Introduction to Rhytidectomy (Facelift)
When features of the face begin to appear lackluster and show signs of aging, facelift surgery can significantly improve these issues. Depending on your concerns and aesthetic goals, Dr. Ho will tailor her facelift technique accordingly to bring back contour and youth to your face in a natural way.
What is Rhytidectomy?
Rhytidectomy is the technical term for the facelift procedure and is designed to surgically rejuvenate the midface, jawline, and neck areas. Youthful faces typically portray a more inverted pyramid appearance that includes good cheek and jaw definition. With the aging process, gravity forces over time flip the pyramid and bring about jowling (sagging of skin below the jawline) with decreased jaw definition, increased neck skin laxity, and neck muscle banding. Although non-surgical treatments such as filler injections and threading may help temporarily hide or soften these issues, the skin and soft tissue changes in the midface, lower face, and neck can only be definitively addressed by surgery. The facelift procedure is designed to redrape and resuspend the skin and deeper tissues of the face and neck to restore a more youthful appearance. This surgery requires the expertise of a surgeon who specializes in plastic surgery of the face and understands facial anatomy well, as associated possible risks with this procedure include injury to the facial nerve. Dr. Ho specializes in aging face procedures and performs each facelift according to the anatomic findings and surgical goals of the individual patient.
Educational videos
The Facelift Procedure
Learn more about the facelift procedure and how it can subtly enhance your facial harmony with insights from Dr. Tina Ho.
Facelift Surgery: Everything You Need to Know About the Deep Plane Facelift with Dr. Tina Ho
The deep plane facelift is an advanced facelift technique that provides dramatic, long-lasting results by repositioning deeper facial tissues. Ideal candidates range from their late 30s to 60s, seeking to restore cheek volume and jawline contour. Recovery includes swelling, bruising, and ELIXIR MD™ treatments to accelerate healing, with final results visible in 6–12 months.
Facelift: What is Expected with Surgery?
Facelift surgery is performed typically with a neck lift to achieve the best rejuvenation results. The incisions are well-hidden, as they are placed along skin creases and within the hairline. During surgery, the skin is first elevated. The SMAS plane is then entered via a deep plane approach, and the deeper tissues are released and lifted. The excess skin is trimmed as the last step.
What Are Common Issues That Can Be Addressed With Rhytidectomy?
Common issues that can be improved or corrected by Rhytidectomy include but are not limited to:
Skin laxity
Facial wrinkles
Sagging cheeks
Jowling
Nasolabial folds
Marionette lines
Ill-defined jawline
Turn back the clock and boost your confidence with the transformative effects of facelift surgery!
Why Choose Dr. Tina Ho for a Facelift?
Dr. Tina Ho stands out among facial plastic surgeons in Philadelphia and Wayne as a double board-certified facelift specialist with dedicated training in facial rejuvenation surgery. She understands that a facelift is both an art and a science — a highly detailed and complex procedure that requires technical precision and an artistic eye to achieve natural, harmonious results. Dr. Ho stays at the forefront of modern facelift techniques to deliver the most refined and lasting outcomes for her patients.
From the initial consultation to surgery day and every follow-up visit, Dr. Ho maintains an unwavering commitment to each facelift patient. She takes the time to listen, plan, and tailor every step of the surgical process to align with the patient’s unique anatomy and aesthetic goals. Her approach focuses on restoring youthful contours while preserving the patient’s natural appearance, ensuring results that look refreshed rather than “overdone.”
As a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon specializing exclusively in aesthetic and reconstructive procedures of the face and neck, Dr. Ho received advanced fellowship training under world-renowned facial plastic surgeon Dr. Dean Toriumi. Her expertise extends across all aspects of facial rejuvenation, including deep plane facelift, mini facelift, neck lift, and complementary procedures such as eyelid surgery and skin resurfacing.
Dr. Ho is known regionally and beyond as one of Philadelphia’s most trusted facelift surgeons, with patients traveling from throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York to seek her expertise. She devotes the time and care needed to establish realistic goals, guide patients through recovery, and ensure each person feels confident, supported, and deeply satisfied with their results.
FaceLift by Dr. Tina Ho
Types of Facelift
Dr. Tina Ho, MD, offers advanced surgical procedures tailored to your unique aesthetic goals. With a commitment to natural-looking results and personalized care, Dr. Ho combines her extensive expertise with an artistic eye to help you achieve the refined and confident appearance you desire. Explore the possibilities for transformative change with a trusted and skilled facial plastic surgeon.
