Timeless facial rejuvenation begins with balance, precision, and an artistic eye. At Washingtonian Plastic Surgery, dual board-certified surgeon Dr. Navin Singh performs facelift surgery that restores youthful contours while preserving your natural character.
Serving patients throughout McLean, Tysons, Great Falls, and the greater Washington DC area, our practice is known for creating refreshed, elegant results that look like you at your best, not like you had surgery.
To see real patient transformations, explore our before and after gallery.
What Is a Facelift
A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a customized surgical procedure that lifts and repositions the deeper layers of the face responsible for sagging and lost definition. Rather than simply pulling the skin tight, Dr. Singh’s approach elevates the underlying structure, softening heavy cheeks, improving jowls, and restoring jawline definition.
Every facelift plan is built around your anatomy, your goals, and the way you want to look in ten years, not just ten days. The result is a face that looks rested and rejuvenated without erasing what makes you, you.
Many patients also have concerns about the neck: loose skin, vertical bands, a softened jawline. We treat the neck as its own procedure with its own dedicated page, since a facelift and neck lift address different structures, though the two are frequently performed together for comprehensive lower-face rejuvenation.
Types of Facelift Techniques
Dr. Singh selects from several advanced techniques based on your anatomy and the depth of correction you need. Your consultation will determine which approach, or combination of approaches, is right for you.
Deep Plane Facelift
For patients with more advanced sagging in the cheeks and midface, a deep plane facelift repositions tissue beneath the SMAS layer for a longer-lasting, natural result. Learn more about deep plane facelift surgery.
SMAS Facelift
Improves sagging at the level of the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), adding support to the lower face and sharpening the jawline.
Mini Facelift
For patients in the earlier stages of aging, including younger patients noticing loose skin after significant weight loss, a mini facelift treats mild jowling and laxity with smaller incisions and a shorter recovery. Learn more about mini facelift surgery.
Lower Facelift
Targets the area around the mouth, chin, and jawline to soften deeper folds and restore definition.
Facial Fat Transfer
Dr. Singh may also recommend facial fat transfer to restore soft, youthful volume to the cheeks, temples, or under the eyes.
Who Is a Good Candidate
You may be a good candidate for a facelift if you have visible signs of facial aging, including:
- Sagging cheeks or jowls
- Volume loss in the midface
- Deep lines around the mouth
- A softened or poorly defined jawline
Candidates should be in good overall health and have realistic expectations about the natural, refreshed results Dr. Singh is known for, not an “overdone” look.
Your Procedure
Facelift incisions are placed along natural creases around the ears and within the hairline to keep them discreet. Dr. Singh elevates the deeper facial tissues, repositions supportive structures, and removes excess skin without creating tension, allowing the face to settle smoothly as it heals.
Surgery typically takes two to four hours, depending on the technique used and whether it’s combined with other procedures such as eyelid surgery or a brow lift.
Recovery & Results
Most patients go home the same day with light bandaging. Tightness, swelling, and bruising are common in the first several days, and many patients feel comfortable resuming social activities within one to two weeks.
As swelling resolves, the face appears smoother, more lifted, and more defined, with results that continue to refine over several weeks and, because deeper tissues are repositioned rather than simply tightened, can last ten to fifteen years. Some patients maintain their results over time with non-surgical treatments such as Ultherapy, Botox, or dermal fillers.
Other Procedures That Pair Well With a Facelift or Neck Lift
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do facelift results last?
Results typically last ten to fifteen years because deeper facial tissues are repositioned rather than simply tightened.
What’s the difference between a facelift, mini facelift, and deep plane facelift?
A mini facelift treats mild, early laxity with a shorter recovery; a full facelift addresses more advanced sagging in the cheeks and jawline; a deep plane facelift goes a layer deeper for patients with more significant midface descent who want the longest-lasting result. See our mini facelift and deep plane facelift pages for more detail.
Can a facelift be combined with a neck lift?
Yes, many patients combine a facelift with a neck lift for a seamless transition from cheeks to jawline to neck.
When will I look presentable after surgery?
Most patients feel comfortable in public within ten to fourteen days. Subtle swelling continues to refine for several weeks.
Is a facelift painful?
Most patients describe tightness rather than pain. Any discomfort is usually mild and easily managed with oral medication.
Schedule Your Consultation
To learn more about facelift surgery, schedule a private consultation with Dr. Navin Singh at our McLean office, minutes from Washington DC and serving patients throughout Northern Virginia and Montgomery County.
Call 703 345 4377 or request your appointment online.
Dr. Navin Singh is a dual board-certified plastic and facial plastic surgeon and founder of Washingtonian Plastic Surgery. He previously served as Director of Cosmetic Surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and currently serves as a board examiner for both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and has been recognized as a Top Doctor by Washingtonian Magazine.
