Facelift Houston, TX
Dr. Wu Dr. Wu board certified plastic surgeon masterfully performs hundreds of facial rejuvenation procedures each year at Revel You, utilizing advanced deep plane facelift and neck lift techniques to set a new standard in delivering impactful, yet natural results tailored for professionals. Her gentle touch and expertise in local anesthesia application provide a comforting alternative to general anesthesia, ensuring your experience is as safe and pleasant as it is transformative.
What is a Facelift?
The term “facelift” refers to a cosmetic surgical procedure formally called rhytidectomy or a full facelift. The general approach for facelift procedures include:
- Target Areas: Facelifts primarily focus on the lower face, including the cheeks, jowls, and jawline, but also address sagging skin and deep folds, such as nasolabial folds (the lines running from the nose to the corners of the mouth).
- Procedure Techniques: Several techniques can be used consisting of removing excess skin while lifting and firming the underlying tissues. This results in an artful repositioning of your face leading to smoother appearing skin and a more youthful, refined, and professional appearance. Deep Plane Facelifts and Deep Plane Neck Lifts offer the latest facial surgical techniques for discerning and sophisticated patients, especially for the natural repositioning of the face and sculpting of the jawline. Other common facial procedures include Eyelid Surgery and Brow Lift. If you are traveling or flying to Houston visit our Out-of-Town page for more information!
- Anesthesia and Sedation: Facelifts can also be performed under local anesthesia and sedation. Patient safety and comfort can be enhanced through this approach as patients avoid general anesthesia and remain awake, safe, and relaxed, experiencing minimal discomfort. This method not only reduces recovery time but also offers a heightened sense of control and awareness, ensuring a serene and secure surgical experience.
- Recovery: Post-surgery, patients may experience swelling and bruising, with recovery times varying. Most people can return to normal activities within two weeks. Though you can see the results in several days, it takes several months for all swelling to subside and the final results to appear.
- Ideal Candidates:
- You wish to have signs of aging in both the neck and face addressed properly.
- Understand what a more youthful face looks like or are open to learning.
- Have realistic expectations for slowing the aging process.
- Are in reasonable general health.
- Have skin with some degree of elasticity.
Personalization: A facelift is a personalized procedure that is highly dependent on your surgeon’s skill, understanding of youthful face anatomy, and, most importantly, their patience before, during, and after surgery.
LOOK AND FEEL 100% YOU
Mini Facelift (Lower Face and Neck Lift), Temporal Brow Lift, Lower Blepharoplasty, Facial Fat Transfer
Age: 40-45
Details: This beauty was bothered by the loose skin under her chin and eyes. She is 1 month out from her procedure looking rejuvenated. Note the minimally visible scar in front of her ears.
Short Scar Deep Plane Facelift, Facial Fat Transfer
Age: 50-55
Details: This beauty wished to refresh her tired appearance. She underwent an awake deep plane facelift under local anesthesia and facial fat transfer. These photos show her healing progress at 6 weeks out and already looking great!
Deep Plane Facelift, Deep Neck Lift
Age: 65-70
Anesthesia: Performed comfortably awake with local anesthesia
WHY CHOOSE DR. WU FOR A MINI FACELIFT IN THE WOODLANDS, TX?
Dr. Wu’s calm nature and careful precision as a plastic surgeon have made her a favorite among patients. As part of your consultation, Dr. Wu takes the time to thoroughly assess your unique experiences and needs. The decision to have a facial procedure is one of the most personal decisions you will make, so you need a plan that includes just the right level of correction to meet your facial rejuvenation goals.
Dr. Wu is a champion of healthy beauty. In order to naturally enhance your appearance, Dr. Wu does not promote the use of synthetic injectable fillers or muscle paralyzing toxins. You can rest assured knowing that your plastic surgeon is committed to helping you maintain your long-term natural facial health and beauty.
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Dr. Wu and her staff are excellent. My face and neck lift is perfect. If anyone is considering undergoing any of the procedures she offers, make an appointment!... read more
Renee Harrington
March 15, 2023Dr. Wu… the best of the best!
