Facelift at Brantley Operative Aesthetics
Look As Youthful As You Feel With A Facelift by Dr. Shelby Brantley
Aging is a true privilege, and so is living a life you’re proud to have lived. However, appearing as though you have aged, especially when you feel like you look older than you are, can hurt your self-confidence. A facelift can reverse some of the most disruptive signs of aging and turn back time. Under the skilled hands of Dr. Brantley, you can take years off your facial appearance and restore your natural, youthful beauty.
At Brantley Operative Aesthetics in Flowood, MS, Dr. Shelby Brantley and our compassionate team are dedicated to helping you reach your aesthetic goals. Every facelift procedure is designed to help you look like your younger self to promote a positive self-image and improve your overall confidence. When you’re ready to restore your youth and look as youthful as you feel, Dr. Brantley and the whole BOA team will shepherd you through every step of your transformation.
Are you interested in learning how a facelift can enhance your appearance and boost your confidence? Contact us at (601) 387-9005 or request your consultation to begin your plastic surgery journey today! We are located in Flowood, MS, near JAN International Airport and proudly serve patients from across the United States.
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Quick Facts
Anesthesia: General
Recovery Time: Around 7 to 14 days
What Is a Facelift?
A facelift, also known as a rhytidectomy, is a cosmetic surgical procedure that reverses the visible signs of aging on the mid-to-lower face and neck. As we age, genetics, environmental factors, lifestyle choices, and the natural aging process change our skin, our underlying tissues, and the way we feel about ourselves. A facelift involves the removal of excess skin, tightening and lifting the underlying structures of the face, and smoothing out deep wrinkles and folds for a restored and revitalized facial profile.
Our goal is not to change the way you look but to return you to a younger-looking version of yourself. We customize every facelift to take up to 10 years off your appearance and help you restore your self-confidence. You don’t have to look older than you feel.
What Is a Mini Facelift?
A mini facelift is ideal for individuals experiencing the early signs of aging who want to prevent the progression of sagging skin, laxity, and jowls. This modified facelift focuses on the mid-third of the face—including the cheeks and jowls—to target the areas that typically show signs of aging first. Generally, the incisions for a mini facelift are smaller than those used in a traditional facelift, although this can vary depending on the amount of excess skin that needs to be removed.
What Can a Facelift Fix?
At BOA, our goal is never to dramatically change your appearance. Instead, your facelift will gently restore your youthful beauty and refine the features that have naturally aged over time. During your procedure, Dr. Brantley will remove excess tissue and tighten underlying structures to address:
- Sagging skin in the neck, jawline, or mid-face
- Volume loss
- Creased skin on the neck
- Nasolabial folds
- Marionette lines
- Jowls and pre-jowls
- Double chin
Why Choose Dr. Shelby Brantley for Your Facelift in Jackson, MS?
When selecting a surgeon for your facelift, experience, skill, and trust matter. Dr. Shelby Brantley combines decades of expertise with a compassionate approach, making him the surgeon of choice for thousands of women in Mississippi and beyond. With Dr. Brantley, your facelift isn’t just surgery—it’s a carefully tailored experience backed by skill, science, and genuine compassion for every patient.
Here are a few reasons patients choose Dr. Brantley:
Extensive Surgical Experience – Performed more than 20,000 procedures in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Published Expert – Authored 50+ medical journal articles and abstracts, contributing nationally recognized research on silicone immunology, ultraviolet light exposure, liposuction, and abdominoplasties.
Prestigious Training – Magna cum laude graduate of the University of Mississippi; completed general surgery residency at UMMC and a plastic surgery fellowship at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine.
- Recognized Leader – Member of elite organizations including the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, and the American College of Surgeons.
National Recognition – Named to the RealSelf 500 list of top cosmetic surgeons worldwide, and voted Best Cosmetic Surgeon in the Jackson Metro by BOOM Magazine readers.
Compassionate Care – Known for his approachable bedside manner, dedication to patient safety, and commitment to restoring confidence and self-image.
Enhance Your Results with Comprehensive Facial Rejuvenation
Often, when patients consider a facelift, they are seeking comprehensive facial rejuvenation. In these cases, many choose to enhance their results by combining the facelift with other plastic surgery procedures, including:
- Brow lift
- Neck lift
- Blepharoplasty
- Facial fat transfer
- Upper lip lift
- Platelet-rich plasma
- Perioral laser
- Chemical peel
What Should I Expect from My Facelift Consultation at BOA?
At Brantley Operative Aesthetics, we believe that a relaxed, unhurried consultation is the foundation of a trusting and successful patient relationship. During your visit, Dr. Brantley takes the time to get to know you—not just your aesthetic goals, but also your family, lifestyle, career, hobbies, and daily routine—to better understand your unique concerns and aspirations for facial rejuvenation.
