Have you looked in the mirror and noticed sagging skin, deep creases, or jowls that don’t reflect how youthful and energized you feel inside? As we age, our skin loses elasticity, facial fat shifts downward, and gravity begins to take its toll on our appearance. Lines, wrinkles, and lax skin on the face are three of the most common signs of aging. While every patient is different, these concerns can develop due to sun exposure, environmental conditions, genetics, and certain lifestyle factors. Though a consistent skincare regimen and non-surgical treatments can help, there comes a point where they just aren’t enough to reverse the signs of aging. That’s where a facelift comes in.
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True Form Facelift®
Facelift surgery restores a youthful appearance by tightening and lifting facial skin and the underlying tissues. Dr. Patronella’s True Form Facelift® provides long-lasting results that never appear artificial or overdone, so his patients can enjoy the firm, smooth, younger-looking face and neck they desire without looking overly stretched or pulled.
Dr. Christoper Patronella
Procedures:
Face Lift, Neck Lift, Endoscopic Brow Lift, Fat Grafting (temples, nasolabial folds, cheeks, and “marionette lines”), Fraxel Skin Laser Treatment
Age: 65
Dr. Patronella restored a more youthful, refreshed visage that better this lovely patient’s inner vitality. He gave her jawline and elegant, refined contour and restored suppleness to areas that had become more hollow with age: her temples, cheeks, the nasolabial folds and “marionette lines” around the mouth. A Fraxel laser treatment complemented her results by improving her skin’s tone and texture.
Our gallery of before and after True Form Facelift® photos features real women, just like you.
Patients come from all over the world seeking Dr. Patronella’s skill and expertise in facelift surgery. Besides being thrilled with their gorgeous, transformative results, patients consistently appreciate the care and compassion shown to them by Dr. Patronella and his team during every step of their facelift journey.
The cost of a facelift in Houston performed by Dr. Patronella depends on the complexity of the procedure, surgical technique, and whether it is combined with other treatments (such as eyelid surgery or a brow lift).
Dr. Patronella is committed to making transformative surgery accessible to his patients. Financing options for your facelift are available through PatientFi and CareCredit®, allowing you to pay for your procedure over time. During your consultation, you will receive a detailed quote and can ask questions about payment and financing options.
Learn More About Our PricingDr. Christopher K. Patronella is one of Houston’s most respected board-certified plastic surgeons, known for his refined techniques and signature True Form Facelift®, which enhances natural beauty without a “pulled” or overdone look. He combines advanced facelift techniques with a deep understanding of facial anatomy to restore youthful contours while preserving your unique features.
With more than 25 years of experience and national recognition for his artistry and surgical excellence, Dr. Patronella tailors each facelift to address your individual needs—never using a one-size-fits-all approach.
A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure designed to lift and reposition sagging facial tissues, tighten loose skin, and restore youthful definition to the cheeks, jawline, and neck. It targets the lower two-thirds of your face and is typically combined with a neck lift for more comprehensive rejuvenation.
Dr. Patronella specializes in the True Form Facelift®, his patented approach to facial rejuvenation. It incorporates techniques of a dual plane facelift, which addresses both the skin and the underlying muscular structure (SMAS layer) for longer-lasting and more natural results. Unlike older facelift methods that only tighten the skin, the True Form Facelift® approach repositions deep tissues for a more youthful yet natural-looking result.
A facelift offers dramatic, long-lasting results that non-surgical treatments simply can’t match. Facelift benefits include:
When performed by a highly skilled and experienced surgeon like Dr. Patronella, a facelift can take years off your appearance while preserving the expressions and features that make you, you.
The best candidates for a facelift are adults in their 40s to 70s who are nonsmokers in good overall health. Ideal candidates for a facelift wish to address visible signs of aging in their lower face or neck, including sagging skin, deep wrinkles, jowls, or a lack of definition along their jawline.
The best way to determine if you’re a good candidate for a facelift is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Patronella. He will evaluate your face, listen to your concerns and goals, and determine if a facelift is right for you.
Many facelift patients opt to combine their procedure with other facial enhancements for more balanced, comprehensive results. Popular options include:
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A neck lift tightens loose skin and muscle in the neck to achieve a more balanced, seamless rejuvenation.
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Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) targets aging on the upper and lower eyelids. This procedure refreshes the eye area by removing sagging skin or puffiness, ensuring that the eyes will match the youthfulness of the lower face after facelift surgery.
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Brow lift surgery addresses aging on the upper region of the face, such as forehead creases and sagging eyebrows, by tightening the underlying tissues and trimming away excess skin. This procedure restores balance and harmony between the upper and lower regions of the face.
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Injectables like dermal fillers and BOTOX® Cosmetic provide patients with a more youthful and rejuvenated facial appearance. These treatments restore lost volume or lessen the appearance of lines and wrinkles on the upper face. Injectable treatments can be combined with a facelift or serve as an initial treatment option for patients whose aging concerns are not pronounced enough to necessitate surgery.
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Non-surgical skin rejuvenation treatments such as laser resurfacing and chemical peels revitalize the skin by improving its tone and texture. These non-surgical treatments can help correct the appearance of hyperpigmentation, acne and acne scars, rosacea, dry skin, oily skin, or highly sensitive skin. These treatments can be performed during your facelift procedure or after your recovery to enhance your results or extend their longevity.
