Choosing a surgeon for facelift surgery is as personal as it gets. You are trusting someone with your face, your expression, the way you move through the world. That level of trust belongs with a specialist who brings technical mastery and judgment, but also the restraint to enhance, not overwrite, your natural identity. In Fort Myers, patients who do their homework often land on the same name: Dr. Audrey Farahmand at Farahmand Plastic Surgery. If you are searching for the best facelift surgeon in Fort Myers, or simply comparing options for facelift surgery in Fort Myers, here is a clear, experience-based look at why so many patients choose her.
What sets a great facelift apart
A facelift is both architecture and artistry. The architecture involves vector planning, SMAS manipulation, and deep plane decisions that determine how long your results will last. The artistry involves how those moves affect your expression, your hairline, and the way your face will look in motion. Good results look calm and rested with clean transitions from cheek to jaw to neck. You should not read the operation on the face.
When evaluating any facelift surgeon near me, look first for depth of training and case volume, then for proof of nuance. Nuance shows in incision placement that hides naturally, in conservative tension that avoids distortion, and in a neck that looks sculpted rather than pulled.
Reason 1: A reconstructive foundation that elevates cosmetic results
Dr. Audrey Farahmand’s background includes rigorous training in plastic and reconstructive surgery, and that matters more than most people realize. Reconstructive cases tune a surgeon’s eye for anatomy and tissue behavior under stress. In facelift surgery, that experience translates into:
- Reliable control of the SMAS and platysma. If you only tighten skin, results fade quickly. If you resuspend the deeper layers, the lift holds and looks authentic. Safer navigation around facial nerve branches. A surgeon comfortable with nerve anatomy can work decisively where less experienced surgeons hedge, especially along the mandibular border and in the parotid region. Solutions for asymmetry and challenging necks. Reconstructive principles help when faces are not textbook. That skill shows up in revision cases and in patients with heavy necks or prior liposuction.
You can see this in practice when a surgeon explains not only what they do, but why they will select a deep plane, high-SMAS, or hybrid approach for your face rather than a one-size-fits-all plan.
Reason 2: Technique matched to your anatomy, not a brand name
The best facelift surgeon in Fort Myers will not sell a trademarked mini-lift to every patient. Instead, you should hear a plain explanation of options. For example, a deep plane facelift can be excellent for midface descent and heavy nasolabial folds, while a high-SMAS approach may suit patients with good skin quality but lateral laxity. Some necks need a direct platysmaplasty with midline muscle work to erase banding, while others respond to lateral suspension alone.
At Farahmand Plastic Surgery, planning typically starts with facial vectors and how the cheek, jawline, and neck interact. If your main complaint is jowling with mild neck laxity, a shorter incision and limited dissections may be appropriate. If you have a short, full neck with plastysmal banding, expect a more involved neck component. This tailored strategy is how you avoid the “pulled but still old” look and obtain a durable refresh instead.
Reason 3: An eye for natural movement
Modern facelift surgery is not about erasing age. It is about removing the distractions that age introduces, then letting your features breathe again. That usually means:
- Smoothing the transition from cheek to mouth without flattening the midface. Sharpening, not exaggerating, the angle from jaw to neck. Preserving the hairline and sideburn. Overelevating hair creates telltale signs. Keeping ear anatomy intact so the tragus and earlobe look natural. Earlobe distortion is avoidable if tension goes deep rather than on skin.
In my experience, surgeons who consistently deliver natural movement test the face in motion before closing. They have you smile gently, tilt your head, and watch how tissues glide. Dr. Audrey Farahmand’s patients often describe looking more rested, less tired, and particularly “like myself,” which is a useful marker for the kind of facelift that ages well over time.
Reason 4: Honest talk about trade-offs and timing
If a surgeon promises to fix everything with one operation, keep asking questions. Facelift surgery excels at lifting, contouring, and re-suspending, but it cannot replace what volume has lost or what skin has weathered. Great facelift results often include complementary procedures that target different problems. At Farahmand Plastic Surgery, you may hear a discussion about:
- Volume: Fat grafting for the temple, cheek, or pre-jowl sulcus softens hollows and balances the lift. Not everyone needs it, but when it is needed, it prevents an overly tight appearance. Skin: Laser resurfacing, chemical peels, or microneedling improve texture and fine lines that a facelift cannot change. Sequencing matters for safety. Eyes: Upper or lower blepharoplasty may be suggested if the periorbital area does not match the rejuvenated lower face and neck.
