A facelift (rhytidectomy) is a cosmetic surgical procedure designed to address signs of aging in the face and neck. During a facelift, the skin, underlying tissues, and muscles are lifted to restore youthful contours and give you a refreshed appearance. A facelift reduces signs of aging, such as sagging skin, wrinkles, and jowls, resulting in more youthful contours and an overall rejuvenated look.
This procedure is tailored to the patient’s individual needs, with the option to combine it with other cosmetic procedures, including rhinoplasty and eyelid surgery, to achieve more comprehensive results across the face.
Dr. Landford not only combines structural lifting techniques but also uses regenerative therapies to rejuvenate skin quality and restore youthful volume. These treatments, including facial fat grafting and platelet-rich plasma (PRP), can improve tissue vitality, stimulate collagen production, and improve overall skin texture. By combining surgical precision with regenerative strategies, Dr. Landford supports longer-lasting, natural-looking rejuvenation to boost your confidence.
A neck lift (lower rhytidectomy) is a cosmetic surgical procedure designed to address physical signs of aging in the jawline and neck. Some of these signs include sagging skin, neck bands, jowls, and a “turkey wattle.” This procedure removes excess skin and tightens the underlying muscles, creating a more defined jawline and chin, a sculpted neckline, and smoother skin.
A neck lift can be combined with other procedures to enhance the firmness and appearance of the neck, including a neck & chin liposuction, chin lift, or rhinoplasty.
Before & After Photos
Surgery Time: 4+ hours, depending on which technique is used
Recovery: 2-3 weeks for most of the bruising and swelling to fade, with the potential for full healing to take several months
Results: Long-lasting, with final results visible within 3-6 months; Deep Plane results can last up to 15 years
Surgery Time: 4+ hours, depending on which technique is used
Recovery: 2-3 weeks for most of the bruising and swelling to fade, with the potential for full healing to take several months
Results: Long-lasting, with final results visible within 3-6 months; Deep Plane results can last up to 15 years
Ideal candidates for facelifts are individuals with noticeable signs of aging in the face and neck, including sagging skin, wrinkles, and loss of facial volume. The best candidates should have good overall health and realistic expectations for the outcomes of the procedure. Additional factors that can qualify someone for a facelift include:
There are several factors that determine the cost of a facelift in Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., or Maryland. For example, the facelift techniques Dr. Landford uses and the degree of change required. You will discuss the cost of your facelift during your scheduled consultation, when you will work with Dr. Landford to create a treatment plan. From there, our Patient Coordinator will provide you with a complete breakdown of the costs, so you are fully informed and there are no surprise fees.
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.
If you are in the Northern Virginia area and interested in facelift surgery in Washington, D.C., or Maryland, you will first need to schedule a consultation at Landford Plastic Surgery. At your consultation, you will meet Dr. Wilmina Landford, who will examine your face, hear your aesthetic goals, and answer all of your questions regarding the procedure. She will also review your medical history, including whether you are on blood thinners or have had surgery in the past. It’s crucial to be completely transparent about your goals to avoid unnecessary risks and ensure you can recover safely from the procedure.
Once you agree on the best facelift technique for you and whether to combine additional procedures, Dr. Landford will create your personalized treatment plan. Finally, our Patient Coordinator will schedule your surgical appointment and let you know all of the necessary steps to prepare you for the procedure.
A combination of medical, logistical, and emotional steps is required to prepare for your facelift or neck lift. These ensure you have a smooth, successful experience with minimal risk. Below are some general guidelines to help you prepare:
Dr. Landford takes each surgery very seriously and always aims to make your experience and recovery safe, efficient, and effective, with stunning results and minimal discomfort. That said, the full facelift procedure carries risks that we require Northern Virginia patients to acknowledge.
Some of these risks include:
Many of these side effects typically heal on their own with time and patience. If you experience any long-lasting or concerning reactions, please let us know immediately.