Deep Plane Facelift
Dr. Tina Ho’s Deep Plane Facelift is a transformative procedure that addresses advanced facial aging by lifting and repositioning deeper facial structures, including the SMAS layer and platysma muscle. This technique provides more significant and longer-lasting results.
Mini Facelift
The Mini Facelift offers a solution for those seeking subtle facial rejuvenation. Ideal for individuals with mild sagging, this procedure utilizes smaller incisions to lift and tighten the lower face, delivering natural-looking results with a shorter recovery time.
Revision Facelift
Revision facelifts correct and enhance results from previous surgeon’s work. Her approach cleans up issues like scarring, asymmetry, and unnatural contours, using advanced techniques to restore a more natural appearance. Ideal for patients seeking to improve or refresh prior facelift results.
Additional Facial Rejuvenation Procedures
Deep Plane Facelifts During the “Undetectable Era”
In the “Undetectable Era” of plastic surgery, facelifts, technically known as rhytidectomy, have advanced to deliver subtle, natural enhancements that restore youthful facial contours without obvious signs of surgery. Aging gradually reverses the facial “inverted pyramid,” leading to sagging skin, jowling, diminished jawline definition, and neck laxity. Dr. Tina Ho, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, addresses these concerns with her most requested procedure: the deep plane facelift and neck lift.
Unlike traditional techniques that focus solely on surface tightening, Dr. Ho’s deep plane approach lifts and repositions deeper facial structures for longer-lasting, more natural results. This method restores balance to the midface, jawline, and neck while avoiding the “tight” or overly pulled appearance of older facelift styles. Strategic incision placement along the hairline and natural creases ensures scars remain discreet and virtually undetectable.
To further support healing, Dr. Ho offers ElixirMD, a light therapy that reduces bruising, swelling, and the risk of infection. Patients begin this 20-minute LED therapy the day after surgery and typically return to social life within two weeks. Through boutique, personalized care and cutting-edge techniques, Dr. Ho helps patients look refreshed and youthful without revealing any signs of surgery behind the transformation.
Considering a facelift with Dr. Tina Ho, MD? Ideal candidates are typically individuals who wish to rejuvenate their appearance by addressing sagging skin, deep facial folds, or loss of definition along the jawline and neck. Many seek subtle, natural-looking results that restore youthful contours while maintaining their unique features. Dr. Ho also works with patients who want to complement other facial procedures for balanced, harmonious outcomes. The best candidates are those who are healthy, well-informed, have realistic expectations about the results, and are ready to partner with Dr. Ho and her team for a smooth, positive surgical experience.
Before and After Videos
Dr. Tina Ho’s Facelift Results
This wonderful male patient in his 60s came to me for surgical consultation, bothered by his aging neck. We pursued a deep plane facelift and deep neck lift and are thrilled with his beautiful, natural results. This video displays his surgical outcome one year later. Male facelift patients with shorter hair can have undetectable scars if they are placed along natural creases and curves around the ears and heal favorably.
This beautiful female patient in her 50s came to me for surgical consultation, interested in facelift and neck lift for facial and neck rejuvenation as well as facial and jawline contouring. We pursued a deep plane facelift and deep neck lift where skin, fat, muscle, and gland tissue needed to be removed to achieve her surgical outcome. I am grateful for our surgeon physician relationship and we are so thrilled with her beautiful, natural results.
This kind 45 year-old female patient presented originally for chin liposuction consultation, bothered by the fullness under her chin. I instead recommended a definitive deep plane facelift and neck lift for the best facial and neck rejuvenation and contouring results. She already looks amazing at three months out in these before/after photos. Final outcome is seen at six to twelve months after surgery. We are so thrilled with her results.
A Patient’s Story of Transformation
Every facelift journey is deeply personal, reflecting not just aesthetic goals but the desire to feel renewed and confident. In this featured testimonial, one of Dr. Ho’s patients shares her honest experience—from initial consultation to recovery—offering an inside look at the compassionate care, surgical precision, and natural results that define Dr. Ho’s approach to facial rejuvenation.
Post-Operative Instructions for Rhytidectomy
Expand each section below for more information.
