LOOK GREAT AT ANY AGE
Facelift in Nashville, TN
Our faces are uniquely linked to our identity and personality. Each person’s face is one-of-a-kind, and beautiful in its own way. Just as we all look different, we age differently, too. The way and the rate at which a person experiences facial aging is personal. When Nashville board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Don Griffin evaluates you for a facelift, he begins with that understanding — keeping your unique beauty in mind, and creating a plan that takes years off without sacrificing the character of your face.
How Can a Facelift Help?
Facelift surgery in Nashville is a wonderfully versatile procedure that’s earned its popularity for good reason. Today’s facelift targets the muscles and deeper tissues of the face, creating a significant, comprehensive improvement in the contours of the lower two-thirds of the face. A facelift is typically indicated to treat the following:
- Moderate to severe jowls
- Loss of definition along the jawline
- Skin laxity or sagginess in the lower face and neck
- Certain types of wrinkles in the lower face, such as marionette lines
- The appearance of a double chin
The ideal candidate for facelift in Nashville is someone who is bothered by moderate to significant sagging, laxity, or loss of definition in the lower face and neck — changes that are not adequately addressed by non-surgical treatments like injectables or skin tightening devices. Most facelift patients are in their 40s, 50s, or 60s, though candidacy depends on anatomy rather than age. Good overall health, non-smoking status, and realistic expectations about outcomes are important. Dr. Griffin will evaluate your facial anatomy during your consultation and give you an honest assessment of what a facelift can realistically achieve for you.
DON GRIFFIN M.D., FACS
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Don Griffin realizes that no two patients are exactly alike — and neither are his surgical plans. Learn more about his background and his unique approach.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FACELIFTS?
For Nashville patients, Dr. Griffin offers the following facelift options, each tailored to the unique needs and goals of the individual:
- Full facelift uses incisions placed around the ears and behind the hairline. This more common version of the surgery is used to correct moderate to severe signs of aging. Occasionally, it may also include a small incision beneath the chin.
- Mini facelift uses incisions that are typically limited to the area immediately around the ears. This approach is best for correcting more subtle signs of aging.
During your initial consultation, Dr. Griffin reviews the differences between the facelift techniques and helps you decide which is best for you. You may choose to enhance the results of your facelift with another type of facial rejuvenation, such as brow lift or eyelid surgery. Dr. Griffin can perform these procedures at the same time as your facelift for convenience and improved results.
Many patients choose to combine their facelift in Nashville with complementary procedures to achieve a more complete facial rejuvenation. Brow lift addresses sagging or heavy brows and forehead lines that a facelift does not correct. Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) refreshes the upper and lower eyelids, which often show signs of aging independently of the lower face. Dr. Griffin can perform these procedures simultaneously with your facelift for a single recovery period and a more harmonious overall result. During your consultation, he will evaluate your entire face and recommend which combination — if any — would best serve your goals.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING FACELIFT SURGERY?
Dr. Griffin typically performs facelift surgery while you are under general anesthesia. This ensures your absolute comfort as well as his ability to create a significant improvement. Occasionally, especially for mini facelift patients, Dr. Griffin may opt for only local anesthesia with sedation.
Dr. Griffin’s facelift technique addresses not just the skin, but the deeper structural layer of the face known as the SMAS — the superficial musculoaponeurotic system. This is the fibromuscular layer that supports the facial tissues. Repositioning and tightening the SMAS, rather than simply pulling the skin, is what produces a natural-looking result that lasts. A facelift that addresses only the skin tends to look tight or overdone and relaxes more quickly. By working on the deeper tissue foundation, Dr. Griffin achieves a comprehensive improvement in the contours of the face and neck that looks refreshed rather than operated on.
The surgical procedure lasts between 3 and 5 hours, depending on the amount of correction required. After a brief period of observation, you’re safe to return home in the care of a loved one.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT AFTER A FACELIFT?
Dr. Griffin will provide detailed post-op instructions for you to follow after surgery. In general, you will be advised to sleep with your head elevated and use gel ice packs and prescription pain medication for a few days as needed for comfort.
Swelling and bruising are normal and expected after facelift surgery, and typically peak within the first 48–72 hours before gradually improving. Most patients feel comfortable going out socially within 1–2 weeks once swelling has subsided to a manageable level. Incision lines are positioned in natural contours around the ears and hairline where they are well concealed, and will fade significantly over 6–12 months. Dr. Griffin’s team uses a postoperative scar care protocol — including silicone scar gel and broadband light therapy when indicated — to optimize healing and minimize visible scarring.
Read what Dr. Griffin’s facelift patients have to say about their experience and results.
FACELIFT RECOVERY: WHAT TO EXPECT AND HOW LONG IT TAKES
Most patients are able to go out socially within 1 to 2 weeks when swelling and bruising have subsided. Dr. Griffin will advise you as to when you can return to exercise or strenuous activities.
Nashville Cosmetic Surgery serves facelift patients from Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Belle Meade, Green Hills, and the greater Middle Tennessee area.
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT FACELIFT
What is the difference between a full facelift and a mini facelift?
A full facelift uses incisions around the ears and along the hairline to address moderate to severe facial aging in the lower two-thirds of the face and neck. It provides more comprehensive correction and longer-lasting results. A mini facelift uses shorter incisions typically limited to the area around the ears and is best suited for patients with more subtle or early signs of aging who want improvement without the recovery of a full procedure. Dr. Griffin will discuss which approach is appropriate for your anatomy and goals during your consultation — the right choice depends on the degree of aging present and the improvement you want to achieve.
How long does a facelift last?
A well-performed facelift typically lasts 7–10 years, though results vary depending on the technique used, the patient's skin quality, and lifestyle factors such as sun exposure and smoking. Because Dr. Griffin's technique addresses the deeper SMAS layer of the face rather than only the skin, results tend to be longer-lasting and more natural-looking than skin-only procedures. The aging process continues after a facelift, but most patients find they look significantly younger than they would have without surgery for many years following their procedure.
What is recovery like after a facelift?
Most facelift patients are comfortable going out socially within 1–2 weeks as swelling and bruising subside. The first several days involve rest, sleeping with the head elevated, and using cold compresses as directed. Strenuous activity is restricted for 3–4 weeks. Most patients with desk jobs return to work within 2 weeks; those with physically demanding jobs may need 3–4 weeks. Dr. Griffin will provide detailed written aftercare instructions specific to your procedure and be available throughout your recovery to answer questions.
How much does a facelift cost in Nashville?
The cost of a facelift at Nashville Cosmetic Surgery depends on the type of procedure (full or mini facelift), whether additional procedures such as brow lift or eyelid surgery are combined, anesthesia fees, and facility fees. A detailed, itemized quote is provided following your consultation once Dr. Griffin has evaluated your goals and developed a specific surgical plan. Financing options are available for qualified patients. We encourage you to consider surgeon experience and credentials alongside cost — facelift results should look natural and last for years, and choosing an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon is the most important factor in achieving that outcome.