Price: Starting at ~ $12,000
Procedure Time: 4 hours
Recovery Time: 2-3 weeks
Introduction
Facelift
Facelift surgery, traditionally known as a Rhytidectomy, is a very popular and powerful facial rejuvenation surgical procedure that lifts and resuspends your deeper facial tissues to a more youthful position. Essentially, a modern-day facelift represents a great way to correct a drooping face with a natural repositioning of your deeper facial structures and removes extra skin for a tighter, younger, and overall more attractive facial appearance.
Dr. Raggio’s signature facelift procedure in Birmingham, AL is performed to create an appearance that is smooth, soft, and defined. Committed to natural, long-lasting results, dual-board certified Facial Plastic Surgeon Dr. Blake Raggio improves the visual appearance of the face with a complete repositioning of deeper facial structures, release of retaining ligaments, platysma muscle tightening and suspension, and carefully placed incisions hidden in the natural skin creases to camouflage evidence of surgery.
A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is often performed in conjunction with other complimentary facial rejuvenation procedures such as a neck lift, an endoscopic Brow Lift, Blepharoplasty (eyelids), Lip Lift, Facial Fat Grafting, or Laser Skin Resurfacing.
We invite you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Raggio or read below to learn more about one of the best Facelift Birmingham has to offer.
Before & After Results
Photo Gallery
Facelift Expert in Birmingham, AL
What is a Facelift?
A Facelift in Birmingham with Dr. Raggio is a plastic surgery procedure that helps reduce and improve the visible signs of aging in your face and neck. The more common age-related skin problems that a Facelift can treat are sagging facial skin, fold lines that appear between the nose and mouth, marionette lines (lines that appear at the corners of the mouth and curve down towards the chin), jowls, and loose skin with excessive fat around the neck (often referred to as a “turkey neck” or double chin).
The full Facelift technique (which includes addressing the neck problem areas) is a very popular, long-lasting procedure that can be performed using various techniques to help patients regain confidence and attain a more natural youthful appearance. Dr. Raggio has trained extensively in advanced facial plastic surgery techniques and has the skills and artistry to give you a natural, yet rejuvenated appearance. In addition to a traditional Facelift, we offer our patients several procedures that treat the whole face or can target specific problem areas.
FaceLift
What are the types of Facelifts?
With advances in surgical techniques, the results of today’s lift procedures last a long time, anywhere from five to ten years. Plastic Surgeons have learned that a great facelift result lies not in tightening or pulling the skin, but rather in repositioning and suspending the deeper facial structures (sometimes referred to as the SMAS) to a more youthful position. Such advanced and modern techniques, including SMAS lifting techniques to Deep-plane techniques, can be used to effectively treat jowls, descending or deflated cheeks, and troublesome necks. Below are some of the Facelift techniques that Dr. Raggio can perform to help you achieve the perfect facial balance.
Minimally Invasive Short-scar Mid-face Facelift ( Mini-Lift)
The mid-face is the region consisting of the under eyes, the cheeks, and the top of the mouth. We all have pockets of fat that run horizontally across our faces, but as we age, the fat deflates and we start to see vertical folds occurring in our faces.
While somewhat of a new treatment, Mid-face suspension surgery via minimally invasive (also known as “short-scar facelift”) or endoscopic techniques are designed to improve sagging cheeks and the lines running from the nose to the mouth to return a youthful appearance after facial aging. It involves shorter incisions, as it is not necessary to access the deeper tissues, and less restructuring of the underlying facial tissues is needed.
Incisions are made in the temporal hairline and in front of the ears to reposition the lax or droopy soft fatty tissue in areas of the cheeks. If a concomitant lower lid blepharoplasty is being performed, sometimes additional redraping of the tissues can be achieved through these incisions, concentrating around the eyes to correct mid-face or cheek malposition. This technique improves hollowness in the upper cheeks, and prominent nasolabial folds, and improves lines to form a downturned mouth.
An average mini-lift surgery takes between 2-3 hours.
SMAS Facelift
A SMAS facelift, also known as “the two-layer facelift”, represents an effective technique and provides the best results for patients with extreme skin laxity and soft-tissue descent. Dr. Raggio has performed numerous SMAS lifts over the years, and he feels they offer extremely durable and satisfying results for his patients.
