Facelift (Rhytidectomy) in Santa Barbara, CA
Though none of us can fight the passing of time, there are options to reduce the signs of aging in your face and neck. Over the years, you may experience sagging skin, wrinkles, and fat loss. These changes can make you appear older or more tired than you would like. With advances in plastic surgery, a facelift that addresses these signs of aging can restore your youthful appearance in a way that looks totally natural.
Dr. Sara Yegiyants can erase the signs of aging in your face and neck. She is a triple-board-certified plastic surgeon who studied art prior to beginning her career in plastic surgery. Drawing upon her keen aesthetic sense and highly refined surgical skills, Dr. Yegiyants has helped hundreds of patients feel great about their faces and bodies through an array of non-invasive, minimally-invasive, and surgical procedures. Our boutique plastic surgery practice serves men and women in Santa Barbara and surrounding areas.
Deciding If a Facelift Is Right for You
Aging takes its toll on all of us, particularly in our faces. For some, smoking and sun exposure further intensify the signs of getting older. A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical option for patients who want to appear more youthful.
A facelift can remove excess skin to relieve sagging, reposition fat to areas of the face that may appear “hollowed out,” and away from areas that may appear puffy, and reduce or remove the appearance of jowls or a double chin. Additionally, a facelift is highly effective in reducing wrinkles and “lifting” what gravity has driven downwards.
There are many factors that contribute to the aging process as it affects the face. For instance, over time, the facial fat and proteins that give the face its youthful contours can diminish. Gravity also plays a role in sagging. And the “thinning” of our skin over time can enhance the appearance of lines and wrinkles. A rhytidectomy can improve all of these things, and can also be accompanied by other procedures such as a browlift, necklift, and eyelid surgery for a total facial makeover.
There are also non-surgical options to restore youthfulness in the face for patients who are not ready or able to undergo a facelift. For instance, Botox®® and dermal fillers can ease the appearance of wrinkles, while laser resurfacing and chemical peels can enhance the tone and texture of the facial skin, restoring a youthful glow. Radiofrequency devices such as Infini can stimulate collagen formation to help tighten skin and diminish wrinkles.
Schedule a Consultation
Ready to take the next steps towards booking a procedure? Schedule your consultation today to begin your aesthetic journey with Sara Yegiyants, MD, FACS.
How Is a Facelift Performed?
Not many years ago, facelift surgery affected only the outermost surface of the face, by removing excess skin and pulling it tight, without treating the underlying muscles or connective tissues. The result was often a tight, unnatural outcome that is often described as “windblown.” However, there have been many advances in surgical procedures and technology that have greatly improved the look one can achieve through a facelift.
Dr. Yegiyants uses only state-of-the-art surgical techniques; the latest approach to facelift surgery addresses not only the skin but also the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), a continuous layer of muscle, fat, and connective tissue that lies underneath the skin. The aging process affects the SMAS as much, if not more, than the skin itself, causing sagging and loss of fullness over time. For this reason, the SMAS must be surgically altered for the most effective outcome during facelift surgery.
When the facelift is performed, the surgical incisions are made at the edge of the hairline or just inside the ear, curving around and behind the ear. Depending on the extent that your surgery will address your neck, you may also have a small incision just below your chin. The placement of your incisions will always be made in the least conspicuous area possible, and the scars that result from facelift surgery with Dr. Yegiyants are minimal and hardly noticeable once healing has occurred.
Once the incisions are made, Dr. Yegiyants will tighten the SMAS and facial muscles that may have loosened over time. Her advanced techniques will be applied to just the right spots to leave you with fully rejuvenated, natural-looking results. Excess skin can then be removed and the incisions closed. This surgery generally takes 3-4 hours to perform, with additional time necessary when accompanied by other procedures.
What Will My Consultation Be Like?
In our boutique practice, you will meet with Dr. Yegiyants personally when you come in for your consultation. We encourage our patients to bring in photos of their younger selves. Sharing images with Dr. Yegiyants is incredibly helpful in making sure you are both on the same page with your goals. She will extensively review your medical records and discuss what you want for your facelift. Each facelift is a fully tailored, individual set of procedures based on your natural facial structure and your aesthetic goals. Just as no two faces are exactly alike, no two facelift surgeries are exactly alike!
Dr. Yegiyants will draw upon her extensive background in art and her advanced aesthetic sense to study the natural shape of your face and make recommendations for re-contouring and enhancing your face. She strives to make sure the outcome of each procedure is natural looking and beautiful. She will also take the time necessary to make sure she fully understands what you want for yourself and that you know what to expect throughout the process.
What Can I Expect During Recovery and Beyond?
You will have bandages in place after your facelift, and you can expect some discomfort and swelling for the first couple of weeks. In order to maximize your comfort during healing, Dr. Yegiyants will prescribe pain medication for these first days. Prior to surgery, she will give you extensive instructions on how to care for your face as you heal. It is important that you follow your post-operative care instructions to minimize pain and swelling and maximize the outcome of your surgery.
Though it is a highly complex surgery that requires superior skills, the facelift does not create a particularly difficult recovery. Most of the swelling will subside over the first two weeks, and many patients are able to return to normal daily activities in 10-14 days. However, you may be asked to refrain from vigorous exercise for 4-6 weeks.
You will be able to notice changes to your face right away when the bandages are removed. However, your final results may appear gradually. The swelling will continue to subside over months, after which your facelift results will be visible in their final form. Many patients enjoy their renewed looks from the surgery for 10 or more years.