Ida De La Garza
December 15, 2023 -
Had a face lift and neck lift with Dr. Wu. Approx 3 months ago. My face looks great and I am very happy with the results. Minimal... read more
Andrea Danchak
September 15, 2023I had a mini facelift. Dr. Wu is very professional while being personable and attentive, spends the time to talk with you about the process. I'm very pleased... read more
Stacy
March 15, 2022 -
After an exhaustive search for a plastic surgeon with expertise in deep place facelift I decided to schedule an initial consultation with Dr Wu from Revel You Plastic Surgery in... read more
Maria Camarena
August 15, 2023Happy new me 2024! I would like to thank and recommend Dr. Wu and the Revel You. In the fall of 2023, underwent a lower neck and face lift.... read more
Susan Ponce
February 15, 2024 -
Dr. Wu and her team are incredible professionals and wonderful, warm people. I had contacted several plastic surgeons and chose Dr. Wu because of the technique she uses, internet searches... read more
Lena G
March 15, 2023I am so happy with the final results of my face/brow lift, and facial fat injections in my cheeks. I am especially pleased with how great a job Dr. Wu... read more
Laura Werchan
March 15, 2023 -
I had facial rejuvenation surgery with Dr. Wu less than 2 weeks ago and I am thrilled with the results I am seeing. There is definitely a process that... read more
Lisa Snell
March 15, 2023Beautiful results. Very friendly attentive staff.
Katie Garcia
March 15, 2023
What Aesthetic Issues Does a Facelift Address?
During your facelift, Dr. Wu and her team at Revel You Facial Plastic Surgery in Houston TX work to address one or a combination of the following issues:
- Correct Effects of Past Procedures: Overuse of fillers or buccal fat pad removal often leads to a loss of your unique facial expressions and an older appearance. Maintaining a balanced aesthetic appearance requires careful correction of these issues.
- Restore Lost Facial Volume: As you age, your cheeks lose volume resulting in an older appearance. This procedure can restore your face’s natural fullness and reduce the appearance of a gaunt and old facial appearance.
- Create a More Defined and Sculpted Jawline: A youthful jawline typically features a subtle and gentle contour rather than sharp and ridged angles. In our facelift procedure, we focus on enhancing the jawline by lifting and gently redefining its shape. This approach significantly reduces the appearance of jowls, ensuring that the jawline complements the overall facial structure with a soft and natural elegance that highlights a youthful and balanced profile.
- Lift, Tighten and Smooth the Neck: The neck, which often shows early signs of aging, can be rejuvenated through careful lifting techniques. Rather than simply tightening the skin, we gently lift the neck skin, addressing sagging and restoring a smoother, more youthful contour. With this procedure, the neck area looks rejuvenated and harmonious, seamlessly matching the face’s updated appearance.
- Smoothing Deep Facial Creases: The deep lines on the face are gently smoothed out, giving the face a more youthful appearance.
- Lift the Midface: Targets midface sagging, restoring youthful contours and lifting around the cheekbones and under the eyes.
Enhance Overall Facial Harmony: Our goal is not to “correct” your face because your face is unique. Dr. Wu strives to restore harmony and balance to your face, ensuring a seamless blend with your natural features, reflecting your true beauty.
What are Common Reasons for Having a Facelift with Dr. Wu?
Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Wu specializes in facelift procedures, which is one of several reasons for choosing her.
- Proven Results and High Patient Satisfaction: A facelift has a high success rate, with high satisfaction ratings of 92% on RealSelf and 94% on RealPatientRatings.
- Immediate and Reliable Aging Reversal: A facelift can deliver immediate and reliable results. In fact, 96.7% of patients receiving a Deep Plane Facelift surgery reported a more youthful appearance after surgery (see study published in the journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery).
- Short Recovery Time: Dr. Wu’s gentle and meticulous approach to performing face and neck procedures (such as limiting the use of heat to seal blood vessels), combined with local and general anesthesia options, results in shorter recovery times.
- Comprehensive Facial Aging Solution: The full facelift procedure, and especially the Deep Plane Facelift, is long-lasting and addresses multiple aspects of facial aging simultaneously: Aging changes of the neck, sagging skin under the chin, jowls, nasolabial fold, and malar fat pad.
- Natural and Refreshed Appearance: A facelift provides a natural and refreshed look, which enhances the overall facial appearance, ensuring that the results are noticeable, but subtle enough to blend with your natural and unique facial features.