Enhance Your Recovery with Elixir MD
The Elixir MD™ is an innovative recovery tool that offers various treatment programs using different LED light wavelengths to achieve specific pre and post-surgical goals. These programs are supported by advanced artificial intelligence temperature controls and adjustable settings to address a range of concerns and goals. This non-invasive therapy is safe, painless, and can reduce infections after surgery while also enhancing recovery and minimizing scarring after rhinoplasty surgery.
Benefits of Elixir MD
Enhanced post-operative recovery after rhinoplasty. Using LED light, Elixir MD™ stimulates the skin to accelerate wound healing and minimize scarring post-surgery.
Improved healing and cellular repair. Specific wavelengths stimulate collagen and elastin production, which are essential for healing after surgery.
Easier rhinoplasty recovery. Reduces inflammation responsible for swelling and pain after surgery.
Improved lymphatic drainage and blood flow. Enhances the delivery of nutrients and removal of waste for optimal healing.
Elixir MD Treatment Programs for Rhinoplasty
Elixir Detox
This pre-operative therapy uses blue light to reduce the number of bacteria, oils, and toxins on the skin, reducing surgical complications such as infection.
Elixir Cellular Repair
Post-rhinoplasty, Cellular Repair uses yellow light to improve circulation, reducing bruising and swelling, accelerating healing, and shortening recovery.
Elixir NeoXcell
The NeoXcell™ treatment program combines the benefits of Elixir Cellular and Thermal to boost healing and balance melanin production for a more even skin tone.
Elixir RoXium
RoXium™ uses yellow and blue light to reduce swelling/bruising, prevent skin oxidation, decrease sebum, minimize pores, and clear the complexion.
How Much Does a Facelift Cost?
The scope of each facelift procedure will have an impact on its price. With that said, the cost of a facelift in Philadelphia is determined by factors such as the type of anesthesia used and the amount of operation time required. At the time of consultation, Dr. Ho’s surgical coordinator provides a formal individualized surgical fee quote to each patient. The average cost ranges from $28,000-$33,000 plus facility fees. Other things to consider are if this is a regular or mini facelift.
Patient Testimonials
Real Stories from Facelift Patients
Before and After My Deep Plane Facelift & Neck Lift Surgery with Dr. Tina Ho
My name is Kimberly. I am from Rhode Island. This is my husband, Vincent, and I wouldn’t be here today getting this facelift and neck lift surgery or had this journey if it wasn’t for him. From the time I was young, I call it the curse. My father had a double chin. My grandmother had a double chin. My aunts had one too, and they would all tease me. You know, as a young child, they’d say, “Someday you’re going to look like this.” And I did get that double chin. I never really felt confident with it. It always bothered me. I was always self-conscious about it. I didn’t feel comfortable meeting new people. I didn’t feel comfortable in myself. I didn’t feel pretty. I didn’t feel comfortable taking photos.
Patient Testimonial: Facelift & Neck Lift
This beautiful patient in her 40s came to me for surgical consultation, bothered by her aging face and neck. We pursued a deep plane facelift and deep neck lift to restore more youthful contour to her face, jawline, and neck. We are so grateful for her kind testimonial that describes her patient journey and for her beautiful, natural results.
As Seen In
Dr. Tina Ho in the Press
Dr. Tina Ho has been featured in leading media publications that highlight her expertise in facial plastic surgery.
Related Procedures
Explore additional procedures that complement a your procedure for balanced, natural-looking rejuvenation.
Each facelift and neck lift procedure is different and catered to the individual patient. Therefore, the types of incisions utilized as well as extent of swelling, bruising, and tenderness that occur after surgery will vary by patient. Closed suction drains are typically placed in the surgical sites underneath the skin to collect bloody drainage and help reduce the formation of a hematoma (blood fluid collection) or seroma (serous fluid collection) that may interfere with healing after surgery. A compression dressing is placed around the head and neck region at the conclusion of the surgery to prevent hematoma or seroma formation as well. Every facelift and neck lift patient will follow-up with Dr. Ho the following day after surgery for compression dressing removal and replacement and drain removal. Each patient will then follow-up again at one and two weeks after surgery for suture and staple removal. Any immediate bruising and swelling after surgery can be managed well with icing, head elevation, and compression dressing adherence with the majority resolving by two weeks out from surgery. Patients who undergo additional fat transfer may experience more lingering swelling that may take up to one month to resolve. Post-operative pain is usually managed well with prescribed pain medication. Improvement in the appearance of the face and neck is typically observed immediately or after most of the swelling has subsided. Dr. Ho seeks regular follow-up with her patients to ensure that every patient heals well and is satisfied with their surgical outcome.
The ideal candidate for facelift and neck lift is a healthy non-smoker patient who has no remarkable medical or surgical history, does not take blood-thinning medications, and demonstrates strong bony facial features, normal hyoid position, and good skin elasticity. Patients with moderate to significant skin and soft tissue laxity in the midface, lower face, and neck areas will most benefit from facelift and/or neck lift. The Dedo classification of the aging neck helps guide the plastic surgeon in identifying ideal candidates for facelift and neck lift as well as the specific anatomic components of the lower face and neck of the individual patient that need to be addressed with surgery. Class VI patients have an abnormal hyoid position and will likely have suboptimal results with facelift and neck lift surgery. Dr. Ho utilizes the Dedo classification principles as well as her aesthetic experience and intuition to restore natural, freshly rejuvenated facial and neck contours in her patients.
The Dedo classification helps guide the plastic surgeon in determining ideal candidates for lower face and neck surgery including submental liposuction, facelift, and neck lift and what anatomic issues need to be addressed with surgery. Class I patients possess good skin and muscle tone with little fat and an ideal cervicomental angle. Class II, III, IV, and V patients demonstrate skin laxity, focal fat accumulation, platysmal banding, and weak chin, retrospectively. Class VI patients have an abnormal hyoid position and will likely have suboptimal results with surgery.
Platysma banding is considered as one of the first signs of aging in the neck. It refers to the appearance of vertical neck lines usually in the midline of the neck that become more pronounced with facial animation and is due to hyperactivity of the platysma muscle. There are various non-surgical and surgical treatment options for improving this issue that range from neurotoxin to platysma plication, which can be performed at the time of facelift and neck lift. Dr. Ho is experienced in both non-surgical and surgical management of platysma banding and will work with each patient to determine the best treatment option based on their neck anatomy and treatment goals.
It is common for other procedures to be performed at the same time as facelift surgery, depending on the patient’s anatomic issues and surgical goals. They include but are not limited to the following: neck lift, fat transfer, platysma plication, submental liposuction, chin augmentation, and blepharoplasty. Dr. Ho is experienced in a wide range of aging face procedures and will thoroughly evaluate each facelift candidate and discuss with them whether they would benefit from additional procedures at the time of their facelift surgery.
Deep plane facelift is one type of facelift surgery that is centered on lifting the skin and SMAS or muscle layer together as one unit to create long-lasting facial rejuvenation results. Compared to other SMAS flap approaches to facelift including SMAS imbrication and SMAS plication, the deep plane technique involves making an incision into the SMAS layer more anteriorly with more medial elevation under the SMAS layer and greater release of multiple ligaments tethering the aging face. The outcome of the deep place facelift is a powerful yet naturally lifted face with minimal tension including enhanced lift and projection in the midface. Deep plane facelift is a technically more advanced surgery that may be associated with more prolonged healing but yields longer lasting results. Dr. Tina Ho is experienced in the deep plane approach and will thoroughly evaluate each facelift candidate to determine whether they may benefit from deep plane facelift.
Plastic surgeons who specialize in facelift surgery may use a variety of terminology to label the procedure to help distinguish their surgical approach for marketing and patient education purposes. Lower facelift typically refers to a facelift procedure that only addresses the lower face including the jawline. Mini facelift can be described as a facelift surgery that involves smaller incisions and less tissue resuspension and benefits those patients with milder skin and soft tissue laxity issues. Therefore, terms such as lower facelift and mini facelift may give patients the impression that the anticipated surgery is less invasive with shorter downtime compared to traditional facelift surgery. Dr. Ho spends ample time and effort to explain her customized surgical approach to each facelift patient and address their questions and concerns to ensure that both are on the same page regarding surgical goals and expectations.
Revision facelift surgery refers to a facelift procedure that is performed on a patient with history of prior facelift. A patient may be a candidate for revision facelift if they are seeking corrective surgery to improve a new or persistent deformity after fully healing from recent surgery or repeat surgery several years after an initial facelift for additional facial rejuvenation. Although facelift surgery delivers permanent results, the surgical results may only last for several years out and then start to fade since the face and neck continue to age over time. Revision facelift surgery is typically much more challenging compared to primary facelift given that the facial anatomy is altered with scar tissue present. The risks of bleeding and poor healing as well as needed surgical time may be higher with revision surge
