It’s only natural to want your face to look its very best. Women and men visit board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Jerold Olson for facelift surgery in Tucson from Sierra Vista, Green Valley, Saddlebrooke, Sahuarita, and surrounding communities for a lasting facial renewal. This procedure can enhance your facial features and bring back your youthful glow, helping you feel more confident and vibrant every time you look in the mirror and meet up with friends and loved ones.
61 year old woman referred to Dr. Olson by a friend. Pt was interested in improving the appearance of her face and upper eyelids. She was also interested in tightening the area around her mouth. Dr. Olson recommended a facelift, upper blepharoplasty and Ellacor treatment. This is her result 3 weeks post surgery and Ell... Read More
55 year old woman interested in improving the appearance of her face. She has been on ZO products for years hoping for an improved overall appearance of her skin before deciding on a facelift which is what Dr. Olson recommended. She was also concerned about her high hairline. Dr. Olson explained he could advance her hairline... Read More
Lovely active woman who wanted to look as good as she feels! She consulted with Dr. Olson who recommended a facelift procedure. She is pleased with her jawline and the fullness in her cheeks. She is pleased with her result and this is her result 4 weeks post facelift. Read More
67 year old woman interested in improving the appearance of her face, consulted with Dr. Olson who recommended a facelift. This is her result one month after her surgery with board-certified, facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Olson. Read More
43 year old woman interested in facial rejuvenation consulted with Dr. Olson who recommended a facelift. Pt understood dermal fillers would not be sufficient to for the result she was hoping for. She proceeded with her facelift and is satisfied with her result. She now looks refreshed and natural. Read More
55 year old woman referred to Dr. Olson by her friend for a facelift. Pt came in from out of town to see Dr. Olson who is board certified and has 20 years of experience in facial plastics and reconstructive surgery. She was able to recover with her friends help. She is happy with her results. Read More
Middle age woman consulted with board certified surgeon, Dr. Olson. She was interested in a surgeon who specialized on the face. Dr. Olson has 20 years of experience in his field. After consulting with Dr. Olson she procedded with a faclift. She was able to recover in 2 weeks. She now feels like she looks! ... Read More
55 year old woman interested in improving the appearance of her face and her skin. A long time sun worshipper she noticed the appearance of her skin. Dr. Olson recommended she improve the appearance of her skin and recommended medical grade skin care products. Once the skin became healthier and brighter she proceeded with he... Read More
Facelift surgery, technically known as a rhytidectomy, lifts and reframes sagging skin and facial muscles, creating a more youthful appearance with diminished wrinkles. Dr. Olson performs facelifts by removing excess sagging skin and fat, tightening underlying facial muscles, reshaping facial tissues, and repositioning the skin. Women and men from Sahuarita, Saddlebrooke, and other nearby cities choose this procedure to:
Improve facial sagging from the cheeks to the jowls
Reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the lower face
Diminish excess fat in the lower cheeks and jowl area
Return the face to a more youthful shape
Cheek implants may be placed to restore volume and add definition to the mid face.
Can I Have a Neck Lift Without a Facelift?
Some of our patients, especially men, may be good candidates for a less invasive direct neck lift instead of a facelift (see patient photos). The neck lift focuses specifically on the area under the chin and the upper neck. Dr. Olson can perform neck lift surgery as an office procedure with a local anesthetic using incisions concealed below the chin.
This patient had a neck lift without a facelift.
Types of Facelift
Dr. Olson primarily uses 2 approaches for facelift surgery: the short scar or deep plane lift. The techniques differ in the length of incisions required and the extent of surgical correction.
Short scar or mini facelifts work well for many younger patients. This technique involves incisions within the temporal or sideburn hairline, extending along the front of the ear and ending just behind the earlobe.
Deep plane facelifts are best for people with more significant facial aging. This technique requires an incision that extends from the earlobe around the back of the ear and ends in the hairline behind the ear. The longer incision allows Dr. Olson greater ability to correct the neck.
Short Scar Facelift
For a short scar facelift, Dr. Olson makes an inconspicuous incision just in front of the ear, extending down in front of and behind the earlobe.
Deep Plane Facelift
An incision for the deep plane facelift is hidden in the hairline near the temple, extending down in the natural crease at the front of the ear and finishing behind the earlobe.
A facelift may be performed as a standalone procedure or in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures and treatments, including injectable fillers, BOTOX® Cosmetic, or eyelid surgery. Dr. Olson is recognized for his refined techniques. He focuses on finding the least invasive approach to achieve each patient’s unique goals.
The Facelift Procedure
Dr. Olson performs facelift surgery while you are under general anesthesia with a board-certified anesthesiologist. Depending on the specifics of your surgery, he may make incisions just around your ears or, alternatively, around your ears and behind your hairline. Once he has made these incisions, Dr. Olson adjusts the tissues beneath your skin, moving them upwards and repositioning them to sit higher. He also cuts away excess skin and tightens the remaining skin for a smooth profile and improved definition. Before closing the incisions, Dr. Olson examines your face for symmetry and adherence to your desired outcome. When he is satisfied with the results, he closes the incisions with sutures. After your surgery, you’ll be medically observed while you wake up from anesthesia. Once you’ve been evaluated, you may return home in the care of a loved one.
