When a facelift is performed, do surgeons just pull the skin or both the skin and muscles in the face?

September 24, 2016
Asked By:PersimmonFrost in Richmond, VA

The photos that I see in my newsfeed of facelifts are very interesting - some look very natural (like everything was lifted) and some appear as if only the skin was pulled tightly and things underneath the skin weren't adjusted to match the skin being pulled - what is going on? Are the facial muscles and tendons to be lifted as well? I'm not nearly ready for a facelift, but I may be in the distant future and would like to know exactly what is, and what is not, lifted. Thanks!

Answers (42)

From board-certified doctors and trusted medical professionals
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September 25, 2016

Answer: How tissues are repositioned in a facelift

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Mark Beaty, MDBoard Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
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September 25, 2016

Answer: How tissues are repositioned in a facelift

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December 17, 2016

Answer: About Facial Rejuvenation with Lite-lift™

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December 17, 2016

Answer: About Facial Rejuvenation with Lite-lift™

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November 14, 2016

Answer: It's Best to Address Deeper Layers

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Thomas A. Mustoe, MD, FACSBoard Certified Plastic Surgeon
November 14, 2016

Answer: It's Best to Address Deeper Layers

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Thomas A. Mustoe, MD, FACSBoard Certified Plastic Surgeon

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November 2, 2016

Answer: It's Deeper Than the Skin

James N. Romanelli, MD, FACSBoard Certified Plastic Surgeon
November 2, 2016

Answer: It's Deeper Than the Skin

James N. Romanelli, MD, FACSBoard Certified Plastic Surgeon
October 24, 2016

Answer: Facelift Should Lift Both Upward and Outward

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Jonathan Kulbersh, MDBoard Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
October 24, 2016

Answer: Facelift Should Lift Both Upward and Outward

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Jonathan Kulbersh, MDBoard Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
October 15, 2016

Answer: Facelift methods

Thomas Fiala, MD, FACS, FRCSCBoard Certified Plastic Surgeon
October 15, 2016

Answer: Facelift methods

Thomas Fiala, MD, FACS, FRCSCBoard Certified Plastic Surgeon

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