Faceliftin Chicago & Kenilworth, IL

Q: Are there non-surgical alternatives to a facelift?

While treatments like fillers, Botox , and skin tightening procedures can temporarily improve signs of aging, they cannot provide the same level of correction as a facelift. If you have significant sagging, a facelift is the gold standard for long-lasting, dramatic results.

The facelift is the ultimate answer to early and advanced signs of facial aging. With subtle alterations and a personalized approach, Dr. Geoffrey Fenner, a Chicago based facial plastic surgeon, can correct wrinkles, creases, and sagging skin on the face and neck, restoring a naturally beautiful and refreshed appearance.

Exlpore Face Lift

What is a Face Lift?

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a cosmetic surgical procedure designed to rejuvenate and restore a more youthful appearance by addressing visible signs of aging in the face and neck. Over time, factors such as aging, gravity, and sun exposure can lead to sagging skin, deep wrinkles, jowls, and loss of facial definition.

During a facelift, Dr. Geoffrey Fenner, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, expertly lifts and tightens the skin and underlying tissues. This process smooths wrinkles, enhances facial contours, and restores a firmer, naturally refreshed appearance. The procedure can be customized to target specific concerns, such as loose skin, deep nasolabial folds, jowls, and excess fat beneath the chin.

A facelift is often combined with other rejuvenating procedures, such as eyelid surgery or fat grafting, to create a balanced and harmonious result. The goal is to achieve long-lasting, natural-looking enhancements that allow you to look as vibrant and youthful as you feel.

The Benefits of a Face Lift

A facelift is a transformative procedure designed to restore a more youthful, refreshed appearance by addressing visible signs of aging. In addition to enhancing your confidence, the procedure can create long-lasting results, allowing you to enjoy a firmer, more sculpted appearance for years to come. When performed by a skilled facial plastic surgeon like Dr. Fenner, a facelift can provide subtle yet striking improvements, ensuring you look like the best version of yourself—never overdone or unnatural.

When done correctly, the face lift procedure has the power to:

Tighten lax skin
Reduce heavy jowls
Correct droopy skin around the eyes
Restore a more youthful and elevated facial contour
Improve overall skin texture and tone

Are You a Candidate for a Facelift?

The best candidates for a facelift are men and women in the Chicago, North Shore area who want to enhance their facial contours and achieve long-lasting rejuvenation. You may be a good candidate if you:

Want to reduce the appearance of wrinkles – If fine lines, deep creases, or sagging skin make you look older than you feel, a facelift can help smooth and soften these signs of aging.
Desire firmer, more lifted skin – Over time, skin naturally loses elasticity, leading to drooping along the jawline, cheeks, and neck. A facelift tightens this lax skin, restoring a youthful, sculpted look.
Are in good physical health – Being in overall good health is essential for a smooth surgery and recovery process. Non-smokers or those willing to quit before and after the procedure tend to experience optimal healing and long-lasting results.
Have realistic expectations – A facelift provides remarkable rejuvenation, but it won’t completely halt the aging process. Instead, it rewinds the clock, enhancing your natural beauty in a way that looks refreshed, not overdone.
Have sufficient skin elasticity – Some natural skin flexibility is important, as it allows Dr. Fenner to gently reposition the underlying tissues and sculpt youthful contours without creating an unnatural appearance.

Close up on woman's face who received a face lift

Types of facelifts

Dr. Fenner performs the full range of facelift procedures to help his Kenilworth, IL patients rejuvenate their looks. The best facelift technique for you will depend on the extent of your telltale signs of aging and the changes that are necessary to achieve your aesthetic goals.

Traditional facelift

The full, traditional facelift is our most intensive procedure. As such, it produces the most dramatic transformation. With this approach, Dr. Fenner can address signs of aging throughout the face, including fine lines around the eyes, sagging tissue around the cheeks, creases around the mouth and excess tissue beneath the chin. The surgery requires a lengthy incision that extends from the temples, around the ears, and down the neck.

Mini facelift

The mini facelift is ideal for younger North Shore men and women who want to correct the very first signs of facial aging. It requires small incisions along the hairline and behind the ears. Through those discreet openings, Dr. Fenner can elevate lax muscles, remove unwanted fat and trim away a limited amount of excess skin.

Mid facelift

The mid facelift targets aging tissue around the cheeks and beneath the eyes. The incisions are similar to those used during a traditional facelift, but they are deeper. It is ideal for Kenilworth, IL men and women who want to address relatively early signs of aging in the mid-face region.

Lower facelift

The lower facelift exclusively addresses signs of aging on the bottom third region of the face. It can correct heavy jowls, nasolabial folds, a lax jawline, and a drooping mouth. It tends to be the best facelift technique for North Shore men and women who primarily want to rejuvenate the neck and jawline.

