Facelift & Neck Lift in the Toronto Area

Royal College-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Derek Ford and Dr. Steven Hanna perform facelift and neck lift procedures to address the numerous age-related changes that affect these areas. Wrinkles, lines, loss of volume, and skin and muscle laxity all combine to create the look we associate with an aging face. Face and neck lifts address these concerns in a comprehensive way, one that goes beyond skin tightening. Today’s techniques reshape the face and neck and create a more youthful, streamlined facial contour by tightening the underlying muscles of the face.

A Facelift Specialist

For the best facelift results, it’s important to choose your plastic surgeon in Toronto carefully. Dr. Ford and Dr. Hanna have trained with several of the world’s most renowned pioneers in facial surgery and endoscopic techniques and can offer numerous less-invasive options. Dr. Ford also teaches facelift surgery at the University of Toronto, so he remains at the forefront of research and technology. Our surgeons use a customized approach for each patient, adjusting the details of surgery to create the precise result desired.

Who Is a Good Candidate for a Facelift?

Women and men choose facelift surgery to reduce signs of aging in the lower face and neck, which include:

• Folds, wrinkles, discoloration, and thinning of the skin
• Deepening of natural facial creases, including the tear trough, nasolabial folds, and marionette lines
• Drooping of soft tissue, particularly the lower cheeks and neck
• Loss of volume in the upper two‐thirds of the face, resulting in hollow‐looking cheeks
• Widening of the neck and jawline, resulting in the formation of jowls and neck fullness
• Laxity of the platysma muscle, which creates neck bands

Face and neck lift surgeries are often performed together for more comprehensive results. Fat grafting or filler injections can complement the procedure, as well, by restoring volume to sunken cheeks, hollows around the eyes, and other areas.

What Are the Different Types of Facelifts?

Our surgeons offer many advanced options for facelift surgery, each personalized to the patient’s unique facial anatomy and desired improvements. Options include:

Full Facelift

Also called a complete facelift, the full facelift rejuvenates the lower 2/3 of the face. It provides the most significant rejuvenation while still looking natural. Our surgeons provide long-lasting, natural-looking results by lifting the upper layer of skin as well as the deeper SMAS layer (superficial muscular aponeurotic system), which includes the muscles that control facial expressions. In earlier techniques, only the skin was lifted and tightened during a facelift, not the underlying muscles.

Mini Facelift

This technique, also called a short scar or limited-incision facelift, corrects early signs of aging in the lower face. It does not correct significantly lax skin on the jawline and neck. While recovery is typically shorter than with a full facelift, the correction is not as significant. Nonsurgical procedures such as injectables and laser skin resurfacing can be an alternative for patients who aren’t ready for surgery and are OK with a more subtle rejuvenation.

Our surgeons usually combine the full facelift with a neck lift to address a double chin and other fat deposits on the neck, correct vertical neck banding, and tighten lax skin. Learn more in this blog post.

How Much Does a Facelift Cost in Toronto?

The prices for frequently performed facelift procedures are as follows:

• Facelift and neck lift: $22,500
• Facelift and neck lift with lower blepharoplasty: $30,900
• Facelift and neck lift with upper blepharoplasty: $27,800
• Facelift and neck lift with upper & lower blepharoplasty: $34,850
• Short scar (mini) facelift: $20,000
• Short scar facelift with upper & lower blepharoplasty: $32,350

*Prices exclude taxes

Neck Lift Surgery

When the only concern is neck skin laxity and wrinkling, a neck lift can be performed as a stand-alone procedure. However, most people who experience loose, sagging skin on their necks also have similar aging issues with facial skin, so neck lift surgery is often combined with facelift surgery for comprehensive rejuvenation.

Combining Eyelid Surgery With Your Facelift

Because aging often affects more than the lower face, many patients choose to combine their facelift and neck lift procedures with eyelid surgery. This procedure, which may be performed on the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both, restores a refreshed, more youthful look to the upper face.

• Tightens lax eyelid skin and muscle
• Reduces pockets of fat that develop around the eyes
• Softens puffy under‐eye bags

Together, a facelift, neck lift, and eyelid surgery provide a more comprehensive facial rejuvenation. Your surgeon may also recommend a brow lift to extend the improvements up to the hairline. Combining procedures reduces exposure to anesthetic, overall costs, and recovery time (compared with having each procedure performed separately).

Combining Brow Lift Surgery With Your Facelift

A heavy, drooping brow may accentuate aging in the lower face, causing a grumpy, aged, or tired look. Often called a forehead lift, a brow lift achieves several goals:

• Repositions a heavy brow to a more youthful position
• Restores a younger-looking arch to the eyebrow
• Smooths deep forehead lines

Combining a brow lift with a facelift provides comprehensive results, addressing skin laxity and wrinkling on both the upper and lower parts of the face.

Your Facelift Consultation

Your consultation is an opportunity for your surgeon to get to know you and your expectations to determine the proper course of treatment. He recommends coming to your consultation with old photographs of yourself. With these, he can assess your entire face in different positions, noting natural asymmetries and pre‐existing weakness. Your surgeon may recommend fat grafting to augment a thin face. He may also recommend skin enhancement treatments or products, as a facelift does not address the texture and quality of the skin.

It’s important to identify whether you have a history of high blood pressure or use any medications or supplements that can contribute to bleeding. These factors can cause complications during or after surgery. If you smoke, our surgeons advise you to stop at least 3 weeks before surgery as the habit can impair your body’s natural healing functions and cause excessive scarring. Additionally, hormone replacement therapy can increase the risk of blood clots, so you may also need to temporarily stop those medications at least 3 weeks before surgery.