Your Facelift Timeline: From First Call to Final Result
Planning your facelift is easier when you know what to expect at each step. From the first phone call, our team maps out your journey so you never feel rushed or uncertain. Most patients move from consultation to surgery within a few weeks, depending on their schedule and any needed medical clearances.
We’ll help you plan time off work, arrange a ride for surgery day, and schedule follow‑up visits in advance so you can focus on healing, not logistics. Many people describe the process as easier and more manageable than they feared once they understand this step‑by‑step timeline.
How to Prepare for Your Facelift
Thoughtful preparation can make your recovery more comfortable and predictable. In the weeks before surgery, we often recommend stopping nicotine, limiting alcohol, and avoiding certain medications or supplements that can increase bruising, always under your prescribing doctor’s guidance.
At home, set up a dedicated recovery space with extra pillows, easily accessible medications, soft foods, and entertainment so you can rest with your head elevated. Planning simple, nutritious meals and arranging help with pets, children, or driving for the first few days can greatly decrease stress during early healing.
Combining Facelift with Other Procedures
Many signs of facial aging don’t stop at one area, which is why some patients choose to combine procedures for more complete rejuvenation. A facelift can be paired with eyelid surgery, brow lift, neck lift, or fat transfer to address sagging skin, volume loss, and tired‑looking eyes in a single surgical setting.
Combining treatments can improve overall balance and harmony, helping the upper, mid, and lower face age more consistently. During your consultation, we’ll talk through whether a single focused procedure or a combined approach will best match your goals, budget, and recovery window.
Understanding Risks and How We Manage Them
All surgeries carry risk, and being open about that is an important part of informed consent. Possible risks of a facelift include bleeding, infection, anesthesia reactions, temporary numbness, changes in skin sensation, delayed wound healing, or scarring.
Our practice lowers these dangers through careful patient selection, modern anesthesia, meticulous surgical technique, and close follow‑up after your procedure. You’ll receive explicit instructions on what’s normal, what’s not, and how to contact us if you have concerns, so you’re never left to wait and see on your own.
Schedule a Consultation
Dr. Yegiyants is triple board-certified and the only woman cosmetic surgeon in Santa Barbara, CA. With her background in the arts and expert understanding of breast anatomy, she offers her patients superior aesthetic outcomes.
She is committed to ensuring each of her patients achieves the aesthetic outcomes they desire. Everyone deserves to feel great about their breasts and move through the world with confidence, looking and feeling beautiful.
If you have any further questions or would like to schedule a consultation at our newly renovated spa-like office, don’t hesitate to reach out here or call us at 805-682-1731.
Facelift FAQs
How much does a facelift cost?
The cost of facelift surgery in Ventura and Santa Barbara, CA, depends on the extent of work necessary and the surgeon who performs the procedure. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Yegiyants can give you a detailed estimate after meeting with you and learning about your aesthetic goals.
Will insurance cover the cost of a facelift?
Because most health insurance companies classify facelift surgery as an elective procedure performed solely for cosmetic reasons, they will not cover the cost. However, Dr. Yegiyants offers financing to make plastic surgery more affordable and accessible to her patients.
How long do facelift results?
A facelift will take approximately 10 years off your facial appearance. While you will always look younger than your peers who did not have surgery, nothing can halt the natural aging process. You may desire a revision facelift after a decade or two.
Can I combine a facelift with other procedures?
Many of Dr. Yegiyants’ patients choose to combine their facelift with other cosmetic surgeries, including a brow lift, eyelid surgery, or a neck lift. The advantage of adding multiple procedures to your customized surgical plan is that you can reduce cost and downtime.
How do I prepare for a facelift procedure?
First, you need to research plastic surgeons specializing in facial rejuvenation. Schedule a consultation to learn more about the physician, their training, their experience, and their aesthetic philosophy. They will provide pre-surgery instructions on what to do, what to avoid, and how to make your experience successful.
Will I experience any pain or discomfort during a facelift?
Dr. Yegiyants will perform your facelift while you are under general anesthesia, so you won’t feel a thing during surgery. Afterward, she will prescribe medications to manage discomfort while you heal.
Is there an age range for facelift surgery?
Though most of Dr. Yegiyants’ facelift patients are in their 40s and 50s, there’s no such thing as a target age for this transformative procedure. As a result, many choose to get the surgery in their 60s and beyond.
How do you achieve a natural-looking facelift?
You may wish to take your facelift to the next level of natural outcomes by including rejuvenation treatments like laser resurfacing and other non-surgical treatments for the months and years after your facelift surgery. You can also get dermal fillers and neuromodulators like Botox® injected to touch up trouble areas as you age.
What should I look for in my facelift surgeon?
Here are a couple of tips you should consider when interviewing potential plastic surgeons.
- Look for appropriate credentials: Any plastic surgeon you consult should have certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the only plastic surgery board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. In addition, look for a plastic surgeon who is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Both organizations ensure your doctor meets the highest standards for patient safety and medical ethics.
- Research their expertise: Review before-and-after galleries offered by each surgeon you consult. This homework will give you an excellent idea of your surgeon’s experience and expertise.
Meet Dr. Yegiyants
Sara Yegiyants, MD, FACS is a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in surgical and non-invasive procedures. Learn more about Dr. Yegiyants and why you should choose her for your next procedure.
