Is a Facelift procedure painful?

When undergoing Facelift surgery, you will be administered general anesthesia, so you shouldn’t feel pain during the procedure. Whilst individual experiences vary, patients do complain of minor discomfort in the first few days post-surgery but Dr. Nikfarjam will prescribe pain medication to help manage this pain and discomfort.

How many appointments will I need?

Dr. Nikfarjam will want to see you for your first post-operative a day or two after surgery to remove the drains and any dressing and observe your initial recovery, followed by another visit approximately one week after facelift surgery to remove the sutures. You will then need to follow up one month after surgery and usually every three to six months for the first year after your surgery to monitor your healing and satisfaction with the results.

How long until I see results?

Some patients may be able to see visible changes after their surgery, but there will also be bruising and swelling during the first few weeks post-surgery which affects the appearance. While recovery should only take about three weeks, most patients will require about six months to see their optimal facelift results. The best way to achieve optimal results is to follow our post-op instructions and attend your routine check-ups with Dr. Nikfarjam.

Are the results of a Facelift permanent?

Although a Facelift helps an individual revitalize the facial appearance and reduce or eliminate visible signs of aging in the face, it does not stop the natural aging process. Since each person ages differently, the amount of time that facelift results remain visible varies based on the patient. Dr. Nikfarjam helps a patient establish realistic treatment goals prior to a facelift procedure. He strives to help each facelift patient reap the benefits of a balanced, natural-looking facial appearance. To accomplish this goal, Dr. Nikfarjam works with a facelift patient to ensure he or she can enjoy a youthful facial appearance for an extended period of time.

Will a facelift make me look stretched?

No. While there’s always the rare risk of you being unsatisfied by your appearance, Dr. Nikfarjam is proud of his strong record for providing patients with natural-looking results. Initially, your facial skin may indeed appear tight simply due to postoperative swelling, however, this tightness will relax as the swelling subsides. A skilled plastic surgeon like Dr. Nikfarjam will not pull the skin so tightly that a stretched appearance or tight feeling lasts long.

How much time off from work should I arrange?

Patients who work in sedentary jobs will only need about two weeks to look presentable at work. Keep in mind that there may be some visible swelling and residual bruising at the end of two weeks, but it is usually not noticeable by others. If you feel like you may be sensitive about your appearance after this time, a three-week window would be better. If your job is very strenuous, you may need more time to ensure healing is well underway, but you should expect about six weeks post-surgery before you can start more intensive labor. After your first follow-up with Dr. Nikfarjam, he will be able to give you a better idea of when you can return to your regular job.

When can I work out after a Facelift?

Even though heavy lifting, jogging, and yoga are not recommended after surgery, walking is an ideal way to stay active and prevent healing issues. Walking promotes blood circulation, which in turn prevents blood clots from forming in your legs, a condition known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This is common in people who do not move for a long period of time. You may be uncomfortable after surgery, but walking for just a few minutes a day early on can make all the difference. After your first week, you should begin with three 5-minute walks every day, increasing your walking time by about five minutes each subsequent week. Once you reach week five, you can begin slowly returning to your exercise routine, under the guidance of Dr. Nikfarjam. Heavy lifting and strenuous running are still not recommended, but light jogging and stretching should be fine now. About six weeks post-surgery, you can add a bit more intensity to your workout, but you should always take it week by week and pay attention to how you feel as you exercise.

Can I combine a Facelift with other procedures?

Of course! Our Facelift patients at New You Plastic Surgery will combine their Facelift with other cosmetic surgery procedures such as a Chin Implant , Neck Lift , Upper and Lower Blepharoplasty , Brow Lift , or a nose job for a better profile. If you have a specific area of interest that you would like Dr. Nikfarjam to examine, please let him know during your Facelift consultation and he will be able to provide you with his expert recommendations.

What are the risks associated with a Facelift?

