Facelift in Toronto
Dr. Cory Torgerson – Highly Trained Facial Plastic Surgeon
Skin and muscle laxity are often to blame for lines, wrinkles, and the overall tired and “aging” look. Luckily, skin laxity issues can be effectively addressed with a facelift in Toronto – a common outpatient procedure performed by our surgeons. Our plastic surgeons are certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and specialize in mini facelifts, deep plane face lifts, and other advanced techniques to reshape the face and neck and restore a youthful, streamlined facial contour for our patients.
What Is a Facelift?
A facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, is a cosmetic surgical procedure performed to create a more youthful appearance by removing or repositioning facial skin, fat, or muscle. There are multiple types of facelift surgeries performed in Toronto, including mini facelifts and deep plane facelifts.
Benefits of a Facelift Surgery
The ultimate goal of any facelift is to address signs of aging without leaving an unnaturally tightened face. Our clinic is known for delivering incredibly natural-looking results, which can be seen in our facelift before and after gallery.
When performed by a skilled surgeon, a facelift can shave years off of your appearance by:
- tightening and lifting the facial skin
- removing excess skin
- smoothing deep lines and wrinkles
- restoring the underlying muscle
- creating a refreshed and more youthful appearance
How Much Does Facelift Surgery Cost in Toronto?
The average cost of a facelift in Toronto ranges between $9,500 to $35,000 but can vary depending on the specific type of facelift performed. After your initial consultation, the surgeon will provide you with a detailed quote that will include surgery preparation, the surgery, and follow-up care with your facelift surgeon in Toronto.
This number is based on online research. Please update with the correct price.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Face Lift in Toronto?
You may be a good candidate for a facelift in Toronto if you meet the following criteria:
- You are in generally good health
- You have no medical conditions that impair healing
- You do not smoke
- You have a decent amount of skin elasticity
- You wish to reduce signs of aging in your face
- You have loose or sagging skin around your face or neck
- You can follow recovery instructions
- You have realistic expectations
Your Initial Consultation: Is Facelift Surgery Right for You?
Deciding to undergo cosmetic surgery is no small matter. That’s why our surgeons always invite their patients for a thorough initial consultation. During this first meeting, you will get an opportunity to ask questions about facelift surgery in Toronto, as well as discuss your concerns and desired outcomes. The surgeon will examine your face and neck in detail, interview you about your goals, and outline surgical options to help you achieve your objectives.
Types of Facelift Surgery in Toronto
Full Facelift in Toronto
Also called a complete facelift, a full facelift in Toronto is recommended to patients looking to rejuvenate the lower ⅔ of the face. The surgery provides noticeable rejuvenation, while still looking natural.
Full Facelift Procedure
During the procedure, the surgeon lifts the upper layer of the skin, as well as the deeper SMAS layer (Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System), which includes the muscles that control facial expressions. Earlier full facelift techniques tightened the skin alone, without touching the underlying SMAS layer.
Full (SMAS) Facelift Candidates
A SMAS facelift is ideal for patients with significant signs of aging associated with sagging facial features. The surgeon may recommend a complete facelift for you if you have the following signs of aging:
- Sagging facial skin
- Loss of facial volume
- Deep wrinkles
- Jowls or double-chin
- Uneven cheek or jawline contours
Ponytail Lift in Toronto
A ponytail lift is a “scarless” facelift procedure, with all incisions hidden within the hairline. With incisions well-concealed by the hair, the scars are not visible when wearing your hair in a ponytail.
Ponytail Lift Procedure
While traditional facelifts require incisions in front of the ear, a ponytail facelift involves minor incisions placed in the scalp behind the central forehead and temples, using an endoscopic camera for enhanced accuracy.
Ponytail Lift Candidates
A ponytail facelift is the perfect solution for patients who are seeing early changes to their appearance and would like to subtly enhance their mid-face, temples, and brow region. This technique does not address sagging neck skin, so the surgery is ideal for patients whose neck skin is still taut.
Deep Plane Facelift in Toronto
The deep plane facelift technique goes beyond the SMAS layer, releasing facial ligaments to allow more significant repositioning of the facial structures. With a deep-plane approach, a more noticeable lift can be achieved, particularly in the cheek region. While this technique requires additional surgical skill, the results will look natural and remain stable for many years to come.
Deep Plane Facelift Procedure
There are two types of deep-plane facelift procedures:
- A composite deep plane facelift involves dissection at the level of the SMAS. During the procedure, the skin is lifted together with the SMAS layer to achieve natural-looking results.
