Choosing to refresh your face is rarely about vanity. Most people who come in for a consultation want to look like themselves on a well-rested weekend, not a stranger in old photos. They want their face to match their energy. In Fort Myers, that conversation often starts at Farahmand Plastic Surgery with Dr Audrey Farahmand, a board-certified plastic surgeon who has built her facelift approach around restraint, anatomy, and durability.
This deep dive explains how facelifts are customized in her practice, what options exist for different aging patterns, and how to evaluate whether you are ready. It also covers timelines, recovery details, and the small choices that make a big difference in natural-looking results. If you have ever typed “facelift surgeon near me” and then felt overwhelmed by the options, you are not alone. The specifics matter, and understanding them makes you a better candidate and a better advocate for your goals.
What a Facelift Addresses, and What It Does Not
A true facelift targets the lower two thirds of the face and the neck. It restores sagging along the jawline, softens or eliminates jowls, refines the angle of the neck, and redrapes lax skin without tension. The deeper work happens in the SMAS, a fibromuscular layer that loses tone with age. Skilled manipulation of the SMAS is what allows a lift to look natural and last longer than a skin-only approach.
A facelift does not treat everything. Forehead lines, drooping brows, and upper eyelid excess fall into brow lift and eyelid surgery territory. Fine, etched lines around the mouth often respond better to laser resurfacing or chemical peels. Volume loss in the cheeks and temples might need fat grafting or filler. At Farahmand Plastic Surgery, facelift planning often includes some combination of these complementary treatments. The art lies in choosing only what you need.
The Farahmand Approach: Method Before Marketing
A good facelift is 80 percent planning, 20 percent execution. The preoperative evaluation looks beyond “loose skin” and maps structural changes: bone resorption along the jaw, ligament laxity, fat pad descent, and platysma banding in the neck. Dr Audrey Farahmand focuses on vector-based lifting of the SMAS and platysma so skin can be redraped with minimal tension. That is the difference between a look that holds its shape for a decade and one that feels tight for six months then relaxes right back.
Subtlety guides decision-making. Heavy jowl fat and a poor cervicomental angle often call for platysmaplasty and selective deep fat reduction. Early laxity with good skin elasticity can do well with a limited incision lift. An uneven smile or weak lower lip function can hint at nerve vulnerability, which shapes surgical strategy. Every face ages differently, and the most persuasive “before and afters” share one trait: they look like the same person on a better day.
Types of Facelifts Offered and Who Benefits
The label matters less than the technique, but naming the options helps anchor expectations.
Mini or Limited Incision Lift: Best for people in their 40s to early 50s with mild jowling and minimal neck laxity. The incisions are shorter, usually around the front of the ear. The SMAS is tightened, often with a limited plication or short-vector lift. Recovery is quicker, and the result typically lasts 5 to 7 years, depending on skin quality and lifestyle.
Standard SMAS Facelift: The workhorse procedure for moderate to significant jowls and neck laxity. Incisions curve around the ear and sometimes extend slightly into the posterior hairline. The SMAS is elevated and repositioned, not just folded. The neck often receives attention through a small incision under the chin, especially if platysma muscle bands are visible. Properly executed, this lift can hold nicely for 10 years or more.
Deep Plane Facelift: Not every face needs this, but for deeper nasolabial folds, heavy midface descent, or thicker skin that resists plication, a deep plane approach releases key retaining ligaments and repositions the cheek and jowl fat pads along with the SMAS in a single, unified movement. It can produce natural fullness in the midface without implants or excessive fat transfer. Recovery is a touch longer, but the result often looks less “done” because skin tension is minimal.
Neck Lift With Platysmaplasty: Some patients live in turtlenecks not because of jowls, but because of a blunted jaw-neck angle. In these cases, a neck-focused lift with platysma muscle tightening, submental fat contouring, and skin redraping delivers the jawline they remember. This can be paired with a lower facelift or performed as a standalone when the face itself still looks youthful.
Revision Facelift: If you have had surgery before, your facelift plan must respect prior dissection planes and scar tissue. The risks shift slightly, and the choices narrow. Revision is as much about what not to do as what to do. At Farahmand Plastic Surgery, revision consultations include realistic mapping of what can be improved and what is best left untouched for your safety and longevity of the result.