As a highly trained facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Nikfarjam takes each surgery very seriously and strives to provide a safe recovery with stunning results for every patient. Keep in mind though, as with facial plastic surgery or any kind of surgery, a facelift does have potential risks associated with it that we like our patients to be aware of. Some of these risks include: Anesthesia risks Bleeding Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications Facial nerve injury with weakness Fluid accumulation Infection Hair loss Hematoma ( collection of blood hematoma under the skin) Nerve injury Numbness or other changes in skin sensation Persistent pain Scarring While many of these side effects should heal on their own over time, if you do find yourself experiencing any long-lasting or unexpected reactions, please be sure to contact our office immediately.

Where are facelift scars? Will there be noticeable scars?

Anyone considering a facelift should be concerned about incision placement. It is hard to hide scars, especially for women who wear their hair shorter and male patients. As a top facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Nikfarjam will prevent prominent surgical scars by meticulously making incisions in well-hidden areas and using the most advanced surgical techniques to close the incisions so that his patients heal with minimal scarring when fully healed. The incisions are placed in natural creases beginning just in front of the ear continuing around the back of the ear. Placement of facelift incisions is as much of an art as it is science. All of your questions about incision placement can be answered during your consultation.

Will a facelift get rid of dark circles and bags under my eyes?

A facelift does not directly address the eye area but there is usually some residual improvement from the facelift. To rejuvenate the eyes, Eyelid Surgery is needed. An eyelid lift addresses sagging, excess fat deposits, and loose skin in both the upper and lower eyelids. It is very common for patients to have a facelift and an eye lift at the same time. For dark circles, Dr. Nikfarjam can also perform non-surgical dermal fillers.

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Introduction
Facelift

Facelift surgery in New York is a very popular facial rejuvenation surgical procedure that lifts your facial muscles to reduce drooping facial skin, removing extra skin for a tighter, younger countenance. Committed to natural, long-lasting results for facial aging, Dr. Jeremy Nikfarjam and Dr. Sun of New You Plastic Surgery serve both Long Island and the greater New York City area by improving the visual appearance of a patient’s face appearance. To learn more about this procedure and learn if you’re a qualified candidate, please keep reading the information provided below.

New You Plastic Surgery has multiple locations across New York and New Jersey, providing tummy tuck surgery to patients from their offices in Roslyn (Long Island), Manhattan, Poughkeepsie, NY, and Englewood (New Jersey).

Woman with nice face | New You Plastic Surgery in New York

What is a Facelift?

A Facelift (Rhytidectomy) procedure is performed to create an appearance that is smooth, soft, and defined. Personalized to meet each client’s aesthetic goals, Dr. Nikfarjam and Dr. Sun of New You Plastic Surgery targets each section of the face and neck individually to create an overall look that is beautiful and refreshed.

Dr. Nikfarjam’s Facelift procedure can reduce drooping skin as well as help smooth folds of skin along the cheeks and jawlines. During this popular procedure, a flap of loose skin, on each side of the face is pulled back. The tissues below your skin are then altered, and excess skin is removed. This gives our patients a more youthful shape and look. It should be noted the facelift won’t correct damage from sun damage or exposure, (such as fine lines and wrinkles from the aging process).

A rhytidectomy is often performed in conjunction with other facelift adjacent procedures such as a Forehead Lift, Eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty (nose job), or laser skin resurfacing.

Widely considered to be the most invasive facelift technique, Deep Plane Facelift procedure patients have the longest-lasting results. Patients will typically have a more successful flattening of the nasolabial fold (a.k.a. the “Smile lines” or “Laugh lines”) and target the mid-face region, reaching deep tissues and the deeper layers of your facial muscle.

After you’ve been administered Deep I.V. sedation with local anesthesia, Dr. Nikfarjam will mark the locations on your skin where he intends to make the incisions, normally around the hairline and ears. Once these incisions are carefully made, he will use them to tighten and secure the layer of connective tissue and underlying muscle beneath your skin. Strategic ligaments are released at a deeper level which lifts and rejuvenates your skin, and the layer of muscle and tissue is repositioned. When Dr. Nikfarjam is finished, he will carefully close the incisions.

With the deep plane facelift technique, you can expect a longer recovery time but also longer-lasting results from your standard facelift, with many patients seeing results lasting up to 15 years.