- Professional and Personal Motivations: Many individuals, especially those in particular professions, choose a facelift for professional reasons.
- Long-Lasting Results: A Deep Plane Facelift is technically permanent because the tissue is lifted to a more youthful position. You will continue to look younger over time with comprehensive “deep” tissue lifting. Depending on genetics and lifestyle, a Deep Plane Facelift can last 15 years or more.
- Correction of Past Procedures: If you’ve had previous cosmetic face procedures that didn’t meet expectations or only offered short-term results, facelift surgery can correct these and achieve a more natural, satisfying look with longer-lasting results.
- Non-Response to Non-Surgical Treatments: When non-surgical treatments like Botox or fillers are insufficient, a facelift offers a more comprehensive and permanent solution.
Genetic Factors: Choosing a facelift surgery to address specific aging patterns influenced by genetics is a common reason.
Types of Facelifts Available in Houston
The face is arranged in five facial layers from superficial to the deep layers: 1. Skin (epidermis and dermis); 2. Fat; 3. SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system); 4. Retaining ligaments and spaces (deep fat); and 5. Periosteum and deep fascia. In general, the skin is supported by these different layers, but the muscles, nerves and vascular structures change their position and relationship with the layers. For example, the lower eyelid is lacking in fat and the upper face temporal region can be as many as 10 layers. Thus, the skins facial fat varies in its thickness; amount, consistency, quality and density in different regions of the face. The faces neurovascular structure also changes planes throughout the face with the fascial ligaments subdivide the face into compartments and connect the different facial layers from the skin down to the deep bone (see Sykes, J., Dilger, A., & Cotofana, S., 2020)
With aging, the arrangement of the five layers remains the same, but the thickness and positioning of these different layers changes. This means that, over time, the facial fat volume decreases, the facial fat pad descends, and the strength of the ligaments weakens, which contributes to the sagging of the skin.
Deep Plane Facelift
The Deep Plane Facelift is the most advanced and comprehensive rhytidectomy (or full facelift) that targets the mid and lower face by repositioning deeper facial tissues, especially the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) and muscles. This technique offers a more natural result by focusing on deeper structures, effectively addressing mid-face sagging like in the cheeks and nasolabial folds. Generally, it is best to combine the Deep Plane Facelift with a Deep Plane Neck Lift. The result of these deep facial lifting techniques is:
- Moving the Top Layer of Face Skin (repositioning of the superficial fascia): The superficial fascia is a layer of tissue just below the skin. Which is adjusted or moved to improve the appearance of the face.
- Lifting the Middle Part of the Face (Midface) and Changing Its Shape: The midface area (the central part of your face, including cheeks and area below your eyes) is lifted or moved upwards, which changes the overall shape of the face to make it appear more youthful.
- Raising the Fat Layers Just Under the Skin (lifts and elevates the superficial fat pads): Lifts the layers of fat that are just beneath the skin, especially those in the midface area, which reduces sagging to create a more toned appearance.
- Tightening the Deeper Face Fat Like a Belt (creates a girdle effect on the deep fat): Tightens the deeper layers of fat and tissue in the face, similar to how a girdle tightens and holds in body fat. This can make the face look tighter and more toned.
- Making the Face Shape Younger by Elevating the MidFacial Fat: Lifting the fat and tissue in the middle part of the face results in the shape of the face being altered to appear more lifted and youthful.
Making the Jawline Longer and More Defined by Fixing Sagging in the Middle of the Jaw Area: Focuses on the lower part of the face, particularly around the jawline (mandibular line) and makes the jarline look longer and more defined.
Deep Neck Lift
The Deep Neck Lift Focuses on tightening loose skin, removing excess fat, and improving the overall appearance of the neck. Some surgeons use liposuction to remove excess fat before tightening underlying facial muscles and tissues for a more defined neck contour, but Dr. Wu generally avoids liposuction as it can provide an uneven, hollowed and unnatural look.
Brow Lift
A brow lift or forehead lift targets aesthetic concerns in the forehead and brow area, like forehead wrinkles, sagging brows, and deep furrows between the eyebrows. The result is a more awake and youthful appearance.
