Facelift (Rhytidectomy)

San Francisco Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgery in Walnut Creek, CA

San Francisco Bay Area Facelift (Rhytidectomy) Surgery by Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Joseph A. Mele, MD, FACS, in Walnut Creek, CA

The Natural Facelift (Rhytidectomy)

Factors such as aging, sun exposure, and smoking can cause facial wrinkling, sagging, and loss of elasticity. For many, such damage can result in an outward appearance that does not match how we feel inside. Using his skill and artistry, Joseph A. Mele, MD, FACS is a San Francisco Bay Area facelift surgeon who can improve the signs of aging and provide you with natural-looking results. At his practice in Walnut Creek, California, facelift patients anticipate beautiful outcomes and a rewarding experience.

Facelift - Before and After

Facelift (Rhytidectomy) Before and After Photos

Facelift Before and After Photos illustrate the natural rejuvenation that can be accomplished.

  • Before the facelift the appearance is TIRED:
    • The cheeks are flattened
    • Indistinct definition between the face, neck and chin
    • Relaxed mid-face (longer lower eyelid and sagging cheeks)
    • Elongated nasolabial folds and marionette lines (extending from nose to chin)
    • Detached and droopy neck skin
  • After the facelift the face looks RESTED:
    • Reduced Nasolabial Folds and Marionette Lines
    • Elevation of the cheek
    • Sub-mental definition restored (the angle between the neck and chin)
    • Tightening of the loose neck skin (turkey neck)
    • Enhanced definition of the jawline
    • Definition of the border between the face and neck is restored

Rhytidectomy (Facelift) Presentation

Facelift procedures can reduce those aging wrinkles, tone and tighten the skin, and produce a rejuvenated, more youthful appearance. Our face lift patients throughout the San Francisco Bay Area are amazed when they see what can be accomplished at the hands of an exceptional cosmetic surgeon.

Click to Watch a Facelift Presentation (Rhytidectomy)

The Face Lift (Rhytidectomy) Procedure

The Face lift can be accomplished using a variety of techniques. The facelift method is not as important as the care used in choosing the method. Most techniques share many aspects, and there is a large amount of overlap. In general, an incision can be made along the hairline or around ears. Once the incision is made, Dr. Mele will remove excess fat and skin, reposition the remaining skin, and close the incision.

Facelift surgery usually incorporates a Neck Lift, during which a small incision is made under the chin to repair and tighten the neck muscles. The main muscle tightened in the neck is called the platysma, so the procedure is also called a platysmaplasty. This forms an internal corset in the anterior neck to support the internal structures, and removes tension from the skin to give a smooth, natural and longer lasting result.

Facelift Videos

Combining Other Facial Surgery with Facelifts

Maintaining facial harmony is paramount in maintaining beautiful results. If the primary areas of concern are the lower face and neck, a Facelift/Necklift alone can provide meaningful improvement. However, if the upper eyelids are drooping, a Facelift, by relieving the distraction of the lower face and neck, unbalances facial harmony. This can make the aging upper eyelid more apparent, detracting from the overall facial improvement.

The most frequently combined facial cosmetic surgery procedures are:

  • Eyelid lift (Blepharoplasty) - to remove excess upper eyelid skin and lower eyelid bags
  • Endoscopic Brow lift or Open Browlift - to elevate the brow, reduce frown lines and transverse forehead wrinkles
  • Dermal grafting - to reduce the nasolabial folds and marionette lines, or augment the lips
  • Chemical peel - for the lines around the mouth
  • Nasal reshaping surgery (Rhinoplasty) Nose Job - to smooth a dorsal hump, improve the profile or thin a wide nose
  • Facial augmentation - Chin augmentation, Cheek augmentation or Lip Augmentation

Facelift and Eyelid Lift Before and After Photos

Facelift (Rhytidectomy) and Eyelid Lift (Blepharoplasty) Before and After Photos

Combining the Facelift with with Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) complements the final results. The lower face and neck are smoothed, the excess upper eyelid skin has been removed, opening up the eyes and the lower eyelid bags are smoothed.

The Mini Facelift (Mini Rhytidectomy)

Every face is different, and individual needs will vary. For less dramatic changes, a mini-facelift will be sufficient. For others, a full facelift is the only option for getting the expected results. Mini-facelifts are not full facelifts so the benefits of a shorter scar and shorter recovery are balanced by less dramatic results and a shorter duration of results.

For more information about Mini Facelifts please visit our Mini Facelift Page

Mini Facelift procedure

Schedule a Face Lift Procedure

Dr. Mele is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and the American Board of Surgery (ABS), as well as a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). He has published articles on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery and has presented his research at national, state, and local plastic surgery conferences. If you are interested in cosmetic surgery, our San Francisco Bay Area facelift surgeon can help you achieve pleasing results, while providing you with excellent patient care.

If you are interested in cosmetic surgery in the Walnut Creek area, please contact San Francisco Bay Area Facelift professional and Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Mele by calling (925) 943-6353. You may also ask a question by filling out our contact form.