The superficial muscular aponeurotic system (SMAS) is a layer of tissue that lies deep within the facial skin, where it helps to support the structure of the face. As we become older, the SMAS membrane weakens and loses its elasticity, which can result in sagging cheeks, exaggerated nasolabial folds, lax jowls, and a double chin. A SMAS facelift focuses on this membrane, correcting these problems by tightening the muscles and reducing fat and excess skin.
During the procedure, Dr. Raggio will start by making a well-concealed incision near the temple within the hairline and will extend it downward, curving in front of and then behind the ears in very inconspicuous locations to best camouflage the scars. Once the incision is created, he will lift the tissue and muscle that is under the skin and place it into a higher and more youthful position. Once the deeper tissues are resuspended, only then will Dr. Raggio remove excess skin as he delicately re-drapes the skin back over the face. The incisions will then be closed with a meticulous suture technique, all of which Dr. Raggio personally performs. Then a comforting supportive bandage and dressings will be applied.
Procedure time is approximately three to four hours but will vary case by case.
Deep-Plane Facelift
Touted as the next generation of facelift, the Deep Plane Facelift can produce the longest-lasting results of all the facelift techniques, with a lot of patients seeing results lasting up to 10-15 years. While Dr. Raggio performs both standard SMAS and deep plane facelifts under deep sedation at Raggio MD Facial Plastic Surgery’s In-office Surgical Suite, the key difference between a standard facelift and a deep plane lift is that during a standard lift, the SMAS tissue layer and skin are lifted separately. In comparison, with deep plane lift, the skin, muscles, and SMAS are all pulled up together. With the deep plane facelift technique, your skin and SMAS are repositioned to more youthful positions and ultimately allows Dr. Raggio to tighten and resuspend these two layers in the directions or vectors required to obtain a smoother and more rested appearance.
Another important difference between the two types of facelifts is that in a deep plane technique, Dr. Raggio goes underneath and beyond your SMAS layer to allow for a full release of facial retaining ligaments which allows for a complete and natural redraping of the overlying tissues with minimal tension. The release allowed with the Deep Plane technique is what allows for an overall more durable and better lifting capability as compared to traditional lifting techniques. With that being said, there has been no objective evidence that definitively shows one technique is superior to the other. Ultimately, Dr. Raggio will determine which technique best suits you based on your anatomy as well as your goals and expectations.
Revision Facelift
A secondary or revision facelift may be required when a patient is unsatisfied or has had complications with a previous facelift. Revision Facelifts are challenging procedures as they take much more skill and precision than a primary facelift, often requiring careful and tedious dissection with precise and intricate tissue manipulations. Dr. Raggio has had many years of experience performing secondary facelifts and his attention to detail
and in-depth understanding of facial anatomy provides his patients with a much more safe, reliable, and overall satisfactory outcome.
You should wait at least 12 months after your first facelift to ensure proper healing and recovery before you proceed with a revision facelift with Dr. Raggio. If you are still unhappy with the results from your first facelift after 12 months, then we encourage you to schedule an appointment with Dr. Raggio to discuss additional options and your candidacy for a revision facelift.
What is unique about Dr. Raggio’s Lift and Fill Facelift?
Dr. Raggio often utilizes the “lift and fill facelift”, which combines facelift and face fat grafting to achieve enhanced results. While a traditional facelift tightens sagging skin and smooths out wrinkles, it doesn’t address the volume loss that many older patients have. As the years go by, many individuals lose youthful volume in the face, which can result in sunken or hollow areas. When fat grafting is added to a facelift, it can deliver volume in areas where needed to produce an overall rejuvenated effect. Dr. Raggio is only one of a few Facial Plastic Surgeon who performs this specific facelift in the Birmingham Hoover area.
In short, Facial fat grafting works beautifully hand-in-hand with a facelift. While a facelift improves sagging and wrinkled skin, it doesn’t provide a volumizing effect — which many patients need. By combining facial fat transfer with a facelift, any sunken or hollow areas throughout the face can be addressed for a much more youthful and natural-looking appearance, and an overall rejuvenation.
See Facial Fat Grafting for more details.
What Are The Benefits Of A Facelift with Dr. Raggio?
Our patients looking to address age-related sagging facial skin have seen huge benefits from undergoing a Facelift procedure with Dr. Raggio in Birmingham, AL.
- Natural results
- More youthful appearance
- Better contoured jawline
- Improved appearance of midface and jowls
- Softening of lines and deep facial creases
- More Vibrant and youthful appearance
- Lifted youthful cheeks
- Overall tightening of sagging tissues, including skin, fat, and muscle
Who Are The Best Candidates For A Facelift?
