A facelift doesn't make you look like someone else. Done well, it makes people ask whether you've been sleeping better. Dr. Swenson repositions the deeper tissue that has descended over time — not just the skin — and removes what's left over, restoring the jawline and neck you recognize rather than a pulled, operated look.
These figures are typical ranges, not a promise. Anesthesia, operating time, recovery and how results settle vary with your anatomy, your health history and the plan you and Dr. Swenson agree on. Your individual details are confirmed at consultation.
Time doesn't just wrinkle the face — it lets it fall. The deeper layer of tissue that holds the cheek in position slides downward, collecting at the jawline as jowls and at the neck as slack. Skin-only lifts pull the surface over that problem, which is why they look tight for a year and then look pulled.
Dr. Swenson works beneath the skin, repositioning the descended tissue back where it belongs, then re-draping the skin over it without tension. That's the difference between a face that reads as rested and one that reads as done.
Dr. Swenson performs both deep-plane and SMAS facelifts, and selects between them based on your anatomy — how far the tissue has descended, how much the neck is involved, and whether you've had prior surgery. A surgeon who offers only one technique has to fit every face to it. That's the question worth asking any surgeon you consult.
Days 1–3. Rest with the head elevated. Swelling and bruising build, then turn. Discomfort is usually described as tightness and pressure rather than sharp pain.
Week 1. Sutures come out. Bruising shifts downward and begins to fade. Most people feel better than they look.
Week 2. Comfortable being seen, back to desk work. Residual swelling and numbness along the incisions are normal.
Weeks 3–6. Full routine including exercise, on clearance.
Months 3–6. Swelling resolves, incisions mature and fade, the result settles into its natural version.
Eyelid surgery, brow lift, or neck liposuction in the same anesthetic — one recovery instead of two.
Jowls · loose neck skin · a blurred jawline · deep nasolabial folds · midface descent. Most patients are in their fifties and sixties, but the right timing is about anatomy, not age — general health, non-smoking status, and realistic expectations matter more than the number.
A facelift repositions tissue. It does not change the quality of your skin. It won't erase fine lines, fade sun damage or pigment, improve texture, or replace lost midface volume. Patients who expect it to do those things are the ones disappointed by an otherwise excellent result. That's why a lift is often planned alongside resurfacing for skin quality, or filler for volume — and why Dr. Swenson will tell you which part of what's bothering you is a surgical problem and which part isn't.
Will I look pulled or "done"?
That look comes from lifting skin under tension instead of repositioning the tissue underneath it. Working in the deeper layer is what lets the skin lie naturally. The goal is that people notice you look well, not that you look operated on.
Deep-plane or SMAS — which will I have?
Dr. Swenson performs both and chooses based on your anatomy at your consultation. Neither is universally better; the right one depends on how far things have descended and how much the neck is involved.
How long does a facelift last?
It doesn't stop aging; it sets the clock back. Most patients enjoy the result for many years, and how well it holds depends on skin quality, sun exposure, weight stability, and genetics.
Where are the scars?
Incisions are placed in and around the natural contours of the ear and into the hairline, where they're designed to be hidden. They're pink at first and fade over several months.
Facelift, mini lift, or FaceTite — how do I know?
Broadly: FaceTite tightens without removing skin, a mini lift addresses the lower face and jawline, and a full facelift addresses the face and the neck. The honest answer depends on how much loose skin you actually have.
When can I go back to work?
Desk work at about two weeks. Anything physical waits for clearance, typically three to four weeks.
What does it cost?
There's no menu price on a face — it depends on technique, whether procedures are combined, and anesthesia. You'll get an exact figure at your $75 consultation, before committing to anything. Vue does not bill insurance.
A surgical consultation with Dr. Swenson is $75. That's an hour of a surgeon's attention, not a sales appointment with a coordinator. To be straightforward with you: the fee does not apply toward the cost of a procedure. Some practices credit it — we don't, and we'd rather you know that now than find out at checkout. Vue does not bill insurance, so all procedures, including those done for functional reasons, are self-pay. You'll get an exact quote before you commit to anything.