Facelift Surgery in Maryland
Sun exposure, gravity, genetics, and the daily stresses of life can lead to sagging skin, deep wrinkles, and jowls. However, thanks to facelift surgery, you can reverse these effects — that is, if you find a trusted surgeon. With Sarah Mess, MD, you can achieve the most natural results, leading to a more youthful appearance without fundamentally altering your appearance.
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What Is a Facelift?
A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that lifts and tightens the skin, fat, and muscle in the lower face. During facelift procedures, Dr. Mess repositions underlying facial muscles, elevates sagging tissues, and removes excess skin to create a more refreshed, youthful contour.
Facelift surgery is highly effective for treating:
- Jowls or loss of jawline definition;
- Deep creases along the mouth and chin;
- Sagging skin in the lower face;
- Laxity in the neck or under the chin.
Unlike nonsurgical treatments such as fillers or skin tightening devices, a facelift addresses deeper structures that contribute to aging. This allows for more dramatic and longer-lasting improvements.
Types of Facelift Procedures
Depending on your goals, anatomy, and degree of skin laxity, Dr. Mess may recommend one of the following facelift techniques:
- Traditional facelift: This procedure primarily focuses on reducing sagging skin, jowls, and wrinkles by repositioning the skin and removing excess tissue. While effective in smoothing surface-level concerns, traditional facelifts do not typically target the deeper muscle or fat layers, which can limit the depth of the results. It’s an excellent option if you want to achieve a refreshed appearance with moderate improvement in facial aging.
- Mini facelift: Otherwise known as a limited incision, a mini facelift is a less invasive option for facial rejuvenation that focuses on the lower face and jawline. This technique involves smaller incisions around the ears and provides subtle but effective improvements by tightening skin and addressing early signs of aging, like mild jowling and sagging. If you want a refreshed appearance with minimal downtime, a limited incision facelift offers natural-looking results without the need for extensive surgery or a lengthy recovery.
- Deep plane facelift: A deep plane facelift is an advanced facial rejuvenation procedure that targets deeper layers of facial tissue to achieve longer-lasting results. Unlike traditional facelift techniques that mainly lift the skin, the deep plane approach repositions the underlying muscle and fat, allowing for more dramatic improvements in sagging skin, jowls, and deep wrinkles. This technique ensures a smoother, more youthful appearance without the overly tight look that can sometimes accompany less comprehensive methods. The deep plane facelift is ideal if you want significant facial rejuvenation with results that can last for many years.
- Facelift with neck lift: This procedure combines a traditional facelift with a neck lift that removes excess skin and tightens underlying muscles in the area. It treats sagging skin, platysmal banding, and under-chin fullness for complete rejuvenation. This procedure can address issues like neck banding, sagging skin, and the formation of a double chin, providing a smoother, more defined neckline.
Dr. Mess can combine any facelift procedure with laser resurfacing and fat transfer to enhance results and achieve a more comprehensive facial rejuvenation. Laser resurfacing smooths fine lines and improves skin tone, while fat transfer restores volume to areas that have lost fullness over time. Together, these techniques provide optimal, long-lasting results.
Are You a Good Candidate for Facelift Surgery?
Most facelift candidates are between 40 and 60 years of age, but we can perform a facelift surgery on any patient whose face shows signs of aging. Candidates should be in good physical health and have realistic expectations for the procedure.
How To Prepare for Facelift Surgery
The best way to have a smooth, uncomplicated facelift surgery and recovery process is to come prepared. Of course, we will provide you with detailed instructions and will be available to answer any questions you may have so that you can feel confident and prepared in advance.
Pre-Operative Consultation
During your first visit, Dr. Mess will review your medical history, evaluate your skin quality and facial structure, and discuss your goals in detail. Our team will utilize VECTRA 3D imaging to provide a three-dimensional simulation of what to expect from your results.
Pre-Surgery Instructions
Before surgery, you will need to:
- Pause certain medications, such as NSAIDs, that increase bleeding;
- Avoid nicotine and smoking;
- Arrange transportation to and from surgery;
- Follow fasting instructions;
- Prepare your home and support for the initial recovery period.
These actions will ensure you achieve the best results and recovery possible.
Day-of-Surgery Checklist
On the day of surgery, you should arrive with a clean, makeup-free face with loose clothing. You should also refrain from wearing jewelry, lotions, perfumes, or hair products that could interfere with the procedure.
What to Expect During a Facelift
During facelift surgery, you will receive anesthesia. Dr. Mess will then begin by placing precise incisions around the ears and along the hairline, allowing for discreet, natural-looking scars once you heal. She then carefully tightens and repositions the deeper facial layers responsible for sagging, creating a more lifted and youthful contour. From here, we will remove excess skin to smooth the surface and refine the lower face and jawline. After Dr. Mess achieves the desired improvements, she will close the incisions with meticulous detail for optimal healing and long-lasting results.
