Overview
Many people who look older than they feel are interested in turning back the hands of time with a facelift. San Antonio plastic surgeon, Dr. Michael E. Decherd has years of experience and specialized training in this popular and complex procedure. With precision and a customized approach, he can correct many of the unwanted signs of aging such as droopy jowls, volume loss, wrinkles, and sagging neck skin. During the initial consultation, Dr. Decherd will assess the face and skin and provide a treatment plan to meet the patient’s aesthetic goals.
Best Candidates
A good candidate for a facelift has:
- Lax or sagging skin
- Some elasticity in the skin
- A well-defined bone structure
- Good physical health
- Good psychological health
- Realistic expectations
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Surgical Technique
The surgical technique used during a facelift will depend on the patient’s facial features and aesthetic goals. There are varying levels of invasiveness depending on the complexity of the surgical case. Most surgeons will always aim for the less invasive approach, but older patients with severe wrinkling may require a more complex procedure involving the internal tissues, fat and skin to be manipulated. Several techniques are used, including the least invasive known as the skin-only facelift, the SMAS facelift, which alters the underlying muscles, and a deep plane facelift, which is the most invasive approach. In addition, some patients may only need the mid-face section addressed. This is usually the case when droopy cheeks are the issue. In this event, a cheek lift or mid-facelift may be all that is needed.
Surgical and Nonsurgical
Depending on the technique used, Dr. Decherd will remove excess skin on the face and pull it up slightly to create a higher, tighter appearance. Sutures are usually placed at the incision site, which in most cases is along the hairline so that scarring is typically not a huge issue. The use of a fat injection or collagen injection may be used to complement the tightening technique. Fillers of this nature help add additional volume under the skin where hollow areas exist. The goal of any facelift procedure is to create a younger appearance with subtle and natural results.
During/After Surgery
All facelift procedures are performed at our outpatient surgical facility located just across the street from our plastic surgery center. The surgery, regardless of the complexity of the case, will be performed under general anesthesia. It is almost always an outpatient procedure. It is normal to experience bruising and swelling after surgery, and patients will feel as if their face is being pulled tight. This subsides within a couple of weeks. It takes about several months for patients to look and feel normal and for the optimal surgical results to become visible.

Plan Your Procedure
- Recovery Time
- 10-14 Days
- Average Procedure Time
- 3-4 Hours
- Post-op Follow-up
- 3-7 Days
- Procedure Recovery Location
- In & Outpatient
Facelift FAQs
Whole-Face Improvement?
A facelift improves the lower half of the face and the neck. For optimal results, patients may choose to combine facelift surgery with an additional procedure, such as:
- Brow lift surgery (forehead lift)
- Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty)
- BOTOX or an injectable filler
How Natural?
It is important to choose a skilled facial plastic surgeon that has years of experience in facelift surgery. A doctor with experience in facial surgery will create natural, subtle results that will last for years to come. While patients will feel “pulled tight” immediately after the procedure, this pulling sensation subsides within a few weeks. As the face settles into its new position, patients will begin to notice vast improvement, and the optimal results will begin to be visible by 3-4 months post-op.
Visible Scars?
A traditional facelift places the incisions from the temple to the lower hairline, but the scars will be well concealed within the hairline. With the lesser-invasive techniques, the scars heal pretty well and an in most cases cannot be seen or detected.