A facelift, also known as rhytidectomy, is a cosmetic surgical procedure designed to address signs of aging in the face and neck. It involves lifting and tightening the skin, underlying tissues, and muscles to create a more youthful and rejuvenated appearance. Facelifts can help reduce sagging skin, wrinkles, and jowls, resulting in smoother contours and a fresher overall look. This procedure is often tailored to the individual’s needs and can be combined with other cosmetic treatments, such as laser skin resurfacing, fat transfer, and eyelid surgery, for comprehensive facial rejuvenation.
In addition to structural lifting techniques, Dr. Landford incorporates regenerative therapies to enhance skin quality and restore youthful volume. Treatments such as facial fat grafting and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can improve tissue vitality, stimulate collagen production, and refine overall skin texture. By combining surgical precision with regenerative strategies, she is able to support longer-lasting, natural-looking rejuvenation.
Before & After Photos
Preparing for any of our Facelift surgeries involves a combination of medical, logistical, and emotional steps to ensure a smooth and successful experience. Here are some general guidelines to help you prepare:
As a highly trained plastic surgeon, Dr. Landford takes each surgery very seriously and strives to provide a safe recovery with stunning results for each patient. However, as with any surgery, the full facelift procedure has potential risks that we like our patients to be aware of.
Some of these risks include:
*While many of these side effects should heal on their own over time, if you experience any long-lasting or concerning reactions, please contact our office immediately.
Good candidates for facelifts typically include individuals who are experiencing visible signs of aging in the face and neck, such as sagging skin, wrinkles, and loss of facial volume. Ideal candidates are generally in good overall health and have realistic expectations about the outcomes of the procedure. Other factors that can make someone a suitable candidate for a facelift include:
The cost of a Facelift in Washington, D.C, or Maryland is determined by numerous factors, including the facelift techniques Dr. Landford uses and the degree of change required. The best way to find out how much your facelift surgery will cost is to come in for a consultation and have a procedure plan created. With this information, our Patient Coordinator will be able to provide you with a complete breakdown of the costs.
When you come in for your Washington, DC or Maryland Facelift surgery, you will be placed under general or local anesthesia, depending on the type of facelift you are getting. Once you are properly sedated, Dr. Landford will begin making the appropriate incisions.
Once Dr. Landford is finished, the incisions will be closed, and your face may be wrapped in a bandage to minimize swelling and bruising and keep your incisions clean and protected.
Preparing for Facelift surgery involves a combination of medical, logistical, and emotional steps to ensure a smooth and successful experience. Here are some general guidelines to help you prepare:
At Landford Plastic Surgery, we have seen our Facelift plastic surgery patients enjoy the following benefits from their procedure:
When you come in for your Washington DC or Maryland Facelift surgery, you will be placed under general or local anesthesia, depending on the type of facelift you are getting. Once you are properly sedated, Dr. Landford will begin making the appropriate incisions.
Once Dr. Landford is finished, the incisions will be closed and your face may be wrapped in a bandage to minimize swelling and bruising, as well as to keep your incisions clean and protected.
Depending on your individual aesthetic goals, Dr. Landford will utilize a variety of techniques and incisions during your facial plastic surgery in both Washington, D.C, and Maryland, but below are the more commonly requested Facelift procedures.
Considered the most invasive technique, deep plane facelift surgery produces the longest-lasting results, with many patients seeing results lasting up to 15 years. Patients will have a successful flattening of the nasolabial fold (a.k.a. the “Smile lines” or “Laugh lines”) with an additional target to the mid-face region, reaching deep tissues and the deeper layers of facial muscle.
After you’ve been administered intravenous sedation with local anesthesia, Dr. Landford will mark the locations on your skin where she intends to make the incisions around the hairline and ears. She will then tighten and secure the layer of connective tissue and underlying muscle beneath your skin, releasing strategic ligaments at a deeper level to lift and rejuvenate your appearance, and repositioning the underlying layer of muscle and tissue. Once she is finished, Dr. Landford will carefully close the incisions.
During the initial three weeks of your recovery, there will be significant bruising, swelling, and discomfort. You will need to continuously wear a compression garment and neck support during the first few weeks, or until Dr. Landford removes them.
You will need to avoid working for the first two weeks so you can recover comfortably, and avoid any strenuous activity for six weeks. It is not uncommon to see ongoing swelling or bruising for longer than a year, but if you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact our office.
The Mini Facelift is a slightly modified version of a traditional facelift and helps minimize loose skin around the lower portion of your face. Most plastic surgeons consider mini facelifts to be less invasive and require less skin removal than other facial surgeries.
