Deep Plane Facelift
Releases and repositions the deeper SMAS layer beneath the skin. The incision follows the hairline and an inconspicuous path around the ears. This approach may be recommended for more severe facial sagging.
Facial Rejuvenation • Marietta, Georgia
Facelift Surgery in the Atlanta Metro Area
Reduce visible signs of facial aging with a customized approach designed to create a rested, refreshed appearance while preserving your natural character.
Natural-Looking Facial Rejuvenation
A facelift tailored to the way you age
The goal is not to change how you look. It is to restore smoother, firmer contours and a more rested version of you.
As you age, the effects of gravity, sun, and daily stress can affect your appearance. A facelift helps women and men in Marietta and metro Atlanta reduce the signs of aging and achieve a more rested, refreshed look.
Dr. Corey Harkins works closely with each patient to achieve the most natural results possible based on individual anatomy and needs. His expertise, artistry, and skill are sought out by people from Roswell, Brookhaven, Sandy Springs, and nearby communities.
Customized Investment
How much does a facelift cost in Atlanta?
Facelift pricing varies with surgical complexity, the technique used, and whether the operation is combined with procedures such as a neck lift or brow lift.
Average Metro Atlanta Cost
Approximately $12,000
Your exact cost is personalized
The supplied practice content notes an average metro Atlanta facelift cost of approximately $12,000. Other factors include the experience and expertise of the plastic surgeon, anesthesiology fees, and surgical facility costs.
Your surgeon will provide a customized cost estimate after your consultation.
Technique Matters
What are the different types of facelifts?
A facelift, or rhytidectomy, rejuvenates the face by tightening underlying facial tissues, reducing or repositioning excess fat, and redraping loose skin. Volume may also be restored with fat transfer or fillers when appropriate.
SMAS Facelift
Uses similar incisions but tightens the SMAS layer with sutures rather than fully releasing it from the deeper plane. The skin is then redraped and excess is trimmed.
Short Scar (Mini) Facelift
Uses limited incisions and may suit patients in their 40s or 50s with more moderate aging. Unlike more extensive techniques, the incisions typically do not extend behind the ear and usually do not address the neck.
Dr. Harkins is trained in state-of-the-art and time-honored facelift techniques. He may combine or modify techniques based on your unique needs and physical characteristics.
Featured Surgeon
Meet Dr. Corey Harkins
Dr. Harkins takes pride in tailoring facial surgery to each patient rather than applying one standard technique. During your consultation, he will evaluate your degree of facial aging, skin quality, facial structure, goals, and whether complementary procedures may improve balance.
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Advanced Facelift Techniques
Natural-Looking Results
Facelift: Just the Facts
What can a facelift accomplish?
A more youthful, rested appearance
Smoother, firmer facial contours
Less prominent deep creases around the nose and mouth
A refreshed appearance that may look 5 to 10 years younger
At your consultation, Dr. Harkins will discuss your surgical plan in detail and explain which goals are realistic for your anatomy.
Surgical & Nonsurgical Options
Nonsurgical facelift alternatives
Surgical Facelift
For meaningful skin laxity and deeper structural aging
Facelift surgery repositions deeper tissue and redrapes loose skin for more dramatic, longer-lasting rejuvenation.
Nonsurgical Options
For wrinkles, volume loss and milder laxity
A “liquid facelift” may combine dermal fillers with BOTOX® Cosmetic. Ellacor® skin tightening removes micro-cores of facial skin without surgery to improve wrinkles and concerns such as mild jowling.
Nonsurgical results are not as dramatic as those achieved with facelift surgery, and patients with significant skin laxity may not benefit sufficiently from injectables alone.
What to Expect
What happens during facelift surgery?
The operation is customized to the tissues that need repositioning—not simply tightened at the skin surface.
Facial plastic surgery is usually performed on an outpatient basis but may include an overnight stay depending on the extent of the procedure. Incisions usually begin above the hairline at the temples and extend within the natural facial contours in front of and behind the ears. If a neck lift is also performed, a small incision may be made under the chin.