An honest consultation weighs the upside of add-ons against cost, recovery, and risk. Some patients are better served by staging treatments. An experienced facelift surgeon in Fort Myers will lay out these options in normal language, with specific expectations for what each step will do and what it will not.
Reason 5: Consistent outcomes and careful scar strategy
Ask any top facelift surgeon in Fort Myers how they handle scars, and you will learn a lot about their priorities. Incisions in front of the ear, around the lobule, and behind the ear can either hide gracefully or broadcast your surgery. Details that matter:
- Incision lines follow the natural curves of the tragus and hairline, not straight lines that wander into visible territory. Tension is absorbed by the deep layers, not skin, so incisions heal thin. Smokers and patients with vascular issues receive specific counseling, sometimes including a request to delay surgery, because wound healing hinges on blood supply.
Scars mature over 6 to 12 months. In the first 4 to 6 weeks they look pink and slightly raised, then they soften. Surgeons who value neat scars schedule early follow-ups to spot and treat any hypertrophy with silicone, steroid injections when needed, and careful suture removal timing.
Reason 6: Data-driven safety and the right setting
Outpatient facelift surgery is common and safe in healthy patients when done in an accredited facility with proper anesthesia support. I look for three things:
- Accreditation of the surgical suite. A board-certified anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist focused on airway management and gentle wake-ups that prevent coughing or straining. A plan for overnight observation for higher-risk patients or those combining multiple procedures.
At Farahmand Plastic Surgery, patients typically receive a detailed preoperative workup, medication review, and instructions on supplements to avoid. These basics Dr Audrey Farahmand make a measurable difference. For example, discontinuing blood thinners and certain herbal supplements can reduce the risk of bleeding and hematoma formation, the most common early complication of facelift surgery. Clear communication minimizes surprises.
Reason 7: Locally rooted practice with long-term follow-up
Being a top facelift surgery provider in Fort Myers is not just about the day of the operation. It is about how a practice supports patients before and after surgery. The advantage of a local, established clinic like Farahmand Plastic Surgery is continuity. You meet the team on day one and see the same faces throughout your recovery.
I have seen too many patients travel for surgery, then struggle with follow-up care. Facelifts have a long arc of healing. Even an uneventful recovery includes moments of swelling asymmetry, tenderness near the ear, and small contour fluctuations that need reassurance or gentle management. A surgeon who knows your baseline can tell what is normal and what needs intervention.
What the facelift journey looks like in real life
Most people want to know how it actually feels. Here is a reality-based timeline that many patients experience.
- The consult: Expect a 45 to 90 minute conversation that includes facial analysis, medical history, and a discussion of goals. Bring photos of yourself from 10 to 15 years ago. They are useful for understanding how your face ages. Pre-op: You will receive a checklist of medications to stop and skin prep instructions. Patients with hypertension need consistent control. Nicotine in any form is a problem for wound healing; the best facelift surgeon Fort Myers residents trust will ask for full cessation for several weeks, not days. Surgery day: Most facelifts take 3 to 5 hours depending on technique and whether a neck lift and fat grafting are included. You will wake with a supportive dressing and, in some cases, a small drain to prevent fluid collection. Week 1: The dressing comes off early, and drains, if used, are generally removed within 1 to 3 days. Bruising peaks at day 3 to 4. Swelling makes the face feel “too tight,” which is normal. Keep your head elevated and move carefully. Weeks 2 to 3: You look presentable with makeup and strategic hairstyles. Most people return to desk work in this window. Numbness around the ears and under the chin is common and slowly improves. Weeks 4 to 6: You see the jawline sharpen and the neck line smooth. Scars begin to settle. Light exercise returns as cleared by your surgeon. Months 3 to 6: Swelling melts away and fine details appear. The result stabilizes and continues to mature.
Patients who combine a facelift with eyelid surgery or laser resurfacing can expect more swelling and downtime. That is not a reason to avoid combined procedures, but you should know the trade-offs.
