Facelift in Dallas, TX

Facial Rejuvenation Through Precision and Artistry 

Facial aging is multifaceted, affecting the skin, tissues, and underlying bone structure. Over the years, concerns arise like wrinkles, sagging, and hollowness, creating a tired appearance that doesn’t match how youthful you feel inside. An expertly performed facelift in Dallas, Texas, with Dr. Shai Rozen can restore facial harmony and a look that is as vibrant as you feel.

Few surgeons in the world combine the precision of a microsurgeon with the artistry of a facelift specialist. At UT Southwestern in Dallas, Texas, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Shai Rozen’s career as a leader in facial nerve surgery makes him exceptionally qualified to deliver natural-looking, enduring facelift results safely.

A modern approach to facelift surgery

Outdated facelifts focused on tightening the skin, creating an unnatural “windswept” or pulled look. Dr. Rozen performs more advanced and highly technical facelift techniques. These methods address the deeper structures of the face to reposition, lift, and redefine facial areas, such as the cheek and neckline, without creating tension on the skin. 

His specialized training in craniofacial and peripheral nerve microsurgery gives him an intimate knowledge of the structures beneath the skin, allowing him to achieve more refined and lasting results.

Why choose a facial nerve expert for your facelift?

Dr. Rozen brings a level of expertise that is rare among facelift surgeons. In addition to being certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, he is a world leader in facial paralysis correction, a field that demands absolute mastery of the facial nerves and muscles. This background ensures your facelift is performed with extraordinary precision, prioritizing your safety and delivering results that look youthful, refreshed, and natural.

Understanding the Facelift Procedure

A facelift is more than skin-deep. Optimal results are achieved by addressing both the skin and the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system). This distinct anatomical layer lies beneath the skin and fat, but above the facial muscles and deeper structures. By working in this deep plane, Dr. Rozen can elevate sagging facial regions and maintain their position. 

Dr. Rozen uses advanced facelift techniques to achieve the following two major goals in one surgery:

• Lifting, defining, and maintaining key aesthetic areas of the face, such as the cheek, jawline, and neck.
• Removing excess skin without tension to avoid a “pulled” look and minimize scarring

Dr. Rozen has intimate knowledge of facial anatomy, including the skin, ligaments, muscles, and most importantly, the facial nerve. This expertise is crucial for achieving aesthetic, natural-looking, and long-lasting results without compromising safety.

Where are the incisions for a facelift?

Dr. Rozen places facelift incisions along and very slightly within the hairline near the temple, within the natural folds of the ear, behind the ear, and in the hairline at the back of the neck.

What are the benefits of a facelift?

Simply put, the goal of a facelift is restorative, not transformative. Although aging affects people differently and anatomical variations exist in each person, a well-executed facelift restores a youthful, harmonious look that is still recognizably you. Benefits include:

• Repositioning sagging cheeks and other facial tissues
• Creating a smoother cheek-lower eyelid transition
• Improving jawline definition
• Restoring lost facial volume

Dr. Rozen often combines facelift surgery with other facial plastic surgery procedures, such as a brow lift or eyelid surgery, to further refine the results.

Types of facelifts

There are many types of facelifts. Some techniques promise fast results and recovery, yet the effects often look unnatural and are short-lasting. Dr. Rozen is among the most experienced facial nerve surgeons in the world, with intricate knowledge of facial anatomy. He performs SMAS-based facelift techniques, including the bilamellar high SMAS facelift and deep plane facelift, both of which are deep plane facelifts. He customizes each procedure for individual patient needs and cosmetic goals, emphasizing aesthetics and safety.

While both techniques lift and reposition the deeper structural layers of the face, they differ slightly in their areas of focus and approach to rejuvenating the face and neck.

What is a deep plane facelift?

A deep plane facelift is an advanced facial rejuvenation technique that provides a long-lasting, naturally refreshed appearance. During the surgery, Dr. Rozen releases key facial ligaments, then lifts, repositions, and secures the deeper SMAS layer. He then re-drapes the skin, removes any excess, and carefully closes the incisions. Because the lift takes place in the deeper layers, the incisions can heal beautifully without tension.

Benefits of deep plane facelifts

By restoring the deeper foundation of the face, deep plane facelifts provide multiple benefits, including:

• Restoring volume to the cheek area
• Creating a smooth transition between the lower eyelids and cheeks
• Softening nasolabial folds (the lines between the nose and mouth)
• Reducing jowls

What is a bilamellar high SMAS facelift?

The bilamellar high SMAS facelift is another variation of the deep plane facelift that similarly enhances definition along the jawline and neck. It differs from the deep plane facelift in that:

• The skin and SMAS layer are initially separated before lifting the SMAS, which is why it’s called bilamellar (two layers).
• The SMAS layer is entered in a higher position and closer to the ear.
• It uses a different way to improve neck definition.

How it’s done

After creating the incision and separating the skin from the SMAS layer, Dr. Rozen releases the ligaments of the deeper plane. He then draws the lower portion of the SMAS toward the back of the ear to increase definition along the jawline and neck. Next, Dr. Rozen elevates the remaining SMAS layer, as in the deep plane technique. Finally, he removes any excess skin, allows the remaining skin to re-drape naturally without tension, and closes the incision with fine sutures.

Will a facelift eliminate all facial wrinkles?

Facelifts decrease but may not eliminate all facial wrinkles. To smooth and rejuvenate the skin, Dr. Rozen may recommend complementing your facelift with any of the following nonsurgical cosmetic procedures: 

• BOTOX® Cosmetic injections 
• Dermal filler injections 
• Skin resurfacing procedures, such as chemical peels or laser treatments 

Can a facelift be performed with other procedures? 

Yes. Dr. Rozen often combines facelift surgery with other facial plastic surgery procedures to provide comprehensive facial rejuvenation. In fact, this is more the rule than the exception. To give the entire face a harmonious look that is optimal and individualized to the patient, Dr. Rozen most frequently combines facelifts with the following procedures:  

• Neck lift 
• Brow lift 
• Eyelid surgery 
• Fat transfer 

What is recovery like after a facelift? 

Facelift patients typically experience mild to moderate discomfort, which can be controlled with prescription medication. Swelling, bruising, tightness, and numbness are all normal. While experiences vary, facelift recovery generally proceeds along the following timeline:  

Facelift recovery timeline 

• 1 to 7 days: Drains are removed. 
• 7 to 10 days: Sutures are removed. 
• 2 weeks: Resume normal daily activities, work, and light exercise. Bruising fades and can be covered with makeup. 
• 6 weeks: Resume more strenuous exercise and activities. 
• 3 months: Swelling fades significantly. 
• 6 months: Final results attained. Swelling resolves. Normal sensation mostly returns as numbness in the cheek and ear abates. 

How long do the results of a facelift last? 

The results of deep plane and high SMAS facelifts generally last approximately 10 to 12 years. The longevity of results depends on factors such as age, skin quality, weight, and surgical technique. Patients who maintain a healthy lifestyle, avoid significant weight fluctuations, do not smoke, moisturize their skin consistently, and practice good sun protection maintain their results the longest.