Facelift

Facelift Salt Lake City, UT

As time marches forward, our faces are forever exposed to the sun and gravity. When combined with years of emotional expression, these factors impact the musculature and skin of our face. Wrinkles, jowls, and loose skin await us all as the natural aging process proceeds. 

Facelift surgery (also called rhytidectomy, facial rejuvenation, facial plastic surgery, etc.) is a cosmetic surgery procedure that counteracts the effects of time on the aging face and neck. Because today’s facelifts now address both the skin and the muscles beneath it, restoring youthful contours that look natural is the norm rather than the exception. A facelift performed by Dr. Derrick Gale can return you to your appearance of years ago.  When done properly and good results are achieved, you won’t look “done,” “stretched,” or unnatural in any way.

The complexity of the facial musculature, delicate bones, planes of cartilage and skin, however, demands an expert level of training and experience.    

Board-certified otolaryngologist (head and neck surgeon) and fellowship trained, Dr. Gale has the highest level of specialized facial surgical training available to doctors. Dr. Gale’s in-depth understanding of both the cosmetics and functionality of all parts of the face render exquisite, youthful facial contours. Facelift surgery, also called rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that counteracts the effects of time on the aging face and neck. Because today’s facelifts now address both sagging skin and the muscles beneath it, restoring youthful contours that look natural is the norm rather than the exception. A facelift performed by

Gale Facelift Riverton Utah

If you are considering facelift surgery in Salt Lake City, Riverton, or the surrounding areas of Utah, don’t hesitate to book a consultation with Dr. Gale by filling out his online contact form. A highly trained and respected facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Gale is happy to meet with you and discuss your options for facial plastic surgery. 

Meet Dr. Derrick Gale, MD

Customized Consultations, Individualized Results

With a focus on improving both form and function, Dr. Gale applies experienced aesthetic judgment and surgical expertise to achieve each patient’s individual cosmetic and functional goals. While delivering the highest level of care and expertise, Dr. Gale and his team maintain a down-to-earth and comfortable atmosphere to put you at ease. 

How Will I Benefit From a Salt Lake City Facelift?

Plastic surgeons perform over 120,000 facelift procedures annually in the United States. The numerous cosmetic benefits associated with a facelift include:The numerous cosmetic benefits associated with a facelift include:

  • Reduced appearance of fines lines and wrinkles
  • Reduced signs of jowls and saggy, excess skin
  • Restoration of a more youthful rested countenance 
  • Results that last years to decades

With facelift surgery, Dr. Gale restores smooth skin through muscle repositioning which creates contours beneath the skin with a more youthful appearance. To provide you with the best possible results from your facelift procedure, Dr. Gale will work in close collaboration with you to first establish your desired results and design the appropriate treatment plan and discuss all of the options available to help you achieve your aesthetic goals.

Am I a Suitable Candidate for Facelift Surgery?

Suitable rhytidectomy candidates are people who are experiencing signs of facial aging and wish to have these signs eliminated. These include:

  • Drooping skin around the jawline and mid-face
  • Jowls around the lower face and upper neck
  • Marionette lines – skin creases from the corners of the mouth to the chin
  • Nasolabial folds – skin creases that join the nose and turns of the mouth
  • A double chin as a result of fat tissue deposits along the jaw 

Furthermore, ideal candidates for a facelift in Riverton and Salt Lake City are individuals who:

  • are healthy, without medical conditions that may hinder recovery
  • do not smoke
  • have positive outlooks and realistic expectations for the procedure 

Most facelift patients tend to be over forty years old. This is simply because forty is when signs of aging start to become more apparent. If you are a younger individual and are concerned about premature aging, consider contacting Dr. Gale on 801-506-6344 to discuss your options. 

Improving Form & Function

Trust Dr. Derrick Gale to help you achieve your goals, whether they are aesthetic, reconstructive or both. View our before and after gallery to see the surgical skill and technical mastery of one of Utah’s leading facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons.  

What Can I Expect During My Facelift Surgery Consultation?

Dr. Gale cares about patients as individuals and enjoys meeting them and learning about their families and hobbies.  He understands that surgical outcomes are far better when patients and their doctors enjoy a genuine, honest relationship.

Dr. Gale’s approach also involves honestly sharing the benefits, possible side effects, and shortcomings of all procedures and treatments. He won’t leave the consultation until he is sure the patient understands his or her options thoroughly. He never recommends ineffective procedures, no matter how popular or hyped they are currently. The treatments he offers have been proven to warrant the time, money and effort patients invest.

