Facelift Surgery (Rhytidectomy)

Surgical facelift to address mid-face and lower-face ageing using SMAS-based techniques — including short scar facelift, classical facelift, MACS lift, and combined facelift with neck lift — performed in Dr. Kolker's accredited on-site surgery suite. Techniques include SMAS plication, SMASectomy, and SMAS flap. Typical duration is three to four hours under general or deep sedation anesthesia. Results are associated with lasting up to ten years. Recovery to most social activities takes two to three weeks.

Dr. Adam Kolker performs facelift surgery at his accredited office-based ambulatory surgery suite at 710 Park Avenue, addressing the structural changes of facial ageing — descended cheek fat pads, deepened nasolabial folds, jowl formation, and loss of jawline definition. The SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system) is the fibromuscular layer that anchors the face's soft tissues; as it descends with age, overlying skin follows, producing characteristic signs. Dr. Kolker's facelift repertoire spans multiple techniques matched to patient anatomy, degree of ageing, and desired recovery profile. The short scar facelift uses incisions confined to the area in front of the ear and minimal posterior extension, making it suited to patients with moderate laxity who want a shorter recovery and less visible scarring. The classical facelift extends the incision around the earlobe and into the posterior hairline, enabling greater correction of neck and lower face laxity; a submental incision under the chin allows direct platysmaplasty to address neck banding. The MACS (minimal access cranial suspension) lift uses purse-string sutures through short temporal incisions to suspend the malar and jowl tissues with minimal dissection — a faster procedure with reduced downtime. SMAS modification options include plication (folding and suturing the SMAS in place), SMASectomy (removing a strip to tighten), or the SMAS flap (elevating and re-draping the layer for maximum redraping). Dr. Kolker frequently combines facelift with neck lift as a single-session procedure. All procedures are performed under general anesthesia or deep sedation with a board-certified anesthesiologist in his Joint Commission-accredited suite. Recovery involves two to three weeks before most patients feel comfortable in social settings, with residual swelling continuing to settle over three to six months. Results are associated with lasting approximately ten years.