Facelift in Boston

Dr. Ahn from the Aesthetic Wellness Center in the Boston area specializes in the latest, most effective and long lasting techniques for facelifts. As a double board certified facial plastic surgeon who specializes in only cosmetic surgeries on the face and neck, he focuses on achieving the most natural looking facelifts.

The Boston Facelift Expert

During his facial plastic surgery training in San Francisco, Dr. Ahn learned from the most talented facelift surgeons in the world. Over the years, he combined their best ideas with his own aesthetic sensibility to develop his personal technique.

Dr. Ahn’s technique for facelifting is the gold standard, known as the “Deep Plane Lift.” He uses this method of lifting the jowls for both the mini lift and for the lower facelift. This technique is highly technical and requires a deep understanding of the anatomy. During the procedure, the SMAS “muscle” layer is mobilized by carefully and precisely releasing multiple microscopic attachments.

The advantages of the Deep Plane Lift include:

  • The most effective technique for lifting jowls.
  • The most natural-looking results of any lifting technique.
  • No reliance on pulling the skin to achieve a lift.
    • Other techniques rely somewhat on skin pull to get their results.
  • No chance of a “pulled” or tight look.
  • No tension on the skin edges so the incisions heal better.

Similarly, in the neck lift, Dr. Ahn addressed the muscle layer be reattaching the vertical bands through a technique called the “Corset Platsymaplasty.” This results in a significant neck improvement that looks natural.

Why Choose Dr. Ahn and the Aesthetic Wellness Center for your Surgery?

Dr. Ahn is a double board certified facial plastic surgeon serving the Boston area for the past 15 years and performs all of his surgeries at the Aesthetic Surgery Center in Westborough, Massachusetts. The Aesthetic Surgery Center is a Joint Commission accredited office-­based surgical suite. All procedures at the Aesthetic Surgery Center are performed under intravenous sedation, also known as “twilight anesthesia” which is safer than general anesthesia and can lead to a quicker and easier recovery.

Who is a Candidate for a Facelift?

The ideal candidate for a facelift is someone in good general health, between the ages of 40 and 70, who is concerned about the appearance of the lower face and neck. It is during this period in life when some of the signs of aging develop.

What Causes the Face to Age?

The primary reasons are:

  • Loss of skin elasticity because of sun damage and the natural aging process
  • Loss of soft tissue facial volume
  • Gravity that makes the skin and soft tissue fall

The combination of these three factors contributes to the telltale signs of the aging face and neck, which include:

  • Marionette lines
  • Jowls hanging over the jawline
  • Extra neck skin with wrinkles
  • Vertical bands down the front of the neck
  • Excess fullness/fat in the neck
  • Loss of the neck angle from the side view

Anesthesia

All procedures at the Aesthetic Surgery Center are performed under intravenous sedation, also known as “twilight anesthesia.” We feel that procedures performed under twilight anesthesia are safer (without the risks of general anesthesia) and lead to a quicker and easier recovery.

Recovery after Facelift

Immediately after surgery, you will have a loose dressing around the neck and head. After spending the night at home or in a local hotel (we will make arrangements for out of town patients) you will return to the office the next day to remove the dressing. We will also clean your sutures and wash your hair. For the next week, you will do little but rest at home with your head elevated.

During this time, most patients describe a mild to moderate soreness in the front of the neck and behind the ears. This discomfort is controlled with oral pain medication such as Vicodin. You will return to the office seven days after surgery to remove the sutures. At 10 days, most if not all of the bruising has resolved. With a little bit of make-up most patients are presentable in public after approximately 10 days. With normal healing, the total recovery from facelifting surgery involves 10 to 14 days of rest with minimal activity.

If you have a special event planned, Dr. Ahn advises that you allow at least 3-4 weeks of recovery before the event.

Facelift Costs

We are often asked what does a facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, cost. The reality is it varies from person to person. The overall cost associated with this surgical procedure depends on how much work will need to be done.

