564338/
  2. Farkas JP, Pessa JE, Hubbard B, Rohrich RJ. The Science and Theory behind Facial Aging. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open. 2013;1(1):1-8. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0b013e31828ed1da
  3. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. 2024 Plastic Surgery Statistics. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Published June 2025. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/news/statistics/2024/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2024.pdf