Facelift
Over time, sun damage, natural aging, and loss of skin quality can cause facial skin and deeper tissues to shift downward, creating sagging skin along the jawline and deep folds around the mouth. At Knoxville Center for Dermatology & Plastic Surgery, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Fowler performs customized facelift surgery to lift underlying tissues and smooth the lower face and neck. Our friendly, down-to-earth team ensures your facial plastic surgery journey is comfortable, transparent, and convenient at our Papermill Drive office in Knoxville, TN.
Lifts sagging facial tissues, tightens underlying muscle layers, and trims excess skin along the jawline and neck.
Typically 3 to 5 hours, performed in an accredited surgical facility under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation.
Most patients return to light social activities within 10 to 14 days.
Creates a refreshed, youthful appearance without uncomfortable skin tension or artificial tightness.
A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure designed to improve visible signs of aging in the lower face and neck. Rather than simply pulling facial skin tight, modern plastic surgery focuses on repositioning the underlying muscle, shifting displaced facial fat, and tightening the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS layer).
Depending on your medical history, bone structure, and goals discussed during your facelift consultation, Dr. Fowler will help you determine the best approach:
Addresses deep wrinkles, loose skin, and sagging jowls by lifting the SMAS layer and trimming excess skin along the cheeks and jawline.
Releases deeper facial tissues beneath the muscle layer to elevate the midface, cheeks, and neck as a unified structure for long-lasting, natural-looking improvement.
A minimally invasive surgical option utilizing shorter incision sites, ideal for patients experiencing early signs of aging with mild jowling.
Non-invasive treatments like dermal fillers, Botox, or laser skin resurfacing to smooth dynamic wrinkles and frown lines for temporary enhancement.
On the day of your facelift procedure, our surgical team focuses on keeping you relaxed, safe, and comfortable. After administering general anesthesia or deep sedation, Dr. Fowler places carefully hidden incision sites starting in the hairline at the temples, continuing down around the ear, and ending in the lower scalp.
Through these incisions, the plastic surgeon elevates the facial skin to access the deeper tissues and underlying muscle. The SMAS layer is lifted and secured, restoring youthful volume to the cheeks and defining the jawline. If neck surgery or a neck lift is included, a small incision under the chin allows the neck skin and muscles to be tightened. Excess skin is then trimmed away without excessive skin tension; delicate sutures close the incisions, and a small drainage tube or soft bandage is applied to support initial healing.
Facelift surgery corrects structural facial aging that non-surgical treatments cannot resolve on their own:
A facelift focuses on the midface, lower cheeks, jawline, jowls, and the upper neck region.
Surgical facelift procedures deliver subtle, natural-looking cosmetic results that align your outward appearance with your inner energy.
Comprehensive Lower Face Renewal
Lifting deeper facial tissues reverses heavy sagging along the cheeks and chin, giving you a naturally refreshed appearance rather than an overpulled look.
Customizable Surgical Combinations
A facelift can be seamlessly combined with an eyelid lift (blepharoplasty), brow lift, or fat grafting to address the upper face and restore youthful volume in a single surgical experience.
Good candidates for a facelift are healthy men and women who show visible signs of facial aging. Candidates should be non-smokers without medical conditions that impair wound healing (such as unmanaged diabetes). It is crucial to have realistic expectations and discuss your medical history, current medications, or blood thinners prior to scheduling surgery.
Following your surgical procedure, taking adequate time to rest is essential for your body to heal. You will keep your head elevated for the first few days to control swelling and bruising. If a temporary drainage tube was placed, it is typically removed within 24 to 48 hours. Dr. Fowler will prescribe medication to ensure you remain comfortable during this phase of recovery.
Most patients feel ready to venture out in public and return to desk tasks within 10 to 14 days, once initial bruising and swelling fade. Strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, and vigorous activities should be avoided for 4 to 6 weeks to protect delicate facial nerves and prevent wound healing complications.
You will see a noticeably smoother jawline and firmer facial structure once initial dressings are removed, with full facelift results emerging over 2 to 3 months as minor residual swelling resolves and incision sites soften and heal.
While no surgical procedure can stop natural aging entirely, a deep structural facelift effectively turns back the clock by 8 to 10 years. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, protecting your face from sun damage, and utilizing medical-grade skincare will help preserve your vibrant, rested appearance for many years.
At Knoxville Center for Dermatology & Plastic Surgery, your cosmetic surgery is performed by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Fowler. Our practice offers a unique, collaborative environment where plastic surgeons, board-certified dermatologists, and aesthetic providers work together under one roof. Whether you are pairing your facelift with non-surgical treatments or seeking complete facial rejuvenation, our practice delivers approachable, high-quality care every step of the way.
A traditional facelift addresses deeper tissues across the full midface, lower face, and neck, while a mini facelift uses shorter incisions to treat mild sagging along the cheeks and jawline with less downtime.
Incisions are strategically placed within the natural hairline and along the subtle folds around the ears. Once healed, facelift scars are discreet and difficult to detect during everyday interactions.
Facelift results typically last 8 to 12 years. While your face will continue to age naturally, you will always look years younger than you would have without the surgery.
Facial nerve injury is an extremely rare risk when surgery is performed by a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon with deep expertise in facial anatomy.
The total facelift cost depends on the surgical techniques used, whether a neck lift or eyelid lift is added, and on facility fees. Our team provides clear, straightforward pricing details during your personal consultation.
