Facelift
ACHIEVE NATURALLY REJUVENATED FACIAL CONTOURS
EXPLORE DR. KEVIN CROSS’ SOPHISTICATED FACELIFT TECHNIQUE
For patients seeking meaningful improvement in visible facial aging, many treatments promise refreshment—but a facelift at our Philadelphia and Villanova offices remains the gold standard. Medically known as a rhytidectomy, this procedure delivers transformative, long-lasting results that go far beyond what injectables, lasers, and other non-surgical options can achieve.
Renowned facial plastic surgeons Dr. Kevin Cross and Dr. Jackie Lyons collectively perform more than 100 facelift and neck lift procedures each year for patients traveling from the Philadelphia area, across the United States, and internationally.
FACELIFT BASICS
As we age, the face gradually loses volume, particularly in the cheeks and midface. Over time, the supportive structures beneath the skin weaken, allowing tissues to loosen and descend. What was once a softly contoured, heart-shaped face begins to shift, with fullness migrating downward and excess skin collecting along the jawline and neck. The result is a heavier lower face that can appear less defined and less youthful.
In youth, facial volume is concentrated in the upper face, creating a gentle taper from the cheeks to a refined chin. With age, that balance changes. The face often takes on a more square or bottom-heavy appearance as the cheeks flatten, and the jawline becomes less sculpted. These natural shifts are especially apparent when comparing the features of a mother and daughter side by side.
This mother-and-daughter comparison shows the squaring of the face during the aging process.
As we age, skin laxity, loose muscles, and stubborn fat not only alter the contours of the face but can also affect the neck and diminish a once well-defined jawline. While lasers, injectables, and other non-surgical treatments may offer temporary improvement, a facelift remains the gold standard for comprehensive facial rejuvenation. With advanced techniques now safer and more effective than ever, a facelift with Dr. Kevin Cross or Dr. Jackie Lyons addresses multiple signs of aging on both the face and neck. By repositioning tissues, tightening underlying structures, and removing excess skin and fat, facelift surgery restores youthful contours, enhances the jawline, and delivers lasting, transformative results that cannot be achieved with non-surgical treatments alone.
To summarize the possible results, a facelift helps define the jawline, create a more contoured neck, and restore lost volume in key areas of the face, as seen in these patients:
*Results May Vary
Before & After Photo Gallery
See for yourself the patient transformations that can be achieved by Dr. Cross and his team.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
Schedule your personalized facelift consultation at Cross Medical Group in Philadelphia or Villanova to discuss procedure cost, expected results, recovery, and treatment options. Call us at (215) 561-9100 (Philadelphia) or (610) 688-9100 (Villanova), or send a message online.
EXPLORE DR. KEVIN CROSS’ SOPHISTICATED FACELIFT TECHNIQUE
In 2026, Dr. Cross continues to refine his facial rejuvenation techniques developed over decades of experience. His approach goes beyond the skin to address deeper tissues, allowing the face and neck to settle naturally after surgery for long-lasting, youthful contours. By carefully controlling the muscular layer at every level—from the neck and cheeks to the forehead—Dr. Cross ensures each region is balanced with the others, tailoring the surgery to each patient’s needs. Using advanced techniques, he delivers the most dramatic yet natural-looking results possible, helping patients achieve refreshed, harmonious facial rejuvenation that stands the test of time.
This exceptional level of experience—nearly 20 times the annual average for most plastic surgeons—contributed to Dr. Cross’ recognition by Town & Country as one of the nation’s 30 best beauty gurus.
See the results of Dr. Cross' techniques in his facelift before-and-after photos. Browse the facelift before-and-after gallery online or ask to see images of his past patients—including mini-facelift before-and-after photos—during your consultation.
As Dr. Cross tells his patients, "A good facial rejuvenation should mean that, once the recovery is complete, friends and family will appreciate an improvement, but a new acquaintance should not know that a procedure has been performed."
