Facelift & Neck Lift

Dr. William Lao performs traditional, deep plane, Asian, and mini facelifts at his Manhattan clinic, addressing facial and neck laxity through techniques adapted to each patient's anatomy. Procedures take three to six hours under general or local anaesthesia with sedation. Patients typically return to work within five to seven days, with final results visible by six weeks and lasting five to ten years.

Facelift surgery at Dr. William Lao's Fifth Avenue practice in Midtown Manhattan is tailored to each patient's anatomy, degree of laxity, and aesthetic objectives. Dr. Lao offers four principal approaches, selecting the technique based on the consultation assessment. The traditional facelift lifts and repositions skin and the superficial musculoaponeurotic system through incisions concealed in the hairline and around the ears. The deep plane facelift goes a layer deeper — elevating the SMAS with the overlying soft tissue as a single composite flap and releasing the retaining ligaments that anchor the face to the underlying bone — producing longer-lasting, more natural results with less surface skin tension and a reduced risk of the 'pulled' appearance associated with older techniques. The Asian facelift accounts for structural differences in Asian facial anatomy, including thicker and more fibrous tissue, a tendency toward heavier jowling, and different fat distribution patterns; it may be combined with buccal fat reduction for patients who want a slimmer lower face. The mini facelift is a shorter-scar procedure focused on the lower face and neck, performed under local anaesthesia with sedation and suited to patients with earlier-stage laxity. Neck lift surgery is commonly performed alongside a facelift, addressing platysmal banding and excess submental tissue through a small incision under the chin and behind the ears. Combined facelift and neck lift surgery typically takes three to six hours on an outpatient basis. Recovery involves returning to desk work within five to seven days; bruising and swelling resolve progressively over four to six weeks. Strenuous activity is restricted for six weeks and final results are established by approximately six weeks post-operatively, with lasting improvement of five to ten years. Dr. Lao's recognition by Newsweek as one of America's Best Plastic Surgeons in 2024 and 2025, combined with his deep plane and Asian facelift sub-specialisation, makes this Midtown Manhattan practice a destination for patients travelling from across New York City, the tri-state area, and internationally for facelift surgery.