Facelift

The Swan Center performs mini and full facelift procedures to address the sagging skin, jowling, deep nasolabial folds, and neck laxity that result from the combined effects of gravity, volume loss, and skin ageing. The procedure repositions and tightens the underlying facial muscle and connective tissue layer (SMAS), removes excess skin, and restores a naturally youthful contour without the telltale pulled or overdone appearance. Mini facelifts target the lower face and jawline with shorter incisions, while a full facelift comprehensively addresses the mid-face, lower face, and neck.

Facelift surgery at the Swan Center for Plastic Surgery in Alpharetta, Georgia is performed as either a mini facelift or a comprehensive rhytidectomy, with the appropriate approach determined based on the extent of facial ageing, patient anatomy, and the degree of rejuvenation sought. Both procedures are performed under general anesthesia administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist at an accredited surgical facility. The foundational principle of modern facelift surgery is lifting and repositioning the SMAS — the superficial musculo-aponeurotic system, the fibromuscular layer beneath the skin that connects the underlying facial muscles to the overlying dermis. By addressing the SMAS rather than simply pulling and cutting skin, the Swan Center's surgeons produce longer-lasting results with natural-appearing tension distribution that avoids the 'windswept' or stigmatised appearance associated with older skin-only techniques. A mini facelift uses shorter incisions concealed within the hairline and around the ear to address early to moderate jowling and lower facial laxity; recovery is correspondingly shorter than a full facelift. A full rhytidectomy extends the treatment zone to include the mid-face, addressing fallen cheek fat pads and deepened nasolabial folds, and is combined with a neck lift to address platysmal banding and submental fullness. Incisions are placed within the natural contours of the hairline, tragus, and post-auricular crease for maximum concealment. Volume restoration is frequently incorporated into the facelift plan using fat grafting or dermal fillers to replace the mid-face volume loss that accompanies skeletal resorption with age. Recovery from a full facelift at the Swan Center involves approximately two weeks of visible bruising and swelling, with most patients comfortable in social settings at three to four weeks and final results maturing over three to six months.