Facelift Surgery in Boston, MA

What Is A Facelift?

A Facelift (Rhytidectomy), from Lin Plastic Surgery in Boston, is a surgical procedure designed to counteract the effects of aging, exposure to the sun or gravity providing a fresh, youthful appearance. This procedure involves tightening of the facial and neck skin as well as removal of excess fat deposits. This procedure may be performed in conjunction with other facial cosmetic procedures to optimize the aesthetic outcome.

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What Concerns Can A Facelift Fix?

  • Sagging skin, muscles, and fat in the face and neck
  • Excessive skin and fat in the neck
  • Sagging jaw line
  • Crease lines along the nose, mouth, and chin
Facelift Surgery in Boston, MA
View Our Facelift Gallery
Facelift Surgery in Boston, MA

How Are Facelifts Performed?

Small incisions are made just inside the hairline, along the contour in front of the ear, and extending under the earlobe to the backside of the ear and lower scalp. The skin is then stretched and tightened, and any excess is removed. If additional attention is required for the neck line, an incision is made under the chin. Tiny stitches are used to close the incisions and to reduce any chance of scarring. Metal clips or staples may also be utilized at the hairline. This procedure may take several hours. Various techniques can be employed which can be discussed during your initial consultation.

What Is The Recovery From Facelift Surgery Like?

Immediately following your facelift surgery from Dr. Lin in Boston, MA, bandages are applied to the face to reduce the recovery time and minimize swelling. Rest and limited mobility are recommended to accelerate the healing process and reduce recovery time. Patients may report pain following surgery which can be treated with oral medication. Although the occurrence of complications is rare, patients can reduce the risk of developing potential problems by carefully following the post-operative instructions.

What Our Patients Have To Say

I had considered a neck lift on and off for 10 years before deciding to move forward with it at age 68. By this point, I had a definite dewlap, complete with a pale area of skin on my neck where I never tanned because of the loose folds of skin draping over my lower neck. Despite concerns that I would heal too slowly due to my age, I finally decided to go ahead with a neck lift. I did a lot of research into the process and I selected Dr. Lin at Beth Israel in Boston for several reasons. It was clear from his website that he is a very careful surgeon who prioritizes safety and aims for a natural looking outcome – one where my face and neck would look rejuvenated but still like it belonged to the rest of my body. He has many years of experience at Beth Israel Hospital, which is a respected teaching hospital in an area known for great hospitals. This surgery was a financial stretch for me, and I can’t afford a “revision” surgery, so it was important to me that I make that right choice going in. When I met with Dr. Lin, he made sure to fully disclose all the possible risks and to describe realistic outcomes, which made me feel that I could trust him – he talked to me like a partner rather than a salesman. We decided to go ahead with a combination neck lift and lower facelift, as I had also started to develop some jowls and wrinkling around my chin.
The surgery went well, and my recovery is going great. The first couple of weeks were sometimes uncomfortable, but never painful. It was obvious from the first week that there was a huge difference in my jawline. By 4 weeks out, when I took off the chin wrap, I had the profile I’d been hoping for! There are still small lumps and bumps on the underside of my jaw – noticeable mostly only to me – but it’s clear that these are slowly resolving and I have every expectation that they’ll be completely gone in a matter of months. I love my new neck and jaw, it’s exactly what I’d been hoping for! I am very, very satisfied with my decision to do this surgery and with my choice of surgeon.
Dr. Lin has been kind, gentle, and approachable throughout the process. He and his staff have always taken plenty of time to answer my questions and concerns. I especially liked that he called me the night before my surgery just to check in on how I was doing.
Photos are 6 weeks post surgery, still some minor swelling, more healing to come.

Lisa L
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Combining Neck Lift With A Facelift

It’s interesting how many patients focus so much of their attention on the signs of aging they are seeing in their faces. While the sunken cheeks, smile and laugh lines, and other signs of aging on the face are prevalent, they don’t exist in isolation.

People often overlook what’s going on just below the chin — aging on the neck. Unfortunately, the neck can be one of the first areas to show extensive aging through banding on the neck and looseness under the chin. While a facelift with Dr. Lin will address the jowls to a degree, a neck lift is often a good addition to a facelift.

Neck Lift Before & After Photos

Facelift Surgery in Boston, MA
Facelift Surgery in Boston, MA

Facelift/Neck Lift FAQs

Recovery times and conditions vary with different types of facelifts. If Dr. Lin includes a neck lift, this won’t change the duration of your recovery, but it will add a couple different aspects. During your consultation, Dr. Lin will discuss your recovery with you. But these are some general aspects of your recovery. Because the skin is lifted away from the underlying tissue, there is a fair amount of tissue trauma with a facelift. After the procedure, your face will be wrapped in bandages and you’ll likely have drainage tubes. This can be mitigated by the use of tissue glue, but in some cases this isn’t an option. There will be extensive bruising and swelling that will last from two to three weeks. The first few days are the hardest, but then you will feel better quickly. Your skin will probably feel tight in the face and neck. You will likely have numbness in areas, as well. This is normal and can last up to a couple months, as the facial nerves adjust to the re-draped skin. With more involved facelift procedures, most patients can return to work by the third week.

For the neck lift portion of your surgery, you will have elastic bandages around your lower face and neck. This will help minimize swelling and bruising. You won’t be able to twist your neck or bend it forward. Unlike most surgeries, with the neck area you do not apply ice, as this can restrict blood flow and damage the recovery of your skin. There isn’t instant gratification with the neck lift portion of this procedure (or with a facelift for that matter). This is due to swelling, which can come and go for a couple months. Sports and strenuous exercise, particularly those that involve any twisting of the neck, will need to wait at least six weeks.

Facelifts/neck lifts are major surgical procedures, and they involve those same risks: excessive bleeding, poor incision healing, infection, and reaction to anesthesia. As for facelifts combined with neck lifts, these are the specific risks:

  • Injury to the nerves that control facial muscles (usually temporary)
  • Numbness or tingling around the incision areas (temporary)
  • Hair loss at the incision sites
  • Skin discoloration (rare but can continue for several months)
  • Skin healing issues (more common with smokers)
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Face & Neck Lift Patient Questions & Testimonials

Dr. Lin’s Research On Neck & Face Lift Procedures

» Preoperative radiation therapy and its effects on outcomes in microsurgical head and neck reconstruction

» Lateral Canthal Reconstruction After Head-Neck or Periocular Cutaneous Malignancy: Oculoplastic and Facial Plastic Surgery Techniques

» American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Free Tissue Transfer in a Head and Neck Cancer Patient with Polycythemia Vera

» Utility Outcome Assessment of the Aging Neck following Massie Weight Loss

Read More

Dr. Lin’s Authored Work On Neck & Face Lift Surgery

Facelift Surgery in Boston, MA
Aesthetic Head and Neck Surgery (McGraw-Hill
Plastic Surgery Atlas)
1st Edition

Schedule Your Facelift Consultation

To learn more about our Facelift procedure or to schedule an appointment with specialist, give us a call today at 617.632.7827 or fill out an online contact form and our office will be in touch with you. Our practice serves Bryn Mawr, PA and the surrounding areas!

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