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When you consider a Facelift, you're looking past the noise for a highly intentional refresh. You want to secure that strong bone structure and the definition that feels authentic to your best self. Sometimes the jawline and neck contours soften, and that's just physics.
A Facelift in Houston, TX, is a deliberate move to restore those sharp lines and that rested appearance. It's focused, expert work by Dr. Lapuerta to tighten up what needs support and ensure your exterior is giving the same confident energy as your interior.
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"An Incredible Surgeon..."
"This man is a WIZARD! Extremely skilled, very caring, kind and an incredible surgeon. Consultation was excellent. Dr. Lapuerta is lovely and truly takes the time to understand your goals and discuss options in detail so you know your choices and can align them with your expectations and desired outcomes. Also, his team is incredible! Everyone from office staff, to consultants, to medical professionals - all of his team - wonderful, caring, kind, supportive and very helpful. And the surgical results are five star: I look like myself, but 20 years younger. I am not even exaggerating. All care, instruction - pre and post op - very thorough. You feel like the whole team is there for you every step of the way. Because they are."
Review from L.W. | source: RealSelf | nov 09, 2023 Plastic Surgery Patient
A facelift, also called a rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that improves visible signs of facial aging by lifting deeper tissues, tightening the support layer beneath the skin, and removing excess skin. It is designed to restore youthful contours in the lower face and neck while preserving natural facial structure.
A facelift procedure does not stop the aging process, but it can reset it. By addressing loose skin, sagging muscles, underlying tissues, and deeper facial structures, facelift surgery can create a more rested and more youthful appearance than non-surgical facelift options can usually provide once laxity becomes more advanced.
Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Best for | Sagging skin, jowls, deep nasolabial folds, loose facial skin, excess skin in the lower face and neck |
| Treatment type | Surgical facelift / facial plastic surgery |
| Common areas treated | Face and neck |
| Anesthesia | Often general anesthesia |
| Downtime | Most patients need social downtime and activity restrictions during the early healing process |
| Pain level | Usually manageable with pain medication or prescribed pain medication |
| Treatment length | Varies by facelift method and whether a neck lift or other cosmetic procedures are combined |
| Results timeline | Early improvement appears once swelling and bruising begin to settle; final results take longer |
| Longevity | Depends on skin quality, skin elasticity, sun exposure, facial aging, and technique |
| Cost note | Pricing reflects surgical complexity, anesthesia, facility, and whether comprehensive facial rejuvenation is planned |
With a facelift Houston patients can improve the structural signs of aging that show up when the skin and deeper tissues begin to descend.
It may treat:
For patients with facial aging that extends into the neck, a neck lift may be recommended along with facelift surgery for more balanced correction.
A facelift can do a great deal, but it is not a fix for every concern. It will not replace skincare. It does not erase pigment changes from sun exposure. It may not fully address poor skin quality, etched lines, or volume loss on its own. Some patients benefit from a personalized treatment plan that includes facial rejuvenation beyond the lift itself, such as fat transfer, skin resurfacing, or other cosmetic procedures.
This matters during a facelift consultation. Good surgical planning starts with honest limits.
The best facelift results look coherent. The face and neck match. The jawline looks cleaner. The skin sits more smoothly over the underlying facial muscles and support structures.
Benefits may include:
For Houston facelift patients who want comprehensive facial rejuvenation, facelift surgery can also be combined with eyelid surgery, fat transfer, or a neck lift to create a more complete result.
A good candidate for a facelift is someone whose concerns are structural, not just surface-level. In most cases, the issue is not simply facial skin. It is the relationship between facial skin, facial muscles, underlying tissues, and the remaining skin after descent has occurred.
A thoughtful facelift consultation should feel detailed, not rushed. At our Houston plastic surgery practice, surgical planning starts with the full picture: your facial structure, skin elasticity, skin quality, degree of loose skin, and the pattern of facial aging across the cheeks, jawline, and neck. Your medical history matters too. So do your concerns about scars, anesthesia, recovery, and how natural you want the outcome to look.
This is also where a customized treatment plan takes shape. Some patients are best served by a traditional facelift. Some need a lower facelift surgery plan that focuses on jowls and the jawline. Others may benefit from a deep plane facelift or an extended deep plane facelift if deeper facial structures and underlying tissues need more comprehensive repositioning. Patients with neck laxity often need a neck lift at the same time for a cleaner result.
Not every surgical facelift is the same. The best facelift procedure depends on where the laxity is, how advanced it is, and what kind of correction will look most believable on your face.
A mini facelift is usually best for earlier facial aging. It can help selected patients with mild loose skin, early jowls, and limited descent in the lower face. It is less extensive than a traditional facelift, but it also has limits. It is not the right answer for significant excess skin or more advanced changes in the face and neck.
A traditional facelift is a well-established facelift method for patients with more visible signs of aging. It typically addresses loose skin, deeper folds, and laxity in the lower face, with the option to extend treatment into the neck. For many patients, this remains the most practical path to meaningful facial rejuvenation.
A SMAS facelift addresses the support layer beneath the skin rather than tightening the skin alone. This helps improve facial contours more naturally and reduces the risk of a surface-pulled appearance. When plastic surgeons talk about durable support, the SMAS layer is often central to that conversation.
A deep plane facelift goes deeper than surface tightening and SMAS-only adjustment by releasing and repositioning deeper tissues as a unit. This can be especially useful in patients with deep nasolabial folds, sagging in the midface, and more advanced facial aging. The deep plane technique is often discussed for its ability to create natural-looking results without relying on skin tension alone.
