Published on May 2025
The Modern Approach to Facelift: The PreservaLift™
At Raggio MD Facial Plastic Surgery in Birmingham, AL, the pursuit of natural, lasting facial rejuvenation has reached a new level with the PreservaLift™ — a signature procedure developed by Dr. Blake Raggio, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon. This advanced technique redefines facelift surgery by blending modern deep-plane methods with preservation-based artistry, all within the safety of our AAAASF-accredited surgical center.
As we age, our faces naturally lose volume and elasticity, leading to sagging skin, deepening lines, and a less defined jawline. While traditional facelifts have long been the go-to solution, advancements in surgical techniques now offer more natural-looking and longer-lasting results. One such innovation is the PreservaLift™, a refined approach that combines lifting and volumizing for a harmonious rejuvenation.
What Is the PreservaLift™?
The PreservaLift™ is an elevated form of the deep-plane facelift that includes:
- A gentle, preservation-focused dissection technique
- Extended deep-plane lifting through the face and neck
- Autologous fat grafting (using the patient’s own stem cell-rich fat)
- A comprehensive neck lift to harmonize lower face and jawline contours
This approach allows for transformative results that remain undetectable, prioritizing natural beauty over over-tightened appearances. Incisions are discreetly placed, downtime is optimized, and healing is enhanced with platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and optional hyperbaric oxygen therapy — all in a private, in-office surgical suite.
How the PreservaLift™ Works
1. Preservation Over Excessive Dissection
Rather than aggressively lifting large skin flaps, the PreservaLift™ employs a more lateral entry into the deep plane, limiting disruption to skin and preserving critical vascular structures. This reduces risk of complications, improves healing, and yields finer scars.
2. Extended Deep Plane Lift
Traditional facelifts often focus on the midface. Dr. Raggio’s PreservaLift™ expands the scope:
- Lifts deeper structures like the SMAS and orbicularis oculi muscle
- Extends the lift into the lateral neck
- Releases facial retaining ligaments for a vertical vector of lift — not pulled or windswept
3. Structural Necklift Integration
True rejuvenation requires treating the neck as seriously as the face. The PreservaLift™ incorporates:
- Platysma muscle tightening
- Removal of excess superficial and deep fat
- Correction of bulky digastric muscles
- Repositioning of submandibular glands (if needed)
4. Autologous Fat Grafting & Nanofat
Using your own purified fat and nanofat, Dr. Raggio enhances volume and skin quality. Rich in growth factors and stem cells, this technique improves tone, elasticity, and radiance in a natural, lasting way.
The PreservaLift™, at RaggioMD:
A preservation extended deep-plane facelift and structural necklift approach that “preserves” the skin (green) by entering the deep plane at a point (yellow) more lateral to the traditional
Precise Incision Design:
RED outlines the meticulously planned incision route, expertly concealed within natural creases and along the hairline for optimal scar camouflage.
PreservaLift™ Surgical Anatomy:
BLUE indicates the traditional deep-plane (sub-SMAS) entry zone for en bloc tissue lifting; YELLOW marks the preservation deep-plane entry with extended dissection into deep neck structures; GREEN highlights preserved skin—left undissected to reduce trauma, improve vascularity, and minimize risks.
Ligament Release for Vertical Lift:
X 1–4 mark key facial ligaments—zygomatic (1), masseteric (2), cervical (3), and mandibular (4)—strategically released to enable vertical mobilization and achieve natural contouring.
Deep Structural Necklift:
RED highlights the comprehensive necklift approach, targeting skin, fat, muscles, and glands for refined, long-lasting rejuvenation.
Vertical Lift Vector:
PURPLE illustrates the 70-degree vertical lift, designed to counteract gravitational descent while preserving natural expression and youthful facial balance.
Autologous Cellular Enhancement:
Strategic placement of stem cell-rich structural fat and nanofat restores volume, improves skin quality, and enhances overall facial rejuvenation.
3 weeks post-op – photo submitted from out of town patient
What Sets Dr. Raggio Apart?
At Raggio MD Facial Plastic Surgery in Birmingham, Alabama, Dr. Blake Raggio offers the PreservaLift™ as part of his signature approach to facial rejuvenation. As a fellowship-trained, dual-board certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Raggio combines this advanced technique with fat grafting to address both sagging and volume loss. This approach ensures a natural, youthful appearance that enhances your unique features and allows for:
- Advanced facelift techniques based on anatomical nuance
- A commitment to natural-looking, long-lasting outcomes
- A luxury surgical experience in a fully accredited on-site OR
Patients from Birmingham, Montgomery, Huntsville, and across the Southeast seek Dr. Raggio’s expertise for results that blend innovation with individualized care.
Ideal Candidates for the PreservaLift™
This procedure is best suited for patients who:
- Exhibit visible signs of facial and neck aging
- Desire natural, long-lasting facial rejuvenation
- Are in good health with realistic expectations
- Want to avoid an “overdone” look
- Are non-smokers or willing to stop smoking for surgery
Age is not the primary factor — facial anatomy and aesthetic goals guide candidacy.
What to Expect: From Consultation to Recovery
Personalized Consultation
Dr. Raggio begins each patient journey with a thorough consultation to assess facial anatomy, volume loss, and skin laxity. A tailored surgical plan is created to ensure harmony and balance.
The Procedure
The PreservaLift™ is performed under local anesthesia and deep IV sedation, not general anesthesia. This offers:
- Fewer side effects (no breathing tube, less nausea)
- Reduced bleeding and bruising
- A more comfortable recovery experience
The surgery includes advanced fat grafting, PRF to reduce swelling and bruising, and the option of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to further enhance healing.
Recovery
Most patients experience swelling and bruising for 7–10 days. Many return to light activities by week two and feel confident resuming social events around week three. Final results continue to refine over several months.
Lasting Results That Age With You
The PreservaLift™ sets a new baseline for aging, meaning you’ll always look better than if you hadn’t had the procedure. While aging naturally continues, the foundational improvements in facial structure and skin quality ensure results that last for years.
Schedule Your Consultation
Ready to explore the PreservaLift™ and what it could do for you?
📍 Visit us at Raggio MD Facial Plastic Surgery
1920 Huntington Rd, Birmingham, AL 35209
📞 Call: (659) 272-0092
📱 Follow: @dr.blakeraggio on Instagram
Discover the art of modern facial rejuvenation — refined, natural, and expertly performed by one of Birmingham’s leading facial plastic surgeons.
