San Francisco

Best Facelift Surgeons in San Francisco (2025 Guide)

Steven Goldberg

— 5 min read
Best Facelift Surgeons in San Francisco (2025 Guide)
Photo by Hassan Khan / Unsplash

Updated November 2025

Choosing the right surgeon for a facelift in San Francisco matters—for natural result lines, durable neck definition, and confidence on camera and IRL. The Bay Area offers advanced techniques and accredited facilities, but approaches and standards vary. This practical, editorial guide walks you through how to evaluate surgeons, what to expect before and after surgery, the key risk and safety questions to ask, and how to budget smartly. Use it to assemble a shortlist, compare consults, and choose the specialist whose philosophy aligns with your goals and timeline.

How We Chose the Best Facelift Surgeons in San Francisco

AestheticMatch evaluates surgeons using a consistent, quality-first rubric. We review public board data, verified patient feedback, and surgeon-submitted information (when available). We look for:

  • Board certification in plastic surgery and active privileges at accredited facilities
  • Experience and case volume in facelift/neck lift (primary and revision)
  • Before-and-after portfolio quality—jawline/neck transitions, midface support, and scar placement around ear/temple
  • Patient experience & communication from first consult through aftercare
  • Peer reputation—teaching, research, technique development, or society leadership

Top Facelift Surgeon in San Francisco

Dr. Charles K. Lee, MD — Private Practice (San Francisco)

Focus: Facelift & Neck Lift, Facial Aesthetics
About: Board-focused facial surgeon offering individualized facelift plans aimed at natural jawline refinement and balanced neck support. Consults cover goals, incision strategy, and recovery sequencing with an emphasis on long-term, camera-friendly results.
View Profile

Bay Area patients often prefer subtle, polished changes that read well in high-resolution environments and professional settings. Reinforce topical relevance with localized pages:

What to Expect at Your Facelift Consultation

Goals & references
Bring photos that communicate proportion and character—jawline angle, neck band softening, marionette line depth—rather than a request to “erase age.” Expect standardized clinical photos and, in some practices, digital imaging to preview proportional ranges.

History & function
Share prior facial procedures or fillers, skin history (sun exposure, lasers), dental/occlusal issues, TMJ, medications/supplements (including OTC), and any nicotine use. If you’ve had a previous facelift, bring operative notes if available.

Technique & plan
A strong consult explains why a method fits your anatomy: deep-plane vs. SMAS plication/SMASectomy, platysmaplasty, fat grafting for volume, earlobe strategy, and hairline/sideburn preservation. Ask about incision placement around the tragus/behind the ear and under-chin, and how the plan balances longevity with downtime.

Recovery roadmap
Leave with a written plan: meds, wound care, garment/chin strap use, sleeping position, showering, driving/work timelines, travel rules, and follow-up cadence. Clarify after-hours contact and what symptoms need urgent evaluation.

Recovery & Results: Typical Timelines for Facelift/Neck Lift

Recovery varies by technique, adjunct procedures, and baseline health, but most patients can plan around these windows (your surgeon’s instructions take priority):

  • Days 0–3: Rest with head elevated. Expect tightness, swelling, and a “helmet” feeling. Short indoor walks reduce clot risk; cold compresses as directed.
  • Days 4–7: Many return to light desk work near day 7–10 depending on bruising and energy. Sutures/staples are often removed in stages. Make-up usually after incisions are sealed.
  • Weeks 2–3: Bruising largely fades; swelling persists but is covert under hair/masks/collars. Light cardio may resume if cleared. Social downtime shortens.
  • Weeks 4–6: Gradual return to strength training and higher-intensity activity with approval. Numbness/firmness along the cheeks/neck gradually improves.
  • Months 3–6+: Edema resolves; jawline and neck definition sharpen; scars continue to mature for 6–12+ months.

Result-maturity tips

  • Early asymmetry and morning swelling are normal—compare photos at consistent intervals.
  • Protect scars from sun; begin silicone/occlusive scar care when approved.
  • Avoid heavy glasses/straps pressing on incisions early on.
  • Keep follow-ups—minor taping or selective steroid micro-injections can fine-tune swelling in select cases.

Risks & Safety: What to Know (and Ask)

All surgery carries risk. Minimize avoidable issues by verifying training, facility, and protocols—and by following instructions precisely.