Because most facelifts are primarily performed to improve the visible signs of aging on the face and neck, insurance companies consider it an elective cosmetic procedure. As a result, they are not covered by insurance. At the Aesthetic Wellness Center, our costs for a mini or lower facelift involve three separate components:

  • The surgeon’s fee.
  • The anesthesia fee.
  • The cost for the facility

The actual price for prospective patients will ultimately depend on a few factors:

  • How much work the surgeon will need to perform to create the desired look
  • Does the facelift include other areas of the face (the neck, eyes, or brows) which increase the cost
  • The surgeon’s experience, qualifications, and skill level
  • Geographical location

Facelift Price Estimates at the Aesthetic Wellness Center

Here at the Aesthetic Wellness Center we like to provide patients with all of the costs associated with a facelift at the time of consultation.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Facial Plastic Surgeon

You may be able to find doctors that will perform the surgery cheaper, but make sure you understand why. As the saying goes, “you get what you pay for.” When you find a procedure at an unusually low rate, err on the side of caution. Before considering any life-changing surgery, it is important to look at:

Experience: How many years a doctor has been in practice will impact the price you pay. Obviously, a doctor who has performed thousands of facelifts will likely cost you more than a doctor who has only performed a handful.

Credentials: Make sure you know what schools your doctor attended as well as the certifications he or she attained. Where a surgeon received his medical training can also impact the cost of the desired medical procedure.

Location: Different parts of the country have different costs and the quality of the facility can command higher pricing.

Reviews: When looking for a qualified doctor, reviews can be extremely helpful. This, too, can factor into surgery costs.

Anesthetists: As with your surgeon, make sure you know his or her credentials, experience and educational background.

Financing the Cost of Your Facelift

The Aesthetic Wellness Center also offers financing to pay for facelift costs. Find out more about our financing options and schedule your own consultation with Dr. Ahn.

About ‘The Aesthetic Wellness Center’ and Dr. Ahn

Dr. Min S. Ahn is a top-rated surgeon who is double board certified and specializes in facial plastic surgery. His team at The Aesthetic Wellness Center offers the latest techniques for aesthetic facial rejuvenation, making his practice the preferred choice for many clients. The ultimate goal of The Aesthetic Wellness Center is to enhance and rejuvenate the natural beauty of their patients for results they will love. To learn more about Dr. Ahn and his dedicated team, click here.

Facelift FAQs

The most common types of face-lifting procedures are the full facelift, the lower facelift, the mini lift, also known as the mini facelift and the neck lift.

The full facelift is a term that is not often used these days. It includes a brow lift, upper eyelid lift and lower eyelid lift, lower face and neck lift. The lower facelift improves the jawline through a slightly longer incision than the mini lift when there is more extra skin to remove. The mini lift lifts the jowls through a shorter incision than the lower facelift. The neck lift improves the neck by improving the vertical bands, removing extra fat and tightening the skin.

The recovery time is approximately 2 weeks of social downtime.

The most commonly discussed risks associated with a facelift are bleeding, infection and nerve damage. Bleeding is also known as a hematoma and if small can be corrected fairly easily. If it is large, it needs to be corrected surgically. Both are rare. Infection is also rare because a number of anti-infection steps are taken: cleaning the skin with hibiclens (a powerful disinfectant) at home, oral antibiotics, IV antibiotics at the time of surgery and sterile surgical technique. Sensory nerves are always affected but recover within a year. The nerve that moves the face is called the facial nerve. By identifying it and protecting it during surgery, the surgeon can avoid facial nerve injury.

You will look presentable in public with a little makeup in 2-3 weeks. Your best results will be seen from then all the way up to a year after surgery.

If the incisions are designed to hide within creases and behind the tragus (the cartilage in front of the ear opening) and the skin is put together with no tension, then the scars will be very difficult, if not impossible to see.

The Dr. Ahn Difference

Dr. Ahn specializes in facial aesthetic rejuvenation and understands that patients need individualized care catered to their unique goals and considerations. Using his artistic eye, surgical experience and wide-ranging skills, he guides his clients through this highly personal process; whether it be a minimally invasive treatment or a cosmetically transforming surgery.

Schedule A Consultation

Westborough

2 Connector Road, Suite 2C Westborough, MA 01581

Office HoursMon and Tue: 8-5 Wed: 7-5 Thurs: 8-7 Fri: 8-4

Wellesley

70 Hastings Street, Suite 101 Wellesley, MA 02481

Office HoursTBD