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 facelift technique does Dr. Griffin use?
Dr. Griffin performs a deep plane or SMAS-based facelift, which addresses the deeper facial tissues rather than simply pulling on the skin. This approach produces more natural, longer-lasting results compared to older techniques that created a stretched or "windswept" appearance. The specific technique is tailored to each patient's anatomy and the degree of aging they wish to address.
What is the difference between a facelift and a neck lift?
A facelift primarily addresses the mid and lower face — cheeks, jawline, and jowls. A neck lift focuses on the neck — loose skin, neck banding, and submental fat. The two procedures are frequently performed together, as aging of the lower face and neck typically occur simultaneously. Dr. Griffin will assess both areas during your consultation and recommend the combination that best achieves your goals.
What age is appropriate for a facelift?
There is no single right age for a facelift. Most patients are between 45 and 70, but candidacy is based on the degree of facial aging, skin quality, and overall health — not a number. Some patients in their early 40s with significant laxity benefit from earlier intervention, while others in their 70s are excellent surgical candidates. Dr. Griffin will give you an honest assessment of what surgery can achieve at your consultation.
Will a facelift look natural?
When performed by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon using modern deep-tissue techniques, a facelift should look refreshed and natural — not pulled or overdone. Dr. Griffin's approach at Nashville Cosmetic Surgery prioritizes restoring youthful facial proportions rather than altering your fundamental appearance. The goal is for people to notice that you look well-rested and younger, not that you had surgery.
What is recovery like after a facelift?
Most facelift patients will feel comfortable resuming social activities starting at week 3, though many return to remote or desk work within 10–14 days. Bruising and swelling peak around day 3–5 and improve significantly by week two. Strenuous activity is restricted for 4–6 weeks. Final results emerge gradually over 4–6 months as swelling in the deep tissues continues to decrease over time.
How long do facelift results last?
Most facelift results last 10–12 years, though some patients enjoy results for up to 20 years. A facelift does not stop the aging process, but it essentially resets the clock. Patients who maintain their results with good sun protection, a skincare routine that includes targeted clinical products, a healthy lifestyle, and periodic non-surgical treatments at The Skin Lounge — such as Botox, Halo, or BBL — typically preserve their outcomes longest.
Can non-surgical treatments replace a facelift?
Non-surgical treatments such as Botox, fillers, Halo laser, and BBL are excellent for early or mild signs of aging and for maintaining surgical results. However, they cannot replicate the structural correction a facelift provides for significant jowling, loose neck skin, or deep facial laxity. Many Nashville Cosmetic Surgery patients use non-surgical treatments proactively to delay the need for surgery and to enhance and maintain their surgical results afterward.
Can a facelift be combined with other procedures?
Yes. Facelifts are frequently combined with a neck lift, brow lift, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), fat grafting for volume restoration, and laser skin resurfacing. Combining procedures extends recovery but reduces total downtime compared to staging them separately. Dr. Griffin will discuss which combinations are appropriate and safe for you.
How much does a facelift cost in Nashville?
The cost of a facelift at Nashville Cosmetic Surgery depends on the extent of the procedure, whether other procedures are combined, and anesthesia and facility fees. A detailed quote is provided at your personal consultation. Dr. Griffin is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), and is a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). Dr. Griffin's expertise reflects an investment in skilled, experienced care.
Where will my surgery be performed?
Your facelift at Nashville Cosmetic Surgery will be performed in our onsite, state-licensed surgical facility. This means your procedure takes place in a dedicated surgical environment that has met the State of Tennessee's rigorous requirements for surgical safety, staffing, equipment, sterilization, and emergency preparedness — not in a shared hospital outpatient department or an unlicensed procedure room. Dr. Griffin and his dedicated surgical team perform every case in the same facility, ensuring consistency, privacy, and a level of personalized care that a hospital setting simply cannot provide.