TYPES OF FACELIFTS
DEEP PLANE FACELIFT DETAILS
Widely considered to be a gold standard in the field of facelift surgery, the deep plane facelift technique allows Dr. Cross and Dr. Lyons to mobilize and reposition all of the aging elements of the face, including skin, muscle, and fat. This is most essential in patients whose cheeks have deflated, who have developed deep nasolabial folds, and who have seen excess jowls develop and obscure their jawline.
Dr. Cross and Dr. Lyons put all of the tissues and layers back where they belong after releasing tethered ligaments in the face. These ligaments can only be released from a deep access point, which requires a maneuver that is key to every successful deep plane facelift surgery procedure. These same ligaments prevent many standard facelifts from achieving rejuvenation in the midface and jowl area, because when they are not released, they prevent the appropriate repositioning of the tissues in the area. The result of a less-sophisticated approach is less natural.
Notice in this picture of a 63-year-old woman who underwent a deep plane brow, face, and neck lift, that the sagging in her cheeks has been lifted. Her features are no longer flat and square but take on the more curved shape of youthfulness. Her cheeks are higher and fuller, and her jowls are corrected.
HIGH SMAS FACELIFT DETAILS
The so-called “High SMAS facelift” is very similar to the deep plane facelift, with the main difference being that the deep entry point is made higher on the face. This allows even more improvement in the cheek region and is an ideal option for younger patients, as well as those with a naturally thicker SMAS—which stands for superficial musculoaponeurotic system, a fibrous network that provides support for facial muscles. Part of the artistry in face lifting is being able to recognize who is a better candidate for one procedure as opposed to another. Our plastic surgeons’ extensive work with patients from all walks of life and all over the world allows them to reference and access the countless variations that exist, all of which can inform the next surgery they perform.
OTHER SMAS FACELIFT DETAILS
Suturing the SMAS without first lifting the layer of supportive tissue is the most common approach used by plastic surgeons who are getting comfortable with facelift surgery. While this technique is very limited in its ability to improve shape in the mid portion of the cheeks and face, Dr. Cross and Dr. Lyons will sometimes use it—especially when patients require more attention in their neck and only limited correction around the jowl and jawline.
FACELIFT INCISION PLACEMENT
A key factor in any successful facelift surgery is incision placement. It is a common understanding that the incisions must be kept as short as possible—while still allowing the surgeon access to the necessary layers and structures beneath the skin—in order to minimize scarring. What is even more important, however, is that the incisions remain as unobtrusive as possible. The goal is that they won’t be noticed once they have healed. Incisions that distort the sideburns or that are visible in front of the ear—even if they are short or small—should not be tolerated.
Dr. Cross and Dr. Lyons have noticed that plastic surgeons often shorten their incisions but still leave the skin around the ear and neck with a puckered and bunched appearance. As is evident in the photograph here, when the incision is positioned correctly, it is nearly impossible to see—even when the hair is pulled back.
FACELIFT FAQS
There’s no “perfect” age for a facelift, but most candidates fall between their 40s and 60s. That said, healthy patients outside this range can still achieve excellent results with the right surgical plan.
Patients who undergo a facelift in their 40s, 50s, or early 60s often enjoy results that keep them looking refreshed and more youthful for 15 to 20 years. Those in their 70s or 80s can also see meaningful rejuvenation, though age-related thinning of facial tissues may affect how long results last. Even so, a facelift at this stage can help turn back the clock for a decade or more.
The advanced facelift techniques performed by Dr. Kevin Cross and Dr. Jackie Lyons are highly effective for both men and women, but male patients have unique considerations due to facial hair—especially the beard. Men have a patch of hairless skin between the ear and the beard that runs along the cheek and neck. During a facelift or neck lifting procedure, skin is repositioned to lift sagging areas, and if hair follicles are not carefully managed, hair-bearing skin may cover previously hairless areas. This can create an unnatural appearance that may not be immediately obvious, but is noticeable.
