Face Lift & Neck Lift

Serving clients near Mansfield, Arlington, Fort Worth & Dallas, Texas

What is the purpose of a Face Lift?

Face lift or rhytidectomy and neck lift reduces and eliminates the sagging skin of your face, jowls and neck, improve facial lines and wrinkles, and restore your neck and jaw line to a more youthful appearance.

How is a Face Lift or Neck Lift performed?

Dr. Michael L Thornton uses traditional yet modern techniques in face lift and neck lift surgery.  The underlying support tissue, fibrous fascia, and thin muscle layer under your face and neck skin is called SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) and this support layer is used to lift and remodel the face during a face lift and neck lift procedure.  Dr. Thornton uses specialized techniques called SMAS plication that elevates and tightens the SMAS with stitches that repositions the underlying tissues of the face and neck.  Dr. Thornton places your incisions within the natural creases around your ears and hairline.  Most patients benefit from complete facial rejuvenation, whereby multiple facial plastic surgery procedures are performed simultaneously during your face lift including concurrent brow lift, blepharoplasty, facial fat grafting, lip lift and / or CO2 fractional laser skin resurfacing.

What is a Mini Face Lift?

Most of our clients will benefit from a traditional or full lower face lift but there are circumstances where a mini face lift may be appropriate and beneficial.  This less invasive facelift is perfect for a patient who needs only a small amount of facial lifting, as this technique utilizes a shorter scar and provides for a lesser degree of skin movement and neck rejuvenation.  A mini face lift concentrates on elevating the jowls but does not necessarily improve the neck.

What is a Lip Lift?

A lip lift is a highly effective facial rejuvenation procedure designed to shorten an elongated upper lip and increase the amount of visible upper incisor show. As we age, the distance between the base of the nose and the upper lip often lengthens, creating an aged appearance and reducing tooth show when smiling. By carefully removing a small segment of skin beneath the nose using a sub nasal or bullnose incision pattern, the upper lip is elevated into a more youthful position, improving lip balance, smile aesthetics, and overall facial harmony.

Dr. Thornton performs lip lift surgery using a precisely designed sub nasal bullnose incision that is concealed within the natural contours of the nostril base. The procedure may be performed as an isolated surgery for patients seeking enhancement of the upper lip area or combined with other facial rejuvenation procedures such as face lift, neck lift, facial fat transfer, blepharoplasty, or laser skin resurfacing. When performed in conjunction with a face lift, a lip lift can provide a more complete and balanced facial rejuvenation by addressing age related changes of both the lower face and the upper lip.

Can Dr. Thornton perform a Neck Lift without a Face Lift?

Yes. In carefully selected patients, Dr. Thornton can perform an isolated neck lift without a face lift. This procedure is designed for individuals whose facial aging changes are limited primarily to the neck, including excess neck fat, platysmal muscle banding, loss of neck definition, or loose neck skin. The best candidates typically have a well preserved jawline and minimal jowling, with little to no laxity of the cheeks or midface. When facial aging extends beyond the neck and into the mid face or jowls, a facelift often provides a more balanced and comprehensive result.

An isolated neck lift is highly customized to the patient’s anatomy and may include submental neck liposuction, direct removal of deep neck fat or subplatysmal fat, platysma muscle tightening, and removal of excess skin when necessary. Small incisions will be placed beneath the chin and behind the ears to improve neck contour while minimizing visible scars. By addressing the specific structures responsible for neck aging, Dr. Thornton can restore a sharper jawline, improve neck definition, and create a more youthful neck profile without performing a facelift in properly selected patients. The key to success is proper patient selection, as isolated neck lift surgery is a specialized procedure designed for a very specific group of patients.

What can I expect during my Face Lift consultation with Dr. Thornton?

During your face lift consultation, you will meet privately and exclusively with Dr. Thornton where you will collectively share in the decision making process about your personal needs, desires, and expectations.  Dr. Thornton will complete a thorough medical history and perform a careful examination of your face and neck to see if you are an acceptable candidate to undergo a face or neck lift procedure.

Where will my face lift surgery take place?

Face lift, neck lift, and other facial rejuvenation procedures are performed at Baylor Surgicare at Mansfield, a AAAHC certified out-patient surgery center, located in Mansfield, Texas. On average, the procedure will take 4 – 6  hours to complete, depending upon the complexity of the case or if other facial plastic surgery procedures will be performed simultaneously.  In addition, all lower face and neck lift procedures are performed under general anesthesia with board-certified anesthesiologists and professional anesthesia providers.