Facelift

Newport Beach, CA

Timeless Facial Rejuvenation

Introduction to Facelift in Newport Beach

Aging individuals can suffer a loss of facial definition, sagging skin, and the development of wrinkles. Facelift surgery is a surgical procedure designed to address visible signs of facial aging such as loose skin and deep wrinkles, helping restore a more youthful and vibrant appearance.

Patients requesting a facelift often state that their appearance does not match how vital and young they feel on the inside. A well-performed facelift can restore that balance while preserving natural beauty. Dr. Boris M. Ackerman has perfected his facelift technique to deliver dramatic, natural-looking results for patients.

Dr. Ackerman is currently welcoming new patients across Newport Beach and the greater Orange County area. Patients seeking surgery in Newport Beach often want experienced local care, and you may schedule a consultation at his office if you are interested in getting a facelift. We hope to hear from you soon!

Woman in white shirt with hands in hair posing elegantly in bright indoor setting - What in Newport Beach, CA

What is a Facelift?

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a popular form of cosmetic surgery used for facial rejuvenation and corrects signs of facial and neck aging that develop over time through the natural aging process, gravity, sun damage, genetics, and stress, creating a rejuvenated, more youthful appearance.1. Some of these signs include sagging facial tissues, changes in facial skin, wrinkles, loss of volume, folds, and jowls, which can create a sad or upset appearance in addition to looking older.

There are several facelift techniques used to address varying degrees of aging, including the traditional, deep-plane, and vertical facelifts. Dr. Ackerman also performs the male facelift, which is specifically designed to preserve masculine features and accommodate male facial hair and thicker skin.

A mini facelift is a more limited facial rejuvenation procedure designed for patients with early signs of aging, often focused on the lower face and jawline. This approach may be appropriate for individuals with mild skin laxity or early jowling who do not yet require the more extensive correction provided by a full facelift.
For the right Newport Beach facelift patient, a mini facelift can create a refreshed, more defined appearance with shorter incisions and a more focused recovery. During your consultation, Dr. Ackerman can determine whether a mini facelift will provide enough correction or whether a more advanced technique is needed to achieve your goals.

What Sets Dr. Ackerman Apart as the Premier Facelift Practice in Newport Beach?

  • Dr. Ackerman is a Board-certified plastic surgeon with more than three decades of experience conducting facelifts for Newport Beach patients and those throughout Orange County.
  • Dr. Ackerman is affiliated with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), and holds QUAD-A Accreditation, reflecting a private surgical suite accredited by an approved agency with the necessary emergency life-support equipment in place.
  • Dr. Ackerman received his undergraduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1978 and his Doctorate in Medicine from Dartmouth Medical School in 1981. Dr. Ackerman went on to do his postgraduate training at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Ohio State University.
  • Dr. Ackerman is Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), and Newport Beach is a prominent hub for advanced facial rejuvenation, with modern techniques that emphasize natural-looking, vertical lifting.
  • Dr. Ackerman was voted “Best Facelift Doctors in Los Angeles” by Cosmetic Town and featured in VoyageLA. For patients seeking advanced facial plastic surgery in Newport Beach, attentive patient care is among the key advantages.

Facelift Quick Facts

  • Surgery Time: 2 to 5 hours, depending on the extent of the signs of aging
  • Price: The cost of a facelift in Newport Beach depends on the procedure and is best confirmed during your consultation.
  • Recovery: Most patients take 1 to 2 weeks off work, with healing continuing over the following weeks to months.
  • Results: You will notice some initial results immediately after the surgery, but final results won’t show up until about 3-6 months later

Who Are the Best Candidates for a Facelift?

Facelift candidates are men and women with moderate to severe facial aging who often want to improve lower-face sagging, deep jowls, loose skin, or excess fat. While adults can undergo facelift surgery at any age, significant facial aging should be present to achieve optimal results.

Generally, facelift patients:

  • Have moderate to severe facial aging, such as wrinkles, sagging skin, and lost facial volume
  • Generally in good health
  • Have realistic expectations of their results
  • Do not smoke or are willing to quit

A consultation with Dr. Ackerman can help patients determine whether facelift surgery is right for them and whether a surgical or non-surgical option is more appropriate.

What Are the Benefits of a Facelift?

