The goal of a facelift is to restore a youthful facial structure by repositioning the deep facial tissues to their original position. The goal is not to pull the face or to create a tight-operated appearance. When done well, the results are extremely natural yet dramatic. No one, including close friends and family, can detect facelift surgery. Our patients simply look fresh, rested, and more youthful.

Carmel Valley Plastic Surgery

Are you ready for a facelift in San Diego, CA? Depending on the individual's anatomy, lifestyle, degree of age-related changes, and the amount of downtime and cost the individual is able to handle, several options are available to re-contour the face.

These consist of the Deep Plane Facelift, Mini Facelift (Cheek Lift), Full Face and Neck Lift. Each technique has a different aesthetic outcome, risk profile, and recovery time. It is important to note that every facial plastic surgeon performs these procedures differently.

The best way to assess whether a particular surgeon’s facelift approach is consistent with your personal goals and taste is to examine the surgeons before and after photographs, visit or talk with past patients from San Diego, compare incisions styles, and recovery rates.

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Discover Our Latest Innovative Procedure In Facial Rejuvenation

Vertical Restore™

While most surgeons will discuss options for a traditional Facelift and Necklift, Dr. Karam's unique approach to addressing the signs of aging and turning back the clock has resulted in a new paradigm for facial rejuvenation called the Vertical Restore™

One simple look at the results from Vertical Restore indicates the advancement this procedure has made over the traditional Facelift and Necklift.

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"Dr. K is a wonderful doctor in San Diego California! He and his staff are professional, yet they are warm and care about my well-being. I get BOTOX and Restylane from Dr.k and I love his "less is more" approach. Also, even though I only get BOTOX and Restylane at this point he always does them himself and makes me feel just as important as those that see him for more major and costly procedures. Thank you Carmel Valley Plastic Surgery!"

Facelift San Diego

Our deep plane facelift in La Jolla addresses the upper cheeks, midface, jowls, jawline, corners of the mouth, and neck. The difference between this procedure and the Micro Lift (Mini Facelift) is that the upper cheeks and midface are addressed. Essentially, the same incisions are used in both procedures. Individuals in San Diego with a moderate amount of skin and muscle laxity are good candidates for this procedure. The neck is treated with our neck liposuction in San Diego and the muscle is tightened and repositioned.

Dr. Karam employs a deep plane approach when addressing the jawline and midface, which releases various facial ligaments holding the face in its aged position. It is key to have this release. Without it, you are limited to how much repositioning can be achieved as well as the durability of your results. Another benefit is, the healing part of it happens much faster as it is not disrupting the skin and the fascia. The results not only last longer, but also smoothens the jawline, helps the nasolabial folds, restores the position of the midface, and lifts the neck.


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Facelift San Diego

Full face rejuvenation. Short Incision Facelift with Extended Neck Lift, Full Face Fat Transfer, Upper and Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty with Contour TRL Laser. The combination of procedures created a harmonious and balanced rejuvenation. Note the truly natural results.

Mini Facelift (Cheek Lift)

The Mini Facelift address the jowls, jawline, lower cheeks, and neck. This procedure has become extremely popular in my practice in San Diego. The reasons are, it is very effective at treating the jawline and neck, it has a short recovery period, low risk, lower cost, lasting, and can easily be done under local anesthesia.

There are a lot of different types of mini facelifts being performed. Some procedures involve simply removing a small amount of skin. However, to create lasting and meaningful results, the deep muscles (SMAS) of the face and neck need to be addressed. In this case, through very small incisions, the muscle layer of the face and neck are repositioned to a more youthful position. Contact us for a mini facelift in San Diego today. The key to a natural and effective outcome is directly dependent on the vector the surgeon uses to elevate the deep tissues.

Once the deep structures are restored to a more youthful configuration, the skin should simply re-drape over the enhanced contour. The skin should not be pulled or tightened. These are the most important factors in preventing the “operated” look or the “wind tunnel” appearance that so many patients are afraid of. Learn about the new facelift in San Diego we are offering. This facelift procedure for individuals in their 40’s and 50’s with active lifestyles, or older patients who want to minimize downtime yet still get excellent results. The recovery is often about 1 week.

While a full facelift in San Diego can sometimes result in more dramatic outcomes (especially in the neck), however, taking everything into consideration, many of our facelift patients feel that this is a perfect balance. The results are extremely natural and the healing is very predictable. There are many different definitions of a Mini Facelift or Mini Lift. In general, it is less invasive than a full face and neck lift and requires less downtime to recover. A mini facelift is one of our most popular procedures. The reason why so many San Diego patients choose the mini facelift is that it creates excellent results with minimal downtime and cost. It addresses the jowls, jawline, lower cheeks, and neck. It can be effectively used to rejuvenate the lower face in all age ranges. Adding to its popularity is the fact that, it has a short recovery period, low risk, lower cost, long-lasting, and can easily be done under local anesthesia. There are a lot of different types of mini facelifts in San Diego being performed. Some facelift procedures involve simply removing a small amount of skin. However, to create lasting and meaningful results, the deep plane facelift is the preferred method. In this facelift, the deep muscles (SMAS) of the face and neck need to be addressed. In this case, through very small incisions, the muscle layer of the face and neck are repositioned to a more youthful position. The effects on the neck are very dramatic. In many cases, it is equivalent to a neck lift without the prolonged recovery. In the end, the facial contour takes on a more youthful shape ultimately leaving the individual looking rejuvenated.