About Your Facelift Surgery

Our surgeons perform facelift surgery using general anesthesia to ensure patients are safe and comfortable throughout the procedure. In a typical face and neck lift, your surgeon makes an incision around the ears and just behind the hairline. He tightens the underlying muscles, including the deeper layer of the face called the SMAS. This aims to restore a more youthful, heart‐shaped face rather than the square or bottom‐heavy look of the aging face. He removes excess skin in a conservative fashion and avoids creating tension, which can inhibit optimal healing.

Is Facelift Surgery Safe?

Face and neck lift surgeries are complex procedures that require a good deal of expertise and care to perform. However, when performed by a trained professional, such as Dr. Ford or Dr. Hanna, these surgeries are exceedingly safe. By following your surgeon’s care instructions before and after surgery, you can ensure a safe and comfortable process and results that last for years.

How Long Is Recovery From a Facelift?

Patients undergoing a full facelift usually stay overnight for maximum safety and comfort. After your facelift, it’s common to feel a sensation of tightness and itchiness, especially near your incisions. This is normal and will resolve over the course of a few days. Because of the complex vascular structures in the face, bruising and swelling are common. Therefore, while you may feel physically well enough to return to some of your regular activities, you may still feel too self‐conscious to be in social situations. Your surgeon prescribes pain medication and may also provide you with a topical ointment to keep your incisions clean and soft while they heal.

Facelift Recovery Tips

• Have an adult stay with you for at least the first day to help with your meals and hygiene.
• Keep your head upright as much as possible, even while sleeping, for the first 2 weeks.
• Get plenty of rest to give yourself time to heal.
• Avoid bending, heavy lifting, and strenuous exercise for at least 2 weeks.

As you heal, your surgeon will advise you on gradually resuming exercise, work, and daily activities.

Dr. Ford and Dr. Hanna use a customized approach for each patient, adjusting the details of surgery to create the precise result desired.

Face & Neck Lift After Care

Those recovering from face or neck lift surgery can benefit from a few specialized recovery tips. Below are some suggestions we offer to our patients.

Post-Surgery

• Elevate your head and shoulders at 45 degrees when in bed. Move your ankles and knees while resting to reduce your risk of post-operative blood clots from developing in the deep veins in your legs.
• Apply a refrigerated moist washcloth to your face to reduce swelling for the first 72 hours following surgery. Direct ice-to-skin is discouraged as this may injure your skin.
• Please shower with soap and water. Wash with shampoo daily while at home.
• Wear loose-fitting clothing that does not pull over your head. Avoid turtlenecks or tight scarves as they may compromise the blood supply to your surgical sites.
• The skin of your face is sensitive to sunlight after surgery. Protect your facial skin from excessive exposure by wearing a wide brim hat and sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher with UVA and UVB protection).
• Cosmetics may be applied once the sutures have been removed, typically 10 days following surgery. This can include foundation or concealer to camouflage any bruising that may persist for 2 to 3 weeks post-surgery.
• Your face and neck will temporarily feel tight but not necessarily look tight. There will be a feeling of numbness in your face and neck for a few weeks to months after surgery. This is normal, and the tight feeling and numbness will disappear over time.
• It is important to follow up with your surgeon following your surgery. He will see you in a follow-up meeting at 1 week, 3 to 6 weeks, 3 to 6 months, and 1 year post-surgery. Please call (416) 925-7337 to schedule your appointments at either of our Toronto or Oshawa locations.

Things To Avoid

• Avoid flexing your neck for the first 2 weeks.
• Avoid turning your head to either side as this will pull on the stitch lines. To turn, move your head and shoulders as a unit.
• Facial movements such as smiling and yawning should be kept to a minimum during the first week following surgery.
• Avoid using a curling iron for your hair, as the skin on your face will be sensitive and contact could result in a burn.
• Avoid colouring your hair for at least 3 weeks after surgery.
• When drying your hair with a blow dryer, use a cool air setting.
• Do not use hairspray, conditioner, or hair gels while your stitches and clips are in place. Wash your face gently, and when using a moisturizer be careful to keep away from the stitch lines.

Scar Care

• Apply a silicone cream (Kelo-cote) to your incisions twice daily (morning and night) starting at 6 weeks post-surgery and for a period of 3 to 6 months.
• Massage your scars before the application of Kelo-cote twice daily.
• Apply SPF 30 or greater to protect scars when outdoors. Wear a hat or keep your hair down to minimize the risk of scar hyperpigmentation.
• Use ZO Skin Health products to further reduce hyperpigmentation and improve skin quality following surgery. Kelo-cote and ZO Skin Health products may be purchased from Ford Plastic Surgery.

Emergencies

Call your healthcare provider or the ER if you experience any of the following symptoms after surgery.

• Pain levels not relieved by pain medication
• Acute onset of swelling on one side of your face or neck, significantly more pronounced than the other side
• A fever (temperature greater than 38.5°C), redness, or increased pain at the site of your surgical incisons
• Swelling and pain in your calves
• Acute chest pain or shortness of breath
• Nausea, vomiting, rash, shortness of breath, or diarrhea after taking your medication
• Nausea and vomiting that prevents you from drinking or eating

Facelift & Neck Lift FAQ

If you are interested in a neck or facelift, request a consultation online with one of our surgeons, or call our Toronto office at  (416) 925-7337 or our Oshawa office at  (905) 743-9888 to schedule your appointment.