Many people seek facelift surgery because it remains the most popular surgical option for reducing visible signs of aging and can achieve the following benefits:

  • More youthful appearance, often eliminating up to 10 years of facial aging
  • A successful facelift commonly lasts 5 to 10 years with proper care
  • Dramatic, natural-looking results
  • Contoured neck and jawline
  • Tighter, bouncier skin
  • Elimination of fine lines and wrinkles
  • Boost in confidence and self-esteem
Boris M. Ackerman, MD entering office doorway in formal suit carrying documents - Frist step in Newport Beach, CA

How to Begin Your Facelift Journey

The consultation is an important moment where Dr. Ackerman creates a personalized treatment plan for facial rejuvenation. Every patient ages uniquely, and that must be evaluated before a facelift plan is developed.

Dr. Ackerman achieves natural facelift results through his thorough understanding of facial anatomy and structure. He identifies issues from the surface all the way down to the bone.

During your evaluation, Dr. Ackerman determines:

  • Which areas of skin need to be addressed
  • The degree of ptosis in the facial muscles
  • How the fat and volume are distributed across the face
  • What to include in your personalized surgical plan based on your anatomy, goals, and safety needs

7 Steps to Prepare for My Facelift with Dr. Ackerman

Dr. Ackerman will give you detailed instructions on how to prepare for your facelift surgery. Some of these steps include:

  1. Take plenty of rest and keep a balanced diet
  2. Do not take blood thinners or any other medications Dr. Ackerman advises against
  3. Avoid alcohol and tobacco
  4. Pick up your prescriptions before your surgery
  5. Cook a week’s worth of meals and arrange for a trusted adult to take you home after the surgery
  6. Designate a recovery spot at home with necessities within easy reach and tops that open in the front
  7. Follow the fasting instructions the night before and the day of your surgery, and avoid makeup and creams on your face

5 Tips for Recovery From a Facelift

  1. Keep your head elevated to minimize swelling and bruising
  2. Use prescribed pain medication exactly as directed.
  3. Prioritize rest by avoiding strenuous exercise; only light exercise is permissible during the early recovery period.
  4. Drink plenty of water and eat a healthy diet.
  5. Go to all of the follow-up appointments at Dr. Ackerman’s office in Newport Beach.

What to Expect On the Day of Facelift Surgery

All of our facelift surgeries are invasive surgeries performed at our state-of-the-art facility in Newport Beach. When you arrive, our team will welcome you and answer any questions you have to help you feel comfortable and ease any nerves.

We age in three dimensions, and all three dimensions should be addressed during facial rejuvenation. While there are multiple facelift techniques, Dr. Ackerman prefers the deep plane facelift, an advanced technique he perfected.

Boris M. Ackerman, MD consulting with female patient about facial procedure in medical office - Expect in Newport Beach, CA

Dr. Ackerman’s Deep Plane Facelift Technique

A deep plane facelift combines a SMAS facelift (which tightens the SMAS muscle layer) with the deeper dissection of the entire cheek area, all the way to the nasolabial folds (the parentheses lines that develop between the nose and mouth). This allows the entire facial structure to be repositioned, from the tear troughs (lower lid junction) to the neck.

With this technique, the skin is not detached from the muscle layer. Instead, modern lifting addresses the underlying muscles and facial tissues rather than simply pulling the skin tight, creating a smoother, more natural appearance. Dr. Ackerman developed the Ackerman facelift retractor tool to aid him in performing this technique.

Finally, excess skin is removed, and selective excess fat may also be addressed when needed, while the remaining tissue is draped to highlight the new contours of your face. Careful incision placement helps minimize visible scarring. The deep plane technique offers the most dramatic (yet natural) results.

This technique is highly complex and should only be performed by experienced surgeons who understand the face’s deeper structures.

Since your facelift will be performed using general anesthesia, you cannot drive yourself home. Please bring a responsible adult with you to your surgery to safely drive you home.

Combining My Facelift with Other Procedures

Some patients undergoing facelift surgery wish to improve other areas of their appearance. Facelift surgery can be combined with other facial cosmetic procedures when appropriate to support comprehensive facial rejuvenation and help achieve patients’ desired results.

Eyelid surgery focuses on correcting sagging, drooping, or puffy eyelids by removing or repositioning excess skin, muscle, and fat. It can be performed on the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both, and helps patients achieve a more youthful, alert expression and improve vision.

