Facelift

Conveniently located to serve the areas of Mesa, Tempe, Gilbert and Scottsdale, AZ

A facelift (rhytidectomy) is a procedure that improves the appearance of the face and neck by tightening the skin and underlying tissues. ⁽¹⁾ Collagen and elastin–proteins in your skin that help it maintain its structure and elasticity–gradually decline with age, resulting in fine lines and wrinkles. The fat in the face may diminish or shift, and some changes in muscle tone can contribute to sagging features. To address facial aging, we offer customizable facelifts designed to significantly improve your appearance.

At Scottsdale Plastics, Dr. Robert Bonillas has over a decade of experience helping patients enhance their appearance with innovative facelifts that provide lasting results. Dr. Bonillas is an experienced specialist in facial rejuvenation who uses the latest techniques, ensuring a short, comfortable recovery with impressive results.

Contact our office online or call (480) 245-6380 to learn how Dr. Bonillas and his team can transform your appearance.

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About Facelifts

Your lifestyle, diet, stress levels, and more can all affect the appearance of your skin. UV light exposure can also accelerate skin aging, resulting in fine lines, wrinkles, and laxity. ⁽²⁾ A facelift is a surgical procedure that involves reducing excess skin and lifting the underlying connective tissues to address signs of aging, such as jowls and skin laxity. ⁽³⁾ The decision to undergo a facelift to improve your appearance is highly personal, and Dr. Bonillas personalizes each patient’s treatment plan to help them improve their appearance and address their unique concerns. For patients with less drastic signs of aging, we may recommend a mini facelift. The mini facelift or ‘S’ lift is very effective, heals quickly, and does not look overdone. A mini facelift may soften the appearance of nasolabial folds, but additional treatments like fillers may be needed for more significant improvement. We can perform the procedure with two small incisions along the natural curves of your skin.

Face and Neck Lift

Facelifts are often combined with neck lifts, but they are two distinct procedures. During a neck lift, Dr. Bonillas will remove excess droopy skin from the neck and reduce the appearance of muscle banding. These procedures are especially effective at addressing a “turkey neck.” After a neck lift, you can enjoy a defined jawline with a smooth neck and a more youthful-looking appearance.

Candidates & Consultation

Dr. Bonillas will evaluate your face and discuss your goals during your consultation. Many patients would like to address the following:

Deep creases between the nose and mouth
Facial skin laxity and jowls
Folds and fat deposits around the neck

Your consultation is an opportunity to ask any questions you have. A facelift is entirely customized to address changes to your skin based on your specific underlying anatomy, medical history, and aesthetic goals. After a brief examination, we will discuss the various options for you to achieve your goals. If you have additional aesthetic goals, we can recommend additional procedures. Some patients combine a facelift with dermal fillers to add natural-looking volume to the skin for a softer, more youthful-looking appearance. ⁽⁴⁾

Preparation

In the weeks leading up to your procedure, there are several steps you should follow to ensure that you achieve the best possible results. Patients who use nicotine will need to stop at least two weeks before their procedure. Alcohol consumption should also be ceased during this period. If you are taking any medications or supplements with blood-thinning properties, you will also need to stop taking them. We always advise patients to arrange a ride home from their surgery. You should also arrange for a trusted adult to assist you around the home during the first few days of your recovery.

Procedure

On the day of your procedure, you should arrive with a clean face without makeup or skincare products. You will receive anesthesia, and we will make a discreet incision near the earlobes to gain access to the underlying structures. The incision will follow your hairline, so the surgical marks are well-hidden. The size and shape of the incision will vary, and we design the procedure based on your personal anatomy. After making these incisions, Dr. Bonillas will remove excess skin and tighten tissues to reduce the presence of wrinkles.

Finally, we will close the incisions with absorbable sutures and take you to a recovery area to receive aftercare instructions. Although you can enjoy a significant improvement in your appearance immediately, you will need to rest for a few weeks while the swelling subsides and your skin heals.

Recovery

You can return home after your monitoring period. You will need to avoid strenuous activities and keep your head elevated. You will also need to attend a follow-up appointment to allow Dr. Bonillas to monitor your progress. Most patients can return to work after 10-14 days, depending on their progress and the physical demands of their jobs.

