Facelift
SEATTLE
As the years pass, visible changes appear on many levels: the skin loses elasticity, jowls become more pronounced, the neck begins to sag, and youthful fullness in the cheeks and mid-face diminishes. In Seattle, Dr. Phil Bellocchio’s facelift addresses all of these concerns together. The goal is always to restore balance and achieve a refreshed, harmonious appearance.
FACELIFT BEFORE AND AFTER
These Facelift before and after pictures represent actual patients from Dr. Phil Bellocchio. They will help to assist you in understanding your various options and enable you to set realistic goals for your own surgical outcome. Click on a patient for their specific case details.
To preserve anonymity and to protect the confidentiality of all of his patients, Dr. Phil Bellocchio maintains a comprehensive gallery of before and after photographs that can be viewed in the office for Facelift.
“I could not believe my eyes. Dr. Phil Bellocchio accomplished something every other surgeon had told me was impossible. He turned what felt like only a dream into my reality. I will always be grateful to him for my faeclift procedure, and bringing me so much happiness.”
— N.S. / Seattle
WHAT IS A FACE LIFT
A facelift remains one of the foundational procedures in facial rejuvenation, particularly when deeper tissue repositioning is needed in areas like the jowls and neck.
Modern facelift techniques have evolved significantly compared to years past—gone are the “tight” or “pulled” results. Today, the focus is on creating outcomes that are soft, refined, and naturally youthful. In Seattle, Dr. Phil Bellocchio offers a wide range of facelift approaches, tailoring each plan carefully to align with your personal goals and aesthetic vision.
Facelift with Dr. Phil Bellocchio in Seattle
Dr. Phil Bellocchio designs every facial rejuvenation plan around each patient’s unique anatomy and personal goals, with the commitment to delivering the best facelift results in Seattle. His approach is gradual and tailored, moving step by step through a spectrum of techniques—from noninvasive options to more advanced procedures—always choosing the safest and most effective methods suited to your needs.
What are the benefits of a Facelift?
A facelift is a surgical procedure designed to restore a more youthful appearance. This is achieved by carefully repositioning the facial skin and tissues to smooth lines and create a refreshed, natural look.
A patient’s facelift journey with Dr. Phil Bellocchio
“I Finally Look As Good As I Feel”
Kristen Wetherly wanted her 50th birthday to be truly unforgettable. As a gift to herself, she consulted with Dr. Phil Bellocchio in Seattle, who worked with her to design a personalized facelift plan. Read on to discover Kristen’s journey.
A youthful face typically shows fullness in the cheekbones and tapers toward the chin, forming a heart-like shape.
With age, this balance changes: the cheeks lose volume, the jawline widens, and jowls appear, shifting the face into a trapezoidal form. The most effective rejuvenation approaches address this by lifting and repositioning the lower facial tissues while replenishing volume in the cheeks, restoring a natural and more youthful balance.
What cosmetic issues does a Facelift address?
In the hands of an experienced facial plastic surgeon in Seattle, a facelift can rejuvenate your appearance by as much as a decade. Dr. Phil Bellocchio carefully repositions facial tissues during surgery to correct age-related concerns, including:
- Loose jowls
- Sagging facial skin
- Poor chin and jawline definition
- Slackness in the upper neck region
- Laxity, wrinkles, and fine lines on the lower two-thirds of the face
Who is the ideal candidate for a Facelift?
Facelifts are typically considered by patients with significant age-related changes that go beyond what noninvasive options can achieve. The best candidates are:
- Have realistic expectations
- Do not have serious health issues
- Do not have a history of keloid scarring
- Refrain from smoking (or are willing to quit)
- Understand the risks associated with cosmetic surgery
A Message from Dr. Phil Bellocchio for Those Considering a Facelift
“A facelift is one element within a range of techniques designed to rejuvenate and refresh the face. The best results are never overly tight; instead, the goal is to restore the natural position of the neck, jowls, and cheeks, while replenishing lost volume. Ultimately, the aim is to bring back youthful balance and harmony to the face.”
— Dr. Phil Bellocchio
Frequently asked questions about facelifts
How do I prepare for a Facelift?
It is essential to avoid blood-thinning substances for at least two weeks before surgery. Preparing the skin with an at-home regimen—often including retinol or Retin-A—can optimize results, and in some cases, additional treatments such as a chemical peel, Fraxel, or laser may be recommended to further enhance healing (“priming the canvas”). Standard preoperative blood tests and medical clearance are arranged as needed. At your first consultation with Seattle plastic surgeon Dr. Phil Bellocchio, you will receive detailed instructions, which are reviewed again at a preoperative visit two weeks before surgery. Prescriptions are provided at that time, and any remaining questions can be addressed.
