As we age, overexposure to the Oklahoma sun can cause facial skin and fat to sag. Time, sun exposure, and other factors lead to various signs of aging, from deep nasolabial folds (laugh lines from the side of the nose to the lips), jowls, and neck sagging.
Rhytidectomy, or a facelift, can turn the clock back so that you look a decade younger. However, all facelifts are not equal. In the past, facelifts have often been associated with the stigma of a tight and stretched face. Many men and women with facelifts could be recognized from a mile away.
The good news is that things have changed. Facelifts are now done very differently. The downtime is reduced to a week, and surgeons do less but achieve more.
An extended deep facelift and neck lift performed by Dr. Jayesh Panchal, a board-certified plastic surgeon who has practiced since 1997, results in minimal to near-invisible incisions after surgery. It returns sagging tissue to its original location, making you look younger, refreshed, and not stretched. After this facial surgery, you will look like your younger self and not someone different.
What Happens During a Naturale Facelift Procedure?
During a Naturale deep facelift, Dr. Panchal will place one facelift incision along the cartilage of your ear, following the natural shadow line. The remaining incision will be placed behind your ear so that it is barely visible. Once the incisions have been made, Dr. Panchal will lift the underlying skin and fat before tightening the fascia in a vertical direction (deep extended lift) to correct your jowls and lift your cheeks. This allows the deep facelift to last much longer than a typical S Lift or a Lifestyle Lift.
If a neck lift is being performed in addition, a small incision will also be placed in an area underneath your chin, enabling a youthful contour of the neck through a unique technique called corset plastysmoplasty. This technique allows for the plication (gathering) of the sling of muscles in the neck, so that any vertical bands (“11” lines in your neck) you have will disappear. Dr. Panchal also performs liposuction of the neck to remove excess fat and correct a double chin.
The near vertical direction of the pull, or correction, results in a very natural appearing face following the surgery, replacing soft tissues to their correct location before they sag down. Jowls and marionette lines will disappear, and the cheeks will be lifted up. The excess loose skin is then trimmed and removed.
The Naturale deep facelift takes approximately three hours to complete. This time will increase if additional procedures, such as blepharoplasty or a brow lift, are being performed at the same time. All the sutures are placed under the skin and will not need to be removed.
Good Naturale Facelift Candidates
You are a good candidate for a Naturale deep facelift if you have:
- Excessive skin in the lower half of your face, below your eyes
- Excessive skin under your chin
- Excessive fat in your neck or double chin
- Deflated and sagging midface or cheek area
Additionally, good candidates for this procedure should be in generally good health and willing to follow pre- and postoperative directions.
Recovery from Facelift Surgery
There will be some swelling on your face after the surgery, which can be reduced by applying ice and sleeping in an upright position. Please bear in mind that swelling may take seven to ten days to subside completely. Your body’s natural healing abilities and how closely you follow Dr. Panchal’s directions will have an impact on this.
We recommend you take several brisk walks during recovery to help increase circulation and reduce swelling. However, you will need to wait four to six weeks before engaging in more aerobic exercises. You can apply makeup to your face after 7-10 days to help camouflage any bruises.
You will receive pain medications to reduce post-surgery discomfort. A drainage tube will be placed during your procedure as well. This tube allows surgical fluids to drain from the area and will help reduce discomfort and swelling. The drainage tube will be removed within one to two days of your procedure.
If you have persistent pain, it is important that you call our office right away to schedule a visit with Dr. Panchal. Facelift complications, such as hematoma, may be at the root and, if so, will need to be addressed.
During your facelift recovery, there may be some asymmetry of the face, which results from having more swelling on one side than the other. The skin over the face may be numb for a few weeks as well. In some cases, numbness can last for up to one month.
As the swelling on your face subsides, you will start seeing the results of your facelift surgery. You will see the profile of your face becoming more defined, and your face and neck will appear more youthful.
Patient Testimonial
"I have been a patient of Dr. Panchal for almost 15 years. He and his staff are the best at everything they do. They have communicated clearly with me my choices for aging gracefully and with dignity and answered my questions thoroughly regarding any procedures we discussed that might be appropriate. Their compassionate care and professional expertise have always been the ultimate . I highly recommend that anyone considering the services they offer choose Genesis Clinic for the best care and expertise."
Where Your Surgery Will Be Performed
Your Naturale deep facelift will be performed in our Oklahoma City office under local anesthesia and oral sedation taken 1.5 hours before your surgery. Dr. Panchal will ask you to take five medications 1.5 hours before your surgery: a painkiller, an anti-nausea medication, an antibiotic, 1 mg of Xanax, and a medication called Metoprolol to keep your heart and blood pressure steady.
Once you are in the office, Dr. Panchal will take your blood pressure and inject a local anesthetic. While this may result in three to five minutes of mild discomfort, it allows the entire procedure to be painless. Most patients listen to music or sleep through it, and when the procedure is finished, you can go home completely awake and have no grogginess that evening to deal with.
Having the surgery under local anesthesia and oral sedation has several advantages:
- No risk of complications of anesthesia
- No risk of blood clots in your legs
- Reduced swelling of your face
- Reduced downtime
- Reduced risk of collection of blood or hematoma in your face
- Reduced cost (there is no charge for local anesthetic)
Dr. Panchal performs over 40-60 of these procedures every year under local anesthesia and oral sedation, achieving great results. He is one of the very few plastic surgeons to perform a deep extended facelift under local anesthesia and oral sedation in the state of Oklahoma.
