Your Trusted Facelift Specialist in Atlanta

Using the most advanced deep plane facelift techniques, Dr. Robb customizes each facelift in Atlanta based on each patient's anatomy and their concerns and goals. Dr. Robb’s bespoke approach results in a natural lift that minimizes recovery and downtime while yielding natural, longer-lasting results. This page acts as a guide created by Dr. Robb Jr. to share all the information you need to know regarding the facelift.

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What Is A Facelift?

Simply put, a facelift is a surgical procedure that lifts the tissues of the face to sharpen the contour of the jawline and rejuvenate the overall look of the lower face. Are you also interested in slimming and contouring your neck? Dr. Robb often performs a deep neck lift in combination with the deep plane facelift. Click here to learn more about neck lifts.

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Facelift Before & Afters

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How Does A Facelift Help?

As we age, the fullness of our face decreases along with the elasticity of the skin, and gravity eventually pulls the weakened skin tissue down. Signs of aging start to appear, like jowls, sagging in the lower face, extensive wrinkling, deep smile lines, sagging skin, and vertical bands in the neck. Additional tissue can accumulate under the chin leading to a double chin or the dreaded ‘turkey neck.’

A facelift improves the contours of the jawline. As we go through life, experience leads to wisdom, but it can also lead to jowls. Jowls are the drooping skin and tissue that hang off the jawline on the sides of the face under the cheeks. Patients with jowls experience the loss of jawline sharpness, and see more volume gathered around the lower face; this makes them look older.

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Is A Facelift Right For Me?

Review the following questions. If you find that most of them apply to you, a facelift may be a good option: 

  • Do you feel younger than you look?
  • Are you looking to age gracefully?
  • Have you developed a ‘turkey neck’?
  • Do you have jowls that hang off the jawline? 
  • Have you noticed sagging or vertical bands in the front of your neck? 
  • Do you understand that a facelift will deliver results and require a recovery period?
  • Can you take a few weeks off work and regular activities to rest and recover? 
  • Do you wish to look like a more youthful version of yourself, while keeping your natural, age-appropriate appearance?
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Our Facelift Consultation Process

If you would like to learn more about pursuing a facelift, please contact our office in Alpharetta, Georgia, today to set up a personalized consultation with facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Robb. Below are the steps in our consultation process:

  1. Contact our office via the contact form on this page, phone, email, or Instagram.
  2. One of our coordinators will reach out to discuss the procedure, details, and price range.
  3. Our coordinators will ask for photos and provide instructions on how to send them.
  4. Dr. Robb will review your photos and suggest the best way to address your concerns. He focuses on what’s bothering you – a full facial makeover is not recommended unless this is desired.
  5. Based on Dr. Robb’s analysis and recommendations, more specific information will be relayed to you through our coordinators. If everything aligns, an in-person or virtual consultation is scheduled. 
  6. Dr. Robb will meet with you and discuss your concerns, examine your face, and teach you about your procedure, answering any questions and concerns until you feel completely informed and confident.
  7. Your procedure is then scheduled.
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Trust Is Key With Dr. Robb Jr.

Dr. Robb Jr. only offers surgery to about 65-73% of patients who inquire. Honesty and transparency are key to Dr. Robb, and he will not recommend a facelift unless he is confident that it is appropriate. During your private, thorough consultation with Dr. Robb, he will listen as you describe your problem areas and goals. Then, you both will discuss which procedure is best for you, down to the last detail. Dr. Robb places great importance on patient education and will gladly answer any questions along the way, ensuring your facelift in Atlanta is perfectly tailored to you. 

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Different Approaches To The Facelifts

What makes a fine Italian leather hand-crafted handbag different from a mass-produced one at your local big box retailer? 

As with anything, it’s the details that matter!

Most surgeons perform a SMAS facelift. This approach, in simple terms, involves making an incision around the ears and lifting the facial skin from the deeper muscle tissue, which is called the SMAS.

Stitches are placed in the SMAS layer and then stitched to a higher area around the temple. Tension is created as the stitches are tied, and then incisions are then closed around the ears.

What’s wrong with that? 

The problem with this technique is that there are four sets of ‘anchor points’ in the face. Facial surgeons call them ligaments, and they are similar to ligaments in your knee - they hold things together. When these ligaments are not lifted, the tissues don’t really move and ultimately return to their pre-operative position. This renders your facelift useless after time.

What Is a Deep Plane Facelift?

A deep plane facelift incorporates the most advanced techniques in facial rejuvenation surgery. The name implies that the level of surgery is ‘deeper,’ but in reality, it is the ideal level for this type of surgical correction. The Deep Plane Facelift lifts the ‘anchor points’ or ligaments that hold the skin and the tissues in place. When those ligaments are lifted, the facial tissues are able to be lifted WITHOUT tension. 

Another advantage of the deep plane facelift is that the skin is NOT lifted away from the muscular SMAS layer. Since the skin stays attached to the muscle, the blood supply and facial sensation are preserved, and the skin continues to feel normal, supple, and soft. Bruising is rare with a deep plane facelift and the recovery is quicker than the common/SMAS lift in Dr. Robb’s experience. 

All Facelifts are NOT created Equal
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a diagram draw on a patients face to show what happens to the skin during a facelift

A Visualization of the Deep Plane Facelift Technique 

An Unwavering Commitment To The Best

Dr. Robb Jr.’s patients only receive the best. Dr. Robb was initially trained in the SMAS facelift technique. As information and studies about deep plane facelifts increased, Dr. Robb researched the technique himself. He then pursued and received training from Dr. Andrew Jacono, the pioneer of the updated deep plane facelift. Dr. Robb’s commitment to challenging the status quo and his desire for the absolute best for his patients sets his results apart from other surgeons. 