The Facelift Procedure
Dr. Phil Bellocchio most often performs facial rejuvenation procedures in his fully accredited, office-based surgical suite in Seattle. A facelift typically takes about three to four hours. Anesthesia may be administered as deep sedation (twilight) or general anesthesia, always provided by a board-certified anesthesiologist.
Depending on the technique chosen, Dr. Bellocchio may tighten the skin, connective tissue, or deeper facial muscles. Once the adjustments are complete, he closes the incisions, places drains to minimize fluid accumulation, and applies a protective dressing.
How do I recover after a Facelift
Following a facelift with Dr. Phil Bellocchio in Seattle, patients are monitored in the recovery room by a licensed registered nurse, and in most cases, a private duty nurse is provided overnight. Drainage tubes placed during surgery are typically removed the next morning.
Postoperative swelling and bruising are expected for about 7–10 days. While many patients resume normal work and social life within 2 weeks, the recovery period can be slightly shorter or longer depending on the surgical approach. Stitches are removed around 7 days post-op. Gentle exercise may begin after the first week, with unrestricted activity permitted after 4 weeks.
What do I do after my Facelift?
In the weeks following your facelift, Dr. Phil Bellocchio will see you regularly to monitor your recovery, with additional follow-up visits typically scheduled at 12 weeks and again at 12 months. He and his team are always available to address any questions or concerns during the healing process. Postoperative skin care is also emphasized, with a customized regimen of moisturizers, serums, sunscreen, and retinol tailored to your individual needs.
What kind of results can I expect after a Facelift?
Once recovery is complete, most patients experience a significant increase in self-confidence and enjoy a refreshed, more youthful facial appearance that can last for up to ten years.
What do the Facelift scars look like?
The exact location of facelift incisions may vary depending on factors such as hairstyle or facial grooming. Dr. Phil Bellocchio takes great care to place incisions in discreet areas, most often along the natural crease in front of the ear, so that scars are well hidden. In most cases, once healed, these scars are barely noticeable. To ensure the best healing and minimize scarring, it’s important to follow all postoperative instructions, including avoiding sun exposure.
Complementary Procedures
While a facelift alone can deliver excellent results, Dr. Phil Bellocchio may recommend combining it with other procedures for enhanced rejuvenation. As a double board-certified plastic surgeon in Seattle, he carefully tailors each plan to your unique needs, selecting the most effective techniques for age reversal.
Facelift and Neck Lift
While a facelift helps improve the appearance of jowls, some patients may achieve even better results by combining it with a neck lift. In Seattle, Dr. Phil Bellocchio performs neck lift surgery by tightening the platysma muscle to smooth vertical neck bands and correct looseness in the neck.
Facelift and Skin Rejuvenation
A facelift addresses sagging tissues, but pairing it with non-surgical treatments such as chemical peels or laser therapy helps enhance skin vibrancy and smoothness. Depending on your needs, Dr. Phil Bellocchio in Seattle may also suggest cosmetic injectables—including Botox and dermal fillers—for a more complete rejuvenation.
Facelift and Blepharoplasty
For patients troubled by heavy eyelids, Dr. Phil Bellocchio may recommend upper or lower eyelid surgery. Blepharoplasty is an excellent complement to a facelift, helping to create a more rested and refreshed overall appearance.
Facelift and Brow Lift
Because a facelift does not address the upper third of the face, some patients benefit from combining it with a brow lift, also known as a forehead lift. This is especially effective for those with deep forehead wrinkles. For dynamic expression lines, Dr. Bellocchio may suggest non-surgical options such as Botox.
Mini Face Lift
For individuals in their 30s or 40s who aren’t ready for a full facelift, a mini facelift may be an excellent option. The surgery is designed to correct moderate concerns in the lower face, such as early jowling, mild cheek sagging, and reduced jawline contour. Compared with a full facelift, outcomes are more understated and healing is faster.
Secondary Facelift
Although a facelift can reverse many signs of aging, it cannot stop the natural aging process. Some patients choose to undergo a second facelift later in life to help preserve a youthful appearance.