If you so desire, the surgery can be performed at an Oklahoma City surgery center under IV sedation. However, an additional cost may be involved from the anesthesiologist.
Facelift Risks
When a Naturale lower facelift is performed by Dr. Panchal, complications are infrequent and usually minor. General surgical risks such as infection, excessive bleeding, and poor incision healing can be reduced by following Dr. Panchal’s directions.
Smoking impairs healing and increases risks for infection and obvious scars. It is therefore very important to stop smoking before surgery to reduce complications. Rarely, you may have some asymmetry of the face temporarily due to the swelling. This will subside.
See before-and-after pictures of Naturale facelift surgery.
Facelift Financing Options
At Genesis Plastic Surgery & Medical Spa, we accept most major credit cards. We also offer financing options like:
Prosper and CareCredit are health care financing options that operate independently of our office. These companies offer competitive rates and special terms, including plans with 0% APR.
More information about facelift financing through a healthcare lender can be found by visiting the sites linked above. We can discuss these options further during your initial consultation as well.
Why Choose Dr. Panchal?
Dr. Jayesh Panchal is a double board-certified, both as a plastic surgeon and as a physician executive, acting as a testament to his experience and dedication. The recipient of several awards, including peer recognition as a Super Doctor, Dr. Panchal has served as Chief of Plastic Surgery at the University of Oklahoma and has received national acclaim for pioneering new techniques during his more than two decades in practice.
Caring, compassionate, and qualified, Dr. Panchal takes time to understand the needs of each patient he sees, being careful to listen to all concerns, aesthetic and otherwise, and to provide honest answers to facelift questions. If you have been considering facelift surgery, he welcomes an opportunity to meet with you and discuss your needs, and to help you decide if the procedure is a good fit for your goals.
FAQs
How Do I Prepare for My Naturale Deep Facelift Procedure?
Preparing for your Naturale deep facelift involves a few important steps. Dr. Panchal may recommend:
- Lab tests, medication adjustments, or avoiding certain medications and supplements that increase bleeding risk.
- Stopping smoking several weeks beforehand to support proper healing.
- Arranging transportation and help at home for the first few days after surgery.
On the day of your procedure, opt for comfortable clothing and avoid makeup, lotions, or jewelry. By carefully following pre-operative instructions, you can promote smoother healing and achieve the most natural-looking, long-lasting facelift results.
How Long Do Results From a Naturale Deep Facelift Typically Last?
The Naturale deep facelift provides results that are designed to last significantly longer than less advanced techniques like the S Lift or Lifestyle Lift. Because Dr. Panchal repositions tissue vertically and tightens the deeper fascia, the improvements can endure for many years.
Patients often notice that their cheeks remain lifted, jowls stay corrected, and marionette lines are minimized for a decade or longer. Of course, these results depend on genetics, skin quality, and lifestyle habits.
While no facelift can stop the natural aging process, this approach restores tissues to their youthful position. It offers results that remain both natural and enduring compared to traditional methods.
Is a Naturale Deep Facelift the Same as a Deep Plane Facelift?
The Naturale deep facelift shares similarities with a deep plane facelift. However, Dr. Panchal’s approach involves a more extended lift with a near-vertical repositioning of tissues.
Like the deep plane technique, it works beneath the skin, tightening fascia and repositioning fat to correct jowls and elevate the cheeks. The Naturale deep facelift goes further, though, by providing longer-lasting results and a softer, more natural appearance.
This technique minimizes tension on the skin, reduces visible scarring, and avoids the pulled look often associated with older facelift styles. It is designed for patients seeking a rejuvenated face that maintains balance and harmony.
Are There Age Recommendations for the Naturale Deep Facelift?
There is no strict age requirement for a Naturale deep facelift. However, most patients are in their 40s to 70s when facial aging becomes more noticeable.
Younger patients with early signs of aging may prefer the less invasive procedure. Older patients in good health can still achieve excellent outcomes as well.
The best way to know if this approach is right for you is through a personalized evaluation with Dr. Panchal. He will consider your age, skin condition, and overall health.
Can a Naturale Deep Facelift Be Combined With Eyelid or Brow Surgery?
Yes. Many patients choose to combine their Naturale deep facelift with eyelid surgery or a brow lift for more comprehensive rejuvenation.
When performed together, these treatments address multiple signs of aging, including drooping eyelids, sagging brows, jowls, and loose neck skin. Combining procedures can also be more efficient, as it allows for one recovery period rather than separate healing times.
The surgery time may increase beyond the typical three hours with a combination approach. However, patients often find that the results harmonize beautifully to create a balanced and youthful appearance across the entire face.
Will I Have Visible Scars After the Procedure?
Scarring from the Naturale deep facelift is minimal and strategically hidden. Dr. Panchal places one incision along the cartilage of the ear within the natural shadow line and another behind the ear, where it remains barely visible. If a neck lift is performed at the same time, a small incision may be made beneath the chin, but this too is discreet.
Because all sutures are placed beneath the skin, there are no external stitches that need removal. This helps the scars remain subtle. Over time, scars typically fade further, leaving patients with natural results and little evidence of surgery.
Schedule a Consultation in Norman or Edmond, OK
Are you interested in learning more about the Naturale deep facelift? Dr. Panchal and his team are here to answer all your questions. Contact us today at our Norman office (405-310-6767) or Edmond office (405-340-9949).