Dr. Landford will make discreet incisions behind your ears that are easily hidden once healed. Using the incision, your skin and facial muscles are carefully tightened, and any excess tissue is removed. Your incisions are then closed with a precision suturing technique that reduces tension on your skin and minimizes visible scarring.
This surgery usually lasts less than two hours. You can expect to experience some mild swelling and bruising, but a mini lift has a much less intense recovery than traditional full facelift surgery.
This technique uses small incisions around the hairline and ear, which allow Dr. Landford to tighten and smooth out the underlying tissue and muscles. She will also elevate your cheek fat pads (clinically referred to as malar pads) to create a more elevated cheekbone appearance. Once the fat pads are placed into a suitable position, the incisions are sutured and closed.
This procedure will take about two hours, and most patients can see their final results within two or three months. During the initial stages of recovery, your cheeks may be very defined; they should gradually settle into a more natural position over time.
This form of surgery involves local anesthesia to numb the patient during surgery. However, oral sedation can also be used to help you relax through the procedure. When performing an Awake Facelift, Dr. Landford avoids some of the medical complications and unpleasant side effects that general anesthesia or heavy sedation can cause in some patients, such as nausea. Wide awake surgery allows Dr. Landford to take her time for optimum results as she improves your facial appearance.
An awake facelift also has minimal bleeding, which creates a lower chance of nerve injury since your tissue will not be stained; clean tissue allows Dr. Landford to work efficiently and avoid cutting nerves during surgery. In traditional facelift methods, nerves and connective tissues are hard to discern, and surgeons can make mistakes. This precise method of surgery allows her to sculpt your face artfully for your best results. The remaining skin is repositioned rather than being pulled, like in a traditional facelift. This allows your skin to be fully mobilized and repositioned to accent the natural angles of your face.
Dr. Landford strategically places these purified fat cells in layers to restore contour in the cheeks, temples, jawline, and under-eye region. This precise placement allows her to sculpt natural definition while maintaining balance and facial harmony. In addition to restoring youthful fullness, fat grafting introduces living regenerative cells that integrate with surrounding tissue, improve skin quality, and support long-term structural rejuvenation.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy harnesses concentrated growth factors derived from your own blood to stimulate collagen production and support tissue regeneration. During your facelift procedure, a small blood sample is drawn and centrifuged to isolate platelet-rich plasma. This highly concentrated serum contains natural growth factors that promote healing and cellular renewal.
Dr. Landford may apply PRP directly to surgical sites or strategically inject it into targeted regions of the face to enhance recovery and improve skin quality. By stimulating collagen and supporting circulation at a cellular level, PRP helps refine texture, improve tone, and encourage healthier, more resilient skin. When combined with structural lifting and fat grafting, this regenerative therapy supports smoother healing and contributes to more vibrant, long-lasting results.
The location of any incisions or scars from a Facelift procedure will depend on the type of Facelift you receive. Typically, a traditional facelift will have an incision that starts in your sideburns and immediately passes in front of the ear, then curves behind the ear and into the hairline of the neck.
In some common instances, Dr. Landford may also place well-concealed incision sites under the chin and jaw to help refine the neck.
Once you are out of surgery, you will be monitored for a bit in our recovery room as you come out of sedation. Once Dr. Landford releases you, you will be able to return home to recover in peace. We strongly recommend having a family member or friend available to provide you with a ride home and assistance around the house during the first few days of your recovery.
For the first few days, you should keep your head elevated while resting and take your prescribed medications to prevent infection and alleviate pain. After a few days, your bandages will be removed, and you may be required to wear an elastic facial sling to keep supporting your new face as it settles into its final resting position; stitches are typically removed a week after surgery. During the first few weeks of recovery, you will have restrictions on certain tasks (i.e., bathing, styling your hair, types of clothing you can wear, etc.). You will also be advised to avoid strenuous activities, sun exposure, drinking alcohol, and using saunas, hot tubs, or steam rooms during the first two weeks. Most patients can expect to return to work within a few weeks, but your recovery process is largely dependent on your health and the procedure you received.
Choose board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Wilmina Landford for a transformation that goes beyond the surface, where your beauty is nurtured by a wealth of experience and an artist’s touch. With a distinguished educational background including a bachelor’s degree from the prestigious Mount Holyoke College, a medical degree from Stony Brook Medicine, and rigorous training at the world-renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital, Wilmina Landford, M.D.’s expertise is a testament to her dedication. Her profound understanding of aesthetics and meticulous craftsmanship combine to deliver results that inspire confidence.
If you are looking to achieve a more youthful appearance and remove excess skin, a Facelift consultation with Dr. Landford in Washington, D.C., or Maryland could be a great step in the right direction. Call our office and schedule your facelift consultation with one of our friendly and helpful team members, or use our website to fill out an appointment request, and someone will be with you as soon as possible.
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