During the initial three weeks of your recovery, there will be significant bruising, swelling, and discomfort. You will need to continuously wear a compression garment, drain, and neck support during the first 1 – 2 weeks, or until Dr. Nikfarjam removes them. We strongly recommend avoiding working the first two weeks so you can recover comfortably and avoiding any strenuous activity for six weeks. Although it may appear concerning, it is not uncommon to see ongoing swelling or some bruising lingering for up to a year.

The Mini-Facelift procedure (also called a short scar facelift or limited incision facelift), is a slightly modified version of a standard facelift and is designed to help minimize sagging tissue around the lower portion of your face. This procedure is considered to be less invasive than other facial surgeries and requires less excessive skin removal than a normal facelift, making it a great option for our younger patients.
When performing a mini-facelift, Dr. Nikfarjam will make discreet incisions behind your ears that are easily hidden once healed. Using the incision, your skin, and underlying tissues are carefully tightened, with any excess tissue being removed. Your incisions are then closed with a precision suturing technique that reduces tension on your skin and minimizes visible scarring. This surgery usually lasts less than two hours.

You can expect to experience some mild swelling and bruising, but a much less intense recovery from a typical facelift. Many of our patients see the results from their mini facelift surgery lasting almost 10 years.

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What Are The Benefits Of A Facelift?

Our patients looking to address age-related sagging facial skin have seen huge benefits from their Facelift in Long Island and New York City. Some are outlined below:

A more contoured jawline
Improves the appearance of their nose
Natural results for a more youthful appearance
Reduces and can eliminate deep creases
Vibrant and youthful appearance
Lifted cheeks
Overall tightening up of sagging skin

Who Are The Best Candidates For A Facelift?

The best New York City and Long Island Facelift candidates should have some of the following characteristics:

Committed to good skincare
Dissatisfied with their facial appearance
Have sagging facial tissues (i.e. deep wrinkles, jowls, double chin)
Keep a positive attitude throughout the process
Maintain realistic expectations
Be at or close to their desired target weight
Understand the procedure, recovery time, and risks
Non-smoker
No serious underlying medical conditions

What’s the
first step?

Dr. Nikfarjam consultation | New You Plastic Surgery in New York

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Facelift First steps

The first step in getting a facelift with Dr. Nikfarjam and Dr. Sun at New You Plastic Surgery is to schedule your personal consultation at our practice. On the day of your appointment, Dr. Nikfarjam will evaluate your unique needs, cosmetic goals, and your unique facial structure and features. He will physically examine your unique facial features, including skin quality, skin laxity, soft tissue, sagging jowls, and neck muscles. He will review your medical history to ensure you are a good candidate for facial surgery. For instance, if you are on medications for hypertension, you might be better served with nonsurgical facelift options.

If you are deemed a good candidate for a Facelift procedure, Dr. Nikfarjam will discuss what a surgical facelift involves, the pros and cons of the latest surgical techniques available, and which method would be best for you. He will also show you where the various incisions will be placed and what you can expect from scarring.

Once you and Dr. Nikfarjam are satisfied with the direction of your procedure, he will create your custom procedure plan. Our Patient Coordinator will help schedule your surgical date and provide you with detailed instructions on how to prepare for your surgery.

These tips may include stopping certain medications in the days leading up to the procedure, avoiding sun exposure, and keeping up a thorough skincare routine.

What to Expect on the Day of Facelift Surgery

On the day of your Facelift surgery, you will first meet with Dr. Nikfarjam, who will administer general anesthesia to make your experience as comfortable and painless as possible.

Once you are sedated, Dr. Nikfarjam will make an incision in front of your ear near your temples, continuing it under the earlobe towards the back of your ear, allowing it to blend in with your hairline. He will then gently lift the skin to tighten the underlying facial muscle and tissue, removing excess skin and fat along the way.

The incisions will be placed in a natural skin fold to minimize any appearance of facelift scars post-healing. He will take your gender, ethnicity, and physical anatomy into consideration as he shapes your face. Once the excess skin and fat are extracted, Dr. Nikfarjam will close the incisions with sutures to create minimal scar tissue.