Adjuncts That Multiply the Benefit
Fat Grafting: The best facelift still cannot replace lost facial volume without help. Micro-fat or nano-fat transfers restore gentle convexity along the cheeks, temples, and marionette area. Fat behaves like living tissue because it is your own. Expect some resorption, so surgeons often add a touch more than the target volume. When placed in a plane that moves with your expression, fat grafting reads as youthful fullness, not filler puffiness.
Skin Treatments: Good scaffolding needs good fabric. Laser resurfacing, light chemical peels, or microneedling with radiofrequency can smooth fine lines and improve texture. The timing matters. Many patients schedule energy-based treatments a few months after the lift, once swelling has resolved, to polish the surface without stressing incision lines.
Chin and Jawline Support: A small chin can undermine even the best neck lift. Properly chosen chin augmentation, sometimes with a narrow profile implant or even modest fat grafting, can harmonize the lower face. It is not about a “strong chin” so much as matching projection to the jawline’s new definition.
What the Consultation Covers
The first visit feels part interview, part anatomy lesson. After a thorough history and exam, you will likely review standardized photos in multiple angles. Expect a frank discussion about your stressors and health habits, since these affect wound healing. Smokers, including nicotine vapers, are counseled to quit for at least 4 weeks before and after surgery. Patients on blood thinners or supplements like fish oil and high-dose vitamin E may need temporary adjustments in coordination with their prescribing physician.
Bring questions that matter to you. Ask how the surgeon handles the SMAS, where the tension is placed, whether the neck will be addressed, and how incisions are designed for your hairline and ear shape. If you are comparing a Facelift Surgeon Fort Myers result with someone else’s portfolio, make sure you are looking at similar ages, skin types, and time from surgery. A fresh two-week “after” always looks tighter than a six-month “after,” and that can skew perception.
The Day of Surgery and the First 72 Hours
Most facelifts at Farahmand Plastic Surgery are outpatient procedures performed under anesthesia in an accredited facility. Surgery times vary. A limited incision lift may take 2 to 3 hours, while a deep plane facelift with neck work can run 4 to 5 hours, sometimes longer if combined with eyelid surgery or fat grafting.
You will wake up with a head dressing and sometimes small drains behind the ears or near the neck to reduce fluid buildup. Numbness in the cheeks and earlobes is expected and usually fades over weeks to months. Swelling and bruising peak between days two and four, then gradually recede. Most patients feel presentable with makeup around two weeks, though the final refinement takes several months.
At home, get ahead of swelling by keeping the head elevated, even while sleeping. Short, frequent walks around the house lower clot risk and make you feel human again. Avoid heavy lifting, bending over, and anything that spikes your blood pressure in the first week. You will have a detailed instruction sheet, and the staff will review it with you before you leave.
Incisions, Scars, and the Small Choices That Matter
Scar placement and closure technique are quiet heroes of a good facelift. Incisions typically trace the natural curves around the ear and hide in the hairline. The goal is to avoid hairline displacement and preserve the sideburn. Tension belongs in the SMAS and platysma, not the skin. That is how you prevent the telltale pulled look around the mouth and earlobe.
Keloid or hypertrophic scarring is uncommon in the face due to its rich blood supply, but history matters. If you scar robustly on the chest or shoulders, cosmetic surgeon share that early. Strategies like careful suture layering, silicone gel, and selective steroid taping can help minimize risk. Sun protection is nonnegotiable for the first 3 to 6 months. UV exposure darkens fresh scars, which then take longer to blend in.
How Long Results Last
Durability depends on the depth of the lift, your genetics, and how you treat your skin afterward. A proper SMAS or deep plane lift, executed with correct vectors and neck support, often looks fresh for 8 to 12 years. That does not mean you will “need” another procedure at a fixed interval. Some patients choose a touch-up in their late 60s after an initial lift in their early 50s. Others maintain with periodic skin treatments and minor fillers and never feel compelled to return to the operating room.
Consider maintenance as a philosophy, not a product list. Good sleep, stable weight, diligent sun protection, and avoidance of nicotine do more for your result than any cream. Medical-grade skincare with vitamin A derivatives and antioxidants supports collagen health and texture.
