Facelift

Facelift model

Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Craig Colville performs facelift surgery at his Toledo, Ohio, practice for women and men who want to restore a smoother, firmer, more uplifted facial appearance. Aging is inevitable, and many people experience the effects of time in the form of flattened cheeks, sagging skin, and jowls. Facelift surgery lifts and firms sagging skin and deeper tissues on your face and neck and removes excess fat in the neck and chin.

Face Lift
 Before & After Photos

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Before & After Face Lift Case 212 View #1 View in Toledo, Ohio
Before & After
Case: 1 of 2

Face Lift Case 212

This 53 year old patient desired a tighter, less wrinkled look to improve her appearance. Dr. Colville performed a face and neck lift with fat grafting to achieve her desired look. 
Before & After Face Lift Case 210 View #1 View in Toledo, Ohio
Before & After
Case: 2 of 2

Face and Neck Lift Case 210

This 60 year old patient wanted a sharper, more youthful looking jawline and to minimize the wrinkles on her face. After trying many different treatments for a more youthful look, she decided to have a face and neck lift done by Dr. Colville. Her results are great, taking years off of her appearance.  Read More

Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.

Should You Consider a Facelift?

Facelift surgery is appropriate for both women and men of varying ages. When evaluating a patient’s candidacy, Dr. Colville prefers to focus on his or her overall health and physical characteristics. Everyone ages at different rates and particular timelines are affected by many factors. Some of these are controllable, such as sun damage, and some are beyond your control, such as heredity. Therefore, while some people may be ready for a facelift in their 40s, others may wait until their 60s or even later.

Facelift surgery improves the lower two-thirds of the face. It is a successful way to reduce the appearance of many common complaints, including:

  • Diminished volume in the cheeks which causes a flat, sunken or gaunt appearance
  • Lines, wrinkles, and deep folds around the mouth, nose, and chin
  • Loose skin on the cheeks and jawline, causing jowls
  • Excess neck fat under the chin

To undergo this surgery, you should be in good overall health and able to tolerate general anesthesia or sedation. For men and women with good skin tone who are primarily concerned about neck fat under the chin, KYBELLA® injections and CoolSculpting® are safe, nonsurgical alternatives. If you’re unsure of your facelift candidacy, Dr. Colville is happy to answer all of your questions during the consultation. In some cases, he may recommend a nonsurgical procedure, such as dermal fillers or a volumizer, to subtly refresh your face without surgery.

Craig W. Colville, MD, FACS

"My ultimate goal is to design a plan accommodating your wishes and desires in the most aesthetically pleasing manner possible."

Meet Dr. Colville

Planning Your Facelift

While the basic steps involved in a facelift are fairly standardized, Dr. Colville customizes each procedure to meet the needs of the individual. In most cases, patients can benefit from a traditional facelift, which requires relatively discreet incisions made around the ears and just behind the hairline.

Facelift incision options

In other cases, the incisions may be shorter, depending on the approach you and Dr. Colville agree upon. In any case, these incisions heal very nicely and shouldn’t prevent you from wearing your hair short or pulled up.

Many patients wish to combine their facelift procedures with other surgeries, such as neck lift, chin augmentation, or even fat grafting, a procedure that uses your own fat to add volume and softness. Those who would like to rejuvenate the upper part of the face, as well, can benefit from adding a brow lift or eyelid surgery. This approach can create a harmonious, comprehensive improvement, but it’s not appropriate for everyone. Dr. Colville guides you through the planning process so that you can make the decision that’s best for your face and your lifestyle.

Come to your consultation prepared to discuss your medical history, lifestyle, and other factors related to your physical health and aesthetic goals.

Your Facelift Surgery

Although it’s an outpatient procedure, facelift surgery is generally performed while you are under general anesthesia. Dr. Colville begins by making incisions around your ears and into the hairline in the pattern the two of you discussed. He repositions the underlying tissues and tightens the muscles for lasting, natural-looking improvements. Depending on your surgical plan, he may remove extra fat via liposuction or add fat via fat transfer to restore a more youthful shape of your face and neck.

He then redrapes the overlying skin, removing the excess. If you chose to add chin enhancement to your facelift, he also places an implant through a small incision either below your chin or within your mouth. Once he’s satisfied with the contours of your face, he sutures the incisions.

