Choosing the right facelift surgeon can have a major impact on both your results and your overall experience. A well-performed facelift should leave you looking refreshed, natural, and like yourself, not overly tight. Because facelift techniques and surgeon skill levels vary significantly, it’s important to look beyond before-and-after photos alone and understand what truly defines excellent results.
Board certification, specialized experience in facial plastic surgery, artistic judgment, and attention to detail all contribute to achieving long-lasting facial rejuvenation. The best facelift surgeons focus on restoring youthful facial structure, preserving natural expression, minimizing visible scarring, and tailoring the procedure to each patient’s anatomy and goals.
Evaluate the Surgeon’s Technique and Experience
Not all facelift techniques are the same, and a surgeon’s expertise matters significantly. Experienced facial plastic surgeons often use advanced techniques, such as the deep plane facelift, which addresses deeper facial structures rather than relying solely on skin tension. This approach can produce more natural movement, greater longevity, and a less surgically altered appearance.
Ask potential surgeons:
- How often they perform facelift surgery
- Which facelift techniques they specialize in
- Whether they customize procedures based on facial anatomy
- How they approach volume loss, skin quality, and neck aging
- What complications they actively work to avoid
A surgeon with extensive facelift experience should also be able to discuss scar placement, recovery expectations, and long-term maintenance in detail.
Check Out Before and After Photos
Our Chicago facelift patients often seem more at ease when they have viewed before-and-after photos before their consultations. In this blog post, I’ll offer some tips for evaluating photos of facelift results. (And don’t forget to check out my related blog post to learn some of the questions you should ask a facelift surgeon at your consultation.)
If you’re considering having a facelift, keep these tips in mind when reviewing before-and-after photos:
Results should look natural. In the post-surgery photo, the patient’s face should not look like that of a different person. He or she should merely look like a younger, more refreshed version of the person in the first photo. It should never be obvious that the patient has had surgery, so drastic changes or a “pulled” look are red flags. Dr. Mustoe explains more about this desired result in the video below:
- Pictures in each set should be similar. The patient should be posed the same way in each photo, and the lighting should remain consistent. Extending or tucking a chin, flexing facial muscles, or smiling can make a world of difference between photos, and so can better lighting. Makeup can also greatly change someone’s appearance, so be sure it is similar in each photo, as well. Good surgical practices direct their patients during photo shoots to make sure these factors don’t significantly affect the outcome.
- The more examples, the better. Good surgeons also provide many examples of their work. This way, prospective patients are more likely to find photos that exhibit some of their own concerns. Surgeons should also be able to provide more photos during a consultation than what they have on their websites. Many patients who are uncomfortable having their photos posted on a website will give permission to display their photos in a more private office setting.
Choose a Surgeon Who Takes a Comprehensive Approach
Facial aging involves more than just loose skin. Volume loss, tissue descent, changes in skin quality, and neck aging all contribute to an older appearance. Surgeons who take a comprehensive approach may combine facelift surgery with fat transfer, eyelid surgery, a brow lift, or skin rejuvenation treatments to create more balanced results.
If you’re ready to discuss the facial rejuvenation options best suited to you with an experienced facelift surgeon in Chicago, schedule a consultation at my practice. You can request a consultation using our online contact form or by calling our office at (312) 788-2560.
Leave a Reply