The best Birmingham Facelift candidates at Raggio MD Facial Plastic Surgery should have some of the following characteristics:
- Committed to good skincare and healthy lifestyle (no smoking)
- Dissatisfied with their facial appearance
- Have sagging facial tissues (i.e. deep wrinkles, jowls, double chin)
- Keep a positive attitude throughout the process
- Maintain realistic expectations
- Be at or close to their desired target weight
- Understand the procedure, recovery time, and risks
- Non-smoker
- No serious underlying medical conditions
First steps of a facelift
What’s the First Step to scheduling a Facelift?
The first step in getting a facelift with Dr. Raggio in Birmingham is to schedule a consultation at our boutique cosmetic surgery clinic. On the day of your appointment, Dr. Raggio will evaluate your unique needs, review your specific cosmetic goals, and analyze your unique facial structure and features. He will physically examine your particular facial features, including skin quality and laxity, soft tissue integrity and volume, sagging jowls, and deeper neck structures to include fat, muscle, and gland hypertrophy.
Dr. Raggio will spend time reviewing your medical history to ensure you are a good candidate for facial surgery. For instance, if you are on medications for hypertension, or anticoagulation, or have underlying comorbidities such as diabetes or heart or lung issues, you might be better served with nonsurgical facelift options.
If you are deemed a good candidate for a Facelift procedure, Dr. Raggio will discuss what a surgical facelift involves, the pros and cons of the latest surgical techniques available, and which method would be best for you. He will also show you where the various incisions will be placed and what you can expect from scarring.
Once you and Dr. Raggio are satisfied with the direction of your procedure, he will create your custom procedure plan. Our Patient Care Coordinator will help schedule your surgical date, provide you with detailed price quotes with applicable financing options, and provide detailed instructions on how to best prepare for your surgery.
These tips may include stopping certain medications in the days leading up to the procedure, avoiding sun exposure, and keeping up a thorough skincare routine. Again, this will be reviewed with you in-depth before your surgery to ensure optimal outcomes.
What to expect on
the day of Facelift Surgery
On the day of your Facelift surgery, you will first meet with Dr. Raggio, who will discuss the details of your surgery. When you are comfortable and ready from a preoperative perspective, you will be administered anesthesia in the form of deep sedation (no breathing tube or intubation) to make your experience as comfortable and painless as possible.
Once you are optimally sedated, Dr. Raggio will inject local numbing medications to further enhance the pain-numbing effects of sedation. Then, once you are adequately numb, Dr. Raggio will make an incision in front of your ear near your temples, continuing it under the earlobe towards the back of your ear, allowing it to blend in with your hairline. He will then gently lift the skin to tighten the underlying muscle and tissue, removing excess skin and repositioning soft tissue along the way as deemed appropriate.
Rest assured the incisions Dr. Raggio uses are carefully designed to be placed in a natural skin fold to minimize any appearance of scars post-healing. He will take your gender, ethnicity, and physical anatomy into consideration as he shapes your face as well, selecting a technique (Deep plane vs SMAS), that optimizes your results whilst minimizing the risk of complications. Once the tissues are sufficiently resuspended and excess skin excised, Dr. Raggio will personally close the incisions with a meticulous suture technique to allow for minimal scar formation and create a minimally noticeable and barely perceptible scar.
After your surgery, a compression dressing will be gently applied for your comfort and to protect the surgical incisions and prevent any collection of fluid. You may also have one to two surgical drains to promote the removal of excess fluid if deemed appropriate based on your intraoperative findings.
Depending on the complexity of the surgery and the number of additional procedures, the entire facial rejuvenation process can take from four to six hours for a complete Facelift and Necklift combination procedure.
Facelift
recovery
The recovery period for a facelift can vary depending on the extent and depth of the procedure. Immediately post your procedure, you’ll need to rest and allow your body to heal for at least 1-2 weeks. The surgery is done as an outpatient procedure, meaning you will be discharged home after the procedure. Note, that since you are receiving sedation, it is required to bring a family member or friend to drive you back home and stay with you overnight. This is a medicolegal requirement and is ultimately best for your safety postoperatively.
As mentioned above, you may be sent home with one or two drains placed on your face and/or neck. Drains are sometimes necessary after the facelift and neck lift procedure to minimize swelling and bruising. They typically can be removed or come out within 1-2 days, though sometimes are left longer based on your healing abilities.