When you come in for your facelift surgery, you will be given general or local anesthesia, depending on the type of facelift you get. Once you are properly sedated, Dr. Landford will carefully make the appropriate incisions along lines marked with surgical ink.
When Dr. Landford completes the surgery, she will close the incisions with sutures and may wrap your face with a bandage to reduce swelling and bruising and minimize the risk of infection.
Depending on your unique aesthetic goals, Dr. Landford will utilize a variety of techniques and incisions during your facelift. Here are some of the facelift procedures our Northern Virginia patients commonly receive.
This technique uses local anesthesia to numb the patient during the surgery. Oral sedation may also be used to help patients feel more comfortable throughout the procedure. During an awake facelift, Dr. Landford minimizes the complications and side effects associated with general anesthesia or heavy sedation, such as nausea and fatigue. When patients are wide awake, Dr. Landford can take her time and ensure even more optimal results.
An awake facelift involves less bleeding, reducing the risk of nerve injury. Clean tissue allows Dr. Landford to work more efficiently and with a lower risk of cutting nerves during the procedure. In a traditional facelift, it can be difficult to distinguish nerves from connective tissue, and the surgeon can make mistakes. An awake facelift allows Dr. Landford to sculpt your face with enhanced accuracy for optimal results. Instead of being pulled, the remaining skin is repositioned, similar to a traditional facelift. This fully mobilizes your skin and repositions the accent of the natural angles of your face.
This technique is considered the most invasive and complex facelift technique, producing the longest-lasting results, lasting up to 15 years. It flattens the nasolabial fold (a.k.a. the “smile lines” or “laugh lines”) and targets the mid-face region, reaching deep facial tissues and deeper layers of facial muscle to produce incredible anti-aging results.
Deep plane facelift utilizes intravenous sedation with local or general anesthesia. To begin the surgery, Dr. Landford will mark the locations on your skin where she will create the incisions, typically around the hairline and ears. She will tighten and secure the layer of connective tissue and underlying muscle under your skin, releasing strategic ligaments at a deeper level to lift and restore your youthful appearance and reposition the underlying layer of muscle and tissue. When this is complete, Dr. Landford will carefully close the incisions with sutures.
During the first few weeks of your recovery, your face and neck will have significant bruising and swelling, which will be quite uncomfortable. Dr. Landford will give you a compression garment and neck support, so make sure to wear them at all times, except when bathing, until Dr. Landford removes them.
You won’t be able to work for the first couple of weeks so that you can prioritize your safety, comfort, and healing. Avoid strenuous activity for six weeks. It’s possible for swelling or bruising to persist for over a year, but you can always reach out if you have any concerns or questions.
In this technique, Dr. Landford uses small incisions around the hairline and the ear, allowing her to tighten and smooth the underlying tissue and muscles. She will also elevate your cheek fat pads (malar pads) to further produce an elevated cheekbone appearance. When the fat pads have been placed into a suitable position, the incisions are sutured and closed.
This procedure typically takes around two hours. Our Northern Virginia patients often see their final results within 2-3 months, depending on their age, ability to heal, and other individual factors. For the first 1-2 weeks of your recovery, your cheeks may appear very defined; they will gradually settle into a more natural position as your body continues to heal.
The mini facelift is a less invasive, slightly modified version of a traditional facelift. It helps minimize excess, sagging skin around the lower portion of your face, requiring less skin removal than other facial surgeries.
During a mini facelift, Dr. Landford will make discreet incisions behind your ears, which will be less visible once healed. Dr. Landford uses the incision to access your facial muscles and carefully tightens them and your skin by removing excess tissue. Dr. Landford then closes your incisions with a precision suturing technique that minimizes tension on the skin and reduces visible scarring.
This surgery is typically completed in fewer than two hours. You’ll likely experience some mild swelling and bruising, but it is much less than with a traditional full facelift.