Revision Facelift
Performing a facelift successfully requires not only technical precision but also an artistic eye to create results that look authentic and harmonious. Although many patients are delighted with their outcomes, some may be disappointed by a prior surgery performed elsewhere. For these individuals, Dr. Phil Bellocchio offers facelift revision surgery to help them achieve their desired results.
What are your non-surgical options?
In certain cases, restoring facial volume alone may be sufficient. Treatments such as dermal fillers (Juvederm, Restylane, Voluma, Sculptra, and others) or autologous fat transfer can replenish youthful fullness and achieve noticeable improvements with less downtime. However, when jowls become more pronounced, or when the skin and soft tissues beneath the chin and neck begin to sag, a facelift may be the more appropriate option.
These structural changes from tissue descent cannot always be corrected with non-surgical methods. In Seattle, Dr. Phil Bellocchio often performs facelift surgery together with volume restoration—commonly fat grafting—to create natural, balanced, and harmonious results. This combination can also allow for less invasive facelift techniques when appropriate.
Planning Your Facelift in SEATTLE
When jowls become pronounced, the lower face loses firmness, and the neck begins to sag, restoring a youthful appearance often requires repositioning the deeper facial tissues to their natural, balanced position.
These deeper layers include the SMAS, a firm connective tissue structure, and the platysma, a muscular sling that works in conjunction with the cheek SMAS and extends beneath the chin and neck. In Seattle, Dr. Phil Bellocchio provides a thorough consultation and evaluation, during which facelift and other facial rejuvenation options tailored to your specific goals are discussed in detail.
What Are Your Facelift Options?
In Seattle, Dr. Phil Bellocchio always recommends the safest and most effective combination of procedures to meet your goals, favoring the least invasive methods whenever possible. When a facelift is the right choice, the following techniques may be considered:
Short Scar Facelift – a minimal-incision approach that repositions deeper facial tissues with discreet scars.
Classical Facelift – involves deeper tissue repositioning with the option to remove more skin.
Facelift with Neck Lift – includes an additional incision beneath the chin to repair the platysma muscles.
SMAS Plication – tightening of the SMAS layer to lift the jowls and cheeks.
SMASectomy – removal and tightening of a strip of SMAS tissue.
SMAS Flap – elevating and securing the SMAS for enhanced lift.
MACS Lift – often paired with short scar techniques, uses purse-string sutures to tighten the cheeks and SMAS planes.
Several factors determine which facelift technique is most appropriate for each patient. Personal goals are always considered alongside anatomy, and the best option is chosen where the two align.
Like any facial rejuvenation procedure, a facelift is about restoring balance and harmony. For this reason, many patients also benefit from complementary treatments.
The most common is autologous fat transfer, which restores the volume lost with age while the facelift repositions sagging tissues. Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is another frequent companion procedure, helping to brighten the eyes. In some cases, a chin implant can further enhance jawline definition, while a brow lift may also be recommended. In Seattle, Dr. Phil Bellocchio customizes each plan to achieve the most natural and youthful results.
What is the best age to get a facelift?
There is no specific age that determines when someone should have a facelift. The procedure is most commonly performed on healthy individuals in their 40s through 70s who show significant signs of facial aging. Younger patients may benefit from non-surgical treatments or a mini facelift instead.
How painful is a facelift?
Facelift recovery usually involves only mild to moderate discomfort, and the lasting improvements in appearance make the short recovery period well worth it for most patients.
How long do facelift results last?
Results from a facelift often last close to a decade, though the exact longevity varies. Genetics and lifestyle choices—particularly sun exposure and smoking—play an important role in how long the refreshed look is maintained.
Learn More About Your Seattle Facelift Options
The best way to understand your facelift options is through a private consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in facial rejuvenation.
With your unique needs in mind, Dr. Phil Bellocchio will develop a personalized plan tailored to you. Achieving natural and harmonious results requires not only technical skill but also an artistic vision, making the choice of surgeon essential. We welcome you to meet with Dr. Phil Bellocchio at his Seattle office to discuss your facelift goals.
Real Patient Testimonials
“Thank you Dr. Phil Bellocchio and your professional staff.”
I have the highest praise for Dr. Phil Bellocchio and his exceptional team. As a nurse and healthcare administrator, I had very high expectations for facial plastic surgery and wanted the assurance of an excellent outcome—and that is exactly what I received.
— A.M. / Seattle
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To schedule a private consultation with Dr. Phil Bellocchio, please call our office or request an appointment online. We look forward to welcoming you.
