Facelift in
Scottsdale, AZ

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Facelift surgery in Scottsdale, Phoenix & Paradise Valley, performed by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Gruszynski.

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Scottsdale Facelift Specialist · Board Certified Plastic Surgeon · Thousands of Procedures · Scottsdale Facelift Specialist · Board Certified Plastic Surgeon · Thousands of Procedures ·

Does Your Face Feel Younger Than it Looks?

You feel energetic, vibrant, and full of life, but your reflection doesn’t always agree. Deep folds around your mouth, sagging cheeks, or jowls along the jawline can tell a story of aging that doesn’t match how you truly feel.

For many, these changes can be frustrating. Makeup and skincare only go so far while non-surgical treatments may no longer provide the lift they once did. Over time, the face loses elasticity, muscles relax, and fat shifts downward, which leaves behind heaviness that feels out of sync.

If you’re ready for your appearance to reflect the vitality you still feel, a facelift can help.

What to Know About Facelift Surgery in Scottsdale

A facelift, also known as rhytidectomy, is a plastic surgery solution that lifts and repositions the tissues of the face to restore a more refreshed contour.

Rather than simply tightening skin, modern facelift techniques address the deeper layers of muscle and fat to create results that look natural and last longer.

During a facelift, Dr. Mark carefully places incisions along the hairline and around the ears, where scars are discreetly hidden. Through these incisions, he lifts sagging tissues, repositions fat, and gently redrapes the skin for a refreshed appearance.

Many patients in Scottsdale and Phoenix choose a facelift when they want a long-term solution for sagging cheeks, deep folds, jowls, or loose skin that no longer responds to non-surgical treatments. It’s one of the most effective procedures for turning back visible signs of aging.

Discover how a facelift can help you achieve lasting facial renewal.

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Benefits of a Facelift

A facelift procedure can address several signs of aging at once, creating a firmer, smoother look that non-surgical treatments cannot achieve. Here’s what it can do for you:

Restores Jawline Definition: Tightens loose skin and removes jowls for a more sculpted, defined lower face.
Smooths Neck Profile: Reduces excess neck skin and muscle banding for a cleaner, more elegant contour.
Lifts Cheeks: Repositions sagging cheek tissue to restore fullness and improve cheekbone definition.
Creates Facial Balance: Brings the features into harmony while keeping your natural expressions intact.

Ideal Candidates
for a Facelift

Not everyone concerned about facial aging needs a facelift. The best candidates share certain qualities that support a safe procedure and balanced results:

Sagging Jawline

Loose skin or jowls that blur definition and create heaviness in the lower face.

Deep Folds and Wrinkles

Lines around the mouth and chin that make the face look tired.

Drooping Cheeks

Midface tissues that have shifted downward, flattening the cheeks and adding weight below.

Mismatched Appearance

Feeling that your face looks older or more tired than how you feel inside.

Good Overall Health

Non-smokers who maintain a healthy lifestyle and want a natural-looking improvement.

If these concerns sound familiar, a facelift can tighten loose skin, restore structure, and create a refreshed facial contour. Take the first step toward a more defined look.

Schedule your facelift consultation at our Scottsdale office today.

Take the Next Step

Facelift Consultation in Scottsdale

Your consultation with Dr. Mark is the first step toward rediscovering if a facelift is the right choice for you.

During the exam, he will assess your skin elasticity, muscle tone, facial volume, and overall balance. He’ll also consider how your face has aged in relation to your neck and brows since harmony across all areas is key to better results.

You’ll learn about the different facelift techniques available, and he will recommend the approach best suited to your anatomy and goals.

By the end of your consultation, you’ll have a personalized plan designed to get a refreshed look while keeping your face uniquely yours.

How to Prepare for Your Facelift

Getting ready for a facelift helps set the stage for a smooth procedure and recovery. Dr. Mark will give you detailed pre-op instructions, but most patients are asked to follow these steps:

Maintain Stable Weight

Be near your goal weight before this plastic surgery, as major changes afterward can affect skin tightness and results.

Adjust Grooming Habits

Choose hairstyles that avoid tension near the ears, and men should shave carefully around the jawline.

Choose Comfortable Clothing

Wear button-down or loose tops to avoid pulling clothing over your head during early recovery.

Avoid Smoking and Alcohol

Quit nicotine and skip alcohol in the weeks before surgery to support better circulation and healing.

Wash Hair Before Surgery

Clean your hair the night before and skip styling products so the incision areas are ready.