Results

Your results will depend on your treatment plan and the type of facelift you receive. Many patients enjoy a smoother, more youthful-looking appearance. To maintain your results, you should avoid excessive sun exposure that could damage your skin and lead to additional signs of aging.

Additional Facial Rejuvenation Procedures

There are a variety of facial rejuvenation procedures, each offering a different set of benefits that can help you address various signs of aging and appearance concerns.

Forehead/Eyebrows (Brow Lift)

A brow lift reduces droopy skin above the brows for a smoother, more youthful look. Many people notice excess skin throughout the forehead and along the eyebrows. By addressing this region with similar techniques found in a facelift, patients can achieve smoother skin and a more youthful-looking appearance.

Eyelids (Blepharoplasty)

A blepharoplasty rejuvenates the eyes by removing excess skin and/or repositioning the fat beneath the eyes. The lower lid often requires tightening (canthopexy) to restore a youthful appearance. We can make adjustments with minimal incisions for a natural-looking appearance.

Liposuction

If you would like to address stubborn pockets of body and/or neck fat, liposuction can remove them. Using a specialized, thin, hollow tube called a cannula, liposuction helps you achieve a leaner, sculpted figure. Moreover, modern liposuction techniques enable us to remove even the smallest pockets of fat with precision from areas like the neck and face.

Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery or Nose Reshaping)

Rhinoplasty can reduce the appearance of a nasal hump, address asymmetry, and contour your nose to improve your facial harmony. We can make adjustments to the underlying bone and/or cartilage to balance your facial features. During your consultation, we can create a customizable treatment plan based on your specific goals.

Cost of a Facelift in Scottsdale

The cost of a facelift varies from patient to patient. Every procedure is entirely customized to your specific goals, and you may need additional treatments to achieve your desired look. During your consultation with Dr. Bonillas, you will receive a comprehensive price quote. Our practice also offers financing options to help patients better access their treatments.

Contact our office online or call (480) 245-6380 to learn how Dr. Bonillas and his team can transform your appearance with customizable procedures that provide beautiful, long-lasting results.

FAQ

Is there an age requirement to receive a facelift?

Candidacy is more dependent on facial anatomy and skin condition than on age. Some younger patients receive the treatment in their 30s to address mild to moderate signs of aging. Whether or not the procedure is a good fit for you will depend on the condition of your skin.

Are facelifts permanent?

Facelifts are long-lasting, but you may experience changes to your skin as you age. We can help you maintain your results with touch-up procedures or dermal fillers if you desire.

Will I have visible scars after a facelift?

We make incisions along the natural curves of your skin and the hairline to minimize visible scarring.

Are there any non-surgical alternatives to a facelift?

Some patients may achieve the results they desire through dermal fillers, Botox injections, and more, but these will not create the long-lasting adjustments that a surgical procedure will.

What kind of anesthesia is used during a facelift?

Most facelift procedures are performed with the patient under general anesthesia. Smaller procedures like a mini facelift may be performed with local anesthesia alone, though this depends on the specifics of a patient’s treatment plan. All patients will receive supplemental local anesthetic on and around their faces to increase their comfort.

What procedures can be performed alongside a facelift?

Numerous facial rejuvenation procedures can be performed alongside a facelift. The most common additions are brow lifts and neck lifts. When patients include these in their treatment, they can experience comprehensive facial rejuvenation.

References

Raggio BS, Patel BC. Deep Plane Facelift. PubMed. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545277/
Al-Atif H. Collagen Supplements for Aging and Wrinkles: a Paradigm Shift in the Field of Dermatology and Cosmetics. Dermatology Practical & Conceptual. 2022;12(1):e2022018. doi:https://doi.org/10.5826/dpc.1201a18
Chinta SR, Brydges HT, Laspro M, Shah AR, Cohen J, Ceradini DJ. Current Trends in Deep Plane Neck Lifting: A Systematic Review. Annals of plastic surgery. 2025;94(2):222-228. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/SAP.0000000000004163
Karpecki PM, Shechtman DL. Get the lowdown on Latisse: Latisse may be prescribed to foster enhanced eyelash growth. But how does it work, and what are its potential side effects? Review of Optometry. 2021;146(6):111-113. Accessed February 13, 2021. https://go.gale.com/ps/anonymous?id=GALE%7CA203192681&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=1930160X&p=AONE&sw=w

Before and After Photos