Dr. Brantley encourages your questions and values your input, with the goal of empowering you to achieve natural-looking, personalized results that reflect your vision. By fully understanding your goals, he customizes each facelift procedure to address your individual concerns and ensure the best possible outcome.
He also recognizes that the physical changes that cause you distress can impact your emotional and mental well-being. That’s why Dr. Brantley takes considerable time with each patient to ensure you feel heard, supported, and confident throughout your consultation and entire aesthetic surgery journey.
During your facelift consultation, Dr. Brantley will review and discuss:
- A list of priority areas that you want to treat – it may be helpful to bring pictures of yourself from 5-10 years ago.
- Your expectations and goals for facelift surgery.
- Your medical and surgical history.
Am I an Ideal Candidate for a Facelift?
Candidates for a facelift are those who are healthy enough for surgery and feel like their face appears older than they feel.
Ideal candidates interested in a facelift should:
- Be in good overall health.
- Be a non-smoker or willing to quit all nicotine at least 2 weeks before and after surgery.
- Have no medical conditions that may impair healing or affect general anesthesia.
- Have a positive outlook and realistic goals for their facelift procedure.
- Understand the surgical risks and benefits.
How Should I Prepare for My Facelift Surgery?
Before your facelift surgery, it’s important to be in good overall health to ensure beautiful results and a smooth recovery. Here are some tips to help you prepare for surgery.
- Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle: Continue your consistent exercise routine and follow a balanced diet rich in protein to support healing and maintain a stable weight.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water in the days leading up to and following your procedure to support recovery and overall wellness.
- Medical Clearance: If required, schedule a visit with your primary care physician for a pre-surgical evaluation to ensure you are physically fit for surgery. Testing may include routine blood tests or an EKG. We will discuss this during your consultation.
- Medication & Supplement Restrictions: Dr. Brantley will review your medications, supplements, or vitamins during your consultation. You may need to stop taking anything that increases the risk of bleeding or bruising for two weeks before and after surgery, including fish oil, garlic, ginseng, vitamin E, Ibuprofen, or other anti-inflammatory medications.
- Discontinue Nicotine Use: If you smoke, vape, or use nicotine products, you must stop at least 2 weeks before and after surgery. Nicotine negatively impacts healing and increases surgical risks.
- Prepare Your Home for Recovery: This can include ensuring you have ample time off work, completing household chores, setting up a comfortable recovery space, preparing and freezing healthy meals, arranging for a meal delivery service, or filling prescriptions and purchasing supplies.
- Arrange for Help: Plan on having a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with you for at least 24 hours following surgery. For the first few days, you may also need help with childcare, pet care, or household tasks.
What Should I Expect from My Flowood, MS, Facelift Procedure?
On the night before your facelift, avoid eating or drinking after midnight; however, take approved medications with small sips of water. Come to surgery freshly showered with Hibiclens, without makeup, lotions, or deodorants. Leave jewelry and contact lenses at home, and wear loose, comfortable clothing that is easy to take off and put on after your procedure. Depending on the characteristics of your individual treatment plan, facelift surgery can take between 2 to 4 hours.
Pre-Op Review
Before your procedure, carefully review your paperwork to confirm the location of your surgery and your scheduled arrival time. At check-in, you may be asked to provide a valid ID and your emergency contact information.
Anesthesia Consultation
On the day of your facelift surgery, you’ll meet with Dr. Brantley and your anesthesia provider to review your surgical plan and address any final questions or concerns. If necessary, an anesthesia consultation will be arranged before your surgery.
Incision and Tissue Work
Based on the surgical plan developed during your consultation, Dr. Brantley will make small, discreet incisions along the hairline, around the ears, and into the scalp to access the underlying facial tissues, tighten the facial muscles, and excise sagging or loose skin.
Sutures and Dressing
Once he has achieved the perfect facial lift, Dr. Brantley will close your incisions with sutures and cover them with a surgical dressing that will decrease the pressure on your incisions and support your new facial features.
What Should I Expect from My Facelift Recovery?
A facelift is an outpatient procedure, so you will need to arrange for someone to drive you home afterward. You may also need assistance with daily tasks, including childcare and pet care, during the first few days of recovery.
Immediately after surgery, you will be wearing facial dressings to protect your results and support the healing process. Most patients take one to two weeks off work and choose to limit social activities for a few weeks. You can expect mild to moderate discomfort, swelling, and bruising for about two weeks. Some patients also experience temporary sensations such as tingling, tightness, burning, or numbness—these typically resolve on their own within a few days to a few weeks.
