Facelift (Rhytidectomy) in Toronto

Facelift Before & After Pictures

Starts at $14,999
Procedure Time
3-4 hours
Recovery Time
14-21 days

What is a Facelift?

It’s one of life’s most inescapable truths; nobody is safe from the signs of aging. But while aging is inevitable, deterioration isn’t. Indeed, while you can’t stop your body from aging, there are several steps that can be taken to repair the damage caused by becoming older.

It is a well-known fact that the face is the part of the body that is most vulnerable to the signs of aging. As we age, there is a general loss of volume in the face. As a result of this loss of facial volume, the soft tissues of the face descend, leading to deepening smile lines and the onset of heavy jowls. In addition to a loss of volume, the face succumbs to sun exposure, photodamage, and deterioration. Finally, gravity results in descent. Thus, the face experiences the 3D’s of growing old; deflation, descent, and deterioration. Fortunately, a facelift reverses the 3Ds and restores a youthful, rested, and natural appearance to the face.

To counter the effects of aging on the face, many opt to receive a facelift. A hallmark of cosmetic surgery, the facelift is a rejuvenation procedure designed to restore youth, beauty, and freshness, as well as boost self-confidence. Also known as a rhytidectomy, a facelift is one of the most widely-used cosmetic procedures in the world.

At SpaMedica, our team of seasoned professionals ensures that this common and routine procedure repairs the signs of aging and restores a more youthful appearance.

“Facelift” is a term that relates to a wide variety of different procedures, including micro-facelifts, vampire facelifts, suture suspension facelifts, and threadlifts. Still, all procedures under the umbrella term are designed to improve the look of the face, including the cheeks, jowls, and neck. During the procedure, your SpaMedica plastic surgeon will remove excess skin, smooth out wrinkles, eliminate age spots, and restore missing volume. At SpaMedica, a facelift involves creating hidden incisions behind the ear and hairline in order to re-suspend droopy fat tissues and avoid visible scars.

How Much Does a Facelift Cost?

While a facelift cost in Toronto varies depending on the particular areas of your face that you would like to change, at SpaMedica, facelift fees start from $14,999. Mini-Facelifts ($9,999) and Suture Suspension Facelifts and Threadlifts ($4,999) can be a less invasive way to get a significant facial rejuvenation result.

How Long Does it Take to Recover from a Facelift?

Typically, it takes approximately 14-21 days for bruising and swelling to subside following the procedure. Also, it is worth noting that oral medication can be used to easily manage any initial discomfort.

How Long Does a Facelift Take?

Much like the cost and recovery time, the length of the procedure is dependent on the breadth of the cosmetic work. However, on average, facelifts at SpaMedica take around 3-4 hours.

Who is a Facelift Candidate?

In truth, there is no particular age restriction for a facelift in Toronto, and there is no one specific trait that defines a “good” candidate. Patients with sagging cheeks, soft tissue volume, hanging neck skin, and early jowls make good candidates for facelifts and mini-lifts, as well as endoscopic and threadlift procedures.

However, while there are no specific traits that dictate candidacy, there are certain conditions that can make the process more seamless.

Skin Laxity
Ideally, a patient’s skin should have a good amount of laxity, as a facelift at SpaMedica is designed to remove excess skin and resuspend the deep muscle skin.

Well-Defined Bone Structure
A well-defined bone structure can make a great deal of difference for a facelift, as the cosmetic surgeon will have proper support while performing alterations.

Proper Physical Health
Good health and a lack of serious medical conditions are vital for a proper recovery following a facelift procedure.

Benefits of a Facelift

Youthful Appearance
By tightening loose skin and deep supportive muscles, removing wrinkles, and repositioning facial fat, the cosmetic plastic surgeons at SpaMedica are able to instill a more youthful and rested appearance in patients.

Natural-Looking Results
After your facelift at SpaMedica, you will look amazing without looking operated on. Indeed, Dr. Mulholland and his team boast the surgical skill to ensure that scarring is minimal and not generally noticeable. Dr. Mulholland has been performing facelift surgery for 25 years, and is recognized as one of the top facelift physicians in all of North America.

Combat Premature Aging
Unfortunately, genetics can often lead to some individuals appearing years or even decades older than they actually are. A facelift procedure can combat the signs of premature or excessive aging by restoring a more youthful complexion.

Restore Confidence
At its core, a facelift is designed to boost confidence. After all, when you look good, you feel good.

Risks of a Facelift

Like all procedures, facelifts are associated with possible risks and complications that patients should consider prior to undergoing the procedure. Dr. Mulholland has been performing high-volume facelift surgery for 25 years and, after this many facelifts, the risk of a significant complication is extremely low. Although Dr. Mulholland has not seen most of the risks listed below, these risks have been reported:

Although infections are very rare with respect to this procedure, Dr. Mulholland and his experienced team take every precaution to ensure that the surgery is a smooth, seamless experience. Preventative antibiotics are also given.