Eyelid Lift (Blepharoplasty)
Eyelid Lift (Blepharoplasty): Improves the appearance of the eyelids, including upper lids, lower lids, or both, by removing excess skin and reducing bagginess for a youthful eye appearance.
- Upper Blepharoplasty: Focuses on correcting sagging or hooded upper eyelids.
- Lower Blepharoplasty: Addresses the lower eyelid area, targeting under-eye bags and wrinkles
Lip Lift
Reshapes and often elevates the upper lip to enhance facial harmony and rejuvenate the mouth area.
Traditional Facelift
The traditional facelift is an older facelift technique that primarily targets the superficial layers of the face often leading to a ‘pulled’ appearance. It;s effective for facial sagging, but generally will not achieve the same depth of improvement in facial structure or longevity as the Deep Plane Facelift and Deep Neck Lift techniques.
Mini Facelift
The mini facelift is marketed as a less invasive option suitable for mild to moderate signs of aging and involves smaller incisions. The mini facelift is less effective for severe sagging and deeper tissue laxity. Dr Wu’s facelift approach uses precise incisions and very little heat so scarring is minimal and recovery is quicker.
Vertical Facelift
Emphasizes vertical lifting of facial tissues against gravity, particularly beneficial for rejuvenating the mid-face and cheek area. It is synonymous with the Deep Plane Facelift as any vertical lift technique uses a deep plane approach and lifts at the appropriate angle of the face. Thus, any “vertical” technique falls within a Deep Plane Facelift and “vertical” is used for marketing and is not a scientifically recognized name.
Ponytail Lift
Creates a lifted look similar to the effect of a high ponytail, with a focus on lifting the upper portion of the face through smaller incisions.
Short Scar Facelift
A mini or limited-incision technique with smaller scars, suitable for patients with less severe aging signs.
Mid Facelift
Concentrates on the mid-region of the face, including cheeks and lower eyelids, to restore volume and reduce sagging.
Facial Fat Transfer
Involves harvesting fat from one part of the body and injecting it into the face to add volume and contour, often used alongside other facelift techniques.
Liquid Facelift
A non-surgical option using injectables such as dermal fillers and Botox. It restores volume, smoothens out wrinkles, and creates a more youthful facial contour, addressing aging signs like nasolabial folds, marionette lines, and hollow cheeks.
What is the Best Age for Facelift Surgery?
There’s no perfect age for facelift surgery, but the age range is generally from 30 to 80 years old. Younger patients may seek facial surgery when they have specific concerns such as visible jowls or a sagging jawline, and older patients typically have a facelift when there are multiple facial areas that have aged. Regardless of your age, Dr. Wu takes the time to deliver an outcome that is in line with your goals.
Dr. Wu for Facelift Surgery
A facelift procedure is a complex procedure that requires expertise, knowledge, and skill to ensure safe and successful results. For this reason, you must work with the right surgeon that specializes in the face. Dr. Wu’s primary area of focus is facial rejuvenation, which means the surgeon does only facelift and related procedures.
FACIAL PROCEDURES
Never Compromise Your Unique Beauty with One Size Fits All Surgery. Learn about Revel You’s custom array of facial rejuvenation options ranging from minimally invasive techniques to maximally corrective treatments.
Full Facelift
Because your face represents you to the world, a facelift may be the most intimate procedure you have ever considered. The goal of facelift surgery is to tighten the facial skin by removing excessive skin from the face due to age, hereditary factors, or weight loss. Learn how Dr. Wu can preserve all of your defining features with a gentle facelift.
Mini Facelift
If you are bothered by signs of aging in your lower face including jowls, marionette lines, and general loss of definition in your jawline, the mini facelift can provide the solution to these problem areas. The incisions are kept in natural creases to keep them concealed.
Neck Lift
A neck lift is the most powerful way to treat advanced neck aging including horizontal wrinkles, vertical neck bands, loose neck muscle and loose skin that form the dreaded “turkey wattle.” It is often combined with a facelift procedure to achieve harmonious rejuvenation as it uses the same incision around the ears.
Facial Fat Transfer
Facial volume is lost over time and can be restored to your youthful self using your own fat. Facial fat transfer heals without scars and provides a natural, soft, and lasting alternative to fillers. This is a great way to rejuvenate the eyes, cheeks, and even lips with minimal down time.