Facial fat grafting restores lost volume using purified fat cells from your own body. During your facelift procedure, Dr. Landford meticulously harvests a small amount of fat from your abdomen or flanks using a refined liposuction technique. She then carefully processes and purifies the fat to isolate healthy, viable cells, which are meticulously reinjected into the designated areas.
Dr. Landford strategically places these purified fat cells in layers to restore youthful contours to the cheeks, temples, jawline, and under-eye area. She’s able to sculpt natural definition while retaining balance and harmony throughout your face. In addition to restoring lost definition, fat grafting uses living, regenerative cells that can seamlessly integrate with surrounding tissue. This allows for a smoother recovery, improves skin quality, and supports long-term structural rejuvenation without introducing synthetic fillers.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy uses concentrated growth factors derived from your own blood to boost collagen production and support tissue regeneration. During your facelift procedure, Dr. Landford draws a small amount of blood and places it in a centrifuge to isolate the platelet-rich plasma. This results in a high concentration of natural growth factors that promote healing and cellular renewal.
Dr. Landford can apply PRP directly to surgical sites or strategically inject it into targeted regions of the face to improve recovery and skin quality. Stimulating collagen and supporting cellular circulation with PRP helps refine texture, improve tone, and encourage healthier, more youthful skin. When you combine PRP with structural lifting and fat grafting, you’ll see smoother healing and even more vibrant, long-lasting results.
Incision placement depends on the type of facelift you receive. Usually, a traditional facelift will have an incision that starts in your sideburns, immediately passes in front of the ear, curves behind the ear, and extends into your neck hairline.
Occasionally, Dr. Landford will make discreet incisions under the chin and along the jawline to refine your neck.
As you recover from your facelift or neck lift surgery, you will be monitored in our recovery room, as you will be groggy from the sedation. When you are released, you can return home to recover in the comfort of your own home. We highly recommend having a family member or friend around to take you home and help with the house during your first few days of recovery.
For the first few days, elevate your head while resting and take the medications prescribed by Dr. Landford to prevent infection and minimize pain. After a few days, Dr. Landford will remove your bandages, and she may have you wear an elastic facial sling to continue supporting your new face while it settles into its final resting position. She will remove your sutures a week after surgery.
During the first few weeks of recovery, you will have to make some adjustments to certain tasks, including bathing, styling your hair, and wearing certain types of clothing. You will need to avoid strenuous activities, sun exposure, alcohol, saunas, hot tubs, or steam rooms for the first two weeks, as these can irritate your skin, cause infection, and will be painful to perform. Patients can usually return to work within 2-4 weeks, depending on their health and the procedure they underwent.
Dr. Wilmina Landford will give you a transformation that goes beyond the surface. At Landford Plastic Surgery, your beauty is nurtured by a wealth of experience and the touch of a true artist. With an extensive educational background, including a bachelor’s degree from the esteemed Mount Holyoke College, a medical degree from Stony Brook Medicine, and rigorous training at the world-renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital, Wilmina Landford, M.D., has expertise that is a testament to her commitment to the craft. Her profound understanding of aesthetics and meticulous craftsmanship combine to deliver results that inspire empowerment and self-confidence.
In addition to advanced lifting techniques, Dr. Landford integrates regenerative surgical strategies, including facial fat transfer and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, to rejuvenate skin health, accelerate healing, and restore youthful contours. Her approach combines structural precision with biologic rejuvenation for long-lasting, natural-looking results.
Dr. Wilmina Landford, M.D., sees people all over the North VA area and speaks English, Spanish, and Chinese (Mandarin), providing a more inclusive experience for patients.
If you are in the Northern Virginia area and want to remove excess skin and achieve a more youthful appearance, a facelift consultation with Dr. Landford in Washington, D.C., or Maryland could be a great step toward your aesthetic goals. Schedule your consultation at Landford Plastic Surgery and see which technique will be the best approach to giving you the rejuvenated face and neck you’ve been looking for.
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