Melbourne, FL: (321) 951-2639
Diaz Plastic Surgery Specialists: Michael Diaz, M.D
1513 South Harbor City Boulevard
Melbourne, FL 32901
Phone: (321) 951-2639
Monday - Friday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
No matter how youthful and energetic we feel on the inside, it is impossible to stop the aging changes that occur on our faces and necks. Heredity, gravity, and environmental effects eventually begin to take their toll, often before we feel ready. A facelift and/or neck lift by Melbourne, Florida, plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Diaz helps patients from Kissimmee, St. Cloud, and Brevard County towns like Viera, FL, delay some of these changes, keeping their faces looking smooth, full, and gravity-defying for years.
Dr. Diaz approaches every aesthetic enhancement with compassion and care, revealing your unique beauty. To find out how facelift and neck lift surgery can improve your appearance, request a consultation online or call our office in Melbourne, FL, at (321) 951-2639.
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
Our faces show the world where we come from and what we’ve done. A life well-lived can leave our faces with lines, wrinkles, sun damage, and more. During your consultation with Dr. Diaz, he evaluates your face as a complete unit, paying special attention to the way aging has changed it. He will ask you plenty of questions about your lifestyle, medical history, and goals to help develop a surgical plan that addresses your primary concerns without sacrificing your comfort or safety.
It’s important to remember that no 2 people age in exactly the same way or at the same rate. You may be a candidate for a facelift or a neck lift if you’re bothered by any of the following symptoms:
If you’re still unsure of your candidacy, Dr. Diaz can help you decide during your consultation.
Facelift surgery targets the lower two-thirds of the face, where most people see the earliest and most significant signs of aging. A neck lift addresses the bottom third of your face as well as your neck and chin. Often a neck lift is combined with a facelift for a seamless improvement. A neck lift can be used primarily to address the major concerns while the facelift applies the finishing touches. Some patients may choose to have a neck lift to start and delay the need for a facelift in the future.
Less extensive procedures may be a good option for some patients and can be performed in the office using local anesthesia with minimal recovery. Options include:
If you’re also concerned by the condition of your upper face, especially changes in the delicate skin around your eyes, you may be a good candidate for blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery. In some cases, facelift and eyelid surgery can be performed simultaneously for a comprehensive rejuvenation. Because the options are numerous, it is highly advisable to make an appointment for an evaluation with Dr. Diaz.
“I am so thankful to have found you as my doctor. You are truly a great surgeon, but also a wonderful human being! Thank you not only for the great work you do, but most importantly for the way you do your work with so much care and understanding. You helped me feel pretty again.”
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your experience may vary.
Facelift and neck lift surgery are typically outpatient procedures, but they can occasionally be performed in the office using sedation. Dr. Diaz makes incisions around the ears and slightly within the hairline. These incisions offer him maximum control during surgery and create very discreet scars that can typically be fully hidden beneath the hair.
The specifics of each facelift and neck lift surgery vary from patient to patient. However, Dr. Diaz typically removes or repositions unwanted fat and tightens the underlying muscles of the face and neck. He may also remove excess skin and redrape the remaining skin for a smoother, tighter contour. This approach of lifting and strengthening the underlying muscles of the face, rather than simply stretching the skin as older techniques did, results in a very natural-looking outcome. Dr. Diaz’s goal is to create an improved version of you that reflects vibrancy and reverses aging changes while avoiding the over-operated-on, obvious, stretched facelift look that is commonly seen in the media.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Diaz has been serving the dynamic needs of Space Coast women and men for years. In addition to being an accomplished surgeon known for his warmth, Dr. Diaz holds a patent for a device that can help improve breast revision outcomes.
Meet Dr. DiazYou’ll need a trusted friend or family member to drive you home after surgery. Once you return home, it’s important to give your body the rest it needs to heal completely. It’s common for patients to work from home during this period because they often feel good enough to work but still have lingering signs of recent surgery.
Dr. Diaz advises patients to keep their heads elevated for several days following surgery, including while sleeping. Keeping the head upright reduces swelling, improves overall comfort, and allows the incisions to heal undisturbed.
Patients typically progress through the following recovery milestones along this timeline (experiences vary):
Be sure to follow your post-op instructions closely and attend follow-up appointments as scheduled.
Although no plastic surgery procedure offers results that last forever, a facelift and neck lift can significantly delay and reverse facial aging. Facelift patients typically look better than their peers who haven’t undergone surgery for up to 10 years after the procedure, although this varies from patient to patient.
If you’re not ready for surgery or have early signs of facial aging, we can perform a nonsurgical facelift that combines injectables. BOTOX® Cosmetic (or another neuromodulator) softens dynamic wrinkles such as crow’s feet and frown lines caused by facial muscle contractions. Dermal fillers restore volume around the eyes and to the cheeks, smooth away folds and creases around the mouth, and more. Results are temporary and not as significant as surgery.
There is no single best age for facelift surgery because the aging process varies with lifestyle and genetics, and patients are motivated to seek surgery for different reasons. While some people in their 40s are candidates for facelift or neck lift surgery, others can delay the procedure until their 60s or even later.
Dr. Diaz personalizes each facelift to the patient’s anatomy, needs, and cosmetic goals. The full facelift is a comprehensive facial rejuvenation procedure, often combined with a neck lift, that addresses sagging skin and muscles, deep folds, and excess fat in the lower face and neck. It’s ideal for patients with moderate to severe signs of aging. In some cases, he performs the mini facelift to correct mild to moderate aging of the mid to lower face. It involves smaller incisions and a shorter recovery period than a full facelift.
The “best” time of year may depend on what is going on in your life. If you are having a facelift to prepare for a special event, schedule the surgery at least 3 to 4 months ahead of time. Since Florida summers are when we typically stay indoors during the day, it can be a good time of year for recovery. Winter can be a good time to keep your surgery discreet, especially after the holidays, because it’s not unusual to take time off from work.
While Dr. Diaz prescribes prescription medicine to maintain your comfort as you heal, facelift recovery typically is not painful.
By protecting your skin from the sun, refraining from smoking, and keeping your weight stable, your facelift results can last up to 10 years. Patients will always look younger than if they had not had the surgery at all. Many patients choose to maintain their results in the long term with regular injections of BOTOX Cosmetic or injectable fillers.