Common/expected: swelling, bruising, temporary numbness/tingling, tightness, and scar maturation changes.
Potential complications: hematoma/seroma, skin or hairline changes, wound-healing issues, nerve irritation or temporary weakness (most resolve), asymmetry/contour irregularities, unfavorable scarring, and need for revision.
Anesthesia considerations: nausea, sore throat, or rare airway/cardiac events mitigated by qualified providers and monitoring.

Key safety questions

  • Are you board-certified in plastic surgery, and where can I verify it?
  • Is the facility accredited (AAAASF/JCAHO/state-licensed)?
  • Who provides anesthesia, and how will I be monitored?
  • What are your complication and revision rates for facelift/neck lift?
  • How do you protect facial nerves and hairline/sideburn position?
  • What is your after-hours protocol and follow-up schedule?

Understanding Cost in San Francisco

Facelift pricing is individualized. A complete quote usually bundles:

  • Surgeon fee
  • Anesthesia
  • Accredited facility fee
  • Garments/supplies and early aftercare

What moves the number: primary vs. revision surgery, deep-plane vs. limited-incision approach, whether platysmaplasty and fat grafting are included, operative time, and setting (hospital vs. accredited ambulatory center).

Quote Checklist (bring this to calls)

  • Itemized estimate: surgeon fee, facility, anesthesia, supplies
  • Incision plan (hairline/tragus/behind ear/under-chin) and scar strategy
  • Whether neck work and fat grafting are included
  • Overnight options vs. same-day discharge and caregiver needs
  • Follow-up visits included and duration of aftercare
  • Revision policy (time window, fees, what’s covered)
  • Return-to-work and activity milestones in writing

Smart budgeting tips: Ask about financing, total cost of credit, and whether staging (e.g., facelift first, eyelids later) better balances downtime, safety, and cost.

Safety and Accreditation in San Francisco

  • Verify board certification via official tools; confirm active hospital or accredited ambulatory privileges.
  • Prefer accredited facilities with emergency readiness, infection control, and qualified anesthesia providers.
  • Confirm anesthesia provider credentials, intra-op monitoring, pain/nausea protocols, and after-hours access.
  • Discuss aftercare logistics: head elevation, garment use, showering, travel limits, and safe return to exercise.

Modern Technique Notes (Facelift)

  • Deep-plane elevation to restore midface support and natural nasolabial smoothing in indicated patients
  • SMAS manipulation (plication or SMASectomy) for tailored vector control when deep-plane isn’t required
  • Anatomic platysmaplasty for durable neck contours; selective subplatysmal work when appropriate
  • Fat grafting for temple/cheek/jawline balance rather than over-tightening
  • Incision design that preserves the tragus and sideburn, with meticulous closure to minimize scar visibility

How to Choose the Right Facelift Surgeon

Verify credentials and settings.
Confirm plastic-surgery certification and where surgery occurs.
Match the gallery.
Review cases that mirror your skin thickness, jowl pattern, and neck bands; assess ear/sideburn preservation and scar camouflage.
Leave with a plan.
Written details for technique, scars, meds, restrictions, and follow-ups.
Spot red flags.
Rushed consults, vague answers on nerve safety, promises of “no bruising,” or reluctance to share revision rates—keep looking.

FAQs

Who is the best facelift surgeon in San Francisco?
There’s no single “best.” Choose the surgeon whose training, portfolio, and plan align with your anatomy, downtime, and goals. Compare at least two consults if you’re undecided.

How long is recovery after a facelift?
Many return to desk work in 7–10 days; exercise ramps over 4–6 weeks with approval. Final refinement and scar maturation evolve for 3–12+ months.

Will a facelift fix the midface and neck together?
Often, yes—deep-plane or combined facelift/neck lift addresses both, but candidacy depends on anatomy. Your surgeon will outline benefits, limits, and trade-offs.

Can a facelift be combined with eyelids or fat grafting?
Commonly, within time and safety limits. Combining procedures may improve harmony and reduce total downtime; your surgeon will advise on staging vs. one-stage.

How much does a facelift cost in San Francisco?
Costs vary by technique, extent, operative time, and facility. Request a clear, itemized quote and confirm what’s included.

Nearby Cities & Surgeons

If you’re expanding your search, consider options in Oakland, San Jose, and Walnut Creek for scheduling flexibility or specific subspecialty expertise.

Find Your Surgeon

Ready to find your perfect surgeon? Our free concierge service connects you with vetted, board-focused facelift specialists across the Bay Area.

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