After your surgery, a compression dressing will be gently applied to protect the incisions and prevent any collections of fluid. You will also have one to two surgical drains to promote the removal of excess fluid.

Depending on the complexity of the surgery and the number of additional procedures, the process can take from four to six hours.

Facelift Recovery

The recovery period for a facelift can vary depending on the extent and depth of the procedure. Immediately post your procedure, you’ll need to rest and allow your body to heal. The traditional facelift surgery is typically an outpatient procedure but since you are sedated, it is wise to bring a family member or friend to help drive you back home.

You will be sent home with two or more drains placed on your face. Drains are necessary for the full facelift procedure to minimize swelling and bruising. They typically come out within 1-2 days.

During facelift recovery, you can expect swelling, bruising, and discomfort in the first few days after the procedure. Dr. Nikfarjam will provide a prescription for pain-reducing medication, in addition to detailed instructions on caring for the treated area, which includes keeping your head elevated as you sleep to reduce swelling and keep stitches secure.

Avoid strenuous activity and exercise for a few weeks. This allows underlying muscles in your body to heal fully.

The time it takes to return to work after a facelift surgery depends on the extent of the procedure and your healing journey. Most patients expect to take at least a week off work to recover from the procedure. For more complex facelift procedures or patients with physically demanding jobs, it may be necessary to take additional time off.

How Much Does Facelift Cost In Long Island, NY?

Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jeremy Nikfarjam is the founder and Medical Director of New You Plastic Surgery and is an active member of the most prestigious societies in plastic surgery, including but not limited to ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and ASAPS (The Aesthetic Society). When you come into our practice for your Facelift surgery, you can rest assured that not only will you obtain a more youthful appearance with natural-looking results, but you will also have access to Dr. Nikfarjam himself, who is sought out by patients from across the United States and abroad for his specific technique and expertise in nearly every aspect of plastic and reconstructive surgeries.

dr. nikfarjam surgeon | New You Plastic Surgery in New York

Why choose New You?

Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jeremy Nikfarjam and Dr. Sun is the founder and Medical Director of New You Plastic Surgery and is an active member of the most prestigious societies in plastic surgery, including but not limited to ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and ASAPS (The Aesthetic Society). When you come into our practice for your Facelift surgery, you can rest assured that not only will you obtain a more youthful appearance with natural-looking results, but you will also have access to Dr. Nikfarjam himself, who is sought out by patients from across the United States and abroad for his specific technique and expertise in nearly every aspect of plastic and reconstructive surgeries.

Schedule a
Consultation

If you are in Long Island and Manhattan, NYC, and would like to improve your facial appearance cosmetically, a Facelift procedure from Dr. Jeremy Nikfarjam and Dr. Sun at New You Plastic Surgery could be an excellent solution. To schedule your initial consultation, please contact our office or use our website to fill out a consultation request form. We look forward to taking the first step with you in achieving your desired nasal aesthetic.

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Facelift FAQ’S

Dr. Nikfarjam will want to see you for your first post-operative a day or two after surgery to remove the drains and any dressing and observe your initial recovery, followed by another visit approximately one week after facelift surgery to remove the sutures. You will then need to follow up one month after surgery and usually every three to six months for the first year after your surgery to monitor your healing and satisfaction with the results.
Some patients may be able to see visible changes after their surgery, but there will also be bruising and swelling during the first few weeks post-surgery which affects the appearance.
While recovery should only take about three weeks, most patients will require about six months to see their optimal facelift results.

The best way to achieve optimal results is to follow our post-op instructions and attend your routine check-ups with Dr. Nikfarjam.
Although a Facelift helps an individual revitalize the facial appearance and reduce or eliminate visible signs of aging in the face, it does not stop the natural aging process. Since each person ages differently, the amount of time that facelift results remain visible varies based on the patient.

Dr. Nikfarjam helps a patient establish realistic treatment goals prior to a facelift procedure. He strives to help each facelift patient reap the benefits of a balanced, natural-looking facial appearance. To accomplish this goal, Dr. Nikfarjam works with a facelift patient to ensure he or she can enjoy a youthful facial appearance for an extended period of time.
No. While there’s always the rare risk of you being unsatisfied by your appearance, Dr. Nikfarjam is proud of his strong record for providing patients with natural-looking results.