Candidacy and Caution
Almost anyone in good health with lower face and neck laxity is a possible candidate. Realistic expectations are essential. If your skin is extremely thin with significant sun damage, the lift will still sharpen your jawline, but texture changes might require resurfacing. If you have very heavy, thick skin or a full neck, a high-definition result often means combining fat reduction with platysma tightening and a robust SMAS strategy.
There are conditions that require careful planning. Diabetics need tight glucose control to protect wound healing. Patients with bleeding disorders or on certain medications may need adjusted plans. If you are hoping to lose 20 pounds, do it before surgery, not after, since weight loss can deflate the lower face and soften your result. If you are in a stressful life storm, waiting a month can improve the experience and the outcome.
The Patient Experience at Farahmand Plastic Surgery
Technical skill is critical, but so is the experience around it. From a practical standpoint, the office flow is designed to reduce friction. Preoperative imaging, lab coordination, and staged follow-ups keep you from scrambling the week before surgery. Most patients appreciate that recovery calls come at predictable times, so questions do not linger.
The tone of the consultation is collaborative. Many arrive asking for the “Best facelift surgeon in Fort Myers” and leave focusing less on superlatives and more on fit. In my experience, that pivot leads to better decisions. If you feel heard, you are more likely to speak up when something feels off during recovery. And when you share details about your lifestyle or anxiety level, the team can tailor guidance or prescribe a short course of medication to help you sleep those first nights.
Comparing Options: Surgical Lift vs Energy Devices vs Fillers
Noninvasive devices and injectables have a place. They also have limits. Radiofrequency or ultrasound-based skin tightening can shrink-wrap mild laxity and make modest changes in jawline crispness. Fillers can camouflage early jowls by lifting cheeks and softening shadows. The issue is what happens after two or three rounds. Overfilling blurs facial definition and adds weight. Skin tightening treatments can tighten a soft jawline but cannot reposition descended deep tissues.
A facelift restores structure. Think of it as resetting the scaffolding before decorating the room. Many patients who once chased “just one more syringe” find that, after a proper lift, their need for filler drops by half or more. The face looks lighter and more expressive because the lift is not fighting added weight from excessive filler.
Recovery Timeline You Can Plan Around
Here is a realistic, conservative arc for standard SMAS or deep plane lifts combined with neck work. These ranges accommodate individual variation and allow buffer for work and social commitments.
- Day 1 to 3: Head wrap or light compressive garment, drains if placed are usually removed within 24 to 72 hours. Swelling and bruising peak. Short, frequent walks only. Day 4 to 7: Discomfort typically transitions to a tight, full feeling. Sutures around the ear often come out by the end of this window. Many patients start working from home. Week 2: Most return to light public-facing activities with makeup. Yellow-green bruising fades. Numbness persists. Low-impact exercise can resume if cleared. Weeks 3 to 4: Swelling continues to soften. Most resume normal routines, avoiding contact sports or anything that risks a hit to the face. Month 3: Final refinement emerges. Scar maturation progresses for the rest of the year.
This is one of only two lists in the article. For travel, business, or big family events, book surgery so your week-two window does not collide with cameras and high stress. Many Fort Myers professionals plan procedures in the summer heat when they are indoors anyway, or in the quieter weeks between major holidays.
Cost, Value, and How to Think About the Investment
Prices vary based on extent of surgery, whether you add eyelids or fat grafting, anesthesia time, and facility fees. In the Fort Myers market, a properly performed SMAS facelift with neck work typically sits in a five-figure range, and combinations can reach the mid-teens. Ask for an itemized quote so you understand what is included. A surgeon who uses a board-certified anesthesiologist in an accredited facility, invests in follow-up, and limits the number of cases per day builds cost into safety and attention.
The value lies in years of looking refreshed without maintenance every few months. When you spread the cost over a decade of confidence, it compares favorably with serial noninvasive treatments that never quite solve the problem of descent.
Why Surgeon Selection Matters
Experience shows in the details. A skilled Facelift Surgeon balances three tensions at once: the pull on the SMAS, the redraping of skin without distortion, and the relationship between the jawline and neck. Before-and-after galleries should feature natural expressions, diversity of age and skin types, and consistent photographic standards. Look for early and late “afters,” not just photos from week two when everything is tight and shiny.