The Techniques

Your facelift procedure can be performed using a variety of incisions, surgical tools, and techniques. Dr. Fenner will review the benefits of the following approaches during your initial consultation and help you determine which one is in your best interest.

Endoscopic

An endoscopic facelift is performed using small incisions, tiny surgical tools, and a long, thin tube with a camera attached to the end (endoscope). To begin, Dr. Fenner will create several small incisions along the hairline. Through those openings, he will use small surgical tools to elevate the muscles and remove excess tissue. In general, this approach is ideal for Chicago men and women who need to correct lax muscles and unwanted fatty deposits but not excess skin.

SMAS (Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System)

SMAS is a comprehensive facelift technique that involves restoring your youthful appearance by tightening and remodeling the underlying facial contours. Excess skin can also be removed using this approach. In general, SMAS lifting tends to produce a very natural outcome for our Kenilworth, IL patients.

Deep Plane Lift

The deep plane lift addresses the SMAS layer and the tissue directly beneath it. With this technique, Dr. Fenner can elevate the entire facial structure from the inside out. The deep plane lift produces extremely subtle and natural results and is appropriate for both our younger and older Chicago patients.

S-Lift

The S-Lift is most often used when treating telltale signs of aging along the jawline, neck, and lower face. It requires very small, S-shaped incisions in front of the ears, resulting in a shorter and less intensive recovery period.

Facelift Recovery in Chicago

Your personal recovery timeline will depend on the type of facelift you performed and the technique used. However, most patients are able to return home the very same day to begin the healing process. You can expect a moderate degree of swelling and discomfort after surgery. It’s important to keep your head elevated and take your pain medication as directed to minimize these effects.

Taking care of yourself is the top priority during the initial recovery period. Avoid strenuous activities and walk lightly around the house to promote healing. In general, most of our Kenilworth, IL, patients are able to return to work and their normal daily routine within two weeks.

Face Lift patient admiring results in the mirror

What Our Patients Say

"I recently had a lower facelift, Bilateral Earlobe repair and the tip of my nose corrected. Everything turned out fabulous. Dr. Fenner truly is a great surgeon and his staff is top notch. One of the best parts of this experience is it is such a non-event. No pain and a heck of a lot to gain. I strongly recommend that if you are thinking about this procedure and you have doubts or are frighten the end results won't be look natural, go and have a consultation and view some pictures. He is a perfectionist and it will be reflected in your results."

Cydney W.

Why Choose Dr. Fenner for your Face Lift

When it comes to enhancing your confidence and achieving beautifully natural results, Dr. Fenner is the trusted choice for face lift surgery in the Chicago area. As a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Fenner brings a wealth of expertise and artistry to every procedure, ensuring personalized care that aligns with your unique aesthetic goals.

Recognized as a “Top Plastic Surgeon” in the Chicago metro area by Castle Connolly’s Chicago Magazine every year since 2000, Dr. Fenner’s reputation for excellence speaks for itself. He remains at the forefront of advanced surgical techniques, delivering results that blend precision, innovation, and elegance.

Dr. Fenner is known for his conservative, refined technique and ability to help our patients age with grace and confidence. Rather than simply pulling the skin taut, which can appear artificial, Dr. Fenner artistically remodels the underlying tissue to restore a facial contour that is youthful, natural, and long-lasting.

FACE LIFT FAQs

How long do facelift results last?

A facelift can provide results that last 10+ years, depending on factors like skin quality, lifestyle, and skincare routine. While a facelift doesn’t stop the aging process, it significantly delays it, keeping you looking refreshed and youthful for years to come.

Are there non-surgical alternatives to a facelift?

While treatments like fillers, Botox, and skin tightening procedures can temporarily improve signs of aging, they cannot provide the same level of correction as a facelift. If you have significant sagging, a facelift is the gold standard for long-lasting, dramatic results.

What is the difference between a full facelift and a mini facelift?

A full facelift addresses significant sagging in the lower face and neck, providing the most comprehensive results. A mini facelift is a less invasive option that targets mild to moderate sagging, with smaller incisions and a shorter recovery period.

When will I see my final results?

While you will notice improvements as soon as swelling subsides, your final, beautifully refined results typically emerge within 3-6 months as your tissues settle and heal.

Will a facelift get rid of all my wrinkles?

A facelift dramatically reduces deep wrinkles and sagging, but it does not treat fine lines, sun damage, or skin texture issues. Many patients choose to combine a facelift with treatments like laser resurfacing, Botox, or fillers for even more comprehensive rejuvenation.