Facelift San Diego | Malone Facial Plastic Surgery

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Benefits of Facelifts and Neck Lifts?

There are many great advantages of a face and neck lift for you in San Diego, including:

Firmer and tighter skin giving you a youthful appearance
Eliminate wrinkles and sagging skin
Minimize downtime and recovery time
Minimize surgical incision
Hidden incisions inside and behind the ear (short hair style without visible scar)
No general anesthesia, procedure performed with local anesthesia
Does not alter hairline
New look will improve your self-esteem and confidence

Am I a Candidate for a Facelift?

Good candidates for these procedures are men and women in their 40s and older and in good physical health. The aging process occurs in an individualized way depending on our genetic inheritance, lifestyle and habits.

What are the Risks?

A facelift procedure is safe but some risks can include bleeding, infection, potential damage to facial nerves and necrosis of skin flaps. There is a higher risk for smokers and diabetics.

What to Expect in a Consultation

During your consultation with Dr. Malone in La Jolla, she will evaluate your anatomical needs, listen to your concerns and make the best recommendation for you based on the optimal facial rejuvenation treatments to achieve your goals. Your customized treatment will improve the surface appearance of the face, neck and skin to create a softer, smooth and defined facial appearance. Specifically, your treatment will be based upon your individual facial anatomy and personal preferences in order to address these problem areas:

Cheeks
Nasolabial Folds
Jowls
Jawline
Neck

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Types of Facelifts & Neck Lifts

Dr. Malone is at the forefront of minimally invasive face and neck lift surgeries. She utilizes techniques that are almost entirely muscular in nature, meaning the underlying muscular structures of the face and neck are tightened and elevated back to their youthful position. Here are different types of face and neck lifts:

Mini Facelift or Short Scar Facelift

This technique is best utilized for patients in their 40s or 50s who are looking for a subtle improvement to nip the earliest signs of aging due to the relaxing of the skin and facial tissues. This technique is best suited for patients whose main concern is their lower face and jowls without significant drooping of their necks.

Lower Facelift

A lower facelift treats the signs of aging and lines around the mouth and jawline, perioral wrinkles (rhytids), marionette lines and jowls to restore the smooth contour to the lower face and mouth area.

Deep Plane Facelift

This technique provides the most comprehensive rejuvenation of the midface, lower face and neck. Dr. Malone has published articles on the long-lasting outcome of this surgery with results lasting greater than 10 years. The deep plane facelift in La Jolla lifts the apple of the cheek smoothing the nasolabial folds and jowls and tightens and smooths the muscle of the jawline and neck restoring the heart shaped face from youth.

SMAS Facelift

The SMAS (Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System) is a fascial layer that is the strong, ‘load bearing’ tissue layer in the face. SMAS Plication and SMAS Imbrication techniques are those where superficial dissection is performed and sutures are placed to ‘pull’ or ‘support’ the SMAS layer. These techniques garner a very conservative surgical outcome with results that typically last approximately two to three years before patients seek a ‘tuck up’ or revision procedure. Extended SMAS or High Lateral SMAS offers a more long-lasting result. It is necessary to lift underneath the SMAS and secure the strong SMAS layer. These procedures in San Diego garner more lift in the results and have been shown to last longer, on overage 10 years.

Neck Lift

For patients with significant dropping tissue in their necks, best results are achieved with a neck lift. This technique addresses excess fat, double chin and hanging neck like a ‘turkey neck’ smoothing the jawline and restoring the longer neck of youth.

Non-Surgical or “Liquid” Lifts

There are so many great options for treatments without undergoing any surgery. Dr. Malone’s practice has many different treatments for face and neck tightening as well as injectable treatments to provide a non-surgical facelift.

“You have helped me more than you’ll ever know. You possess the qualities not only of an excellent physician but of an extraordinary human being as well.” —Facelift, lip lift, chin implant (F.K.)

“Thank you for the smile on my face whenever I look in the mirror, you’re an incredible lady and surgeon” —Facelift, liplift, Laser skin resurfacing (B.P.)

“Dr. Malone is great! She is very friendly, honest, clear and understanding. Never had to wait longer then 10 minutes. It is easy to make an appointment by phone or email. Truly pleased with the results!” —Botox (C.V.)

“I am 69 years old and had a deep plane face lift with Dr. Malone my results are fabulous. She is an excellent surgeon and a caring kind person as well. Would highly recommend her.” —Deep Plane Facelift (aerobicgal)

“Not only did she straighten out my nose and significantly improve my breathing but she was very attentive and had a great bedside manner! I've had nothing but complements on how good my new nose looks!” —Septoplasty (M.H.)

“She is kind, caring, listened to and addressed all of my concerns, explained everything in detail, and was always available, before and after surgery.” —Facelift (B.)

“If I could give her 10 stars I would! She was very attentive during AND after the visit and her bed side manner is impeccable. I would recommend her a million times over to anyone looking for an amazing MD.” —Restylane (S.D.)

“I saw Dr. Malone back in Nov 2017, she was an absolute delight. I knew I was in good hands. Her empathetic bedside manner made me feel confident in her abilities to give me the exact results I envisioned. ” —Rhinoplasty (N.K.)

The Facelift Procedure

The platysma muscle is a broad sheet like muscle that underlies the skin of the face and neck. This muscle sags with time bunching up to create jowls and a sagging neck. Tightening this muscle and the deep tissues of the face smooths the lines on the face and redefines the jawline and neck, as it once appeared in youth. This technique eliminates the need for any pulling or stretching of the skin providing the most natural aesthetic results with hidden incisions.

Dr. Malone employs discreet and hidden incisions that go unnoticed using endoscopes and specialized minimal access surgical instruments.

She can deliver natural results with minimal incisions, downtime and recovery that ensure quicker healing. Fat may be redistributed from your face and neck and the underlying tissue repositioned. The deeper layers of your face and muscles are lifted as well. Excess skin is shaved off. Dr. Malone will close the incisions using sutures or skin adhesives, which will either dissolve on their own or be removed a few days later.

San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon, Dr Melanie Malone MD, FACS

Dr. Malone’s Philosophy

Dr. Malone’s treatments in La Jolla are highly individualized, customized for you and address your specific concerns and needs. We aim to let your refreshed appearance reflect the youthful energy that you feel on the inside. Most importantly, Dr. Malone’s aesthetic is seamless without ever drawing unwanted attention. She provides the subtle refresher that a good night’s rest no longer produces. Dr. Malone’s aesthetic is a natural, soft and balanced letting you to always put your best face forward.

Dr. Malone is a Fellow of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American College of Surgeons. This remarkable distinction is bestowed on an elite subset of surgeons based on their exceptional training, professional qualifications, surgical competence and ethical conduct.

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