Meet Your Surgeon
Board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Jerold Olson is a Castle Connolly Top Doctor® who specializes in both cosmetic and reconstructive facial plastic surgery. A leader in the field with advanced expertise in rhinoplasty, he delivers exceptional results with compassion and a commitment to helping you look and feel your best.
The cost for facelift procedures at our Tucson practice varies with the specific technique (complete or mini facelift), the complexity of the procedure, and whether other surgical or nonsurgical procedures are performed. You will receive a personalized price quote when you meet with Dr. Olson for a consultation.
Facelift Recovery
Choosing a board-certified facial plastic surgeon such as Dr. Olson helps to ensure that your recovery goes smoothly. Dr. Olson provides you with post-surgical instructions to minimize recovery time and create beautiful results. He recommends that his patients allow 7 to 10 days for rest, at which time swelling and bruising will begin to subside. You can manage discomfort in the first few days with medication, and you should avoid exercise for a few weeks thereafter. If you are a smoker, you will be advised to quit.
By the time most patients feel comfortable returning to work and other daily obligations, their bruising and discoloration are typically easily covered by makeup. Over time, these symptoms completely fade, and the incisions become flat, pale scars that become progressively less noticeable.
How to Preserve Your Facelift Results
While facelift results are long-lasting, there are a number of things you can do to hold onto your rejuvenated look, including:
Follow a healthy lifestyle: Eat right, drink plenty of water, sleep consistently, and maintain a consistent weight.
Minimize sun exposure: Stay out of the direct sun, wear a high-quality sunscreen every day, and shield your face with sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat when outdoors.
Come in for nonsurgical treatments: Following a consistent schedule of BOTOX, dermal filler, IPL, and other treatments can hold off the effects of gravity and aging.
Dr. Olson will evaluate your facial shape and bone structure as well as the degree of excess fat, skin, and sagging muscle to determine the best approach for treatment. The short scar technique is more limited in the degree of rejuvenation compared to a full deep plane lift.
What is a mini facelift?
A mini facelift is another name for a short scar lift. It is a popular option for younger men and women whose jowls are beginning to sag and who have less excess or sagging skin than patients who need a full facelift. Anyone who has researched facelifts at all will quickly realize there are several variations. This is because, in reality, each facelift is customized to meet the specific needs of the patient. No two procedures are alike, but surgeons generally try to categorize them using terms such as “mini facelift.”
How long is downtime for a facelift?
Most patients feel ready to return to work 10 to 14 days after surgery. At this point, patients can resume light cardio as directed by Dr. Olson. Strenuous exercise should be postponed for at least 6 weeks. While physical downtime is one thing, social downtime is another. Learn more in this blog post.
Will a facelift improve my entire face?
No, facelifts create a more youthful appearance in the middle and lower face, including the cheeks and jawline. If you’re concerned about a sagging brow or forehead wrinkles, a brow lift is the best procedure. Patients with puffiness under their eyes or droopy eyelids are good candidates for blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery). A lip lift can rejuvenate a thin, drooping upper lip. We can combine these procedures with a facelift for an overall rejuvenation. Also, to improve the appearance of facial skin, treatments such as IPL Photofacial or fractional lasers may be helpful.
Will a facelift make my skin look stretched?
The advanced surgical techniques Dr. Olson uses help him avoid results that look unnatural. Older facelift methods involved surgically stretching the skin and little else. The short scar and deep plane lifts Dr. Olson uses actually lift the skin and reposition the underlying tissue and muscle. The skin is stretched minimally. The result is that patients look like themselves, only younger.
Should I get a facelift at 55?
Most of Dr. Olson’s facelift patients are in their 50s or 60s, but younger and older individuals may be good facelift candidates. Age isn’t the primary consideration. The condition of a patient’s facial structure, skin quality, and overall health are the primary concerns. Someone whose face has lost some volume but whose skin remains youthful will benefit from injectable fillers or fat transfer alone or combined with face lifting.
How long will my facelift results last?
Factors such as skin quality, heredity, and lifestyle habits may affect the longevity of your results. However, the results of the facelift can last 8 to 12 years or more with proper care. You will always look more youthful as time passes than if you had not had facelift surgery. Revision facelifts can be safely performed.
Can I get facelift results without surgery?
Many providers market a “liquid facelift” that uses injectable fillers and BOTOX to take years off your appearance without surgery. While these products can help certain individuals look younger, they cannot create the results that a facelift does. Only surgery can correct redundant, sagging skin, deep creases, and jowls. Injectable products can be very beneficial after facelift surgery to help enhance results.
Is facelift surgery painful?
Most patients experience mild to moderate pain after facelift surgery. We prescribe medication to manage discomfort, especially during the first 1 to 2 days. Cool compresses can help with bruising, swelling, feelings of tightness, and discomfort.
To visit us in Tucson and find out how a facelift with board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Olson can improve your look, request a consultation online with Dr. Olson or call
(520) 200-2218.