Facelift Recovery

Your Guide to Post-Facelift Care

Most patients will experience swelling and bruising during the first week, but Dr. Ackerman’s gentle manipulation technique helps support a smooth recovery. Ice packs can help reduce early swelling and bruising.

You can typically return to work and most normal activities within one to two weeks, though minor swelling may remain at this time, and proper makeup and hairstyling can help you feel confident. Full healing continues over the next several weeks, with recovery typically reaching six to eight weeks.

 

5 Tips for Recovery From a Facelift 

  1. Keep your head elevated to minimize swelling and bruising
  2. Use prescribed pain medication exactly as directed.
  3. Prioritize rest by avoiding strenuous exercise; only light exercise is permissible during the early recovery period.
  4. Drink plenty of water and eat a healthy diet.
  5. Go to all of the follow-up appointments at Dr. Ackerman’s office in Newport Beach.

How Much Does a Facelift Cost in Newport Beach, CA?

The cost of a facelift in Newport Beach and the greater Orange County area varies based on the extent of correction needed, the surgical technique used, and whether additional procedures, such as a neck lift, are included.

Since a facelift is an elective cosmetic procedure, it is rarely covered by insurance. However, you will need to contact your insurance company for more information on your policy.

Why Choose Dr. Ackerman?

Boris M. Ackerman, M.D., is a Board-certified, world-class plastic surgeon based in Newport Beach and one of the experienced surgeons patients seek for natural-looking facial rejuvenation. He is known for elite precision and long-lasting results across a wide range of cosmetic and aesthetic concerns. He developed advanced techniques in facial surgery using endoscopy and laser technology and invented the Ackerman Facelift Retractor, a tool that enhances safety when dissecting deep tissues while preserving facial nerves during facelift surgery. Before-and-after photos and patient testimonials can also help patients assess a proven record of successful facelift outcomes.

He holds several affiliations, including the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), and has QUAD-A Accreditation. When evaluating any surgeon, patients should also verify hospital privileges for facelift surgery, look for a practice with a strong focus on facial aesthetics, and consider advanced fellowship training through the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Facelift FAQ’S

Patient Reviews

  • ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    Life changing facelift!

    Dr. Ackerman did a deep plane facelift, a lip lift, and a brow lift on me. I was about to turn 60 and I figured it would be now or never. I have struggled with a thin face and started having substantial sagging and Fillers were beginning to make me look unnatural and pillowy. I am thrilled to be able to say that I couldn’t be happier.

  • ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    Amazing Experience

    Immediately after seeing 3 other plastic surgeons for consultation, my parents and I knew Dr. Ackerman was the surgeon for us. He has an amazing and trustworthy staff, who we felt very welcomed by. When we met with him so he could give me a consultation for my nose, he was very honest about some of the setbacks that may come with my particular surgery.

  • ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    Excellent results and experience!

    I couldn’t be happier with my experience with Dr. Boris Ackerman and his team! I came to him for a facelift, eyebrow lift, and a revision rhinoplasty, and from start to finish, everything exceeded my expectations. Dr. Ackerman is not only incredibly skilled and precise, but he also has an artistic eye that made all the difference in my results.

  • ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    Like refreshed versions of themselves

    Dr. Ackerman is an exceptional surgeon. I had reviewed his before-and-after photos beforehand, and it was clear that his patients looked like refreshed versions of themselves—not like entirely different people. That was exactly the outcome I wanted, and it’s exactly what I received.

    – Linda L

  • ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

    That decision exceeded every expectation.

    “I absolutely love Dr Boris Ackerman. I cannot recommend my plastic surgeon highly enough. He performed my original facelift when I was 45, and 20 years later, I trusted him again for an updated procedure—and that decision exceeded every expectation.” Mary R

Schedule Your Consultation

If you want to correct various signs of aging in your face, don’t hesitate to consult Dr. Boris M. Ackerman at his Newport Beach office in Orange County, California. You can book an appointment via our website or by calling (949) 759-3284.

Sources

Brumby, D. (2025, February 10). The top seven plastic surgery trends for 2025. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/articles/the-top-seven-plastic-surgery-trends-for-2025

Boyd, C. J., & Ceradini, D. J. (2025). Current Trends in Facelift and Necklift Procedures. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(12), 4273. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14124273