Eyelid Lift
Aging of the eyelids can appear as eyelid hooding, hollowing, dark circles and puffiness under the eyes, and just general tired appearance. Eyelid surgery can remove excess skin and reposition the fat to reawaken tired eyes.
Brow lift
Your eyebrows frame your eyes and with age may start drooping. This can lead to the appearance of looking sad, tired, or angry. A brow lift restores the eyebrows to a youthful position which can help you look rested and relaxed.
Rhinoplasty
Aging of the eyelids can appear as eyelid hooding, hollowing, dark circles and puffiness under the eyes, and just general tired appearance. Eyelid surgery can remove excess skin and reposition the fat to reawaken tired eyes.
FAQ
If you don’t find the answer you are looking for, simply contact us!
How much does a facelift cost in Houston Texas?
The average cost of your facelift in Houston, Texas, can range from $7,000 to $50,000 and more depending on the type of facelift procedure you have (Traditional Facelift vs Deep Plane Facelift) and the skill of your surgeon. Most surgeons do not focus solely on face and neck lifting and other procedures of the face, so their skill in this area will be limited.
Are facelift scars visible?
A highly skilled and specialized facelift surgeon in Houston, Dr. Wu uses her unique surgical precision so scares are hardly visible once they heal.
Will facelift fix marionette lines?
The facelift can address signs of aging such as sagging skin and jowls, including softening the Marionette lines (creases from the corners of the mouth to the jawline).
Why have a facelift?
People have a facelift for different reasons, including to get rid of sagging facial skin, jowls, deep wrinkles, folds, and other imperfections. Compared to minimally invasive techniques, facelift surgery is often the right choice for patients who are looking for long-lasting results.
Which facelift lasts the longest?
The deep plane (SMAS) facelift is recognized for providing longer-lasting results compared to other methods. This is because this technique addresses both the skin and deeper facial tissues to achieve a sustained lifting effect. Keep in mind though that individual factors, including skin care practices and genetics, also play a role in the longevity of your facelift results.
How is facelift done?
A facelift is an outpatient procedure that is performed under local or general anesthesia. Incisions are created along the hairline or around the ears to allow the surgeon to reposition underlying facial tissues. Excess skin is then trimmed and the remaining skin is redraped over the reshaped facial contours. Incisions are finally closed with sutures and the treatment areas are covered for optimal healing. The procedure takes between 1 to 4 hours to complete.
Where are facelift scars?
Dr. Wu positions facelift scars along the natural creases and folds in areas where they are minimally visible. The specific area will vary based on the surgical technique used. Some suitable areas include around the ears, along the hairline, and possibly under the chin.
Can facelift cause nerve damage?
There’s always a risk of complications following a surgical procedure such as rhytidectomy. However, the possibility of nerve damage is low. In some cases, patients will experience temporary numbness that dissipates when the treated area heals. Cases of permanent nerve damage leading to numbness or weakness are quite rare. Working with a surgeon focused only on the face is the best way to minimize risk from complications.
Can I have a facelift without surgery?
Non-surgical alternatives to a facelift exist for patients who have minor aesthetic issues. These may include BOTOX, dermal fillers, thread lift, laser resurfacing, and radiofrequency skin care treatments. The downside of these procedures is they are not long-lasting or can result in an unnatural look.
How long is recovery and the healing process after a facelift?
The facelift recovery and healing process generally takes 4 to 6 weeks starting with swelling immediately after the surgery and ending with most of the swelling having subsided after several weeks when you begin to see the remarkable results of your facelift.
What does it mean when plastic surgeons state they have more than one board certification or are double-board certified?
A board certified plastic surgeon with multiple board certifications is for plastic surgeons under an older surgical training model which means the plastic surgeon had 5 years of general surgery training (or training in another non plastic surgery speciality) plus 2/3 years of plastic surgery training, or for Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) doctors a single year of plastic surgery training. The current state-of-the-art training for cosmetic plastic surgery is 6-7 years of an integrated plastic surgery training model in plastic surgery and a 1 year aesthetic fellowship from The Aesthetic Society’s Endorsed Aesthetic Fellowship.