Natural-Looking Facelift Results By a Triple Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

There are many misconceptions about facelifts. Dr. Greg Chernoff, a triple board-certified facial plastic surgeon, believes the best facelifts are ones that no one ever knows you had!

Unfortunately, as we age, our skin loses its elasticity and the underlying facial muscles weaken, resulting in sagging jowls and the development of excess fat and skin beneath the chin.

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a cosmetic procedure designed to improve the visible signs of aging. For those men who have a severe case of facial drooping and skin folds that are associated with normal aging and extensive sun exposure, a deep plane lift may be the best approach.

Dr. Chernoff advises that a deep plane facelift is a good surgical procedure for those whose facial profiles need extensive reshaping on areas that have the volume and tighter facial contours that give a more youthful appearance.

At Chernoff Cosmetic Surgery in Indianapolis, we offer all types of facelift procedures. During your consultation, we will explain all options to help you make an informed decision.

Dr. Chernoff’s education, training, specialization, and years of experience offer his patients optimal, natural-looking facelift results.

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What Is Deep Plane Facelift?

A deep plane facelift will accomplish the following rejuvenation goals:

  • Restore bulk to the mid-face
  • Soften lines around the mouth
  • Improve jawline contours
  • Improve the neckline

A deep plane facelift improves the appearance of the deep fold lines between the corner and nose of your mouth. Depending on your aesthetic goals and your specific visible signs of aging, Dr. Chernoff will discuss with you a variety of advanced facelift techniques to give you optimal natural-looking results. A deep plane facelift performed by Dr. Chernoff is a minimally invasive procedure. Most of his patients are back to normal activities in approximately 2 weeks.

For some patients, Dr. Chernoff will recommend a Deep Plane Mini Facelift or a Minimal-Access Cranial Suspension (MACS) Facelift. This also called a Mini-Facelift or Short Scar Facelift versus the traditional facelift.

There are also a variety of minimally invasive facelift procedures that are referred to by their brand names; i.e., Weekend Facelift, Quicklift, Lifestyle Lift, and Lifestyle Facelift are just a few. While there may be some slight variation among these different procedures, they involve less extensive incisions as indicated by the name and in some cases, general anesthesia may not be required. Additionally, the names indicate the recovery time is less which is true for the Mini Facelift we offer at Chernoff Cosmetic Surgery.

Are You a Good Candidate for a Facelift?

The aging process combined with the effects of environmental factors and gravity takes its toll on our face. With the aging process, both men and women see less facial muscle tone, wrinkles, folds, and sagging jowls.

Dr. Greg Chernoff and the facial enhancement specialists at Chernoff Cosmetic Surgery in Indianapolis, IN, advise men and women that they may benefit from a surgical facelift if their face is showing signs of aging. Some of these visible signs are due to the natural aging process of facial volume loss and skin elasticity. The signs typically include:

  • Sagging skin and underlying muscles from the cheeks to the jawline
  • Wrinkles and folds around the nose and mouth
  • Double chin or sagging skin around the jawline
  • Heavy cheeks or volume loss in the cheeks and around the mouth

Facial and neck aging varies from patient to patient due to genetics and ethnicity. Scheduling your consultation with Dr. Greg Chernoff to discuss your facial enhancement goals is the first step. He will advise you if you are a good candidate for a deep plane facelift, a mini-facelift, or if facial fillers (or perhaps a liquid facelift) is the best cosmetic procedure for you. Candidates should be in good overall health, not smoke, and have realistic expectations, as well as, a positive outlook.

Also, during your consultation you can have all your questions answered including some of the most common questions facelift patients ask:

  • What type of prescriptions will I attain following the procedure?
  • Will I be able to engage in regular activities immediately after the surgery?
  • Will I go home right after the surgery is complete? Will I need to wear bandages following the surgery?
  • Will I be able to wear cosmetics right after the surgery?
  • When will the stitches be taken out? When can I obtain a haircut or color my hair?

If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to ask Dr. Chernoff or his facial enhancement staff.

Learn More: Read, “Dr. Greg Chernoff’s Complete Guide to Face & Neck Rejuvenation for Women and Men”

How Is a Deep Plane Facelift Performed?

A rhytidectomy is an ideal procedure for healthy men and women who are looking to improve sagging and jowling of the lower face. This surgery is performed in an outpatient surgery center. For patients with severe sagging and neck banding, a neck lift in addition to a facelift could be the best option to achieve their facial renewal goals.

