Facelift and neck lift

Operating time

4 to 6 hours

Anesthesia

General anesthesia

After surgery

Overnight nurse, home next morning

Back to desk work

2 weeks

Exercise

Light exercise at 4 weeks

Final result

6 to 12 months

How Dr. Marsh approaches it

Dr. Marsh performs a deep-plane facelift in nearly every case. Releasing and repositioning the SMAS and platysma, rather than tightening skin over them, is why the results look rested rather than pulled, and why they last. Incisions are planned around the ear and into the hairline so that hair can be worn up. The neck is almost always addressed at the same time; a face that is lifted above an untreated neck reads as unfinished.

Usually a good candidate

• Jowls and a softened jawline
• Loose neck skin and bands
• Deep folds beside the mouth
• A tired look that fillers no longer solve

What we will discuss honestly

• Smoking must stop six weeks before and after
• Blood pressure and bleeding risk are reviewed carefully
• Expect two weeks of visible bruising and swelling
• Numbness around the ears and neck can last months
• Every operation carries risks of bleeding, infection, scarring, anesthesia complications, and the need for revision. They are specific to you and are reviewed in writing before you consent.

How long it lasts

8 to 12 years. Ageing continues; the operation resets the clock rather than stopping it. Weight stability, sun protection, and not smoking are the three things that most protect a result.

The path

1. Consultation. Ninety minutes with Dr. Marsh. Measurements, photographs, simulation where relevant, and a written plan with the complete fee. $250, credited toward surgery.
2. Pre-operative visit. Two weeks before: labs, medical clearance where needed, consent, prescriptions, and the plan reviewed once more.
3. Surgery. In an accredited surgery center with a board-certified anesthesiologist. Overnight nurse, home next morning.
4. Follow-up. Day one or two, one week, two weeks, six weeks, three months, six months, and a year. All included.