Face Lift
Consultations offered at our two convenient locations in La Jolla and Carmel Valley, San Diego
A facelift is a surgical procedure that can restore a more youthful-looking appearance by elevating and tightening your facial skin, soft tissues, and muscles. (1)
Over time, internal and external factors can affect the appearance and composition of your face. You can develop fine lines and wrinkles, your skin may start to sag, and you may lose natural volume. Although these effects are completely natural, they often create a gaunt or tired appearance. With a facelift, you can rejuvenate your appearance and achieve a look that aligns with your youthful vitality.
Dr. Daniel Brown is a board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 20 years of experience. Dr. Brown is known for providing individualized, compassionate care and is truly committed to helping each of his patients improve their confidence.
If you are ready to meet with Dr. Brown and learn more about how you may benefit from a facelift, we invite you to request a consultation online. You may also call (619) 461-1500 to reach both our Carmel Valley and La Jolla offices.
Contents
Before and After Photos
About Facelifts
A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is one of the most effective ways to renew a youthful visage. It achieves results by elevating facial muscles, repositioning soft tissues, excising excess skin, and redistributing or removing facial fat.
Dr. Brown can perform several different variations of facelifts. Each one targets different regions of the face and severity of concerns, yet all deliver refreshed, natural-looking results. Depending on your case, he may also combine several techniques in one procedure to fully achieve your goals.
SMAS Facelift
The SMAS facelift is Dr. Brown’s preferred technique. It targets the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, the layer of fibrous tissue that connects your facial muscles and skin. (2) With this method, he is better able to correct loose, sagging skin, as well as the muscles beneath that have started to weaken and affect the natural appearance of the face.
Lower Facelift
A lower facelift is a technique that can address visible signs of aging around the lower face and mouth. It is ideal when addressing jowls, sagging skin, or deepening folds, lines, and creases around the lower face. In certain cases, Dr. Brown may even use it to lift the corners of the mouth for a less stern appearance.
Midface Lift
The midface lift allows Dr. Brown to restore a more youthful-looking appearance around the eyes, nose, cheeks, and corners of your mouth. It is highly effective at correcting the appearance of descending facial fat, deepening nasolabial folds, skin laxity, and more. (3)
Candidates
Patients may choose to undergo a facelift for a myriad of reasons, with many seeking to address visible signs of aging such as:
- Lax or Sagging Skin
- Jowling
- Facial Volume Loss
- Wrinkles
- Poorly-Defined Features
- Descending Facial Fat
Prospective patients should be in good general health and hold realistic expectations regarding their results. They should also be non-smokers or willing to quit using nicotine. Dr. Brown will assess each patient’s candidacy during their personal consultation.
Personal Consultation
Before you undergo your facelift, you will need to attend a personal consultation at either our Carmel Valley or La Jolla office. During this visit, Dr. Brown will meet with you to talk about your procedure. He will review your medical history, ask about your concerns, learn more about your desired aesthetic, and perform a physical examination. He will then provide a personalized solution based on your skin quality, facial fat distribution, and signs of aging.
At the time of your consultation, Dr. Brown will discuss what you can expect from your procedure and answer any questions you may have. He will explain the preparation process, how he performs the procedure, and what recovery looks like. If you are interested in any other procedures, Dr. Brown will also take time during your meeting to talk about them.
The first step to refreshing your appearance is scheduling this consultation! We invite you to either contact us online or call (619) 461-1500 to reach either of our offices.
Preparation
Once you decide to proceed with your facelift, Dr. Brown will give you a set of detailed instructions that may direct you to:
- Refrain from taking any blood-thinning medications or supplements
- Have a trusted friend or relative transport you to and from your procedure, and if needed, stay with you for the first night of your recovery
- Prepare to take time away from your career and other personal commitments
- Avoid consuming any alcohol or nicotine in the weeks before your procedure
Procedure
Dr. Brown typically performs facelifts on an outpatient basis at his surgical center. When you arrive, you will meet with Dr. Brown and the operating room staff. They will answer any remaining questions you may have before leading you to a private procedure room, where they will cleanse your skin and administer general anesthesia.
Once you are comfortably asleep, Dr. Brown will place several incisions around your hairline or ears to access your underlying facial structures. He will then elevate the local muscles, reposition your soft tissues, and excise any lax facial skin. Depending on your circumstances, Dr. Brown may also redistribute your facial fat or perform liposuction to achieve a sharper appearance.
After Dr. Brown has performed each of your corrections, he will redrape the skin and close the incisions using sutures. Dr. Brown will then place you under the care of his team so that you may briefly rest until he is ready to release you.
Recovery
After your procedure, you will need to take time away from your routine to focus on your recovery. You may develop some transient swelling or bruising around the treated areas, but Dr. Brown will provide you with non-narcotic medications and supplements to manage them. He also recommends elevating your head while resting and taking light walks to promote optimal circulation.
After several days to weeks, you will return for a follow-up appointment with Dr. Brown. He will assess your recovery progress, monitor your results, and, if necessary, remove your sutures. He does this with every patient to ensure that they are healthy and healing properly.
You will be able to return to your career after resting for approximately one to two weeks. However, you will need to continue refraining from strenuous activities until Dr. Brown approves. He will provide you with a full set of instructions to help you care for yourself as you heal. We ask that you follow each one as he directs, as your aftercare will influence the quality of your results.
Results
You will be able to see the results of your procedure once you have fully recovered and any swelling has dissipated. Results will vary depending on the type of facelift you undergo. You can expect to enjoy improved facial contours, smoother, tighter skin, more accentuated features, elevated proportions, and a more youthful look overall.
The results of a facelift are long-lasting, with effects that you can experience for 10 to 15 years. To best preserve your results, Dr. Brown recommends exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy diet, and using an effective skincare regimen.
Cost of Facelifts in San Diego, California
Dr. Brown will discuss your financial obligations with you once he has established your treatment plan. The cost of your facelift will vary depending on several factors, such as the type of facelift you receive, the extent of your corrections, whether Dr. Brown performs additional procedures, and more. Additionally, there are certain costs associated with undergoing a cosmetic procedure, including anesthesia or surgical fees.
Dr. Brown strives to provide fair, competitive pricing correlating with the quality of work he performs and the level of skill and expertise he offers. Financing is available for those who qualify.
FAQ
Do I need to be a specific age to undergo a facelift?
No, you do not have to be a specific age to undergo a facelift. While the majority of our patients are in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, age is not a part of our candidacy requirements.
What concerns can a facelift address?
A facelift can address visible signs of aging, such as sagging skin, deepening creases and folds, descending soft tissues, and jowling.
Will there be visible scarring left after my facelift?
Dr. Brown takes great care when placing each incision to ensure they are discreet and can easily be hidden. He often makes them either around the ears or within the hairline.
How long will the results of my facelift last?
Facelift benefits generally last up to ten years, but this range can also depend on skin quality, lifestyle habits, skincare routine, and age at the time of the procedure. Patient experiences may vary.
Will the results of my facelift look over-pulled or tightened?
No, Dr. Brown uses advanced techniques that avoid this effect, allowing you to achieve results that still look and feel like you. He aims to refine and refresh each patient’s natural appearance, rather than leaving them looking like someone else.
References
- Yang AJ, Hohman MH. Rhytidectomy. Nih.gov. Published March 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564338/#article-28568.s4
- Whitney ZB, Jain M, Zito PM. Anatomy, Skin, Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System (SMAS) Fascia. PubMed. Published 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519014/
- Paloma Pérez, Hohman MH. Midface Lift. Nih.gov. Published February 14, 2024. Accessed June 24, 2026. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563237/#article-21528.s4