Most expensive facelift doctor says he makes literally invisible facelift scars by letting incisions heal without tension. How?

Its cost is over $300,000 minimum.  Many famous people drive Rolls Royces.  Is a Rolls Royce the right car for you?  It might be.  Some might choose to buy a Mercedes instead.  It is also a very nice car and possibly even more reliable.  Likely just as many famous people drive them.  The savings are undeniable.  This is often a personal choice.  Should you go to a particular famous plastic surgeon? Even if money is no object, it is hard to know.  I assure you that no surgeon has an exclusive on careful tailored technique resulting in inconspicuous scars.  Facelifts from highly qualified surgeons practicing in Beverly Hills do tend to be more expensive but can be found for less than $20,000 including anesthesia.  The money you save will allow you to buy a used Mercedes. The choice is yours. 

Lifting and suturing the SMAS layer to minimize tension on the skin is an advanced technique used by the most expert facial plastic surgeons around the world — with much variance in price. I studied with world-renowned plastic surgeons, such as Dr. Paul Nassif of “Botched,”  in Beverly Hills. My patients in North Carolina get an expert level of work without undue costs. If you have the resources to pay top dollar, you might want to add more value by traveling and taking a restorative vacation during the healing phase after your procedure. Feel free to contact my office for a Skype consultation.

Hi muoldbidy,
It's possible that this surgeon was describing a technique that moves the soft tissue (SMAS) under the skin to change the framework of the face, and then he redrapes the skin over with 'no tension'. In reality, you can achieve this concept with most facelift techniques, and certain suture techniques can also minimize scarring. I think it's more important to examine where on the face and ear the surgeon routinely places his incisions. Take a close look at his before and after photos and compare them to other surgeons'. Thank you for your question.
Mark G. Albert, M.D.
NYC Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon

Very hard to detect facelift scars should be average in the hands of a busy Facial Plastic Surgeon.  This is partially related to skill relating to incision placement, minimizing wound tension, and partially related to the unique vascularity and wound healing ability of facial skin.  A facelift is a procedure that utilizes the layer under the skin, but on top of the facial muscles as the tension bearing layer; the skin should never be used as the tension bearing layer.  Results can vary from Surgeon to Surgeon, but easy to conceal incisions should be a general expectation from a busy facelift surgeon. 

I have no doubt that doctor is a good surgeon, but there’s an old saying out there.  Everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time.  In other words there is no magic way of doing things that only one person has figured out yet has remained a mystery to others, yet many surgeons will try to make you think that.  If you ask such a surgeon why they are so expensive they’ll tell you they are worth it. Well I’ve been doing surgery for over thirty years and seen work from many plastic surgeons including high priced ones.  Good work ? Sure.  Magic?  Not so much,

When performing a Face lift, the key point of a minimally detecatable scar is avoiding tension whit the skin closure. The tension will be in the deep layer tissues (SMAS) so the excess of skin is removed and is closed without tension and using a very detailed closure of the wound. In many patients the scar blends with the contours and texture of the face, so the scar is almost invisible. Very few patients may heal with white (hypopigmented) scars and then the scar may show, others heal with darker (hyperpigmented) scars. So the most important factor in the result of the face lift is the surgeon, who should be precise and artistic, so great results are delivered. The cost will be different from surgeon to surgeon, from city to city, etc. 

details in how you approach and When you seek out a Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon with vast experience in managing the Aging Face - you will invariably get a highly sophisticated technical surgeon who indeed can minimize facelift incision tension, to achieve facelift scars that potentially can heal sensationally.  I would like to suggest that there may be some magic involved in minimizing facial scar appearances, but alas it is all about the technical details of the surgical approach and the execution of the surgery.  Allowing the deep tissues to take the tension (no visible scars in the deep tissues) rather than the visible skin  incision lines is readily achieved by a fierce obsession in placing the deep tissue sutures (which dissolve gradually during the healing phase), thereby minimizing any tension and thus reducing the visibility of any skin incision lines.  Seek out a surgeon who has this fierce obsession and a compulsive attention to detail when performing facelift surgery, and you will achieve what you seek.  Best of luck to you in your quest for magically,  almost invisible incision lines!!

Using a facelift technique that minimizes tension on the incisions is not a unique concept, nor is it a unique facelift. It is true that doing this will help incisions heal in a way that makes it hard to detect the incision. To say it is "literally invisible" depends on your vision. The scars are still there, and when done with meticulous planning and technique they can be close to invisible, and hard to see. The incisions are also intentionally placed in a manner which makes them hard to see, though surgeons have their on preferences and opinions on which locations are better for this. I agree with avoiding tension on facelift incisions, and I utilize techniques that allow for a powerful lift without a pulled look, and without creating tension on the skin. You can do this by lifting and repositioning the tissue below, and not relying on the skin for the lift. The skin is simply redraped over the lifted tissue, rather than used as a sling to lift it up. The tricky thing about facelifts and facelift surgery is we each have a different idea of what is beautiful, so each surgeon develops her/his own technique to deliver what they feel are the best results. The aesthetic vision of the surgeon is just as important as her/his technical skills, so take a look at some before and afters to see if you like the surgeons work. You will also find that surgeons fees vary widely for a facelift, both based on location, as well as the surgeons skill and expertise. When it comes to the cheap prices, it is true you get what you pay for, and you would be better off saving and waiting until you can get it done right. When you get to the reasonable or high prices, you can compare surgeons based on results and who you feel you have the best rapport with and understands what you are going for and can deliver it. When it comes to the ultra-high prices, the surgeons are comparable, yet it does not mean the body behaves differently because you paid more. 

No scar is invisible. Any cut in the skin will leave a scar. However, as board certified plastic surgeons we are considered the experts in hiding the scars within anatomical contours and tension or relaxing skin lines. There are however many techniques that can be employed to create the "best" scars and reducing tension definitely helps. I rely on the pull or tightness of a face & neck lift from the SMAS (underneath the skin) rather than the skin itself. This reduces tension on the skin, as well as creates long lasting results.

Hello and thank you for your question.  There are many plastic surgeons who also employ a tension minimizing technique in order to heal incisions without noticeable scars.  This should be the goal of every facelift.   If good technique is used,
this can be done with minimal scarring and can result in a natural look, not
over-done look, with rejuvenation of your face.  Make sure you specifically look
at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery
performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results. The most important aspect
is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend that you seek
consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate
you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon