Plastic Surgeon Serving North Andover, Boston, Haverhill, MA - Nashua, Salem, Manchester, NH & Nearby Areas
Visible signs of aging are often best addressed with facial plastic surgery such as a facelift. Men and women living in and around Andover, Massachusetts and Nashua, New Hampshire can benefit from this procedure as soon as signs of aging become apparent.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. George P. Chatson has over 30 years of experience utilizing various facelift techniques to restore a youthful and naturally attractive appearance.
During your initial consultation, Dr. Chatson will listen carefully to your concerns, assess the areas of your face that you are unhappy with, and provide you with honest information about the treatment or treatment combinations that will best produce the look you desire.
To schedule your facelift consultation at our Andover, Massachusetts office, please call 978-687-1151. If you live in the Nashua, New Hampshire area, please call 603-882-2103 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Chatson.
Benefits of a Facelift
A facelift offers unparalleled benefits in addressing issues such as:
- Loose skin
- Jowls
- Double chin
- Droopy or saggy cheeks
Facelift surgery addresses signs of aging in the middle and lower portions of the face. Depending on the technique used, the procedure can also address loose skin in the neck to remove issues like turkey waddle or crepey skin. It cannot address wrinkles around the eyes (crow’s feet), wrinkles between the eyebrows, or creases across the forehead. Some people choose to combine facelift with blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) or brow lift to address signs of aging throughout the face.
It should be noted that facelift surgery is not designed to address wrinkles. While the procedure can certainly diminish fine lines and deep wrinkles, these issues may be best treated with a facial filler such as Juvéderm.
Facelift Techniques
Dr. Chatson will tailor your facelift to meet your specific needs. It is always his goal to select a procedure which will accomplish the desired result while using the smallest incision possible.
In some instances, optimal lift can be achieved with a short-scar facelift. This procedure requires an incision along the lateral forehead hairline and along the front of the ear. Scars from this procedure are inconspicuous and the lift achieved can be quite remarkable. Also known as a “mini-facelift,” this option can prove ideal for men and women with mild to moderate skin laxity and less pronounced facial sagging.
Patients who have a greater degree of facial laxity may not be suitable candidates for a short-scar facelift. In these instances, the best result can be obtained with a full-facelift incision which requires an incision along the lateral forehead hairline, in front of the ear, and in the natural fold behind the ear. This approach allows Dr. Chatson to properly advance and contour excess facial and neck skin.
The scars from facelift incisions typically soften and fade over time, becoming quite inconspicuous. We employ scar management techniques, including scar cream massage, which help ensure the best possible result for each patient.
Mini Facelift vs. Full Facelift: Which Is Right for You?
Mini and full facelifts differ in the areas treated, incision length, and extent of correction, as shown below:
| Feature | Mini Facelift | Full Facelift |
| Best suited for | Mild to moderate facial sagging | Moderate to significant facial and neck sagging |
| Primary treatment areas | Lower cheeks and jawline | Cheeks, jawline, lower face, and neck |
| Skin laxity | Mild to moderate loose skin | More pronounced loose or sagging skin |
| Jowls | Improves early or mild jowling | Corrects more noticeable jowls |
| Neck correction | Limited neck improvement | More extensive correction of loose neck skin |
| Incision length | Shorter incision along the hairline and front of the ear | Longer incision extending around and behind the ear |
| Extent of surgery | Less extensive facial lifting and repositioning | More extensive lifting and repositioning of facial tissues |
| Recovery | May involve a shorter recovery, depending on the technique | May require more recovery time due to the extent of surgery |
| Results | Subtle, natural-looking improvement in facial contours | More noticeable correction of advanced facial aging |
| Ideal candidate | Someone with early signs of aging who needs limited correction | Someone with significant sagging who needs more extensive facial and neck correction |
Facelift for Men: Tailoring the Procedure for Male Facial Structure
Men experience many of the same signs of facial aging as women, including sagging cheeks, jowls, and loose neck skin. However, a male facelift requires special consideration of masculine facial features, skin thickness, facial hair growth, and jawline definition.
When planning facelift surgery for men, several factors are considered:
- Jawline definition: The procedure can help reduce jowls and restore a firmer, more defined jawline while preserving masculine contours.
- Facial hair and incision placement: Surgeons must carefully position incisions around the ears and hairline to account for beard growth patterns and minimize visible scarring.
- Skin thickness: Men's skin is often thicker than women's, which can influence surgical planning and tissue repositioning.
- Neck contour: Loose neck skin and excess tissue beneath the chin may be corrected to create a smoother transition between the chin and neck.
- Natural-looking results: The goal is to reduce visible signs of aging without making the face appear overly tight or changing its masculine characteristics.