- A bi-lamellar deep plane facelift involves dissection below the level of the SMAS. With this technique, the surgeon tightens and lifts the skin and the SMAS layer independently of each other.
While a SMAS facelift and a deep plane facelift produce similar results, the deep plane procedure is more invasive and may require a longer healing process.
Deep Plane Facelift Candidates
Similarly to a SMAS facelift, deep plane facelift candidates are men and women with significant signs of aging in the mid to lower face, including jowls, nasolabial folds, and marionette lines. During your consultation, the surgeon will take a close look at your face and neck and determine whether a regular SMAS facelift or a deep plane facelift is necessary to achieve your desired results.
Mini Facelift in Toronto
A mini facelift in Toronto is an excellent cosmetic procedure to address early signs of aging. The mini facelift procedure is primarily used to address the signs of aging along the jawline and mid-face. As such, the mini procedure requires a smaller incision than the incision used for a regular facelift. Most of the time, the incision will start at the mid-temple and end just behind the earlobe, creating a discreet, virtually unnoticeable scar.
Mini Facelift Procedure
As with full facelift surgeries, there are different approaches to performing a mini facelift, including:
- skin-only mini facelift
- SMAS elevation mini facelift
- endoscopic mini facelift
- deep plane mini facelift
Mini facelift surgery typically takes 2 to 3 hours and is performed under general anesthesia. With precision, the surgeon lifts and repositions the SMAS and the skin layer, which provides the most natural mini facelift result.
Mini Facelift Candidates
Mini facelift surgery in Toronto is recommended to individuals in their 40s who do not yet require drastic changes that can be achieved with a full facelift. The mini facelift procedure specifically targets midface sagging, cheeks, jowls, and lack of jawline definition, but does not address aging neck.
Mini Facelift Cost in Toronto, Ontario
As with other types of facelift surgeries, the cost of a mini facelift in Toronto can vary depending on the complexity of the individual’s case and specific techniques utilized during the surgery. The surgeon will tailor your procedure to your unique facial structure and aesthetic goals, meaning that the mini face lift cost in Toronto will vary from patient to patient.
How to Find the Best Plastic Surgeon for a Facelift
Facelift surgery procedures require strong technical proficiency and an impeccable aesthetic eye on the part of the operating surgeon. Many cosmetic surgeons perform skin-only facelift procedures to address the exterior of the face when the underlying muscles are weak, lax, and not well positioned. Unfortunately, if the underlying facial structures are not addressed properly, the facelift results end up being short-lived and unnatural.
That’s why, when looking for the best facelift surgeon in Toronto or Canada, you should look for a professional skilled in all types of facelifts, including SMAS and deep-plane techniques. We believe that the key to a successful facelift lies in restoring facial balance and harmony – not creating a wrinkle-free, over-stretched appearance. With deep knowledge of human face anatomy, our surgeons artfully apply advanced facelift techniques to deliver natural-looking and long-lasting results. Get in touch with us now to book your facelift consultation.
Facelift Surgery Risks
Just like any other facial cosmetic surgery, a facelift procedure carries certain risks, including:
- Allergic reaction to anaesthetic
- Excessive bleeding
- Infection at the surgical site
- Poor healing due to smoking
- Facial nerve injury or changes in skin sensation
To minimize the risk of complications, it is of the utmost importance to find the best facelift surgeon in Toronto you can trust. Contact us today to learn more about our expertise in facelift surgery.
Facelift Incisions
All types of facelift procedures involve very fine and small incisions, which are usually made near the ear. Hidden in the skin creases of the front of the ear and wrapping behind, these scars become virtually unnoticeable once fully healed. The incision shape varies slightly for men and women, due to the difference in facial hair growth.
Our Approach to Facelift Surgery in Toronto
There are several misconceptions surrounding facelift surgeries, including the idea that a facelift is performed by stretching the skin tight to remove lines and wrinkles. While skin-only facelifts are still performed by untrained plastic surgeons, these procedures do yield unnatural-looking results.
When done properly, a facelift should involve lifting and tightening the soft tissues beneath the skin. By repositioning underlying facial muscles, the surgeon can achieve a youthful appearance without stretching the outer skin. This leaves the patient looking more youthful, refreshed, and absolutely natural.
