Facelift & Neck Lift

Facelift (rhytidectomy) and neck lift performed by Dr. Cat Huang-Begovic to address jowling, mid-face descent, neck laxity, and platysmal banding. The procedure lifts and repositions descended facial soft tissue layers for a refreshed, natural appearance. Neck lift addresses the neck and jawline independently or as part of a combined facelift procedure. Results are long-lasting with natural-appearing contours aligned with Dr. Huang-Begovic's aesthetic philosophy.

Facelift surgery at Dr. Cat Plastic Surgery reflects Dr. Huang-Begovic's overarching aesthetic philosophy — natural-looking, proportionate rejuvenation that restores a rested and refreshed appearance without the telltale stigmata of over-tightened or wind-tunnel results. The rhytidectomy (facelift) procedure addresses the gravitational and volumetric changes of facial ageing that cannot be corrected with non-surgical treatments alone: jowling (descent of the lower facial fat pad over the mandibular border), mid-face descent (flattening of the cheek and deepening of the nasolabial folds as the malar fat pad slides inferiorly), neck laxity (loose or banded platysmal muscle, excess submental or submandibular fat, and loose neck skin), and generalised loss of youthful facial contour definition. The surgical approach involves incisions placed in natural skin-crease locations — in front of and behind the ear, within the hairline at the temple, and along the posterior hairline behind the ear — designed to be essentially invisible after healing. The underlying SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system) and platysma layers are then released, repositioned, and secured in a more youthful vector, distributing the tension of the lift across the deeper structural layer rather than placing it on the skin alone. This deeper-plane approach produces more durable, natural results compared to skin-only techniques because the skin is redraped without undue tension. The neck lift — either as part of a combined facelift or as a standalone procedure — addresses the platysma muscle (plicating or transecting the medial platysmal bands that cause vertical banding in the neck), removes excess submental and submandibular fat (via direct excision or concurrent liposuction), and redrapes the neck skin for a sharper jawline and neck angle. Concurrent procedures such as fat transfer, brow lift, and eyelid surgery are frequently combined at the same operative session for comprehensive facial rejuvenation. Recovery involves one to two weeks of social swelling and bruising, with most patients presentable within ten to fourteen days.