What Can I Expect After a Facelift?

After a brief observation in our surgical suite, you’ll be able to return home with the aid of a trusted friend or family member, or you can stay overnight in the surgery center overnight recovery suite. For the remainder of the day, you’ll need to rest in a comfortable chair or in bed in an upright or semi-reclined position. Keeping the head elevated minimizes swelling and ensures your incisions heal properly. You will receive a prescription for pain medication to keep you comfortable.

Dr. Colville removes your sutures, dressings, and compression garments at your follow-up appointments.

How Long Is Recovery From Facelift Surgery?

With facelift surgery, downtime is about 7 to 10 days. Some initial bruising is expected. Most facelift patients take 1 to 2 weeks off work; some opt to work from home during their recovery.

A Reputation Built on Results

Dr. Colville and his team did a great Job on my tuck and lift. I saw a few other surgeons before choosing...
I had breast reduction in October with Dr Colville. The surgery was easy and recovery was easier...
Dr.Craig Coville is the truth as a plastic surgeon, My experience as a patient of Dr Coville was great....
I have struggled with my breast for my entire life causing me self esteem issues. I had severe asymmetrical...

How Long Do Lower Facelift Results Last?

Although your face will continue to age after surgery, facial rejuvenation procedures “set back the clock” on the aging process. This means that, as you age, you’ll continue to look younger than your chronological age. Most patients feel they look 10 to 15 years younger after surgery.

How Do You Maintain Facelift Results?

In the long term, you can preserve your results even more by maintaining a good at-home skincare regimen with the guidance of Dr. Colville’s team of aestheticians at Bella Via. This includes keeping your skin protected from the sun as much as possible because sun exposure can hasten facial aging and darken your scars. Some patients prefer to prolong their results with routine nonsurgical treatments, such as injectable fillers. Whatever course of action you choose, the results of your facelift are likely to be lasting and beautiful.

Facelift FAQ

Can a facelift make me look unnatural—like I’ve had “work done”?

No. Using modern facelift techniques, Dr. Colville is able to provide consistently natural-looking facelift results. Instead of simply tightening the skin, as was common practice in the past, Dr. Colville first repositions deeper facial tissues and muscles to a higher, more youthful position. He then redrapes the skin and removes any excess. After your facelift, you can expect to look like yourself, just rested and years younger.

I’m often told that I look unhappy or too serious. Will a facelift help?

A facelift rejuvenates the lower two-thirds of the face. A heavy brow line often makes people look like they are scowling or unhappy. This condition is usually corrected with a brow lift or, in some cases, BOTOX® Cosmetic injections. During your consultation, Dr. Colville will examine your facial anatomy and recommend a treatment plan best suited to your aesthetic goals.

How should I prepare for a facelift?

Helpful preparations include:

  • Buy a wedge pillow to keep your upper body elevated for the first week or so, even while sleeping.
  • Visit your hairdresser because you will need to wait about 6 weeks to have your hair cut, colored, or permed after your surgery.
  • Stop drinking alcoholic beverages, including wine and beer, starting 2 weeks before surgery until at least 2 weeks afterward to minimize swelling and bruising.
  • Schedule some help from a friend or family member for at least the first week. Having help with cooking, hygiene, self-care, and other household responsibilities can optimize your recovery.

What can I do to maintain my facelift results?

The natural aging process will resume after your facelift, but there are steps you can take to make your rejuvenated look last as long as possible, including:

  • Use quality skincare products, including sunscreen, daily to protect and repair your skin.
  • Avoid tobacco because it accelerates the aging process in the skin, leading to thinning and wrinkles.
  • Follow a healthy lifestyle that includes plenty of water, nutritious food, and sleep, and minimizes stress.
  • Maintain your weight because significant fluctuations can diminish elasticity in the skin and increase sagging.
  • Have anti-wrinkle injectable and filler treatments periodically to minimize future wrinkles and maintain facial volume.

Individuals considering facelift surgery come from Findlay, Sandusky, Ann Arbor, and throughout northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan to have Dr. Colville perform their procedures. If you’re interested in learning more about Dr. Colville and our practice, request a consultation online, or call his office at (419) 534-6551.

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