Facelift in Nashville, TN

Name: Facelift
Brand: Nashville Cosmetic Surgery
Rating: 4.7 (150 reviews)

Performed by Dr. Don Griffin, MD, FACS — Dual Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon | Almost 30 Years in Nashville

For almost 30 years, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Don Griffin, MD, FACS has performed facelift surgery in his private practice in Nashville. As one of the longest-running, most experienced facelift practices in Middle Tennessee, Nashville Cosmetic Surgery has earned a reputation for results that are natural, never overdone. When Dr. Griffin evaluates you for a facelift, he begins with what makes your face uniquely yours, creating a surgical plan that restores youthfulness without sacrificing the character that defines you.

What Is a Facelift?

A facelift, formally called a rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that addresses sagging skin, jowls, and deep folds along the lower face and neck by repositioning underlying tissue and removing excess skin. It is one of the most effective procedures for reversing the visible signs of facial aging, particularly for patients whose concerns go beyond what injectables or skin treatments can fully address.

Not all facelifts are the same, and the technique determines everything about the outcome. Dr. Griffin uses both the SMAS and deep plane techniques when tailoring his approach to each patient's facial anatomy in what he calls the Modern Facelift. Curious what a facelift could do for your face? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Griffin to discuss your options.

Dr. Griffin's Modern Facelift: A Comprehensive Approach to Nashville Facial Rejuvenation

To understand what a modern facelift actually does, it helps to understand how the face ages. Think of your face as a building. The bone is the structural framework. The muscles and fat pads are the framing that creates fullness and dimension. The ligaments are the cables anchoring the skin to deeper structure. And the skin is the exterior, the surface the world sees. As we age, every layer changes. Bone slowly resorbs. Fat pads deflate and fall. Ligaments that once held everything taut begin to drape. And the skin, with less structure beneath it, visibly sags. Pulling the skin tighter doesn't solve any of that. It addresses one layer while leaving the rest unchanged. That is precisely why older approaches produced results that looked pulled or overdone rather than restored.

SMAS Facelift

Dr. Griffin's SMAS approach repositions and tightens the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, the deeper muscular layer of the face, restoring the structural support that has weakened over time. This is the foundational work that creates lasting, natural results, because it rebuilds the architecture rather than simply draping new skin over a compromised foundation.

Deep Plane Facelift

For patients with more advanced facial aging, Dr. Griffin performs a deep plane facelift, releasing the deeper ligamentous attachments that tether the facial tissues and allowing the mid-face, cheek, and jowl to be comprehensively repositioned. The result is a more complete, longer-lasting correction that addresses the root causes of facial aging at every structural level.

Facelift With Fat Grafting

Volume loss is addressed as part of the surgical strategy, not as an afterthought. Where fat pads have deflated and hollowed, fat grafting using your own tissue can restore natural fullness in the same procedure, returning the contour and softness that lifting alone cannot achieve. The skin is then thoughtfully re-draped over a restored foundation, not pulled, but carefully repositioned so that the result reads as natural, because it is.

Meet Dr. Don Griffin

Your Nashville Facial Plastic Surgeon

Dr. Don Griffin is a dual board-certified plastic surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons who completed both his medical school training and his general surgery residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, before completing his plastic surgery residency. A member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ISAPS), he established Nashville Cosmetic Surgery after completing his plastic surgery training, a practice he has led for almost 30 years with a consistent focus on natural, lasting results in cosmetic surgery of the face, breast, and body. He is a frequent speaker on the use of lasers in aesthetic facial rejuvenation, reflecting the depth and ongoing focus of his clinical practice. Dr. Griffin's approach to facelift surgery is guided by a principle that has not changed in three decades: the result should look like you, younger, rested, and restored, not like surgery was performed.

Benefits of a Facelift

A well-performed facelift addresses multiple signs of aging simultaneously, producing results that last for years and evolve naturally.

Long-lasting results compared to non-surgical alternatives
Smoother, tighter skin along the lower face and neck
Reduced sagging along the jawline and cheeks
Restored mid-face volume and contour when fat grafting is combined
A more refreshed, rested appearance
A natural outcome that doesn't look overdone, because the underlying architecture is restored, not just the surface

Schedule A Consultation

Request a Consult Call Us: (615) 206-2937

Are You a Good Candidate for a Facelift in Nashville?

You may be a good candidate if you're noticing sagging skin, jowls, or deep folds along your lower face and neck that non-surgical treatments have not been able to fully address. Facelifts are commonly performed on patients in their 50s through 70s, though the right timing depends more on your individual signs of aging than your age alone. Dr. Griffin has performed transformative facelifts on patients in their mid-40s and on patients in their early 80s.

Good candidates are in good general health and do not smoke, since smoking significantly affects healing and results. During your consultation, Dr. Griffin will evaluate your skin quality, facial structure, and the specific combination of anatomical changes present. He will recommend only the procedure or combination of procedures that genuinely addresses what he sees, not a predetermined plan.

Facelift Before & After

Browse our Before & After Gallery to see the outcomes our patients have achieved at Nashville Cosmetic Surgery.

*Every result is unique.

