FACESURGICAL
Facelift in Murrieta
A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that repositions sagging facial tissues to reduce visible signs of aging in the lower face and neck. The surgery addresses jowls, deep nasolabial folds, loose skin along the jawline, and platysmal bands in the neck by lifting and tightening the underlying muscular layer (SMAS) and removing excess skin.
At a Glance
- ASPS member surgeons performed approximately 79,000 facelift procedures in 2024, making it one of the most common cosmetic surgeries[4]
- Facelift surgery has an overall complication rate of approximately 1.8%, comparable to other cosmetic surgical procedures[7]
- Patient satisfaction studies report approximately 97% of patients describing facial improvement as very good or beyond expectations at one year[8]
- Hematoma is the most common complication, occurring in approximately 1% of cases, with most presenting within the first 24 hours[7]
Overview
Rhytidectomy is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedures, with ASPS member surgeons performing approximately 79,000 procedures in 2024. The surgery targets the mid and lower face, jawline, and neck to restore a more youthful facial contour by addressing tissue laxity that develops with age, gravity, and sun exposure.
Several surgical techniques exist, including SMAS plication, SMAS imbrication, extended SMAS, and deep plane facelift. The choice of technique depends on the degree of aging, facial anatomy, and the surgeon's assessment of which approach can best achieve the patient's goals while maintaining natural facial movement and expression.
Results from facelift surgery are long-lasting, though they do not stop the aging process. Studies indicate high patient satisfaction rates, with research showing approximately 97% of patients reporting very good or better improvement at one year. The face continues to age naturally after surgery, and some patients choose a secondary procedure years later.
What to expect
- Consultation to discuss goals, review medical history, and develop a surgical plan
- Pre-operative evaluation including physical examination and any necessary laboratory tests
- Administration of general anesthesia or intravenous sedation with local anesthesia
- Incisions placed along the hairline, around the ear, and potentially under the chin
- Elevation and separation of the skin from the underlying SMAS layer
- Repositioning and tightening of the SMAS and deeper facial tissues
- Sculpting or redistribution of facial fat as needed
- Redraping and trimming of excess skin
- Closure of incisions with sutures and possible placement of temporary drains
- Application of dressings and a supportive facial wrap
How a facelift works
- An incision is made that typically begins in the hairline at the temple, continues around the front of the ear, and extends behind the earlobe into the lower scalp. A small incision under the chin may be added for neck work.
- The skin is separated from the underlying tissues, and the deeper layer known as the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) is identified and repositioned. Depending on the technique, the SMAS may be plicated, imbricated, or elevated as a composite flap with the overlying skin.
- Excess or displaced fat may be sculpted, redistributed, or removed from the face, jowls, and neck to restore youthful facial contours.
- The skin is redraped over the newly repositioned tissues, excess skin is trimmed, and incisions are closed with sutures. Drainage tubes may be placed temporarily to prevent fluid accumulation.
- Volume loss and tissue descent are separate problems that arrive together, and a lift corrects the second without adding back the first. A face that has gone hollow at the cheek or the temple as well as descended is therefore assessed for both at the first consultation. Facial fat transfer is the volume half of that assessment.
When it's recommended
- Sagging skin and tissue laxity in the mid and lower face
- Jowling along the jawline
- Deep nasolabial folds (creases from nose to mouth corners)
- Loss of definition along the jawline and chin
- Platysmal bands and loose skin in the neck
- Volume redistribution and descent of facial fat pads
- Mild to moderate skin laxity in patients seeking facial rejuvenation
Is a facelift right for you?
Reach out to learn more from Dr. Vishal Banthia.
Recovery & aftercare
- Dressings and drains are typically removed within 1 to 2 days after surgery
- Sutures are removed in approximately 5 to 10 days depending on location
- Bruising and swelling are expected and typically peak at 2 to 3 days, then gradually subside over 2 to 3 weeks
- Most patients can return to non-strenuous work within 2 weeks
- Strenuous exercise and heavy lifting should be avoided for 4 to 6 weeks
- Numbness around the incision sites is common and typically resolves over several months
- Final results continue to improve as swelling resolves over 3 to 6 months
Alternatives
- Non-surgical skin tightening procedures (radiofrequency, ultrasound-based treatments)
- Injectable fillers to restore facial volume
- Thread lift for mild skin laxity
- Botox for dynamic wrinkles
- Laser skin resurfacing for surface texture improvement
- Neck lift as a standalone procedure for neck-specific concerns
- Mini facelift for patients with mild to moderate aging
Frequently Asked Questions
- A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that lifts and tightens sagging facial tissues to reduce visible signs of aging. The surgery addresses jowls, deep creases, loose skin along the jawline, and neck laxity by repositioning the deeper tissue layers and removing excess skin.