Initially, your facial skin may indeed appear tight simply due to postoperative swelling, however, this tightness will relax as the swelling subsides. A skilled plastic surgeon like Dr. Nikfarjam will not pull the skin so tightly that a stretched appearance or tight feeling lasts long.
Patients who work in sedentary jobs will only need about two weeks to look presentable at work. Keep in mind that there may be some visible swelling and residual bruising at the end of two weeks, but it is usually not noticeable by others. If you feel like you may be sensitive about your appearance after this time, a three-week window would be better.

If your job is very strenuous, you may need more time to ensure healing is well underway, but you should expect about six weeks post-surgery before you can start more intensive labor. After your first follow-up with Dr. Nikfarjam, he will be able to give you a better idea of when you can return to your regular job.
Even though heavy lifting, jogging, and yoga are not recommended after surgery, walking is an ideal way to stay active and prevent healing issues. Walking promotes blood circulation, which in turn prevents blood clots from forming in your legs, a condition known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This is common in people who do not move for a long period of time. You may be uncomfortable after surgery, but walking for just a few minutes a day early on can make all the difference.

After your first week, you should begin with three 5-minute walks every day, increasing your walking time by about five minutes each subsequent week. Once you reach week five, you can begin slowly returning to your exercise routine, under the guidance of Dr. Nikfarjam. Heavy lifting and strenuous running are still not recommended, but light jogging and stretching should be fine now.

About six weeks post-surgery, you can add a bit more intensity to your workout, but you should always take it week by week and pay attention to how you feel as you exercise.
Of course! Our Facelift patients at New You Plastic Surgery will combine their Facelift with other cosmetic surgery procedures such as a Chin Implant, Neck Lift, Upper and Lower Blepharoplasty, Brow Lift, or a nose job for a better profile. If you have a specific area of interest that you would like Dr. Nikfarjam to examine, please let him know during your Facelift consultation and he will be able to provide you with his expert recommendations.
As a highly trained facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Nikfarjam takes each surgery very seriously and strives to provide a safe recovery with stunning results for every patient. Keep in mind though, as with facial plastic surgery or any kind of surgery, a facelift does have potential risks associated with it that we like our patients to be aware of. Some of these risks include:
- Anesthesia risks
- Bleeding
- Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
- Facial nerve injury with weakness
- Fluid accumulation
- Infection
- Hair loss
- Hematoma ( collection of blood hematoma under the skin)
- Nerve injury
- Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
- Persistent pain
- Scarring
While many of these side effects should heal on their own over time, if you do find yourself experiencing any long-lasting or unexpected reactions, please be sure to contact our office immediately.
Anyone considering a facelift should be concerned about incision placement. It is hard to hide scars, especially for women who wear their hair shorter and male patients.

As a top facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Nikfarjam will prevent prominent surgical scars by meticulously making incisions in well-hidden areas and using the most advanced surgical techniques to close the incisions so that his patients heal with minimal scarring when fully healed.

The incisions are placed in natural creases beginning just in front of the ear continuing around the back of the ear. Placement of facelift incisions is as much of an art as it is science. All of your questions about incision placement can be answered during your consultation.
A facelift does not directly address the eye area but there is usually some residual improvement from the facelift.

To rejuvenate the eyes, Eyelid Surgery is needed. An eyelid lift addresses sagging, excess fat deposits, and loose skin in both the upper and lower eyelids. It is very common for patients to have a facelift and an eye lift at the same time. For dark circles, Dr. Nikfarjam can also perform non-surgical dermal fillers.

Resources
New you resources

We know that the decision to undergo plastic surgery can be a big one. There are many things to consider before your procedure, regardless of whether you live in the greater New York City area or are traveling from out of state. Our knowledgeable and friendly team wants to make your experience as seamless and effortless as possible, which is why we provide some informational resources to make your journey to a new you a little less stressful.

Patient Resources