In Fort Myers, many patients search for “Top facelift surgery in fort myers” or “Facelift Surgery in Fort Myers” as a starting point. The next step is setting a consultation with Dr Audrey Farahmand and, if you are comparison shopping, one or two other board-certified surgeons. The best fit is the surgeon who listens closely, explains clearly, and proposes a plan that matches your anatomy and priorities, not a menu of what is trendy.
Common Questions Patients Ask
Will I look pulled? When SMAS and platysma carry the tension, and the skin is simply redraped, the face looks smoother and lighter without that windswept look. Incision design around the ear preserves natural curves, which also helps.
What about the earlobes? A “pixie ear” happens when skin tension pulls the lobe down. Proper anchoring to deeper tissue and tension control prevents this. Surgeons who emphasize deep support avoid this pitfall.
Can I combine eyelids or a brow lift? Yes, if health and anatomy support it. Many patients combine upper eyelid surgery with a facelift. Brow lifts are added when the brow is heavy or descended. Each added procedure increases time under anesthesia, so the plan is tailored to your risk profile.
How soon can I work out? Walking starts day one. Light cardio, often by the end of week two. Strenuous activity and heavy lifting are usually cleared around week four, with guidance based on your healing.
When do I see the real result? You will look presentable by two to three weeks, good by six to eight weeks, and fully settled by three to six months. Scar maturation continues for up to a year.
Realistic Results and the Fort Myers Lifestyle
Southwest Florida sun is relentless. Even the best Facelift Surgery in Fort Myers benefits from disciplined sun protection. A wide-brim hat, mineral sunscreen reapplied during long days outside, and shade choices are not negotiable. Our climate also encourages outdoor fitness, which is excellent for long-term skin health, as long as you respect healing timelines in the first month.
Year-round humidity helps some patients with scar hydration. On the flip side, sunscreen and gentle cleansers keep skin comfortable, especially along incision lines. Plan hair coloring and keratin treatments around your surgery dates. Many schedule touch-ups 1 to 2 weeks before surgery, then wait 3 to 4 weeks after to avoid irritation around healing incisions.
When a Noninvasive Route Makes More Sense
Not everyone needs surgery. If your concerns are mostly fine lines, pigment, or early laxity without real jowls or neck bands, a series of energy treatments, light resurfacing, and modest fillers can buy you three to five years. If your calendar cannot accommodate a two-week social downtime and you can tolerate Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon incremental improvements, a nonsurgical plan is appropriate. The key is honesty about what those treatments can and cannot do. At Farahmand Plastic Surgery, you will hear both paths presented, with a recommendation aligned to your anatomy and tolerance for downtime.
What Sets Farahmand Plastic Surgery Apart
Patients often describe the process as calm and precise. Appointments run on time, calls are returned, and concerns are handled directly. That sounds basic, yet it makes the experience more humane. From a technical standpoint, the practice emphasizes deep support and neck definition, which translates into a more youthful silhouette on video calls and in candid photos.
Dr Audrey Farahmand’s patients frequently cite a “you, but rested” aesthetic. The goal is not to draw attention to your surgery but to remove the little distractions of jowls and banding that broadcast fatigue. In a region full of visitors and retirees with active lives, this approach fits the lifestyle. It is no surprise that many who search for “Facelift Surgeon Fort Myers” end up prioritizing this particular balance of technique and nuance.
Taking the Next Step
If you are weighing a facelift, gather your questions, snap recent photos of yourself in daylight from multiple angles, and think about what bothers you most. Is it the heaviness near the mouth when you smile, the sag under the chin, or the general softness of the jawline? Ranking those concerns helps the consultation focus on what will actually change your day-to-day confidence.
When you meet with the team at Farahmand Plastic Surgery, expect a clear explanation of options, timeframes, and expected results. If a mini lift addresses your goals, you will hear that. If a standard SMAS lift with neck work and small-volume fat grafting will wear better over ten years, you will hear that too. This is how good outcomes happen: a right-sized plan, executed well, supported by a recovery that respects your healing.
The best facelift is the one that makes people ask if you took a great vacation, not what you had done. In Fort Myers, with the right surgeon and the right plan, that result is attainable.
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Best Facelift Surgeon in Fort Myers
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Audrey Farahmand
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