Look Your Natural Best: Facelift in Santa Rosa

Rediscover a youthful, refreshed appearance with a facelift at Chernoff Cosmetic Surgery. Our advanced techniques ensure you'll look like yourself—just more rested, lifted, and vibrant.

What Is a Facelift? 

A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a cosmetic procedure designed to improve the visible signs of aging skin. If you notice lines, wrinkles, loose skin, and jowling, a facelift can enhance your appearance while maintaining natural-looking results. 

Depending on your individual aesthetic goals and signs of aging, Dr. Chernoff offers a full spectrum of options. He often combines advanced facelift techniques with complementary treatments to deliver long-lasting, natural-looking results.

Who's a Good Facelift Candidate? 

You may be a good candidate for a facelift if you're concerned by signs of aging in the mid to lower face. It's a fact of life: once we reach our forties and fifties, our faces show signs of aging. The natural aging process, combined with environmental damage and the effects of gravity, gradually takes a toll on facial appearance. Over time, both men and women experience the following concerns: 

  • Sagging skin and muscles from the cheeks to the jawline 
  • Wrinkles and folds around the nose and mouth 
  • Double chin or loose skin around the jawline 
  • Heavy cheeks with volume loss (in the cheeks and around the mouth) 

Facial and neck aging varies from patient to patient due to genetics, ethnicity, exposure to environmental elements, and a person's skin care regimen. 

Scheduling a consultation with Dr. Chernoff is the first step toward achieving your facial enhancement goals. He will assess your candidacy, ensuring you are in good overall health, a nonsmoker, and have realistic expectations about the procedure. 

Today's Innovative Facelift Techniques 

The first facelift was reportedly performed by a German surgeon in 1901. Since then, surgical techniques have advanced dramatically. Early facelifts in the U.S. focused solely on skin tightening with single-layer procedures. Facelift surgery is far more sophisticated today, offering more comprehensive and natural-looking results. 

As an expert facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Greg Chernoff utilizes state-of-the-art techniques that go well beyond surface tightening. One of the most effective modern approaches is the SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system) facelift, which targets the deeper structural layers of the face. The SMAS is a layer of dense connective tissue within the cheek, positioned between the facial expression muscles and the subcutaneous fat. 

For patients with more advanced signs of aging, Dr. Chernoff often recommends the deep plane SMAS facelift—a powerful technique that repositions deeper tissues and enhances long-term results. This advanced facelift procedure includes: 

  • Ligament release and repositioning of the muscle and fat layers 
  • Tissue lifting for a naturally elevated appearance 
  • Excess skin removal to smooth and refine facial contours 

Benefits of a Deep Plane Facelift 

Recognized as a top facial plastic surgeon in Santa Rosa and beyond, Dr. Chernoff customizes the deep plane facelift to suit each patient's anatomy and needs. Benefits of a personalized facelift approach include: 

  • Improved facial volume and youthful fullness 
  • Enhanced cheek contour and mid-face elevation 
  • Reduction in sagging skin and jowling 
  • Refined jawline definition 
  • Restoration of your natural face shape 

How Much Does a Facelift Cost in Santa Rosa, CA? 

In Santa Rosa, Novato, and surrounding communities, the cost of a facelift varies based on factors such as the surgeon's experience level and the surgical techniques used. Following your consultation, Dr. Chernoff provides a detailed treatment plan with exact pricing. Many patients take advantage of our payment and financing options. 

Your Facelift Consultation With Dr. Chernoff: What To Expect 

In addition to exploring your aesthetic concerns and goals, Dr. Chernoff will answer all your facelift questions, including: 

  • What medications will be prescribed following the procedure? 
  • When can you resume regular activities after facelift surgery? 
  • Can you go home right after facelift surgery? 
  • Will I need to wear bandages following the surgery? 
  • When can you wear make-up after a facelift? 
  • When will the stitches be taken out? 
  • When can I get a haircut or color my hair after a facelift? 
  • How is a deep plane facelift performed? 

Before any surgical procedure, Dr. Chernoff recommends that all our patients read his
"Complete Guide to Face and Neck Rejuvenation for Women and Men" and our "Patient Guide for Plastic Surgery". These resources explain essential points all patients should consider before undergoing a facelift or other surgical procedures. 

Learn More: Read, “Dr. Greg Chernoff’s Complete Guide to Face & Neck Rejuvenation for Women and Men”

How Is a Deep Plane Facelift Performed? 

The procedure uses small incisions carefully placed around the earlobe and mid-ear. Dr. Chernoff is meticulous about incision placement, resulting in small and virtually invisible scars. Women can typically wear their hair up without visible signs of surgery, and even most men are surprised by how discreet the incisions appear once healed. 

