Face Lift at Des Moines

A facelift in Des Moines is a procedure that allows a patient to enjoy a more youthful-looking face. It achieves this rejuvenation through the reduction of age lines and tightening of sagging skin.

Privacy and education are important, especially when it comes to your face. That is why Dr. David Robbins has created a unique cosmetic surgery practice in Iowa where you can experience the education of a quadruple-board-certified plastic surgeon and a private operating room at the office of Des Moines Plastic Surgery™. There is no longer a need to visit a hospital or surgery center to have facelift surgery. We have it all in one convenient location!

Dr. Robbins feels experience and education are what set him apart from other surgeons. He is the only plastic surgeon in Iowa with 4 board certifications. Dr. Robbins is board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, and the American Board of Laser Surgery. No other doctor in Iowa holds these certifications.

Please call our office for a cosmetic consultation with Dr. Robbins and his highly qualified staff at 515.221.9999 so we can answer any questions you may have and help you through your journey to look and feel your best. Also, visit our Face lift Photo Gallery or click below to see a few of our satisfied patients.

The Traditional Face Lift

You’ve probably heard of mini face lifts, weekend face lifts, and vertical face lifts, but what exactly do these terms mean? Just what is a face lift? What are the options?

Many cities and surgeons have their own terms for face lift surgery. Though these terms may seem overwhelming, always remember that the goal of a face lift procedure, or rhytidectomy, is to correct obvious signs of facial aging and to bring your external appearance into harmony with your inner youth and vitality.

diagram showing that the A classic face lift incision is located in the hairline near the temples. It travels around the ear and ends in the lower scalp

A classic facelift incision is located in the hairline near the temples. It travels around the ear and ends in the lower scalp.

A mini face lift uses shorter incisions at the temples, which continue around the ear.

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To learn more about our Face Lift treatment in West Des Moines, Iowa, contact us and schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Robbins.

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More about Dr. Robbins

When To Consider Face Lift Surgery

The face can be divided into three sections: the forehead, the mid-face, and the neck. A facelift can be used to address signs of aging on your mid-to-lower face and neck. You may want to consider a facelift if you:

Have loose skin and deep wrinkles
Have loss of cheek, jawline and neck contour

Though most of Dr. Robbin’s facelift patients are between the ages of 40 and 70, there are no precise age restrictions. As a general rule, your overall health is more important than your actual age. The best candidates for a facelift are healthy, do not smoke, and possess clear goals and expectations. Dr. Robbins provides cosmetic consultations which gives you an opportunity to have your questions answered and feel comfortable with Dr. Robbins to discuss your personal goals.

Dr. David Robbins is one of Iowa’s only quadruple board-certified plastic surgeons. He specializes in facial plastic surgery. Facial surgery is one of his most commonly performed surgeries in Des Moines. Dr. Robbins is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery making him especially certified for facial cosmetic surgery. Des Moines Plastic Surgery™ is one of the few plastic surgery offices that focus primarily on cosmetic surgery.

Laser Lift: The Alternative Solution To A Traditional Face Lift

Until now, the only way to adequately address age-related changes in the lower face and neck was through surgical procedures that required invasive incisions and prolonged downtime. Traditional face and neck lifts involve the use of a scalpel, incisions, stitches, and some level of scarring and risk. Oftentimes these surgical face lifts require general anesthesia.

In a traditional facelift procedure, whether a classic full facelift, mini lift, S-lift, neck lift, or European lift, the technology and approach used are a decade old. The results are no doubt amazing and Dr. Robbins performs many of these surgical face lifts every year. However, Dr. Robbins also appreciates the fact that not all patients need, require, or want a surgical facelift but are still bothered by age-related changes in the face and neck.

