Face Lift

A facelift, or a rhytidectomy, is a procedure that can soften and reduce visible signs of aging by elevating your facial skin, tissues, and muscles. ⁽¹⁾ Because of its impressive rejuvenation abilities and natural-looking effects, it has remained one of the most commonly performed facial cosmetic procedures for addressing facial aging.

Colorado Facial Plastic Surgery is one of Denver’s leading facial aesthetic practices with Dr. Mario Imola and Dr. David Kowalczyk leading our team.

Dr. Imola is a double board-certified facial and reconstructive plastic surgeon. He is regarded as a face and nose expert and specializes in facial rejuvenation procedures such as facelifts, forehead lifts, and rhinoplasties.

Dr. Kowalczyk is a double board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon. He has received specialized training in head and neck anatomy and surgery, and he is deeply passionate about providing natural-looking results using the safest and most advanced techniques and technologies.

To begin working with them, please request a consultation online or call our Englewood office at (303) 839-7980.

Before and After Photos

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About Facelifts

A facelift is a surgical procedure that lifts your skin, soft tissues, and facial muscles to address the aesthetic changes that have developed as a result of aging.

With time, the soft tissues of the face can start to weaken and descend. This can lead to sagging skin, visible wrinkles and creases, the development of jowls, and more. While many patients search for over-the-counter anti-aging treatments or try to hide these changes using makeup, they often find that these are not enough, prompting them to seek a more effective intervention. By undergoing a facelift, you can achieve lasting rejuvenation and attain a look that truly showcases your inner vitality.

Types of Facelift

Dr. Imola and Dr. Kowalczyk can perform several different types of facelifts to address a range of needs. Options include the midface lift, lower face lift, and neck lift. Your surgeon can help you determine the best type of facelift for your specific needs during your consultation, once they have assessed your concerns and physical appearance.

Midface Lift

A midface lift can elevate your facial tissues and muscle to address concerns affecting the middle portion of your face, which includes the cheeks, cheekbones, and their surrounding structures. This technique is ideal when addressing concerns such as descending malar fat pads, deepening nasolabial folds, sagging skin, and more. ⁽²⁾

Our surgical team can perform this procedure using several methods, but the subperiosteal technique often elicits the most transformative results. This method has either Dr. Kowalczyk or Dr. Imola place incisions around the temple and through the mouth before elevating the soft tissues of the cheeks. What makes this approach unique is that the surgeon incises down to the subperiosteum to lift the tissue off of the cheekbone directly, resulting in longer-lasting results.

Lower Face Lift

A lower face lift is a variation of the facelift that addresses concerns around the lower portion of the face and jawline. Our surgical team can perform this procedure to address any sagging skin, the development of jowls, or skin contributing to a poorly-defined jawline.

They will first place an incision that starts in the temples, circles around the ear lobes, and then ends in the grooves behind the ears. The local muscles and soft tissues will then be elevated and tightened before the excess is removed.

Neck Lift

A neck lift corrects visible changes found beneath the chin, under the jawline, and along the neck. It is ideal for addressing concerns such as jowling, a poorly defined chin or neck, or visible muscle banding across the neck.

Our surgical team can correct the submental region, or the region around the chin, by placing a small incision in the midline region under the chin. They will then remove any excess fat using liposuction techniques or surgical excision.

If they are addressing concerns along the neck itself, they will make an incision around the ear that ends in the hairline behind. This allows them to access the necessary neck tissue below the jawline. They will then lift the tissues and muscle of the neck before tightening it in place. ⁽³⁾

Candidates

You may be an ideal candidate for a facelift if you have noticed visible signs of aging begin to develop around the face and neck, such as:

You should also possess good overall health, hold realistic expectations regarding what this procedure can achieve, and be non-smoking or willing to quit using nicotine altogether. Dr. Imola and Dr. Kowalczyk will assess your candidacy for each facelifting procedure during your personal consultation.

Personal Consultation

The first step to transforming your appearance is attending a personal consultation. During this visit, either Dr. Imola or Dr. Kowalczyk will meet with you individually to establish a more meaningful relationship and learn about your motivations. They will review your medical history, including any previous treatments you underwent, your medication intake, and any allergies you possess. You will have an opportunity to discuss your concerns and desired results. They will also perform a physical examination to assess your natural facial structure, skin condition, and skin quality.

Your surgeon will then use this information to finalize your candidacy and create your treatment plan. They will determine the most appropriate type of facelift to perform, and tailor each aspect of it to your unique goals. They will also answer any questions you have.

If you are ready to start working with our talented surgical team, please contact us online or call (303) 839-7980. We offer consultations at our Englewood office.

Preparation

Once you have decided to proceed with your facelift, your surgeon will give you several written instructions to help you prepare. These may vary depending on the specific details of your procedure, but they typically include:

Procedure

On the day of your procedure, a member of the Colorado Facial Plastic Surgery team will lead you into a private room. You will meet with either Dr. Imola or Dr. Kowalczyk one last time, and they will reconfirm your treatment plan and answer any remaining questions you have. Following this, they or a team member will cleanse your skin, and you will then receive general anesthesia.

Your surgeon will place the incisions either around the ears, temples, within the mouth, or beneath the chin. These placements allow them to access the necessary tissues while minimizing the visibility of post-operative scarring. They will then elevate and tighten your facial tissues before securing them with sutures and trimming the excess. With this complete, you will be transferred to the recovery suite to rest.

Recovery

Our surgical team performs facelifts on an outpatient basis, which means that they will release you from their care on the same day. Your surgeon will provide you with a set of written instructions after your procedure, which will guide you through caring for your incisions, managing any side effects, and returning to your routine in a safe manner.

You can expect to experience some initial swelling, bruising, and general discomfort around the treated areas. You can manage these effects with non-narcotic medications, using a cold compress, and resting with your head elevated. Dr. Imola and Dr. Kowalczyk may also provide you with a compression garment to wear during this time, which will help manage any further swelling and maintain your new facial contours as you heal.

You will be able to return to non-strenuous tasks after resting for approximately two weeks, but you should continue to avoid anything physically demanding for several more weeks or until your surgeon has approved your return.

Results

You will be able to enjoy the full results of your facelift once you have fully recovered. While your exact results will vary, you can expect to experience smoother skin, accentuated contours, elevated proportions, and a more youthful-looking appearance overall. Each of these effects can also contribute to a greater sense of self-confidence overall.

Cost of Facelifts in Denver, Colorado

Our surgical team will discuss your financial obligations with you once they establish your treatment plan. This is because we consider several factors when determining pricing, such as the type of facelift your surgeon performs, the extent of your corrections, whether additional procedures are performed, and more.

FAQ

References

1. Yang AJ, Hohman MH. Rhytidectomy. StatPearls Publishing; 2023. Accessed August 3, 2026. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564338/#article-28568.s4
2. Pérez P, Hohman MH. Mid-Face Facelift. StatPearls Publishing; 2023. Accessed August 3, 2026. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563237/
3. Paloma Pérez, Hohman MH. Neck Rejuvenation. StatPearls Publishing; 2023. Accessed August 3, 2026. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562229/#article-102110.s4