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Posted under Facelift q&a

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

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PersimmonFrost
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
Mark Beaty, MD profile photo
Dr. Mark Beaty, MD
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.7 | 45 Reviews
Answer
2 people found this helpful
Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS profile photo
Dr. Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
4.9 | 143 Reviews
Answer
Thomas A. Mustoe, MD, FACS profile photo
Dr. Thomas A. Mustoe, MD, FACS
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
4.9 | 337 Reviews
Answer
1 person found this helpful
James N. Romanelli, MD, FACS profile photo
Dr. James N. Romanelli, MD, FACS
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
4.8 | 88 Reviews
Answer
Jonathan Kulbersh, MD profile photo
Dr. Jonathan Kulbersh, MD
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.8 | 140 Reviews
Answer
1 person found this helpful
Thomas Fiala, MD, FACS, FRCSC profile photo
Dr. Thomas Fiala, MD, FACS, FRCSC
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
4.9 | 145 Reviews
Answer
Ben Lee, MD profile photo
Dr. Ben Lee, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
4.5 | 45 Reviews
Answer
Franklin D. Richards, MD profile photo
Dr. Franklin D. Richards, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
4.8 | 321 Reviews
Answer
Rodger Shortt, FRCSC profile photo
Dr. Rodger Shortt, FRCSC
Certified Plastic Surgeon
4.9 | 176 Reviews
Answer
James Bonaparte, MD, MSc, FRCSC profile photo
Dr. James Bonaparte, MD, MSc, FRCSC
Facial Plastic Surgeon, Certified in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
4.7 | 49 Reviews
Answer
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD profile photo
Dr. Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
4.5 | 79 Reviews
Answer
1 person found this helpful

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