The Laser Lift at Des Moines Plastic Surgery™ offers a new, technologically advanced option for non-surgical facial rejuvenation. In fact, the Laser Lift is the newest and most exciting face-lifting technique to be introduced in over 20 years. The Laser Lift at Des Moines Plastic Surgery™ is a remarkable technological breakthrough and provides outstanding results, reducing many signs of aging including:

creases
fine lines
sagging skin
jowls
turkey neck
double chin
loss of jawline definition
excess neck fat

This state-of-the-art laser facelift also corrects other signs of aging in the neck and face without the cost, risks, anesthesia, recovery, and downtime compared to a traditional facelifting procedure. To note, the laser lift is not a replacement for a traditional facelift and is not for patients who need a facelift. Generally, it is for patients in their 40s to early 50s with mild looseness of the jawline and neck. It does not treat the upper face. Dr. Robbins and the Des Moines Plastic Surgery team will determine if you are an ideal candidate for a laser lift or a facelift during a consultation. To learn more see our webpage on Laser Lift under Services.

Before & After Gallery

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Facelift Frequently Asked Questions

The Classic or full face lift: addresses the entire face and neck with incisions in the temple hairline, in front of the ear, and behind the ear along the hairline. This will provide complete correction of skin laxity and aging effects on the face and neck.

Mid-face lift: addresses the mid-face region including the cheeks and jowls. The incisions are located in front of the ear only.

S-face lift or neck lift: Also known as a “short scar facelift”, this procedure addresses the neck completely and to a certain extent the skin laxity along the jawline. The incisions are located behind the ear only in most cases but may extend around the earlobe for a short distance in some instances.

Facelift surgery is an outpatient procedure that usually takes 2 to 4 hours. The procedure is performed in our on-site accredited operating room under IV sedation or general anesthesia depending on what type of facelift is being performed. Local anesthesia is also injected into the planned surgical area.

During a traditional facelift, incisions begin at the temples (near the hairline) and extend around the earlobes, ending near the bottom of the hairline. This pattern may change depending on the extent of your lift as outlined above. Through these incisions, Dr. Robbins will trim excess fat, tighten the underlying tissues, and remove sagging skin.

The underlying layer of tissue is tightened as well as the overlying skin providing a natural result. The goal is not to make you look like a different person but to make you look like yourself, just 10-15 years younger. Facelift patients at Des Moines Plastic Surgery™ enjoy natural results which is a testament to Dr. Robbins’ skill and expertise in facelift surgery.

At Des Moines Plastic Surgery™, when you wake up from surgery in our fully accredited operating room located within our office, you will have a light compression bandage in place to help with swelling and bruising.

Your body will need time to heal and recover from surgery. Most patients take between 5 and 10 days off from their normal routine. The amount of bruising and swelling you experience is the limiting factor of when you can return to your normal routine. Strenuous activities should be avoided for 3 to 4 weeks.

Most patients tolerate recovery very well. Though facelift surgery isn’t usually considered very painful, it’s common to experience some stiffness, bruising, and swelling. In order to keep you as comfortable as possible, Dr. Robbins will provide you with specific aftercare instructions along with oral pain medication.

Swelling and bruising may be significant and are typically most noticeable in the first two weeks. Work and social interaction may need to be limited during this time. Dr. Robbins and the staff at Des Moines Plastic Surgery™ will see facelift patients back numerous times during the first few weeks after surgery. Full recovery from swelling may take up to a month and scars will fade over the next several months.

Moderate improvements may be seen through minimally invasive laser procedures or injectable treatments, but if loose or sagging skin is your primary concern, a facelift is the only solution that can provide dramatic and lasting results.

Yes, your facial rejuvenation can be customized to meet your individual needs. Patients who are experiencing facial aging in the forehead region may choose to combine their face lift with a corresponding brow lift. Eyelids (blepharoplasty) and neck liposuction may also be combined with face lifts. Laser wrinkle removal can be performed around the mouth with a face lift to improve skin tone, soften wrinkles, and reduce sun damage.

Laser treatments and injectable treatments may also improve the tone and texture of your skin. Additional procedures can be discussed during your cosmetic consultation with Dr. Robbins at Des Moines Plastic Surgery™.

Learn More About Face Lift Surgery

Do you want to refresh and rejuvenate your appearance with a face lift in Des Moines? Contact our Des Moines Plastic Surgery™ office to set up a cosmetic consultation for face lift surgery today. During your consultation with Dr. Robbins, you’ll have the chance to discuss your options at length, including price and procedure preparation, and view our gallery of patient photos. Call us at 515.221.9999 today or email us.

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