At his practice serving North Andover, MA, and Nashua, NH, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. George P. Chatson evaluates each patient's facial anatomy and aesthetic goals to determine the most suitable facelift technique.
Ideal Facelift Candidates
The ideal facelift candidate should be:
- A nonsmoker or willing to quit well in advance of surgery
- In generally good physical health
- Physically and emotionally prepared for a surgical procedure
- Willing and able to restrict activities during a two to four week recovery period
- Willing to closely follow all of Dr. Chatson’s pre and postoperative instructions
In addition, good facelift candidates need to have realistic expectations. This procedure can help reduce up to 10 years from your appearance by removing stubborn fat deposits and sagging skin while lifting underlying structure for a firmer, better contoured, and more youthful look. A natural, pleasing appearance is always the goal when Dr. Chatson performs a facelift.
What you can realistically expect from your procedure will be discussed in greater detail during your initial consultation.
The best way to determine if you are a good facelift candidate is through a one-on-one consultation at our Andover, MA or Nashua, NH office. During this meeting, Dr. Chatson will discuss facelift candidacy, preparation, and maintenance to help make sure you understand what the procedure entails.
Dr. Chatson strives to provide each patient with a rested and balanced appearance after facelift. Natural-looking results are essential for patient comfort and self-esteem.
Facelift Recovery
A facelift can provide dramatic, long-lasting results. The first step in maintaining those results is to follow the postoperative recovery guidelines provided by Dr. Chatson. These recommendations include information about postoperative care to help ensure you heal properly such as incision care and dressing, activity limitation, and lifestyle choices - all of which can work to either slow or facilitate healing.
During facelift recovery, some swelling and bruising will be normal. This should diminish within two to three weeks, enabling most to return to work with minimal indication of the procedure at this time. Depending on your body’s reaction to surgery and how well you follow pre and postoperative instructions, this period may be slightly shorter or longer in your case.
During recovery, it is best to rest, but not to become lethargic. Several walks throughout the day will help reduce swelling and speed recovery - but too much exercise can have the opposite impact. Dr. Chatson will work directly with you during your recovery to make sure you are getting the right amount of physical exercise at each stage.
Every patient and facelift procedure is unique, and Dr. Chatson will discuss your specific expectations with you in detail. He will also talk to you about long-term care to help extend your results, which should be fully realized within six to eight weeks of your procedure.
Maintaining Facelift Results
After you heal and are cleared to apply makeup and other skin products, it’s advisable to adhere to a healthy skin-care regimen. This includes:
- Daily face washing
- Daily removal of all makeup
- Regular use of face lotion
- Sunscreen use as appropriate (many facial lotions also contain sun protection)
A good skin care routine and positive lifestyle choices can help you sustain your facelift results.
Diet also plays a significant role in maintaining your facelift results. Adequate hydration is especially important for preserving skin tone and elasticity; it is generally recommended that adults drink about eight to 10, eight-ounce servings of water per day.
A balanced diet that features fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly those that are high in antioxidants and alpha lipoic acid (both of which aid in the prevention of skin damage), can also help you maintain facial skin health. A healthy diet can also help you stay within your ideal weight range, which is beneficial to maintaining your rejuvenated appearance; weight fluctuations can contribute to fatty deposits and loose, sagging skin.
In addition to your diet, other lifestyle choices that can help you sustain your facelift include:
- Avoiding lengthy, direct exposure to the sun
- Avoiding tanning beds
- Getting sufficient, regular sleep
- Not smoking
For additional information, please see our Facelift Surgery Questions page.
Why Choose Dr. Chatson
Dr. George Chatson is a board-certified plastic surgeon with decades of experience. Positively reviewed and highly rated on RealSelf.com, the care provided by Dr. Chatson is focused entirely on patient, safety, comfort, and satisfaction. This focus has earned our practice a Patient Safety Excellence Award from HealthGrades for several years running.
In addition to distinctions from RealSelf and HealthGrades, Dr. Chatson has been voted one of Massachusetts’s Top Plastic Surgeons by northshore magazine.
Awards and recognition serve to let us know we’re doing a good job, but do not drive our practice. What drives our practice is a desire to help men and women in New England look and feel amazing. If you are unhappy with any aspect of your face, breasts, or body, we welcome an opportunity to meet with you to understand your needs and help you find the best way to address them.
Contact Us for a Consultation
To learn more about your facelift options, please contact George P. Chatson and schedule a personal consultation today. We welcome patients from Andover and Lowell, Massachusetts, Salem and Manchester, New Hampshire, and all surrounding areas of New England. Call 978-687-1151 for service in Massachusetts or 603-882-2103 to contact our office in New Hampshire.