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The Day of The Procedure

Your procedure begins with a check-in with Dr. Robb in the pre-op area so he can answer any last minute clarification questions you may have. Some markings will be made on your face and neck to ensure that our plan is thorough, thoughtful, and complete. Upon waking up, a facial dressing will be in place to protect the results and prevent complications. This dressing will be changed the next morning.

Anesthesia For The Facelift

Dr. Robb performs all of his facelift procedures at the North Point Surgery Center, his state-of-the-art surgical facility. This beautiful, accredited, and certified surgery center is the crown jewel of Dr. Robb Jr.’s office. Medications are administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist. We use only “top shelf” anesthesia techniques, which yield a quicker recovery without the hangover and nausea common with anesthetic sedation. 

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What Is The Recovery After A Deep Plane Facelift?

By performing a deep plane lift, tension is placed on the deeper tissues of the face and not the skin closure, which helps avoid the fake, too-tight ’pulled back’ look. When done properly, the incisions heal better because of this lack of tension. Recovery definitions and patterns vary by patient, but most patients return to work in 1-2 weeks and are ready for parties or large gatherings around 3-4 weeks.

Helpful Ways To Speed Up Your Recovery

Keeping the head elevated during the first week after surgery decreases swelling and will result in quicker recovery. If there are any questions or concerns, Dr. Robb Jr. is available to ease your mind - anxiety is not part of your recovery with us. Every patient gets Dr. Robb’s personal cell phone number, a direct line to him during recovery. The primary way to speed up healing after a facelift is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. 

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy For Recovery

To accelerate healing, we offer the Robb Rapid Recovery Program, which includes multiple sessions in our hyperbaric oxygen chamber. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, or HBOT, is a treatment performed in a large chamber where your body is infused with a significantly higher oxygen concentration than is normally available.  This heightened amount of oxygen promotes faster recovery and lessens swelling and discomfort as you heal. Scars have been proven to heal better and are less visible after HBOT. HBOT is great for those who historically have difficulties healing. Dr. Robb can walk you through the advantages of HBOT during your consultation. HBOT is only for patients who want to heal better, quicker, and more thoroughly, and has been an absolute game changer in our patients’ experience! 

Hyperbaric recovery chamber at Robb Facial Plastic surgery.

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Are Drains Used In A Facelift?

When a deep plane facelift is performed alone without a neck lift, drains are NOT typically used. This is because of the technique that Dr. Robb Jr. utilizes; during Dr. Robb’s facelifts, it is not uncommon for patients to lose just 5-10 drops of blood during the entire procedure. However, when a facelift is combined with a deep neck lift, drains are used.

Why are recovery and results better when drains are used?

In Dr. Robb’s experience, when used properly, can be incredibly helpful for optimal results and a smooth recovery process. Here’s why:

  • A drain removes the fluid that accumulates under the skin. This fluid creation is common after fat removal, which occurs in deep neck lifting. It is a completely natural process. Without the drain, the body has to resorb this fluid, which takes time and prolongs the recovery significantly. 
  • The drain creates a “vacuum” effect that creates an internal suction which encourages the deeper facial tissues to heal optimally in their new positions
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Facelift Results

The results of a facelift in Atlanta by Dr. Robb are immediate and last a lifetime. The version of you who does this procedure with Dr. Robb will ALWAYS look better than the version of you who didn’t. Patients will notice a significant difference all throughout the recovery process. Swelling can take a few months to completely resolve.

Dr. Robb makes himself available to answer any questions after the procedure by sharing his personal cell phone number. Every patient deserves direct access to their surgeon. Other procedures are often performed in conjunction with a facelift, resulting in only a single recovery period. 

Combining procedures does not lengthen the recovery time.

In four weeks, you can comfortably attend a large event without fear of anyone noticing that you’ve had work done. Surgical results continue to improve for 4-6 months, with incisions fully healed and “mature” at 12-14 months after the procedure. Sun protection and medical-grade skincare are very important in maintaining your youthful look. Dr. Robb Jr.’s world-class skin care team will work with you to preserve your face, your youth, and your investment. 

Facelift FAQs:

Are there non-surgical alternatives to a facelift?

Are there risks associated with facelift surgery?

How long do the results of a facelift last?

Will a facelift make me look unnatural?

Can a facelift be combined with other procedures?

How much does a facelift cost?

Are there non-surgical alternatives to a facelift?

Yes, there are non-surgical options such as dermal fillers, Botox, and thread lifts that can provide temporary improvements. However, they may not achieve the same level of results as a surgical facelift.

Are there risks associated with facelift surgery?

Like any surgery, facelifts carry some risks, including infection, bleeding, scarring, and adverse reactions to anesthesia. It's important to choose a qualified and experienced surgeon to minimize these risks.

How long do the results of a facelift last?

The results are long-lasting, but the aging process continues. While a facelift cannot stop the aging process, it can set back the clock and provide a more youthful appearance for many years.

Will a facelift make me look unnatural?

A skilled and experienced surgeon strives to create natural-looking results. Communication with your surgeon about your expectations and desired outcome is crucial to achieving a result that looks harmonious with your facial features.

Can a facelift be combined with other procedures?

Yes, facelifts are often combined with other procedures such as eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), brow lift, or non-surgical treatments to address multiple concerns and achieve a comprehensive facial rejuvenation.

How much does a facelift cost?

The cost of a facelift varies based on factors such as the surgeon's expertise, location, facility fees, and the extent of the procedure. It's important to obtain a detailed cost estimate during your consultation.

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