Abnormal Scarring or Swelling

In rare cases, the procedure may result in bruising that can last several days. However, any discomfort can be significantly diminished using oral medication prescribed by the doctors at SpaMedica. 

Mild Discomfort
Patients may experience a low level of discomfort following the procedure. This discomfort should subside in the hours or days after the procedure.

Why Choose SpaMedica for a Facelift?

By using advanced facial plastic surgery techniques and state-of-the-art equipment, the SpaMedica team is capable of producing incredible results while also reducing the amount of surgical swelling and bruising.

Led by the incomparable Dr. Mulholland, the skilled and experienced cosmetic surgeons at SpaMedica combine technical proficiency and unparalleled precision with an individualized approach that puts the patient first.

Dr. Mulholland was a head and neck cancer surgeon for 7 years prior to honing his focus on cosmetic plastic surgery. During this period, Dr. Mulholland removed complex tumors and cancers of the neck, mouth, and face. This gave him unparalleled experience in the anatomy of the deeper structure of the face, as well as the confidence to operate in this delicate area. Over the last 25 years, Dr. Mulholland has never had a patient suffer a long-term injury or weakness of the facial nerve.

When it comes to your face, only the very best will do. Dr. Mulholland and the skilled staff at SpaMedica have been performing complex Toronto facelift procedures for over two decades, making them a nationally renowned team you can trust!

Different Types of Facelifts

As previously mentioned, the term “facelift” can refer to several different facial elevation and rejuvenation procedures. The following options are some of the most common rhytidectomy procedures.

Deep Facelift
This procedure focuses on tightening the muscles that lie deep beneath the skin. However, before proceeding with this option, consider how this procedure entails a longer recovery process and more discomfort. This deep plane facelift is the technique that will last the longest and leave the most natural result with older, more droopy faces.

Neck Lift
In addition to including all the elements of a traditional facelift, this procedure also involves an incision that is placed beneath the chin, where the aging structure of the neck, bands, cords, and low hyoid bone are all corrected.

Mini Lift
This procedure is specifically designed for patients that only have minor concerns about the appearance of their cheeks and jowl. The incision is often hidden only behind the ear, or behind and within the ear, with no scalp extension.

Suture Suspension facelift and threadlift
This is a mini-facelift performed with bio-absorbable threads that are inserted into the droopy elements of the face and used to lift and reposition those drooping facial structures. When combined with FaceTite and Morpheus, the suture suspension can lead to facelift-like effects without the scar. As the pioneer and developer of this technique, Dr. Mulholland is known worldwide for this procedure. The plastic surgeons at SpaMedica are experts in this special kind of mini-lift.

Non-Excisional Facelift
While it is possible to use non-invasive treatments to minimize the visible effects of aging, only a surgical facelift can restore youth and freshness by eliminating wrinkles and drooping jowls. However,  you can combine energy-based treatments like AccuTite, Facetite and Morpheus8 to replicate many of the effects of an open facelift that last 5 years or more.

Spotlight: The Mini Lift Procedure

In comparison to a traditional facelift, a mini lift is a smaller, less invasive procedure. In addition, because a mini facelift is less complicated and drastic than its traditional counterpart, it also carries fewer risks and boasts a quicker recovery time. However, due to the fact that it is less invasive, the final results of a mini-lift are less noticeable and more temporary. As such, this procedure is only used for patients with moderate facial aging concerns.

Non-Surgical Facelift Alternatives

The Suture Suspension Threadlift combined with a Vampire Facelift

Following a threadlift, a fractional laser or radiofrequency device is used to smoothen the skin. The little microscopic holes in the skin are then treated to the vampire facelift.

The vampire facelift is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure that involves drawing a small amount of the patient’s own venous blood back into their face. During the procedure, a small tube of blood is withdrawn during the procedure so that doctors can use the patient’s own wound-healing and regenerative growth factors to improve skin textures and regulate age-related changes like fine lines.

In short, blood is drawn and harvested. Then, it undergoes centrifugation to separate the bioactive cells. Later, these cells are placed on top of the skin with the micro holes for penetration of the factors, which is also injected under the patient’s skin with small needles.

The procedure is used to treat fine lines and sagging on the chin. However, it is important to note that the results are not immediate, as improvements are typically seen after 3 months.

How is a Facelift Performed by Dr. Mulholland or Dr. Tom Bell?