To help manage discomfort, Dr. Brantley will prescribe pain medication and recommend appropriate over-the-counter options. He also uses platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to help minimize swelling and bruising.
While light activities—such as walking or using a stationary bike—can usually be resumed early in your recovery, it is important to avoid strenuous exercise for 4 to 6 weeks or until cleared by Dr. Brantley. Most patients feel well enough to return to work or attend social events within 7 to 14 days.
How Soon Will I See My Facelift Results, And How Long Will My Results Last?
Patients can expect to see the initial results of their facelift within a few weeks after surgery, once swelling and bruising begin to subside. However, it may take 3 to 6 months for all swelling to fully resolve and for your final results to become visible. During this time, the skin will gradually adjust, and any residual tightness or numbness will diminish.
It’s important to follow all post-operative care instructions provided by your surgeon and attend scheduled follow-up appointments to ensure optimal healing and results. Patience is key, as the most significant improvements will become more noticeable over time, leading to a refreshed and rejuvenated appearance.
While facelift results are long-lasting, the natural aging process will continue, and changes will occur gradually. Maintaining a consistent skincare routine, using daily sun protection, and following healthy dietary and hydration habits can help prolong your youthful appearance and extend the benefits of your procedure.
Partner with Mississippi’s Premier Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Shelby Brantley
Dr. Shelby Brantley is one of the premier plastic surgeons in Flowood, MS, and he has an invaluable wealth of experience in facial plastic surgery to safely and consistently deliver results that his patients love. As experts in a number of plastic surgery procedures, Dr. Brantley and his team want to help you enhance your overall appearance, increasing your confidence and body image.
Learn about facelift near me options in Flowood, MS, by calling (601) 387-9005 or completing our online form to schedule your consultation today!
Jackson Facelift FAQs
How should I prepare for my facelift consultation?
While there isn’t anything specific you need to do to prepare for your consultation, it can be helpful to do a bit of research on the procedure(s) you’re considering and to clearly list the changes you’d like to make. For facelift consultations in particular, bringing older photos of yourself can be valuable, as it allows Dr. Brantley to better understand how your features have changed over time.
During your consultation, Dr. Brantley will assess whether a facelift alone is the best approach for your goals. He will thoroughly explain the procedure, discuss its risks and benefits, and walk you through what to expect during recovery.
How old do I have to be to get a facelift?
While there is no set age limit for a facelift, most patients are between their 40s and 70s. Factors such as genetics, environmental exposure, and lifestyle choices influence the rate and severity of aging, meaning each patient follows a unique timeline. Ultimately, the right age for a facelift is when you begin to look older than you feel.
Do I need to pair a facelift with other procedures?
A facelift can be a standalone procedure and deliver stunning results. That said, a facelift only covers the mid and lower portion of the face and neck. For more comprehensive results and rejuvenation that addresses the entire face, you will need to pair your facelift with procedures such as:
- Brow lift
- Eyelid lift
- Neck lift
- Fat transfer
During your consultation, Dr. Brantley will help you determine whether a facelift alone is enough to achieve the results you are hoping to achieve.
It is also important to note that, generally, the face ages at a relatively uniform rate, so only addressing one part of the face may leave you with specific features that appear older than the rest of the face. We prioritize long-term results and patient satisfaction. If we feel this will be a concern for you, we will make sure to discuss and disclose this during your consultation.
How do I protect my facelift result?
Because you will continue to age after your facelift and your tissues will still experience the effects of aging, it is important to take steps to protect both your results and your skin health. You can help preserve and prolong your facelift results by committing to:
- Medical-grade skincare
- Non-surgical maintenance treatments like dermal fillers and Botox®
- Avoiding sun exposure and always wearing sunscreen or sun-protective clothing
- A healthy, balanced diet and staying hydrated
How do I choose a facelift surgeon?
Selecting a facelift surgeon is a personal and important decision. Your surgeon should not only understand your aesthetic goals but also prioritize your safety and consistently deliver excellent results. During your consultation, ask to view before-and-after photos to see the types of results they typically achieve. Make sure your surgeon is board-certified and request to see examples of realistic scars and their locations.
Another key factor is feeling comfortable and confident with your surgeon. Look for someone who is transparent about potential risks and complications, has hospital admitting privileges, and is open to discussing how complications would be managed should they arise.
Plastic surgery is a significant investment in yourself, and your surgeon should take every measure to ensure optimal outcomes. This includes identifying any factors that might affect your safety or results and developing a personalized plan to optimize your health before scheduling the procedure.
During your consultation, Dr. Brantley will ensure you feel comfortable, discuss your potential outcome, and explain how he will prioritize your safety throughout the procedure and beyond.