Facelift (SMAS / Deep Plane / Local Lift)

Comprehensive facelift surgery with double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Yael Halaas MD FACS in Midtown East New York City. Techniques range from a mini facelift for early laxity to the deep plane facelift for advanced facial ageing, plus the proprietary 'Local Lift' performed under local anaesthesia with Valium and local for those who prefer to avoid general anaesthesia. Addresses jowling, neck laxity, nasolabial folds, and mid-face descent. From $45,000.

Facelift surgery at Dr. Yael Halaas's Manhattan practice is tailored to each patient's degree of facial ageing and personal goals, with a spectrum of techniques offered that range from limited procedures to comprehensive multi-layer restoration. The mini facelift addresses early jowling and mild facial skin laxity with smaller incisions and a shorter recovery, appropriate for patients in their late 40s to mid-50s with focused but not extensive ageing changes. The SMAS facelift — standard of care for moderate facial ageing — involves lifting and repositioning the superficial muscular aponeurotic system (SMAS), the fibromuscular layer beneath the facial skin, to create durable structural lift without simply pulling on the skin; this separates the result from the tight, wind-swept appearance historically associated with older facelift techniques. The deep plane facelift extends dissection beneath the SMAS to release the retaining ligaments of the face, allowing the composite flap of skin and SMAS to be repositioned as a unit — producing longer-lasting results and more natural correction of the nasolabial folds and mid-face descent than the SMAS technique alone. Dr. Halaas's proprietary 'Local Lift' is a distinctive offering that performs the facelift under local anaesthesia with Valium sedation and local anaesthetic, avoiding the need for general anaesthesia — this approach appeals to patients concerned about the risks of general anaesthesia or the extended recovery associated with deeper techniques, while still achieving meaningful lift of the lower face and jowl area. Twilight sedation and full general anaesthesia remain available for patients who prefer them. Surgery typically requires two to five hours depending on the technique and any concurrent procedures. Recovery involves bruising and swelling that substantially subsides over two to three weeks; final results are visible at three to six months as swelling fully resolves and tissues settle. The practice is at 120 E. 56th Street, Eighth Floor, New York, NY 10022. Pricing $45,000–$75,000+; financing through CareCredit, PatientFi, and Ally Lending.