Access deeper facial tissues
Incisions are positioned around natural contours and the hairline to provide access while keeping scars as inconspicuous as possible.
Reposition and refine
The surgeon addresses deeper tissues, redrapes the skin, and reduces excess skin or fat according to the selected technique.
Close and protect
Incisions are closed with fine sutures. Your head may be loosely bandaged to help minimize bruising and swelling.
Healing Milestones
What is the recovery time for a facelift?
Recovery varies from patient to patient and depends on the techniques used. Following your post-operative instructions closely is essential to comfortable healing.
Days 1–3
- Swelling and bruising are most intense
- Gentle walking is encouraged
- Avoid excessive activity, alcohol, and extreme heat
- Keep sutures clean and dry
- Sleep with your head elevated
Week 1
- Follow-up appointment
- Sutures may be removed depending on technique
- Gradually increase light activity
- Continue sleeping on your back with your head elevated
Weeks 2–4
- Bruising and swelling improve significantly
- Gradually resume normal activities and work
- Visible signs of surgery continue to diminish
- Most patients may resume normal sleeping positions
Weeks 4–6
- Most swelling should have subsided
- Most normal activities can resume
- Results continue improving toward the six-month mark
Facelift Results
Refreshed contours with long-term improvement
A facelift can help your reflection better match how youthful and energetic you feel.
After recovery, patients can enjoy improved facial contours and enhanced confidence. In some cases, facelift results can be enhanced with eyelid surgery to address signs of aging in the upper face.
The aging process continues after surgery, but facelift surgery can provide a lasting improvement compared with where your appearance would have been without the procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Facelift FAQs
Will a facelift rejuvenate my entire face?
No. This procedure focuses on the lower two-thirds of the face, including the mid-face, lower face, and jawline, so signs of aging around the eyes and brows are not addressed. Many patients combine a forehead lift or a nonsurgical treatment such as BOTOX® Cosmetic with facelift surgery for more complete facial rejuvenation.
What is the best age to get a facelift?
There is no specific age limit for facelift patients. Some patients in their early 40s may be better suited to less invasive treatments, while younger patients with significant weight loss may benefit from surgery. Patients in their 70s or older may also benefit if they are in good overall health and want to look younger.
How long will I need to take off work after facelift surgery?
Dr. Harkins typically recommends returning to work after about 2 weeks of recuperation if your job does not require extensive physical activity. If swelling and bruising remain a concern, you may need additional time off. Incisions are positioned where they can be concealed by the hair.
How long do facelift results last?
Typically, facelift results last 7 to 10 years. Because the procedure turns back the clock rather than stopping aging, you can expect to continue looking younger than your chronological age as the aging process continues. Touch-up treatments or nonsurgical services may help maintain your result over time.
Is facelift surgery popular in Atlanta, GA?
Facelift procedures are quite popular in Atlanta and the Southeast. The supplied practice content notes that, according to 2022 American Society of Plastic Surgeons statistics, 30% of facelifts performed in the United States occurred in the Southeast region.
Do I have to get a neck lift with my facelift?
Not necessarily. Facial aging often affects multiple areas of the face and neck, which is why facelift surgery is frequently combined with a neck lift. Dr. Harkins tailors the approach to each patient and will not include a neck lift if it is not necessary.
Will facelift surgery address sagging jowls?
Yes. One of the primary reasons for getting a facelift is to lift and tighten jowls, creating a more defined and youthful-looking jawline.
Patient Education
Our latest Facelift posts
Personalized Facial Rejuvenation
Explore the facelift approach that fits you
Meet with Dr. Corey Harkins to discuss your facial aging, goals, procedure options, recovery and customized surgical plan.
Facelift techniques, candidacy, recovery, costs, scars and results vary by patient. This information is educational and does not replace a consultation with a qualified plastic surgeon.