To prevent this, Dr. Cross and Dr. Lyons take extra care to remove hair follicles from the skin that moves to cover the area near the ear. This step is rarely performed by other surgeons but is essential for a seamless, natural-looking facelift in men.
Male patients should also be aware of temporary numbness in the facial skin following facelift surgery. This can affect shaving for the first few months, as reduced sensation makes it harder to feel the razor. With careful attention, patients can avoid nicks or cuts while the skin gradually regains normal sensation.
The timeline for facelift recovery varies depending on the surgical technique, the extent of the facelift surgery, and each patient’s individual healing ability. Dr. Cross and Dr. Lyons guide patients through every step of the process. While each experience is unique, patients can generally expect temporary bruising, swelling, and redness around the incision sites. These effects typically resolve on their own within two to three weeks, whether undergoing a mini, deep plane, or other type of facelift surgery.
Recovery after a facelift varies by patient, but most can resume light activities within a few days. Walking, showering, and washing hair and face are usually possible just two days after surgery. Many patients feel comfortable running errands within about 10 days—often without anyone noticing they recently had a procedure.
Although healing can be quick, some prefer to delay social activities or returning to work until swelling and bruising subside, typically two to three weeks. Final results generally settle over eight to ten weeks. Regardless of pace, it’s essential to rest, care for incision sites, and protect them from sun exposure to prevent discoloration and support optimal healing.
Recognized for their natural-looking results and advanced surgical expertise, Dr. Kevin Cross and Dr. Jackie Lyons perform a notable number of revision facelift procedures each year—more than 20 percent of Dr. Cross’ facelift surgeries are revisions. Most of these cases involve patients who previously underwent facelifts performed by other surgeons elsewhere and are seeking improvement or correction. Common reasons include visible scarring, poor incision placement, asymmetry, or loss of improvement from a previous facelift. While patients are generally advised to wait at least a year before pursuing a revision, some corrections may be done sooner. Even ideal facelifts won’t stop the natural aging process, so follow-up facelifts are often necessary and can be highly effective, whether rejuvenating prior work or correcting another surgeon’s procedure.
Patients often heal faster after a repeat facelift, thanks to improved techniques, shorter scars, and the body’s familiarity with the procedure. When neck work is needed, a small scar under the chin is used, which typically fades quickly and is rarely noticeable. For patients who have lost upper facial volume over time, Dr. Cross and Dr. Lyons may restore it by repositioning natural tissues and, in some cases, adding fat or stem cell grafting. The goal is always a refreshed, balanced look—never overfilled—complementing the overall facial restoration.
Any volume added should not create an “overfilled” or “overdone” look, but should instead complement the overall restoration, as demonstrated in this patient:
*Results May Vary
Before & After Photo Gallery
See for yourself the patient transformations that can be achieved by Dr. Cross and his team.
NEXT-LEVEL FACIAL REJUVENATION OPTIONS
Patients considering a facelift in Philadelphia or Villanova often want to refresh not only the lower face but the entire facial appearance. A facelift can restore youthful contours, while a brow lift elevates a hooded forehead and blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) opens the eyes for a more alert, rejuvenated look. For additional definition, chin and cheek implants can enhance facial structure, complementing the results of a facelift.
While a facelift addresses sagging and restores volume, it does not improve the quality of the skin. To achieve smoother, more radiant skin alongside a facelift, Dr. Kevin Cross and Dr. Jackie Lyons offer treatments such as BroadBand Light (BBL), infrared (IR), fractional laser resurfacing, chemical peels, and microneedling. By combining a facelift with these advanced skin rejuvenation options, patients enjoy both lifted contours and refreshed, youthful skin.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
Refreshed, youthful results await—book your facelift in Philadelphia or Villanova at Cross Medical Group. Call us in Philadelphia at (215) 561-9100 or Main Line's Villanova at (610) 688-9100 or send a message online to inquire about a consultation, or for further details.
