10 Facelift Myths Everyone Should Stop Believing

Dr. Philip Miller

April 30, 2021

Facelifts are the gold standard of long-lasting, anti-aging procedures, but many believe outdated or simply wrong information about what this surgery does for patients. As with most new cosmetic procedures, the facelift was met with great skepticism, but thanks to advancements in technology and surgical techniques, it’s losing its infamy, which is why 123,685 people in the U.S. chose to undergo this surgery in 2019.

Philip J. Miller, MD, FACS, is an innovator in facial plastic surgery, and he offers the latest and best techniques for facial rejuvenation in Manhattan, New York. Using his proprietary NatraLook process, Dr. Miller guides patients through an aesthetic journey to help each person realize the best procedures for their unique goals and facial structure. Facelifts are one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures in New York, and Dr. Miller debunks 10 common myths about this procedure below.

Myth #1 I Will Be Unrecognizable After A Facelift

When facelifts first emerged, most people associated them with a dramatic, windblown look. This is not the result when Dr. Miller performs your procedure. The goal of your facelift is to maintain your appearance and simply refresh your face. You will still look like yourself, but younger, refreshed, and perhaps more alert. Dr. Miller uses the most advanced techniques to enhance your natural beauty and help you achieve your desired results.

Myth #2 I’m Not Old Enough for a Facelift

Everyone ages differently and at varying speeds, so there are generally no age requirements for cosmetic procedures, including facelifts. Factors like sun exposure, lifestyle choices, and even genetics may affect the rate of your aging process, so some 40-year-olds may be ready for a facelift while others might not start thinking about this procedure for another decade. Dr. Miller also offers mini facelifts, which feature smaller incisions and shorter recovery periods, for those with less advanced aging signs.

Myth #3 Only Women Get Facelifts

Both women and men can benefit from the results of facelifts. While more women than men undergo this procedure, 12,597 men chose to get a facelift in 2019, according to the Plastic Surgery Statistics Report. Women and men typically have different goals for their facelift results. While women are primarily interested in restoring youthful contours and reducing jowl formation, men usually get facelifts to achieve strong cheekbones, a chiseled jawline, and an overall rejuvenated appearance.

Myth #4 Facelifts Are Too Painful

Any surgery requires some recovery, which may be accompanied by discomfort around the incisions. Facelifts are not among the most painful surgical procedures, and Dr. Miller’s patients typically only need Tylenol during their recovery. The best-performed facelifts cause minimal pain, and most of his patients say they are surprised at how little pain they feel. Our team will provide you with detailed post-op recovery instructions, and please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.

Myth #5 Everyone Will Know I Got A Facelift

While facelifts provide dramatic results for patients, the changes are mostly noticeable to the patients themselves, not to those around them. A successful procedure will enhance your unique beauty, not change your appearance to a uniform standard. Dr. Miller will customize your procedure to your unique facial structure to leave you looking younger and more refreshed. Furthermore, the incisions he makes will be hidden and heal to be virtually invisible, and bruising can be easily hidden up with makeup.

Myth #6 I Won’t Need A Neck Lift

Anti-aging procedures usually focus on the face, but just below your face is an area just as visible and even more susceptible to aging symptoms – your neck. Neck skin is thinner than facial skin, so sun damage and internal physical changes often appear on the neck more dramatically. Because the face and neck are typically on display together, Dr. Miller typically recommends getting a facelift and a neck lift at the same time. If your face is looking refreshed and virtually wrinkle-free after your facelift, but your platysma or neck bands are protruding and wrinkles are covering your neck, your appearance will be unbalanced. Combining a facelift with a neck lift can mean longer-lasting and even more dramatic results.

Myth #7 Other Treatments Can Give the Same Results

Dr. Miller offers non-surgical facelift alternatives, such as his signature MillerLift. This technique involves a combination of injectable treatments to minimize wrinkles and contour the face. You can achieve excellent results with treatments like the MillerLift, but none are as long-lasting or all-encompassing as a facelift because only facelifts can address loose, sagging skin, weak underlying muscles, and connective tissues all at once.

Myth #8 I Won’t Need Any More Treatments After My Facelift

Aging will continue after your facelift, but procedures will usually be small touch-ups and not necessarily more surgery. You will likely need to come into our Manhattan office periodically for years after your facelift. Laser treatments are popular as post-facelift procedures.

Myth #9 Weeks of Recovery is Not Worth It

You are welcome to schedule your facelift procedure as far in advance as you would like to make planning around it easier. Thankfully, most patients return to regular activities after just two weeks, and some are back even sooner. Because you likely won’t need to come back for regular treatments as often, you will end up spending less time away from work and other activities in the long-run.

Myth #10 All Facial Plastic Surgeons Are the Same

When you’re deciding who to trust with your facelift procedure, you should look for the best. Dr. Miller has been voted among the Best Doctors in America consistently since 2017 and a Top Doctor of New York. In 2019, Dr. Philip Miller won the Castle Connolly Top Doctors award. Dr. Miller has served as a guest examiner for the American Board of Otolaryngology and is a member of the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. With more than 20 years of experience, you can achieve great results with a procedure by top plastic surgeon, Dr. Miller.

Learn More About Facelifts in Manhattan

If you’re ready to learn more about facelifts, schedule a consultation with facial plastic surgeon Dr. Miller in our NYC office. Contact us for in-person or virtual consultation.

Dr. Philip Miller

Focusing exclusively on the face for more than two decades, double-board certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Philip Miller blends art and science with innovation and skill to provide thousands of patients with impeccable results. He is known for pioneering the NatraLook methodology for rhinoplasty, facelifts, neck lifts, and other cosmetic procedures for the face.