Facelift in Charleston, SC

Name: Facelift
Brand: Ulm Plastic Surgery
Rating: 4.9 (53 reviews)

Restore youthful facial contours while softening sagging skin, deep wrinkles, and jowls. At Ulm Plastic Surgery, Dr. Jason Ulm, our double board-certified plastic surgeon, delivers individualized facelift care to ensure results that reflect your actual goals.

Restore Youthful Facial Contours

A facelift repositions underlying facial tissues and removes excess skin to create a smoother, more youthful facial contour. Rather than simply tightening skin, it addresses deeper structural changes that occur with aging, allowing the results to look natural and balanced. Facelift surgery can improve jowls, deep creases around the mouth and nose, and laxity along the jawline and lower face. Your procedure is carefully planned around your anatomy and goals, with techniques selected to deliver refined, long-lasting improvements without an overdone appearance.

Facelift Overview

What Does a Facelift Treat?

Facelift surgery addresses visible signs of aging in the lower and mid-face that cannot be corrected with skincare or non-surgical treatments alone, including:

Sagging skin along the jawline
Jowls and loss of facial definition
Deep creases around the nose and mouth
Marionette lines and parentheses lines
Wrinkles and folds in the lower face
Laxity in the mid-face tissues

Why Choose Dr. Jason Ulm for a Facelift?

Dr. Jason Ulm is a double board-certified plastic surgeon with advanced fellowship training in aesthetic and craniofacial surgery at Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital. This allows him to approach facelift surgery with a deep understanding of facial anatomy, structural aging, and refined surgical techniques, which is especially important for natural-looking results.

Patients consistently describe feeling heard, unrushed, and confident in their care. Dr. Ulm takes the time to understand what you want to change and what you want to preserve, then builds a surgical plan around those goals. He is known for offering honest guidance and delivering outcomes that closely match what was discussed.

Words from Our Clients "It has taken me some time to find the words to describe Dr. Jason Ulm."

My dream was to find a plastic surgeon to make me look refreshed and very natural. After going on several consults, I was so impressed with meeting Dr Ulm and his team. He listened to me when I exp...

Kat

5 star rating

A few months ago, I solicited a recommendation from an Aesthetispa professional (Lisa) for a plastic surgeon to perform an elective facelift. Being a retired engineering professional from New York,...

Nagelc

5 star rating

Types of Facelift

Mini Facelift

A mini facelift is for patients with early signs of aging who want subtle improvement without an extensive procedure. It focuses on mild skin laxity along the jawline and lower face, and helps reduce early jowling and soften shallow creases. Smaller incisions are placed discreetly around the ears, and underlying tissues are gently tightened to ensure subtle refinement.

Full Facelift

A full facelift addresses more advanced facial aging by repositioning deeper tissues and removing excess skin throughout the lower and mid-face. It is effective for significant jowling, deep creases around the mouth and nose, and loss of jawline definition. This approach allows for comprehensive rejuvenation while maintaining natural facial expression and proportion.

Deep Plane Facelift

A deep plane facelift targets the deeper structural layers of the face rather than focusing solely on skin. By lifting muscle and connective tissue together, this technique allows for more natural movement and longer-lasting results. It is particularly effective for correcting mid-face descent, pronounced nasolabial folds, and heavy jowls with balanced, refined outcomes.

Neck Lift

A neck lift focuses on tightening loose skin, removing excess fat, and refining muscle bands in the neck and jawline. It can improve a double chin, sagging skin, and vertical neck banding. A neck lift may be performed on its own or combined with a facelift for balanced rejuvenation of the face and neck. Combining procedures often provides the most harmonious results.

Facelift Before & After

View More Facelift Results

Am I a Candidate
for a Facelift?

You may be a suitable candidate for facelift surgery if you are bothered by sagging skin, jowls, or deep facial creases and are in good overall health. During your consultation, Dr. Ulm carefully evaluates your facial anatomy, skin quality, and degree of aging, while discussing your goals in detail. He uses this information to determine whether a facelift, neck lift, or another approach will best address your concerns and create balanced, natural-looking results.