Once the incision is made, Dr. Chernoff lifts and tightens the underlying connective tissue and facial musculature before removing excess skin. He uses a specialized suturing technique to reduce tension during closure, helping to minimize visible scarring. 

Enhancing Neck & Jawline Definition 

For enhanced contouring along the neck and jawline, Dr. Chernoff may perform: 

  • neck lift to reduce excess fat and sagging 

These additions help achieve a smoother, more sculpted lower face. Depending on your unique anatomy and goals, Dr. Chernoff may also suggest combining a facelift with an endoscopic eyebrow lift, eyelid lift (blepharoplasty), or facial fat transfer for comprehensive rejuvenation. 

While every case is unique, a full deep plane facelift procedure typically takes between 2 and 5 hours to complete with or without additional treatments. 

Your Facelift Recovery 

Following your facelift surgery, Dr. Chernoff and his dedicated team of recovery and aftercare nurses will provide specific aftercare instructions. Following Dr. Chernoff's postoperative instructions is essential, as you will receive details on addressing swelling and bruising and managing discomfort. 

 Out-of-town patients who travel to our Santa Rosa office for their deep plane facelift can choose to stay in our serene, postoperative guest house after their procedure. Our staff will advise you on the details. 

Once bruising and swelling diminish, you'll notice further visible improvements, resulting in a more refreshed and youthful look. Most facelift patients return to work in 7 to 10 days. However, any strenuous activities should be postponed for several weeks. Dr. Chernoff will advise you when you can resume your normal activities. 

What's a Mini Facelift? 

A mini facelift is a less invasive version of a traditional facelift designed to address early signs of aging, such as mild jowling and sagging in the lower face. It involves smaller incisions, typically placed around the ears, and focuses on lifting and tightening the skin and underlying tissues with minimal downtime. Because it's a less extensive procedure, it's often a popular option for younger patients seeking a subtle, refreshed appearance. 

What Are Some Nonsurgical Facelift Alternatives? 

At Chernoff Cosmetic Surgery, we offer a variety of nonsurgical facelift alternatives for patients who prefer a less invasive approach with minimal downtime. 

  • Dermal fillers hydrate and volumize your skin while reducing and softening wrinkles and folds. Combining fillers with neuromodulators such as BOTOX® Cosmetic provides temporary rejuvenation without surgery. This approach is often referred to as a "liquid facelift." 
  •  Y Lift® facelift is a minimally invasive, sub-muscular filler placement technique. This treatment is known for accentuating the cheekbone region, reviving the under-eye area, and instantly defining the jawline and upper neck without making the face look puffy or filled. 

Dr. Chernoff and his expert team will thoroughly explore your concerns and help you determine which procedures can achieve your ideal youthful look. 

Why Choose Chernoff Cosmetic Surgery for Your Facelift? 

Finding a highly credentialed facial plastic surgeon is essential to your safety and results. Board certification, advanced training and skills, and artistic precision are among the top factors to consider. 

It's worth noting that a facelift is one of the most challenging procedures that a surgeon performs. Achieving natural-looking results requires a surgeon with the appropriate certifications, extensive knowledge, experience, surgical skill, and aesthetic vision. You only have one face, and you want to select the "best" facelift surgeon in Santa Rosa or Novato for your procedure.  

Dr. Chernoff is a renowned aesthetic surgeon and educator who has performed facelifts and other cosmetic procedures in Sonoma County for over 20 years. You can trust your transformation to Dr. Chernoff, who is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology (Head and Neck Surgery), the American Board of Facial, Plastic, and Reconstructive Surgery, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. His triple board certification ranks him among the one percent of plastic surgeons in the U.S. with this exceptionally high level of credentials.

Communities We Serve 

People seeking beautiful, natural-looking facelift results visit our Santa Rosa, California, plastic surgery practice from the following nearby areas: 

  • Novato, CA 
  • Petaluma, CA 
  • San Rafael, CA 
  • Healdsburg, CA 
  • Cloverdale, CA, and surrounding communities 

Sonoma and Marin County patients considering a facelift seek out triple board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Greg Chernoff for his exceptional credentials and compassionate approach. 

Schedule Your Facelift Consultation in Santa Rosa, CA 

Are you ready to restore your appearance to a naturally vibrant and youthful look? Request a consultation with Dr. Chernoff using the online form, or contact our practice at (707) 544-3232. We can't wait to help you put your best face forward!  

* Facelift results may vary and are not guaranteed.