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The key to a natural and effective outcome is directly dependent on the vector (direction) the surgeon uses to elevate the deep tissues. Once the deep structures are restored to a more youthful configuration, the skin should simply re-drape over the enhanced contour. The skin should not be pulled or tightened. These are the most important factors in preventing the “operated” look or the “wind tunnel” appearance that so many patients are afraid of. This is the perfect procedure for individuals in any age range. Most patients are in their 40’s and 60’s with active lifestyles, or older patients who want to minimize downtime yet still get excellent results. The recovery is often about 1 week. Even though a full facelift in San Diego can sometimes result in more dramatic outcomes, especially in the neck, taking everything into consideration, many of our patients feel that this is a perfect balance. The results are extremely natural and the healing is very predictable. The mini facelift procedure is complimented nicely with conservative upper eyelid blepharoplasty (eyelid tuck) and fat transfer. The results leave San Diego facelift patients' skin looking softer, fresher and more rejuvenated yet very natural. It does not change the appearance it simply restores the youthful look.

Facelift San Diego

Rejuvenation of the lower face and neck following a Short Incision Mini Facelift under local anesthesia.

Facial Plastic Surgery Before and After: 15 Years Younger (Facelift, facial fat transfer, eyelid)

Facial Plastic Surgery Before and After :15 Years Younger (Facelift, facial fat transfer, eyelid)

Full Facelift and Neck Lift

The target areas of this procedure are the upper cheeks, midface, jowls, jawline, corners of the mouth, and neck. This La Jolla facelift procedure is often used for patients with moderate-severe age-related changes in the face and neck. Individuals who would benefit from this procedure are those who have heavy necks or those with a significant amount of laxity and redundant skin.

Facelift and Necklift Example

Facelift San Diego

Necklift

Our neck lift procedure using the vertical restore ™ technique doesn’t just remove some fat from under the skin and tighten the neck muscle, it goes under the muscle where the fat pad lives. This procedure removes that fat along with any other bulky structures that can cause the neck to look full and heavy. Once the tissue under the muscle has been removed, the platysma (neck muscle) is addressed. The excess is a muscle that has become longer with age and is reduced by trimming it and then suturing/folding it together at the midline.

Having done this creates a durable and stable neck, which is further improved by the vertical lifting from above. The loose excess skin is removed both behind the ear and from above, leaving the neck significantly smoother. If you want to test the power of this, place your fingers at the jawline near your ear and lift upward. See how this lifts the neck and improves the angle. Full Face Fat Transfer and Lower Eyelid Skin Pinch. Note the rejuvenated and fresh appearance following these results. The hollowed temples, lower eyelids and cheeks have been refilled leaving her looking natural and healthy.

Facelift San Diego

Neck Liposuction

This is a versatile treatment that can help improve neck contour in a wide range of patients. This is a quick fix for individuals who have isolated problems with too much fat underneath the chin and neck. The best candidates are those with good skin elasticity and mild-moderate fat deposits. With the use of liposuction, the fat underneath the skin is reduced allowing the skin to redrape over the smoother more youthful neck contour.

For more information about having neck liposuction in San Diego from Dr. Amir Karam, reach out today. 

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Example of neck liposuction with chin implant.

Facelift San Diego

Recovery

Generally, the more surgery that is done, the longer the recovery. The Micro-lift has a recovery of about 5-10 days, while the full Facelift and Neck Lift can take a little over 2 weeks. On average, our San Diego cosmetic surgery patients look good enough to get back to their social and professional lives in about 1-2 weeks.

Reviews

Francine M.

"I had a vertical restore at age 65 with Dr Amir Karam. It has been a little over a year and I am delighted with the results. Some of my friends have not even noticed - I just look rested. Dr Karam will provide you with all the information and supplements that you need to make the procedure and the recovery time as comfortable as possible. I usually bruise very easily but with the supplements that were given to me prior to my procedure and afterwards, my bruises were gone within a week."

"I highly recommend Dr. Karam and would go back to him for anything I might want done in the future. I totally trust his approach and recommendations. You won't be disappointed!"

Kris R.

"I'm one month out from a Vertical Restore with Dr Karam. Dr Karam is an incredibly talented Surgeon. I can barely see my scars already. I also did a laser peel, within 8 days I was wearing makeup and admiring my new jawline and neck. I'm 65 this month and so happy I chose him. He is the best there is. His staff are fun, caring and kind. They made my entire experience so easy. I would not hesitate or even think about going anywhere else. Check out his Instagram account. He does all his content himself. Extremely informative, with many before and after photos. I decided on Dr Karam after researching his Instagram and had made my decision before we had even met."

Janice S.

"Dr Karam is a great surgeon, a true artist and a wonderful human being. He has done 2 procedures on me over the last 3 years. Both with excellent results. His fat transfer and his lip lift technique are extraordinary. I wouldn't think of going to anyone else and I would highly recommend him to anyone who is looking for the best."

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