Keep Skin Healthy

Arrive with clean, well-hydrated skin and avoid sunburn, irritation, or harsh treatments before surgery.

Medication Restrictions

Avoiding blood-thinning medications, NSAIDs, and certain herbal supplements as instructed.

Prepare Recovery Space

Set up pillows to keep your head elevated, stock easy meals, and have ice packs and prescriptions ready.

These simple steps help support proper healing and make recovery more comfortable.

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How a Facelift Procedure Works

A facelift procedure is a proven treatment for Scottsdale and Phoenix patients designed to restore soft contours by lifting and repositioning the deeper structures of the face, and not just tightening the skin. Here’s what typically happens during the procedure:

Before surgery begins, Dr. Mark reviews your treatment plan and carefully marks the incision sites along natural creases and hairlines. These markings guide where the incisions will be placed so scars remain as discreet as possible once healed. This planning stage is key to creating balanced results that match your facial proportions.

General anesthesia is used to keep you fully comfortable and pain-free during the entire procedure. A board-certified anesthesiologist monitors your breathing, heart rate, and overall well-being throughout surgery. This allows Dr. Mark to perform the procedure while you remain completely relaxed and unaware.

Small, well-concealed incisions are made around the ears and sometimes along the hairline, following natural curves to minimize their visibility. These carefully planned openings give him access to the deeper layers of the face while keeping the outer skin looking smooth once healed.

The underlying muscle and connective tissue layers are gently lifted and repositioned to restore structure and definition. Fat deposits may be redistributed or removed to refine the contours of the cheeks, jawline, and neck. This step builds a stable foundation for results that look natural and balanced.

Once the deeper layers are secured, the skin is gently redraped over the new framework, and any excess skin is trimmed away. The incisions are then closed with fine sutures placed to reduce tension and help the skin heal with thin, subtle scars.

Soft dressings or bandages are applied to protect the incisions and control swelling. In some cases, a small drain may be placed to prevent fluid buildup. You will return home the same day with detailed instructions for rest, head elevation, and follow-up visits so your recovery stays on track.

Facelift Techniques

Not all facelifts are the same. Modern techniques go beyond simply tightening the skin. They address the deeper structures of the face to create results that look natural and last longer. Dr. Mark offers two of the most advanced facelift techniques:

SMAS Facelift

The SMAS (Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System) facelift is one of the most common approaches. It involves lifting both the skin and the underlying layer of muscle and connective tissue together¹.

By addressing this deeper layer, the SMAS facelift provides longer-lasting results than a skin-only lift, with improved definition along the cheeks, jawline, and lower face.

Deep Plane Facelift

The deep plane facelift is an advanced procedure that facelift surgeons often use to reposition deeper tissues for more natural, longer-lasting results. It is a more advanced technique that repositions the deeper tissues of the face, including fat pads and muscles, without creating tension on the skin².

This method allows for a more natural, refreshed appearance, particularly in the midface, where sagging can create deep folds.

Both approaches are highly effective, and we will carefully select the technique that best matches your unique anatomy and goals.

Plan Your Procedure

Types of Facelifts

A facelift isn’t one-size-fits-all. At Dr. Mark Plastic Surgery, a leading provider of surgical treatments for patients in Phoenix and Scottsdale, we make sure each procedure is personalized. Depending on your age, anatomy, and goals, different approaches may be used to target specific areas of the face. We offer several types of facelift procedures.

Traditional Facelift

A traditional facelift rejuvenates the entire lower two-thirds of the face, including the cheeks, jawline, and neck. This is the most comprehensive approach and is ideal for facelift patients with significant sagging, deep folds, and jowls.

Mini Facelift

A mini facelift is a less invasive option for those with earlier signs of aging, such as mild jowls or skin laxity. With shorter incisions and a quicker recovery, it offers a subtle lift that refreshes the face without the downtime of a full procedure.

Mid Facelift

Focused on the middle portion of the face, a mid facelift lifts the cheeks and smooths the nasolabial folds (the lines that run from the nose to the mouth). It’s best for patients whose main concern is drooping or heaviness in the midface, without much sagging along the jawline or neck.

Related Procedures

While a facelift can dramatically refresh the lower face, combining it with other procedures often creates the most balanced results. We may recommend pairing your facelift with:

Neck Lift

A facelift improves sagging in the cheeks and jawline, but many patients also notice loose skin or banding in the neck. A neck lift tightens the muscles, smooths the skin, and restores definition beneath the chin for an improved profile.