View Gallery

What to Expect During Your Facelift at Nashville Cosmetic Surgery

Your facelift is performed at the NCS Surgical Center, a private, accredited on-site facility Dr. Griffin uses for all of his procedures. It is not a hospital setting. It is a dedicated, private surgical environment where every aspect of your experience is personally managed by Dr. Griffin and his team. Surgical time typically ranges from four to six hours, depending on the extent of correction and whether additional procedures, such as a neck lift, brow lift, blepharoplasty, or fat grafting, are combined in the same session. Dr. Griffin repositions underlying facial tissue and removes excess skin through incisions carefully placed along the hairline and around the ear to minimize visibility. He will walk you through your specific incision pattern, technique, and realistic expectations during your consultation, before any decision is made. Most patients return home the same day or the following morning with detailed recovery instructions and direct access to our clinical team.

"The staff and doctor were absolutely amazing! Everyone was so kind, patient, and answered every single one of my questions, and I had plenty! The procedure went perfectly, and the support both before and after was top-notch. I felt completely taken care of the whole way through. I'm beyond pleased with the results. If I could give them six stars, I would!"

Chelsea, Facelift Patient, Nashville Cosmetic Surgery

Recovery After a Facelift: What to Expect

Most patients describe the early recovery period as manageable discomfort and tightness rather than significant pain, controlled well with prescribed medication and improving steadily over the first two weeks. Bruising and swelling are most noticeable in the first week and improve progressively from there. Most patients take approximately two weeks away from work, with many feeling comfortable in public, with light makeup, within two to three weeks. Final results continue to refine over several months as swelling fully resolves and the tissues settle into their restored position. Dr. Griffin's team follows up with you regularly throughout recovery, checking on healing well beyond the standard post-operative appointments, because the quality of your result depends as much on how well you heal as on the surgery itself.

Procedure	Return to Light Activity	Comfortable in Public	Exercise Cleared
SMAS facelift	7–10 days	2–3 weeks	6 weeks
Deep plane facelift	10–14 days	2–3 weeks	6 weeks
Facelift + neck lift	10–14 days	3–4 weeks	6 weeks
Facelift + multiple procedures	10–14 days	3–4 weeks	6 weeks

Why Choose Nashville Cosmetic Surgery for Your Facelift?

Facelift surgery calls for an artistic eye as much as surgical skill. With almost 30 years of facelift experience in Nashville, Dr. Griffin approaches every surgical plan the same way, with a focus on not just what can be lifted, but what can be genuinely and lastingly restored. Dr. Griffin completed his medical school training and general surgery residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center before completing his plastic surgery training. He is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery, one of a small number of surgeons in Nashville to hold dual board certification in both disciplines.

He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, and a member of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. He has appeared on the RealSelf Top 100 list of leading cosmetic surgery experts. His nearly 30-year practice in Nashville operates within an accredited private surgical facility. Nashville Cosmetic Surgery serves facelift patients from Nashville, Belle Meade, Brentwood, Franklin, Green Hills, and throughout Middle Tennessee.

Facelift Frequently Asked Questions

How long do facelift results typically last?

Facelift results are long-lasting, often ten years or more, though the natural aging process continues, and some patients choose additional refinement over time. The longevity of results is directly related to the depth and completeness of the surgical approach: a facelift that addresses the underlying structural layers rather than skin alone produces results that last longer and age more naturally.

Will people be able to tell I had a facelift?

Dr. Griffin's approach focuses on natural, proportionate results rather than an overly tight or obviously altered appearance. The goal is a result that looks like a younger, more rested version of you, not a different person. Most patients find that people notice they look better without being able to identify why.

Can a facelift address my neck as well?

A facelift addresses the lower face primarily, though it's frequently combined with a neck lift for patients who also have significant laxity, banding, or fullness along the neck. Dr. Griffin evaluates the face and neck together at consultation and recommends the combination that creates the most balanced, harmonious result.

What is the difference between a SMAS facelift and a deep plane facelift?

A SMAS facelift repositions and tightens the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, the deeper muscular layer, producing results that are significantly more lasting than skin-only approaches. A deep plane facelift goes deeper still, releasing the ligamentous attachments that tether the facial tissues and allowing more comprehensive repositioning of the mid-face, cheek, and jowl. Dr. Griffin determines which approach is appropriate for your anatomy during consultation. The right technique is anatomy-driven, not a marketing preference.

How much does a facelift cost in Nashville?

Facelift pricing varies based on the specific technique used, the extent of correction required, and whether complementary procedures such as a neck lift, fat grafting, brow lift, or blepharoplasty are combined in the same session. Because every plan is customized to your anatomy and goals, pricing is discussed during your personal consultation after Dr. Griffin has evaluated your face and developed a specific surgical plan. Our team can discuss financing options at that time.

Is a facelift painful?

Most patients experience manageable discomfort and tightness rather than significant pain, which improves steadily over the first two weeks with prescribed medication. Tightness, not pain, is the most common description of the early recovery sensation.

Will a facelift address fine lines and skin texture?

A facelift primarily addresses sagging and volume loss rather than fine lines or surface texture. Many patients combine a facelift with laser resurfacing or other skin treatments from The Skin Lounge for more complete facial rejuvenation. Dr. Griffin and The Skin Lounge team can develop a combined surgical and non-surgical plan during your consultation.

Schedule Your Facelift Consultation in Nashville

The best way to understand what a facelift can do for you is to have the conversation. Dr. Griffin's consultations begin with a careful evaluation of your face: its structure, the specific changes present, and what a surgical plan would realistically accomplish. From there, you make the decision with complete information. Nashville Cosmetic Surgery is located in Nashville, serving patients from Belle Meade, Brentwood, Franklin, Green Hills, and throughout Middle Tennessee. Request Your Consultation | Call (615) 206-2937