During your consultation, prepare to leave with a different plan than you went in with. Please bring any and all questions your friends or the internet have sparked. While facelift surgery is usually more suited to patients forty years and older, Dr. Gale also offers a variety of restorative, non-surgical procedures that deal with fine lines and wrinkles in patients of all ages. Dermal fillers, Botox® injections, and laser resurfacing all offer unique cosmetic benefits to patients who may be experiencing a loss of facial volume or premature wrinkling. Eyelid surgery or brow-lift and neck lift surgery can also make a dramatic difference in the appearance of a patient’s face. 

What Will the Day of My Surgery Be Like?

Dr. Gale’s office will call you the day before your surgery to confirm and clarify any last-minute queries. The next day, a friend or family member will drive you to you procedure, where you will all meet Dr. Gale for a final chat. 

You will meet the nursing team that will be caring for you and the anesthesiologist that will be keeping you comfortable during the procedure.

Dr. Gale will then perform your procedure. This involves making small incisions behind the ears and along the hairline to eliminate excess skin and tighten the facial muscles. The whole process generally takes around two-three hours. 

Gale Facelift Surgery Utah

As you come around following anesthesia, Dr. Gale will consult with your family or loved ones on how the procedure went and to inform them about how to help you with your recovery at home. After recovery from sedation, you will return home to rest. 

What Will Recovery From Facelift Surgery Be Like?

You will likely have some swelling, bruising, and tenderness after your surgery. This is normal and will gradually subside within the first week or two of recovery. 

You will need plenty of rest, water, and healthy foods to encourage a speedy recovery. Most patients return to their full routines two weeks after surgery.  

Expert Facelift in Riverton UT and Salt Lake City, UT

Dr. Derrick Gale specializes in face and neck surgery. With his extensive training and experience in facial reconstruction, combined with his eye for surgical cosmetics, makes him the ideal choice for a facelift surgeon. If you have any questions, contact Dr. Gale at 801-506-6344 for your personalized facelift consultation.

We look forward to hearing from you. 

Riverton, Utah Facelift FAQs

Loose facial skin, wrinkles, and jowls are among the most common concerns for those starting to show the encroaching signs of age. Facelift surgery offers profound yet subtle improvements in skin texture and eliminates wrinkles and fine lines through excisional treatment. Patients who opt for facelift surgery experience outstanding results, reveal their underlying facial characteristics, and express a more youthful, vibrant appearance.

While there is no pre-determined age for how old a facelift patient should be, the sagging of the face and neck skin that motivates patients towards facelift surgery generally begins in the 40s. The average age for facelift patients falls between 42-60, but Dr. Gale can also perform facelifts on patients well past their 60s.

Patients must bear in mind that a facelift will not stop them from aging, but it will reverse the sands of time and most certainly slow them down going forward. Numerous factors, such as skin texture, genetics, sun exposure, smoking habits, and lifestyle, all significantly impact how we age and will influence the results from your facelift surgery. However, patients can expect more defined facial characteristics, smoother skin, and a more youthful appearance.

A facelift in Salt Lake City usually costs between the region of $5000-$6500. However, this depends on the circumstances of each Utah facelift patient. Dr. Gale can only provide a detailed cost breakdown once he has appropriately evaluated you in a consultation.

You will see some of your facelift benefits the day after your operation when the bandages are removed. Afterward, significant improvement will be realized for the first few weeks, along with the midface soft tissue and the jowls. Once the swelling has diminished, the final results will be achieved.

Although the aging process will continue, your facial age has been reset by about ten years. Therefore, most of our patients enjoy eight to ten years of initial benefits. However, some see their improvement last for fifteen years.

One of Dr. Gale’s primary objectives is to deliver natural results, leaving his patients feeling and looking rejuvenated. Although swelling and bruising will be prevalent during the initial weeks after surgery, and it may be evident to friends and family you’ve had some work done. However, once these after-effects subside, most people can’t tell you’ve had surgery.

All your incisions will heal within your hairline or behind your ear. As a result, they will be undetected, especially when a woman’s hair is down. Dr. Gale delivers natural-looking results where the incisions are strategically hidden. Be sure to review Dr. Gale’s facelift before and after photos to see some real-life examples!

Mini Facelift: This less invasive procedure targets the lower face and neck. It’s ideal for those with mild sagging and jowling, offering a quicker recovery than more extensive facelifts.

Deep Plane Facelift: This technique goes deeper than traditional methods, addressing the layers beneath the facial muscles. It’s effective for significant sagging and aging, offering more lasting and natural-looking results.

Traditional Facelift: Also known as a standard or full facelift, this method addresses moderate to severe facial aging. It involves incisions along the hairline and behind the ears to tighten skin and underlying tissues across the entire face.