Brow Lift

If drooping brows or deep forehead lines contribute to a tired appearance, brow lift surgery can be performed along with a facelift. This elevates the brows, smooths forehead creases, and restores openness to the upper face.

Schedule your consultation at our Scottsdale practice today to explore your options.

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Facelift Recovery Timeline

Recovery after a facelift happens in stages, and knowing the timeline can help you feel prepared and confident. Here’s what most patients experience as they heal:

Day 1

When you return home, expect swelling, bruising, and a feeling of tightness around the cheeks and jawline. Keep your head elevated and wear your compression bandages as directed.

Days 2-3

During the next couple of days, swelling typically peaks and then begins to ease. Bruising may change color and start to fade. You’ll have your first follow-up appointment with Dr. Mark.

Week 1

At the end of the first week, many patients notice significant improvement. Stitches are usually removed between days 7–10. Swelling is reduced, and most people can comfortably resume light activities.

Weeks 2–3

Over the next few weeks, swelling continues to diminish and bruising fades further. Many patients feel confident returning to work, running errands, or attending social gatherings.

Months 1–3

After a month, facial tightness continues to soften, and results look more natural as the tissues fully settle. Incision lines fade and blend with the hairline and natural creases around the ears.

Months 2–3

During the second and third months, healing is complete. The face looks settled, refreshed, and natural as the tissues fully adapt. Scars continue to fade, and the results are stable to allow you to return to all activities.

Dr. Mark’s Recovery Tips

Elevate your head while sleeping
Wear compression garments
Avoid bending over or lifting heavy objects
Apply cold compresses in the first 48 hours
Clean incisions and apply ointment
Avoid strenuous exercise until cleared

Why Choose
Dr. Mark Gruszynski

Dr. Mark is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon offering expert care to patients in Scottsdale and Phoenix with years of surgical experience. He completed advanced training at UCLA, where he focused on complex facial and aesthetic procedures.

This experience gives him a refined understanding of how to create results that look natural and blend with each patient’s features.

Each facelift is customized to highlight your individual anatomy while avoiding an overdone look. Dr. Mark’s goal is to refresh the face in a way that feels authentic to help patients look well-rested and confident while still looking like themselves.

Meet Your Specialist

Frequently Asked
Questions About Facelift

Facelift results typically last ten to fifteen years or more, though individual factors like genetics, lifestyle, and skin quality influence longevity. While aging continues after surgery, you will always appear more refreshed than if you had never undergone the procedure.

Most facelifts are performed under general anesthesia for patient comfort and surgical precision. Dr. Mark works with experienced anesthesiologists who monitor you throughout the procedure. Some mini facelifts may be performed with local anesthesia and sedation, depending on the extent of facial surgery required.

Facelift incisions are strategically placed within natural creases and hair-bearing areas to minimize visible scarring. Most scars fade significantly over time and become barely noticeable with proper care. Dr. Mark uses advanced closure techniques and provides scar management guidance to optimize healing.

Most patients return to desk work within two weeks, though this varies based on healing progress and job requirements. Those with physically demanding jobs may need additional recovery time. Dr. Mark provides personalized guidance based on your specific occupation and healing timeline.

Most patients experience mild to moderate discomfort rather than severe pain after facelift surgery. Prescribed pain medications effectively manage any discomfort during the first few days. Many patients find the recovery more tolerable than they initially expected.

Non-surgical treatments like dermal fillers, thread lifts, and energy-based devices can provide mild improvement but cannot achieve the comprehensive results of surgical facelift. Dr. Mark discusses all options during your consultation to determine the most appropriate approach for your goals.

Facelift risks include bleeding, infection, nerve injury, asymmetry, and anesthesia complications, though serious problems are rare with experienced surgeons. Dr. Mark thoroughly discusses all potential risks during your consultation and takes measures to minimize complications.

Initial results are visible once swelling subsides, typically within two to three weeks. Final results emerge over three to six months as tissues fully heal and settle. Patience during the healing process allows you to appreciate the full extent of your surgical improvement.

Facelift surgery is considered cosmetic and is not covered by insurance plans. Dr. Mark’s team can discuss payment options and financing plans available to help make your procedure more affordable. We provide detailed cost information during your consultation.

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References

Verywell Health. (2010, March  5). How the SMAS facelift is done. Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/smas-facelift-expectations-2710177
Aggeler, M. (2025, June 27). What is a deep plane facelift? Nipping into the buzzy cosmetic procedure. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2025/jun/27/what-is-a-deep-plane-facelift?