- Facelift surgery is performed under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation, so you do not feel pain during the procedure. After surgery, most patients experience tightness, mild discomfort, and swelling that can be managed with prescribed pain medication. Discomfort typically improves significantly within the first week.
- Facelift surgery has a well-established safety profile when performed by a surgeon board-certified in a specialty that trains for it. Studies of over 11,000 patients report an overall complication rate of approximately 1.8%. As with any surgery there are risks, and Dr. Banthia goes through the ones that apply to a particular face at the consultation rather than leaving them to a consent form.
- Facelift results are long-lasting, typically maintaining noticeable improvement for 5 to 10 years or more. The face continues to age naturally after surgery, but most patients report looking younger than they would have without the procedure. Some patients elect a secondary facelift years later.
- Most patients can return to non-strenuous activities within about 2 weeks. Bruising and swelling peak around day 2 to 3 and gradually subside over 2 to 3 weeks. Strenuous exercise should be avoided for 4 to 6 weeks. Final results become apparent as residual swelling resolves over 3 to 6 months.
- Facelift surgery may not be appropriate for individuals who actively smoke, have uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension, take blood thinners without medical clearance, or have conditions that impair wound healing. A thorough pre-operative evaluation helps determine whether a facelift is suitable for each individual.
- Dr. Vishal Banthia. He is board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, trained at Stanford and UCSF, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. The surgeon who assesses a face at the consultation is the surgeon who plans and performs the operation – this is a practice where the surgeon does the operating, and the assessment is not handed to anyone else afterwards.
- There are two offices, Murrieta on Date Street and Carlsbad, and both run by appointment. Which one a patient is seen at, and where the operation itself takes place, is settled when the plan is – along with the rest of the logistics, meaning timing, transport home, and who needs to be with you. None of that is published on this page because none of it is the same for every patient.
- Radiofrequency and ultrasound tightening, thread lifts, and neuromodulator injections all exist, and Dr. Banthia offers none of the four – his menu is surgical and carries no cosmetic-injectable or med-spa side. They also do different work: they act on skin and on muscle activity, and a facelift repositions the deeper layer that has descended. He is direct at the consultation about whether a given face has lost tone or lost position, and declining to operate is a normal outcome of that visit.
Facelift risks & candidacy
Who should avoid this
- Active smoking or nicotine use (significantly increases risk of skin flap necrosis)
- Uncontrolled diabetes or conditions that impair wound healing
- Bleeding disorders or unmanaged anticoagulation therapy
- Uncontrolled hypertension
- Active infection at the planned surgical site
- Connective tissue disorders that compromise healing
- History of keloid or hypertrophic scar formation
- Unrealistic expectations regarding surgical outcomes
Possible risks
- Hematoma (the most common complication, occurring in approximately 1% of cases)
- Infection at the surgical site
- Temporary or permanent nerve injury affecting facial movement or sensation
- Skin flap necrosis, particularly in smokers
- Scarring, though incisions are placed to minimize visibility
- Asymmetry between the two sides of the face
- Hair loss near the incision lines (temporary or permanent)
- Unfavorable scarring including widened or hypertrophic scars
- Seroma (fluid accumulation beneath the skin)
- Need for revision surgery
Your practitioner
Dr. Vishal Banthia, MD, FACS
Dr. Vishal Banthia is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon practicing in Murrieta and Carlsbad, California. He is certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. His practice is surgical and face-only: facelift, neck lift, eyelid surgery, and rhinoplasty. He lectures internationally, has published peer-reviewed research indexed in the National Library of Medicine, and received the American Academy of Otolaryngology's Humanitarian Travel Award for cleft lip and palate surgery in Honduras.
Sources & references
This article draws on 9 sources, including peer-reviewed research, leading medical institutions.
Government & research
Medical institutions
Medically reviewed by Dr. Vishal Banthia, MD, FACS · Last reviewed: 2026-08-07