Combining Facelift with Other Procedures
The surgeon often combines facelift surgery with volume restoration procedures like fillers or fat grafting to achieve a more youthful appearance of the face. Many of our patients also choose to undergo a blepharoplasty surgery or a brow lift at the same time to achieve maximum facial rejuvenation with minimal downtime.
Planning Your Facelift Surgery to Address Your Specific Needs
The surgeon uses different facelift techniques, depending on unique patient needs. They carefully evaluate the heaviness of the jowls, the amount of loose skin in the neck, and the overall laxity of the muscles to develop a custom surgical solution tailored to each patient’s unique needs.
Which Type of Facelift is Right for You?
- For younger patients in their 40s: The surgeon usually recommends a mini-facelift for lower-face or jowl rejuvenation or a ponytail facelift for mid- to upper-face rejuvenation.
- For people seeking a significant correction: The surgeon often recommends a deep-plane facelift combined with a neck lift.
- For patients who want to focus on improving a specific area: The surgeon may perform a targeted lift procedure, such as a brow lift, mid-face lift, or neck lift.
Facelift Recovery and Aftercare
First 3 Days After Facelift Surgery
The day you come home after your facelift surgery in Toronto, you may feel sleepy and unsteady. We recommend having a friend or a family member drive you home and care for you on your first day after the surgery. During this period, it is normal to experience swelling and soreness; you will be prescribed pain medication to minimize the discomfort.
1-14 days:
- Most swelling and bruising should go down in this period
- It’s a good idea to take it easy during the first week, but move around your home to keep blood flowing
- Usually the incisions will be closed by the 2-week mark
- After 2 weeks, all bathing and swimming is permitted
- Many people choose to work from home and avoid crowds for about 14 days
- No hitting the gym or intense workouts during this time
- Avoid bending over or lifting heavy items
- Make sure to protect your skin from the sun
1 Week After Facelift Surgery
By the end of the first week, you will feel more active and will likely no longer need pain medication. A lot of the swelling will have gone down by now, and you will be able to resume light household activities.
2-6 weeks:
- You can begin scar care treatments
- After about 4 weeks, any swelling or tightness will be subtle, and usually only the patient notices it
- You can usually resume cardio after 3 weeks
- Feel free to jump back into all workouts and fitness routines after 6 weeks
- Continue to protect your skin and scars from sun exposure
- During this time, you might notice numbness or strange sensations due to temporary nerve strain and healing
- You will have a follow-up appointment to check on your progress
6 weeks to 1 year:
You will likely have a 6-month follow up appointment to take “after photos”
1 Year After Facelift Surgery
It can take up to a full year for very minor residual swelling, bruising, tightness, and numbness to subside. By the 1-year mark, visible scars will become white, flat, and nearly imperceptible.
Facelift FAQs
What is the best age for a facelift?
There is no best age for a facelift – the exact age will depend on your genetics and anatomy. Most of our patients who choose to get a facelift are in their 40s or older.
What is the downside of a mini face lift?
While a mini facelift uses smaller incisions compared to a traditional facelift, it is still a surgical procedure. Like all types of surgery, mild side effects are to be expected, including bruising, pain, and swelling.
Can you achieve the same results with a non-surgical facelift?
While non-surgical anti-aging treatments can minimize minor signs of aging, nothing can compare in effectiveness to a surgical facelift. For patients with excessively sagging facial skin, a double chin, drooping jowls, or deeply etched lines and wrinkles, surgical treatment is necessary to achieve noticeable rejuvenation.
Can I combine a facelift with other procedures?
Yes! A facelift is frequently combined with additional procedures like an eyelid lift (blepharoplasty), chin augmentation, a neck lift, laser skin resurfacing, dermal fillers, or fat grafting to restore volume.
Can I have a facelift if I have already had one?
A facelift is a long-lasting enhancement, but it does not stop the ongoing aging process. After your facelift procedure, the results will slowly fade over time, and after a decade or more, you may realize that you want to have your face lifted again. Our surgeons can perform a second facelift if your results have faded with time, or they can perform corrective surgery if you are not happy with your previous facelift outcome.
How long will my facelift procedure last?
Depending on the specifics of the procedure, a facelift surgery takes between 2 and 4 hours in the operating room.
What type of anesthesia is used in a facelift?
A facelift is typically performed using either general anesthesia or IV sedation for maximum patient comfort.
Will a facelift surgery in Toronto make my face look pulled or unnatural?
When you choose one of the best facelift surgeons in Toronto to perform your facelift surgery, you can rest assured that your face will not appear pulled or unnatural – you will look just like your younger self.
