Facelift & Mini Facelift

Dr. Horn performs full facelifts, mini facelifts, brow lifts, and neck lifts to address skin laxity, jowling, mid-face descent, and neck banding. Incisions are placed within natural contours near the ears and hairline. The underlying facial musculature is repositioned and secured before any skin is removed, producing results that look refreshed rather than stretched. Both in-person and virtual consultations are offered at the River North clinic.

The facelift program at Michael Horn Plastic Surgery & Med Spa in Chicago addresses the most visible indicators of facial aging: laxity along the cheeks and jawline, jowl formation, mid-face descent, neck banding, and loss of the defined chin-to-neck angle. Dr. Michael A. Horn, board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery since 2000, approaches facial rejuvenation as a three-dimensional restoration of structure rather than simple skin excision — a distinction that produces more lasting and more natural-looking outcomes. Dr. Horn's facelift technique involves careful incision planning in locations that exploit natural skin creases and hairline transitions to conceal scars effectively. Incisions typically run from the temple, around the ear, and extend behind the ear into the hairline depending on the degree of neck involvement. Through these access points, Dr. Horn elevates and repositions the SMAS — the deep muscular layer of the face — anchoring it in a more youthful position with permanent sutures before addressing redundant skin. This multi-layer approach ensures that the skin is not placed under excessive tension at closure, which is a primary driver of the unnaturally tight appearance seen in older surgical techniques. The practice offers the full spectrum of facial rejuvenation surgery: traditional facelift (rhytidectomy) for comprehensive lower face and neck correction, mini facelift for patients with moderate laxity preferring a less extensive procedure, brow lift to address forehead lines and eyebrow ptosis, neck lift as a standalone procedure for patients primarily concerned with the neck and jawline, and combined procedures for patients seeking total facial restoration in a single surgical session. Recovery involves acute swelling and bruising that largely resolves in the first one to two weeks, with a gradual return to full activity over four to six weeks. Final results continue to refine over several months as residual swelling dissipates. In-person and virtual consultations are available at the River North office. Financing through CareCredit and other providers is accepted.