During facelift recovery, you can expect swelling, bruising, and discomfort in the first few days after the procedure that can linger for 1-3 weeks. Dr. Raggio provides a number of different prescriptions that target pain, swelling, infection, anxiety, and inflammation to optimize your recovery. In addition, you will be provided detailed instructions on caring for the treated area, which include keeping your head elevated as you sleep to reduce swelling and how to keep incisions clean to optimize healing, decrease risks of complications, and minimize scarring. We recommend to avoid strenuous activity and exercise for at least 3 weeks. This allows your body to heal fully.
The time it takes to return to work after a facelift surgery depends on the extent of the procedure and your healing journey. Most patients expect to take at least two to three weeks off work to recover from the procedure and let the bruising subside. For more complex facelift procedures or patients with physically demanding jobs, it may be necessary to take additional time off.
Full healing and final results are typically appreciated around 4-6 months after your facelift procedure.
Advanced Recovery with
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) treatment
As part of our advanced recovery protocol, Raggio MD Facial Plastic Surgery offers complimentary Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) treatment to patients who undergo facial plastic surgery here in Birmingham, AL.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases the delivery of oxygen to parts of your body in the process of healing, speeding the process and improving its effectiveness, while reducing swelling and bruising. This process also helps to increase your body’s capacity to neutralize the damage caused by oxidative stress and the presence of free radicals, allowing your cells to function more efficiently and heal your body at a much faster rate.
Please understand that not all hyperbaric chambers are created equal. Normal atmospheric pressure is measured at approximately 1 atm, and most commercial chambers can only reach a pressure of 1.4 atm. At Raggio MD Facial Plastic Surgery, we use a state-of-the-art “hard” chamber that can reach up to an industry-standard pressurization of 2.0 atm required to affect the physiologic benefits of HBOT.
The higher capabilities of these rigid hyperbaric chambers allow for a more significant health benefit than simpler models, meaning your recovery will be optimized to its fullest.
How Much Does Facelift Cost In Birmingham, AL?
The cost of a Facelift in Birmingham, Alabama by Dr. Raggio starts at $12,000. The price is widely determined by the facial rejuvenation techniques that Dr. Raggio uses and the degree and number of procedures necessary to meet your aesthetic goals. Further, it depends on anesthesia fees, surgeon’s fees, facility fees, and a few other factors. The best way to find out how much it will cost for you is to come in for a personalized visit and let Dr. Raggio create your surgical plan once an in-depth consultation process is complete. Once a treatment plan is agreed upon, our Patient Care Coordinator will be able to provide a detailed quote detailing the price breakdown for your procedure and offer financing options where appropriate.
Why choose Dr. Raggio for a Facelift?
Dr. Blake Raggio embodies a holistic approach to Facelift Surgery, prioritizing each patient’s unique goals and concerns. With a comprehensive facial analysis, he meticulously evaluates all aspects before recommending personalized surgical or non-surgical interventions. Dr. Raggio’s patient-centric philosophy ensures collaboration throughout the treatment journey, culminating in a tailored plan that prioritizes patient satisfaction.
Utilizing proven techniques, both surgical and non-surgical, Dr. Raggio strives to achieve durable and natural-looking results aligned with the patient’s cultural and ethnic values. His commitment extends to upholding classical beauty ideals, ensuring outcomes that stand the test of time.
Dr. Raggio’s success is indicative of his esteemed credentials and qualifications.
He strongly believes in educating the next generation of clinicians and serves as a Clinical Adjunct professor with the Faulkner Physician Assistant Studies Program, as a Clinical Adjunct professor with Tulane University Medical Center Department of Head and Neck Surgery in New Orleans Louisiana, and as a Clinical Preceptor for the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine.
He is an active member of multiple medical societies, including the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAOHNS) as well as the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (AAFPRS).
Lastly, Dr. Raggio is one of only a few Fellowship-Trained Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons in the entire Birmingham Hoover Metropolitan area, and has obtained rare Dual board certification in both Head and Neck Surgery as well as Facial Plastic Surgery.
For these reasons, patients can be confident and rest assured that they will receive the absolute best care and service with Dr. Raggio and his team at Raggio MD Facial Plastic Surgery in Birmingham, AL.
Contact us
Schedule a consultation
If you are in Birmingham, AL, and would like to improve your facial appearance cosmetically, an advanced Facelift procedure from Dr. Raggio could be an excellent solution. To schedule your initial consultation, please contact our office or use our website to fill out a consultation request form. We look forward to taking the first step with you in achieving your desired nasal aesthetic.