The True Form Facelift® addresses wrinkles, sagging skin, and volume loss in the mid-to-lower facial areas, redefining the midface and jawline. Dr. Patronella performs facelift surgery using general anesthesia administered by his board-certified physician anesthesiologists.
The dual-plane facelift technique used by Dr. Patronella allows him to ensure that his facelift results remain natural and that his patients don’t end up with a wind-blown appearance. The procedure begins with incisions placed discreetly in the hairline and natural ear creases, so scars are virtually undetectable. Dr. Patronella lifts and tightens the deep facial tissues and muscles of the SMAS layer, and repositions fat pads to restore youthful contours. Once the underlying tissues are tightened, the skin is carefully trimmed and re-draped over the musculature. Finally, the incisions are closed with sutures.
Facelift surgery takes an average of three hours, depending on the complexity and whether additional cosmetic procedures were performed.
After facelift and necklift surgery, patients typically are required to stay overnight in Dr. Patronella’s private, licensed, and accredited surgery facility under the care of his highly-skilled nursing team. They are discharged the following morning with a light dressing and detailed post-operative instructions provided by Dr. Patronella.
You will experience bruising, swelling, tenderness, and soreness during the first 1–2 weeks of your facelift recovery, but this is normal. Prescribed or over-the-counter pain medication and an AqueCool mask can help relieve discomfort and keep swelling to a minimum. As you recover, you should try to keep your head upright at all times to ensure proper blood circulation and fluid drainage, which will help minimize swelling.
During the second week of your facelift recovery, you will likely be able to return to work and engage in light activities. Your sutures will be removed, and bruising and swelling will continue to dissipate.
By weeks 3–4, your results will begin to be more noticeable, though it will still take several weeks for your final facelift results to be evident. By week 6 in your recovery, you will be able to resume exercising and more strenuous activity, as long as you are cleared by Dr. Patronella.
While you’ll notice improvements in your skin and facial contours within the first few weeks after your facelift surgery, your final results appear gradually over three to six months. You can expect to enjoy a more rested and youthful facial appearance as lines and wrinkles are smoothed, facial volume is restored, and jowls become less noticeable. These results can be enhanced further when your facelift is combined with additional surgical or non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
With proper skincare, a healthy lifestyle, and sun protection, your facelift results can last 10 years or more. And while aging continues, most patients will look younger than if they had never undergone surgery.
With facelift surgery, Dr. Patronella’s goal is to highlight a patient’s natural beauty by restoring their youthful facial contours and eliminating sagging skin, lines, and wrinkles.
Dr. Christopher K. Patronella, who has been declared one of “America’s Best Plastic Surgeons” for facelift surgery by Newsweek Magazine, offers the True Form Facelift® in Houston, Texas.
If you want natural results from a facelift and live in or can travel to Houston, call (713) 575-1996 to schedule your consultation today!
No, not with the techniques Dr. Patronella uses. Facelift results heavily rely on the skill and experience of the plastic surgeon performing the procedure.
Early plastic surgery techniques traditionally involved pulling the skin back, trimming it, and closing the incisions. Those techniques often left patients with unnatural-looking results. Dr. Patronella utilizes modern methods that tighten the underlying musculature and restore lost volume to give you a natural-looking result.
Preparation is essential to ensure a safe, successful facelift surgery and smooth recovery. Prior to your facelift, Dr. Patronella will advise you to stop smoking and temporarily discontinue certain medications and supplements. You will also need to arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure and stay with you for at least the first 24 hours. You will receive detailed pre- and post-operative instructions when you schedule your facelift procedure.
Bruising and swelling after your facelift typically last for at least 10–14 days. Some patients may experience prolonged swelling, which can last up to three weeks. Staying hydrated, avoiding salty foods, and keeping your head elevated can help minimize swelling. Dr. Patronella also provides his patients with options, such as the AqueCool mask, to reduce bruising and swelling.
The optimal age for a facelift depends on your appearance and how bothered you are by signs of aging on your face. Facelifts are most commonly performed on individuals between the ages of 40 and 70, but can be done for those who fall outside of this age range, too, depending on the specific issues an individual is experiencing.
Most facelifts last 7–10 years, although some patients may require touch-ups to keep their facelift results looking fresh. Some patients never need another procedure, while others may opt for additional surgery down the road. You can also extend your facelift results by undergoing periodic non-surgical skin rejuvenation treatments, protecting your skin from the sun and harsh elements, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and keeping your skin hydrated with pharmaceutical-grade skin care products.
By Plastic Surgeon Dr. Christopher Patronella People want to look presentable quickly. And it’s not possible with a facelift-necklift procedure and accompanying procedures like eyelid lift surgery and laser peels to expect that you’ll be comfortable with your appearance before a few weeks. Usually two to three weeks is the timeframe for recovery and looking […]
Learn MoreAs a permanent makeup artist who has worked with Dr. Patronella for 17 years, I chose Dr. Patronella to perform my facelift and necklift because I see his patients both before and after surgery with him—their beautiful results. I’ve always been amazed at how natural they look and how well their scars are concealed. They […]
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