Who is a good candidate for facelift surgery
Ideal candidates have skin laxity along the jaw and neck, visible jowling, and realistic expectations. Age is less important than tissue quality and general health. Many patients seek a procedure in their late 40s to early 60s. Plenty of healthy 70-somethings do well, especially if they have good blood pressure control and are off nicotine.
BMI, medications, and prior surgeries also matter. If you have had aggressive neck liposuction in the past, your surgeon must assess tissue quality and blood supply. If you take blood thinners, your prescribing physician should coordinate a safe hold or a bridging strategy. A skilled facelift surgeon Fort Myers patients trust will not rush this step.
How long a facelift lasts, and what maintenance looks like
No operation stops aging. A thoughtful facelift resets the clock by about 8 to 12 years for most patients, sometimes longer when deep layers are resuspended and the neck is treated adequately. Longevity depends on bone structure, skin type, sun exposure, weight stability, and whether you resume smoking.
Maintenance is practical, not fussy. That can mean sunscreen, stable weight, periodic medical-grade skincare, and occasional non-surgical touch-ups such as radiofrequency microneedling or light resurfacing. If your surgeon adds small amounts of fat to restore volume, results often look even better at the one-year mark as tissues soften.
What it costs, and what you are paying for
Fees vary based on the scope of surgery, operating time, facility, and anesthesia. In Fort Myers, a properly executed facelift with neck work typically falls into a mid to upper five-figure range, with add-ons like eyelid surgery or laser resurfacing increasing the total. It is wise to be wary of unusually low quotes. Corners are often cut in time, depth of technique, or aftercare.
You are paying for a surgeon’s judgment, time in a safe accredited facility, anesthesia, and a team that manages your care well. Revision facelifts are more complex and often more expensive, which is one more reason to do it right the first time with a seasoned expert such as Dr. Audrey Farahmand.
Why many Fort Myers patients choose Dr. Farahmand
Put the marketing aside and focus on how the practice behaves. Patients report that consultations with Dr. Farahmand feel like a conversation, not a sales pitch. Her planning tends to be specific with attention to incision design and neck treatment, and she is comfortable advising against an add-on procedure when the benefit is marginal. That restraint is a hallmark of strong judgment.
Farahmand Plastic Surgery also manages recovery with structured follow-ups, clear scar care instructions, and early check-ins that catch issues like a small hematoma before they become big problems. The team’s familiarity with facelift surgery means the logistics are smooth, from pre-op education to the last stitch removal.
A practical checklist for your consultation
Here is a short list you can bring into any facelift consult in Fort Myers to compare surgeons side by side.
- Ask which technique they recommend for your anatomy and why. Listen for specifics like deep plane release, SMAS plication or imbrication, and platysma management. Review before-and-after photos of patients with faces similar to yours, including profiles and oblique views. Look for natural earlobes, undistorted hairlines, and clean neck angles. Discuss scar placement in detail. Ask where the incisions will sit relative to the tragus and hairline. Clarify anesthesia, facility accreditation, and overnight options. Know who manages your airway and where you will recover. Get a written plan for recovery, including when you can wash your hair, drive, resume work, and exercise.
The local advantage in Fort Myers
When you search Facelift Surgeon Fort Myers or Top facelift surgery in Fort Myers, you will see a wide range of options. The right match is personal. Consider proximity for follow-ups, your comfort level with the surgeon’s communication style, and whether the practice feels organized. A locally rooted practice like Farahmand Plastic Surgery provides ready access, which becomes invaluable if you want reassurance at week two or a quick in-person check when a suture tail worries you.
Final thoughts for patients comparing options
If you are early in the process, gather two or three consultations. If you already feel aligned with Dr. Audrey Farahmand’s approach, bring your questions and past medical records to your visit. The more precise you are about what bothers you, the better your surgical plan will be. For many patients seeking facelift surgery in Fort Myers, Dr. Farahmand combines the elements that matter most: a reconstructive foundation, individualized technique, an eye for natural movement, careful scar strategy, safe settings, long-term follow-up, and a communication style that builds confidence.
Good facelift results do not shout. They let you walk into a room and have people say you look rested, energetic, and very much like yourself. That is the mark of thoughtful surgery. And it Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon is exactly what you should expect when you choose a seasoned facelift surgeon near me with a track record of consistent, refined outcomes.
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