Facelift (Rhytidectomy)

Surgical facelift using SMAS elevation and repositioning to reduce sagging skin, hanging jowls, and diminished cheek volume without a tight or pulled appearance. Incisions carefully placed along the hairline, within ear folds, or behind the earlobe. A mini facelift option is available for earlier-stage ageing. Complementary procedures including fat transfer, CO2 laser resurfacing, and injectables can be combined. Recovery: two to three weeks off work.

Facelift surgery at Zarrabi Plastic Surgery addresses the hallmark signs of facial ageing: loss of jawline definition, jowl formation, mid-face descent, deep nasolabial folds, and skin laxity in the lower face and neck. Dr. Michael Zarrabi's technique centres on SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) manipulation — repositioning the deeper muscle and fascial layer rather than simply tightening overlying skin. This approach produces natural-looking, long-lasting results and avoids the windswept or overly-pulled appearance associated with older, skin-only techniques. Incision placement is tailored to each patient's anatomy. Incisions may run along the hairline at the temple, within the natural contours of the ear, or behind the earlobe into the posterior hairline. Once healed, these scars are difficult to detect. The underlying SMAS is elevated and secured in an anatomically correct position; excess skin is then redraped and trimmed without tension. Complementary procedures are frequently combined at the same operative session. Fat transfer to the mid-face restores volume lost to ageing. CO2 laser resurfacing improves skin texture and tone. Dermal fillers and Botox address residual fine lines during follow-up visits. A mini facelift is available for patients in earlier stages of facial ageing who have moderate skin laxity but do not yet require a full SMAS dissection. Recovery for a standard facelift involves two to three weeks away from work; incision lines require three to four months to mature fully. Patients are advised to arrange a caregiver for the first 24 hours post-surgery. The Beverly Hills office is located at 150 S Rodeo Dr #200 on Rodeo Drive, with a second consultation location in Santa Monica. The practice provides transparent, itemised pricing with no hidden fees.