Schedule A Consultation

Benefits of a Facelift

Facelift surgery offers comprehensive facial rejuvenation by addressing both surface changes and deeper structural aging, providing benefits such as:

Smoother, firmer facial contours
Improved jawline definition
Reduction of jowls and sagging skin
Softening of deep creases and folds
More youthful, refreshed appearance
Long-lasting improvement compared to non-surgical options

Your Complete Facelift Experience

Facelift Surgery

Your facelift procedure is performed in an accredited surgical facility using anesthesia. After your face is marked, Dr. Ulm places incisions within the hairline and along the creases around the ears so scars remain well hidden. He gently separates the skin from the underlying tissue to access the deeper support layer of the face, where most age-related sagging occurs.

That deeper layer is lifted, tightened, and repositioned to restore youthful structure to the cheeks, jawline, and lower face. Excess skin is then carefully trimmed, and the remaining skin is redraped smoothly without pulling. The incisions are closed with fine sutures, and dressings are applied. You are monitored in recovery and sent home with detailed postoperative instructions.

Facelift Consultation

Your facelift consultation is a detailed, one-on-one discussion focused on understanding your concerns and goals. You will review your medical history and undergo a thorough facial and neck examination to assess skin quality, tissue laxity, and facial balance. Dr. Ulm will explain which facelift approach is most appropriate for you, outline the surgical process and recovery timeline, discuss potential risks, and answer your questions in detail.

Facelift Recovery

You can expect temporary swelling, bruising, tightness, and mild discomfort after facelift surgery. These effects are most noticeable during the first week and gradually improve over time. Most patients feel ready to return to daily activities within 10 to 14 days, but strenuous exercise and heavy lifting should be avoided for several weeks. Sutures are typically removed within the first week, and Dr. Ulm provides detailed aftercare instructions to support safe, steady healing.

Facelift Results

You will begin to notice improvements once early swelling and bruising subside, typically within 2 to 3 weeks. Your facial contours continue to refine over several months as healing progresses. Many patients can go ten years or more without needing a touch-up. While the aging process continues, you will always look more youthful than if you had not undergone surgery, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle and skincare routine can help preserve your results.

Possible Alternatives to Facelift

Not everyone who is concerned about facial aging requires or is ready for facelift surgery. Some patients have mild laxity, early volume loss, or isolated concerns that may be better addressed with less invasive options. Others may prefer treatments with shorter recovery times or wish to begin with conservative approaches first. Dr. Ulm evaluates your anatomy, degree of aging, and goals to determine whether an alternative treatment could provide meaningful improvement.

Depending on your needs, the following options may be appropriate:

Mini facelift for early jowling and mild lower-face laxity
Neck lift for loose neck skin, muscle banding, or excess fat beneath the chin
Eyelid surgery for drooping upper lids or under-eye bags that create a tired appearance
Fat grafting for restoring lost facial volume and softening hollow areas
Dermal fillers for temporarily improving folds and volume loss without surgery
Botox for smoothing dynamic wrinkles caused by facial movement

What Is the Cost of a Facelift?

Cost depends on many factors, but according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average surgeon fee for a facelift (rhytidectomy) in the U.S. is about $11,395, not including anesthesia, operating room facilities, or other related fees.

In Charleston, SC, pricing may vary based on the type of procedure, surgical plan, and facility used. Your final cost will be determined during your consultation, during which you’ll receive a personalized quote that reflects your goals and specific surgical needs. We encourage you to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jason Ulm for the most accurate estimate.

Facelift Frequently Asked Questions

How long do facelift results last?

Facelift results are considered long-lasting, with many patients enjoying improvements for ten years or more. While surgery cannot stop the aging process, it resets the clock by repositioning tissues and removing excess skin. You will continue to age naturally, but you should always look younger than you would have if you had never undergone surgery.

Will my facelift look natural?

When performed with proper technique and thoughtful planning, a facelift should yield natural, balanced results. Dr. Ulm focuses on restoring the underlying structure rather than tightening skin, which helps avoid an overdone appearance. Your surgical plan is customized to your anatomy and goals so your results look like a refreshed version of you.