I highly recommend Dr. Mess! She has done two procedures on my face. She has an impeccable eye for detail and really looked closely at my facial structure on both surgeries. After the incredible results from my first surgery, I completely trusted Dr. Mess with performing a second procedure. Since both procedures were on my face, I was very concerned about scarring. Dr. Mess listened to my concerns by really analyzing my facial structure when applying sutures and advising me to use a topical silicone treatment to help reduce scarring. I could tell she really cared. I am so grateful to her for such fantastic results!!
Laura - GoogleBefore & After Photos
Procedure: Mid Facelift & Neck lift
Age: 68
Photos: 3 months post procedure
Procedure: Mid Facelift & Neck lift
Age: 68
Photos: 3 months post procedure
What to Expect During the Recovery Process
After completing the procedure, Dr. Mess will wrap the incisions with bandages and may use drainage tubes to remove any excess fluid and reduce bruising. We will then prescribe medication to relieve discomfort and swelling as your facial appearance continues to improve over the next few days. You can also keep your head elevated and use cold compresses to help ease discomfort.
Once you remove the bandages, you may experience some bruising and discoloration. Within a week, you’ll be able to return to work, but you should refrain from any strenuous activity for the first couple of weeks.
Over the following weeks, swelling continues to diminish and incisions fade. Many patients return to social activities within two to three weeks and enjoy their final results around the three-month mark as the tissues fully settle.
Throughout your healing, Dr. Mess will provide personalized aftercare instructions and follow-up visits to ensure your recovery progresses smoothly.
Financing Options
The cost of a facelift varies based on the technique used, the complexity of the procedure, and whether you combine it with additional surgeries such as a neck lift, eyelid surgery, or fat grafting.
To make facial rejuvenation more accessible, Dr. Mess offers financing options and payment plans for qualifying patients. During your consultation, our team will provide a detailed estimate and help you explore flexible solutions that fit your budget.
Why Choose Dr. Sarah Mess, MD for Your Facelift?
Dr. Sarah Mess is a board-certified plastic surgeon known for her balance of artistic vision and surgical precision. Her results focus on natural rejuvenation — not the overly tightened look associated with outdated facelift techniques. While our offices are in Columbia, Maryland, patients from across the country travel in to achieve the results that Dr. Mess provides.
FAQs About Facelift Surgery
How do I know which facelift procedure is right for me?
Choosing the most appropriate facelift depends on your specific anatomy, skin quality, degree of sagging, and aesthetic goals. During your consultation, Dr. Mess will review your facial structure, elasticity, and aging pattern to recommend which technique — traditional facelift, deep-plane, limited incision (“mini”), or a combined neck lift — will deliver the best outcome.
How much does a facelift cost?
We believe patients make better decisions when they understand the options and cost ranges for aesthetic surgery. We are happy to provide a basic price range for facelift surgery, but final costs cannot be determined prior to your consult with Dr. Mess.
Facelift cases are scheduled from 4-7 hours depending on the requirements of the case. Simple “mini” neck lifts will take less time and cost less than a full facelift . Dr. Mess will help you determine the best options to achieve your aesthetic goals.
The best way to determine your procedure pricing is to come in for a consult with Dr. Mess. Our Columbia office is conveniently located and easily accessible from both Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.
Our surgical estimates are comprehensive. Your facelift surgery quote will include:
- Surgeon’s fee
- Operating room fees and supply charges
- Anesthesia fees
- Post-surgical garments
- All appointments before or after your surgery
Price Range for facelift surgery: $18,000-$25,000. (Your costs may fall outside of this range.)
When will I see my final results?
You’ll notice an immediate improvement in facial contour once swelling decreases, but final results (including scar maturation and softening of the tissues) often take several months — typically around six to twelve months — to fully manifest.
What are the potential risks or complications?
As with any surgical procedure, facelift surgery carries risks such as infection, bleeding, nerve injury, asymmetry, poor scarring, or changes in sensation. With a board-certified surgeon like Dr. Mess and appropriate patient preparation and aftercare, we can minimize risk.
Will I have visible scarring after a facelift?
Yes — incisions are necessary and typically follow strategic, concealed paths (in the hairline, around the ear, under the chin when needed) to minimize visible scarring. Over time, scars fade and become less noticeable, and Dr. Mess’s technique emphasizes natural appearance and scar management.
Schedule a Facelift Consultation Today!
Make aging a part of the past by calling us for a consultation! Together, we’ll create a personalized plan that brings out your most confident, naturally rejuvenated self.
Dr. Sarah Mess has either authored or reviewed and approved this content. Page Updated