At SpaMedica, a facelift is performed under local anesthesia with IV sedation or under general anesthesia. Prior to your surgery, one of Canada’s most reputable and experienced Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Tom Bell or Dr. Mulholland, will determine the best type of anesthesia to use based on your previous medical history, as well as your current prescriptions.

Dr. Tom Bell has performed over 3000 facelifts, blepharoplasty and cosmetic facial procedures.

During the procedure, your SpaMedica plastic surgeon will make incisions within the ear and behind the ears, as well as in the temple scalp hair. The skin is then carefully raised from the face and neck area. Liposuction under the chin or fat grafting to the face may be required. Finally, excess skin is carefully removed and meticulously sutured.

How to Prepare for a Facelift

Prior to your facelift in Toronto, Dr. Mulholland and his team will review your medications and medical history. Based on the scope of the surgery, SpaMedica doctors may recommend that you follow certain preparations in the weeks leading up to your procedure date:

  • Patients may be asked to stop taking Aspirin or any medication that contains Aspirin. 
  • Smoking should be discontinued two weeks leading up to the procedure, as smoking can hinder the recovery process. 
  • Patients should adopt a healthy lifestyle and diet in the weeks leading up to the procedure, as this will make the recovery process smoother and less eventful. 

What to Expect After a Facelift

Following your procedure, Dr. Mulholland and his team in Toronto will recommend a comprehensive postoperative skincare regime and a series of energy-based device treatments over a period of 12 months, which are designed to improve the colour, texture, and tone of your skin after the facelift and is included in the facelift cost.

These minimally invasive services include Botox injections and intense pulsed light (IPL), which are used to improve skin clarity and texture for a younger-looking complexion. In addition, a face-tightening radiofrequency and fractional resurfacing program is recommended post-operatively to maintain facelift results for as long as possible.

The combination of these non-invasive skin enhancement techniques with the facelift procedure will provide you with beautiful skin that only enhances the confidence-boosting results of the facelift.

Facelift Recovery and Timelines

After the Surgery: A loose-fitting bandage dressing is applied to the patient. 

Week 1: Initial discomfort is controlled through oral medication. 

Week 2: Sutures from the procedure are removed. 

Week 3: Bruising and swelling have subsided significantly. Patients are also able to return to work and engage in light exercise. 

Week 4: The early results of the facelift will now become evident. 

Best Procedures Paired with a Facelift

Additional procedures to combine with a facelift can include facial treatments such as blepharoplasty, browlift, dermal fillers, botox injection and energy-based skin rejuvenation devices. During your consultation session, SpaMedica doctors can provide details regarding any of these suitable options.

Eyelid Blepharoplasty Surgery

Eyelid blepharoplasty surgery is one of the most common procedures to pair with a facelift, in part because both procedures share similar goals and results. Whereas a facelift is relegated to the cheeks and jowls, this procedure focuses on the eyelids. Blepharoplasty surgery can restore your youthful glow by resolving puffiness, fixing hooded eyelids, and removing wrinkles under the eyes.

Facelift FAQ

How Long Until I Can Return to My Normal Activities After Receiving a Facelift?

Depending upon the type of facelift, it is recommended that patients wait 2-3 weeks before returning to work. Also, most cosmetic plastic surgeons recommend waiting 3 weeks before engaging in moderate physical activity and 6 weeks before high impact workouts.

Can I Combine My Facelift with Other Procedures?

Facelifts are typically combined with eyelid surgery to soften puffy bags below the eyes, droopy skin on the upper lid, as well as brow lifts to smooth forehead wrinkles. Liposuction for a double chin is also common.

Will the Results of My Facelift Be Permanent?

At SpaMedica, results from a traditional facelift generally last for 7 -10 years. Your face should look on average 10 years younger, fresher and more natural. Once you have fully healed, the clock will start ticking again on aging, but you will be aging from a much younger starting point. Our doctors can provide you with a program to keep your face looking rejuvenated and younger after the procedure. A second facelift can also be performed once the results have faded over time.

What Type of Anesthesia Is Used in a Facelift?

To ensure patient comfort, surgeons at SpaMedica use local anesthesia with IV sedation or general anesthesia.

What is a Vampire Facelift?

A vampire facelift is a safe and non-surgical procedure that brightens skin tone, restores youth, and improves facial volume. Interestingly, the procedure uses a concentrated serum processed from your own blood. The serum is injected under the skin, where it triggers a collagen production that results in brighter, younger-looking skin.

Stephen Mulholland, M.D
Physician and internationally recognized cosmetic plastic surgeon and lecturer.
Thomas Bell, M.D
Physician and internationally recognized cosmetic plastic surgeon and lecturer.
66 Avenue Road, Suite 4 Toronto, Ontario M5R 3N8

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