An extended deep plane facelift may be considered when a broader release and repositioning of deeper facial structures is needed. This is a more advanced option and should be discussed carefully during consultation. It is not automatically better for every patient. It is better only when it fits the anatomy in front of the surgeon.
A revision facelift is performed when a patient has had facelift surgery before and now needs correction, refinement, or renewed lifting after further aging. Revision work requires careful assessment of scar tissue, remaining skin, prior technique, and current goals.
When undergoing a facelift Houston patients will have a customized treatment plan depending on their own unique anatomy, but the overall process follows the same logic: support what has dropped, remove what is excessive, and preserve what still looks like you.
The face and neck are assessed in detail. Incision design, lift direction, and treatment zones are mapped before surgery.
Many facelift surgery cases are performed under general anesthesia. Safety planning includes a review of medical history and any factors that could affect surgery or recovery.
Incisions are usually placed around the ears and hairline in ways designed to support minimal scarring and reduce visible scars once healing progresses.
Depending on the facelift method, the underlying facial muscles, deeper tissues, and support layers are elevated and repositioned.
After internal support is restored, removing excess skin allows the outer layer to drape more smoothly. The point is not to pull hard. The point is to let the remaining skin sit naturally over better support.
Once the facelift is performed, the incisions are closed, and the early healing process begins.
The first phase of the facelift recovery process is usually defined by swelling and bruising, tightness, and a temporary sense that the face feels unfamiliar. That stage passes. Recovery is less about severe pain and more about patience, swelling control, and good aftercare.
Most Houston facelift patients want to know one thing: when will it be less obvious? Social downtime depends on the extent of the surgical procedure, the presence of a neck lift, and your own healing pattern. Bruising and swelling can make the face look uneven early on. Makeup may help later, but the face still needs time to settle before final results are visible.
You will need to limit lifting, strenuous exercise, and motions that increase swelling. Keeping your head elevated, following wound care instructions, and protecting the skin from sun exposure all matter during the facelift healing process.
Most patients manage discomfort with pain medication or prescribed pain medication in the early days after surgery. Severe pain is not typical. Tightness, soreness, numbness, and swelling are more common.
Following a facelift Houston patients express that scars are a concern. These concerns should be addressed directly. A properly planned facelift procedure aims for minimal scarring by placing incisions in natural creases around the ear and within the hairline when possible. Early scars are often pink or firm. That is normal. Over time, most visible scars improve substantially.
Scar quality depends on technique, aftercare, skin quality, and healing tendencies. Sun exposure can worsen scar appearance, so protection matters. During consultation, it helps to discuss whether you have a history of thick or prolonged scarring.
Facelift results usually appear in stages. You may notice an early change once the major swelling and bruising improve, but final results take longer. The face needs time to settle. Scars need time to soften. The tissues need time to adapt.
How long do facelift results last? There is no fixed number for every patient. Longevity depends on the aging process, skin elasticity, skin quality, weight stability, sun exposure, and the surgical technique used. A surgical facelift does not stop time, but it can set the clock back in a way that looks cleaner and more lasting than repeated short-term fixes.
A non-surgical facelift may include facial fillers, skin tightening, or energy-based treatments. Those approaches can help selected patients with mild laxity or early changes. They do not replace facelift surgery when there is significant excess skin, deeper tissue descent, or more advanced signs of aging.
This is often the turning point in consultation. Once the issue is structural, the structure has to be addressed.
Yes. For many patients, the strongest plan is not a single procedure but a coordinated one. Depending on anatomy and goals, facelift surgery may be combined with:
This can produce more comprehensive facial rejuvenation when each element is selected for a reason, not added automatically.
Choosing among plastic surgeons in Houston, TX, is not only about credentials on paper. It is about judgment, safety, and whether the surgical plan is tailored to the person sitting in the consultation room.
Our practice is built around physician-led care, careful evaluation, and personalized planning. Patients seeking a facelift in Houston often want the same things: a surgeon who listens, a clear explanation of options, and natural results that fit their facial structure rather than a trend. Dr. Lapuerta approaches facelift surgery with that standard in mind. The focus stays on facial balance, the integrity of the underlying tissues, and a personalized treatment plan that respects your anatomy, your recovery, and your goals.
If you are considering facelift Houston patients' trust for refined, physician-led care, the next step is a private consultation. Call Leo Lapuerta, MD, Plastic Surgery to schedule your facelift consultation in Houston and learn which approach fits your goals, anatomy, and recovery needs.
Recovery time
Average Procedure time
Post-op Follow-up
Procedure Recovery Location
2-3 Weeks
4-6 Hours
1 Day
In & Outpatient
A well-executed facelift should not make you look like another person. It should make your facial appearance look firmer, smoother, and less tired while preserving natural beauty.
There is no ideal age. The best timing depends on visible signs of aging, skin elasticity, facial structure, and the degree of correction needed.
Not for everyone. Deep plane facelift and traditional facelift techniques each have a role. The right choice depends on anatomy, goals, and how much support the deeper tissues need.
Yes. The aging process continues. A facelift enhances your appearance by improving current laxity and repositioning tissues, but it does not freeze time.
Yes. The same principles apply, though incision placement, beard-bearing skin, and facial structure require careful planning.
The cost of facelift surgery depends on more than one line item. Pricing reflects the facelift method, whether a neck lift or other procedures are included, the length of surgery, anesthesia, and facility-related factors. It should also reflect the complexity of the surgical procedure itself, especially when advanced surgical techniques or revision facelift work are involved.
A facelift consultation is the right place to get a specific quote and understand what is included in your treatment plan.
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