Depending on the extent of the procedure, the surgery may take on average four to five hours to complete. Incisions are small and are located around the earlobe and mid-ear. Dr. Chernoff is meticulous about placing the incision so that the resulting scar is small and virtually invisible. In fact, patients who have any type of facelift with Dr. Chernoff are able to wear their hair up and off their face and ears with no one able to tell that they’ve had surgery. Even men with little or no hair are surprised at how the incisions are not noticeable after they heal.

Once the incision is made, Dr. Chernoff gently lifts and tightens the underlying connective tissue and facial musculature before removing excess skin and carefully closing the incision. Dr. Chernoff uses a special suturing technique when closing the incision to reduce tension and minimize visible scarring. In some cases, ultrasonic-assisted fat removal techniques may also be used on the neck and jowl area to achieve optimal aesthetic results during a facelift in Indianapolis, IN.

Preparing for Surgery

Prior to any surgical procedure, Dr. Chernoff recommends that all our patients read our "Patient Guide for Plastic Surgery". The guide explains important points that all patients should think about as they are considering a surgical procedure.

What Is The Recovery Process for a Deep Plane Facelift?

Most of Dr. Chernoff’s patients are pleasantly surprised by what little pain they experience during recovery. When you wake up from surgery, you will have a compression garment on your face and possibly your neck. This promotes optimal healing and recovery.

We are all different and our bodies react and respond differently to surgery. Immediately after plastic surgery, your neck and jaw area could feel puffy. You could have some bruising and swelling for a few days. Cold compresses can help minimize the swelling and reduce pain. Taking arnica prior to the procedure can help, and your preoperative nurse will explain Dr. Chernoff’s recommendations.

The first couple of days after your facelift you will need to take it easy, doing small tasks for short periods of time. Pain is relatively minimal and most of our patients return to work in 10 to 14 days, depending more upon bruising than on discomfort. After the procedure, you will wear a compression garment around your neck and head for several days.

You will have tiny incisions that heal inconspicuously. It may be a couple of weeks before you can return to strenuous activities like running or lifting heavy weights. We follow up with you continuously after your rhytidectomy and will monitor you carefully until you are healed.

What Results Can I Expect?

Dr. Chernoff has safely and effectively performed over 10,000 facial procedures. He uses a combination of endoscopic and advanced surgical techniques to promote rapid healing and recovery. Dr. Chernoff’s main goal is to provide patients with natural results and no sign of a cosmetic procedure.

Procedures Often Combined With a Facelift

While Dr. Chernoff can perform a Facelift as an isolated procedure, most of his patients decide to combine a Facelift with other procedures such as a neck lift, mini-facelift, eyelid surgery, endoscopic eyebrow lift, buccal fat removal or liposuction.

During your consultation, we encourage you to discuss all your cosmetic goals with our team. Dr. Chernoff, one of our nurses, or our Patient Coordinator will discuss all options and combinations of procedures to help you reach your goals.

What’s the Difference Between a Facelift & Neck Lift?

Facelifts and neck lifts are both surgical procedures aimed at rejuvenating different areas of the face and neck.

  • Facelift: A facelift focuses on addressing sagging skin, wrinkles, and jowls in the lower face and jawline, providing a more youthful appearance.
  • Neck lift: In contrast, a neck lift targets excess skin, muscle laxity, and fat deposits in the neck area to create a smoother, more defined neckline.

Dr. Chernoff tailors each procedure to address your unique concerns and goals, ensuring beautiful, natural-looking results.

Are There Non-Surgical or Minimally Invasive Facelift Procedures?

Yes, at Chernoff Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Chernoff offers a variety of non-surgical facelift procedures and/or treatments. Facial fillers can restore facial volume from the cheeks and lips. They also smooth out and soften severe-to-moderate facial wrinkles. The advanced facial fillers we offer at Chernoff Cosmetic Surgery are excellent for patients who don’t have loose skin and are interested in temporarily improving their facial appearance.

A minimally invasive procedure called, Y Lift Instant Facelift is a sub-muscular filler placement technique. The placement accentuates the cheekbone region, revives the under-eye area, and defines the jawline and upper neck instantly without making the face look puffy or filled. A fat transfer procedure using the excess fat from the patient’s body may also be an option to add volume to your face.

Dr. Chernoff offers a new advanced, minimally invasive cosmetic facial procedure that sculpts and refines your jawline and neck. Ellevate is an innovative procedure that uses a suture suspension system to refine, restore, and smooth contours while supporting the underlying neck tissue.

During your consultation, you will have ample time to discuss the various procedures and what are the best options for you.