Facelift (Rhytidectomy) in San Diego

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Visible signs of aging, such as sagging cheeks, jowls, and loose skin along the jawline, can make you look older than you feel. At his La Jolla practice, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Mofid offers advanced facial rejuvenation surgery for San Diego residents seeking refined, natural results. Each procedure is customized to enhance facial harmony while preserving your unique features and expressions.

Schedule a facelift consultation with Dr. Mark Mofid to start your facial rejuvenation journey.

What Is Facelift Surgery?

Facelift surgery, also known as rhytidectomy, lifts and repositions facial tissues that have shifted due to the effects of aging, gravity, or loss of volume. Instead of relying solely on surface tightening, Dr. Mofid employs proven techniques to address deeper structural changes that affect the lower face and neck. This includes lifting the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) layer, restoring youthful volume through fat grafting, and refining the contours of the jawline and neckline.

Depending on your needs, Dr. Mofid may recommend one of several techniques:

Deep Plane Facelift: Targets the deepest facial layers to address advanced sagging in the cheeks, jowls, and neck.
SMAS Facelift: Focuses on the mid- to lower face, with a shorter recovery time, making it ideal for moderate skin laxity.
Mini Facelift: A less invasive option that addresses early signs of aging in the lower face using shorter incisions.

These approaches can be performed alone or combined with adjunct procedures like neck lift, eyelid surgery, or brow lift for more complete rejuvenation.

Who Is a Candidate for Facelift Surgery?

This procedure may be appropriate if you feel your outward appearance no longer matches your energy or self-image. The best candidates often include individuals who:

Are concerned about jowls, loose neck skin, or sagging along the jawline
Still have relatively good skin elasticity and underlying muscle tone
Are in good physical health and do not smoke
Have realistic goals and are committed to following recovery instructions

During your consultation, Dr. Mofid will assess your facial structure, skin condition, and age-related changes to determine whether facelift surgery is suitable for you and which technique will yield the best result.

What to Expect During the Procedure

Facelift surgery is performed under general anesthesia at Dr. Mofid’s accredited surgical center in La Jolla. Incisions are placed along the hairline and around the ears, where scars can be hidden within natural folds. Through these incisions, Dr. Mofid lifts and repositions the deeper facial tissues to restore a smoother, firmer contour.

Depending on your treatment plan, he may tighten the SMAS layer, use a deep plane approach, remove or reposition fat, or perform a neck lift or fat grafting simultaneously. Once the adjustments are complete, the skin is redraped and the incisions are carefully closed.

Most procedures take three to five hours and are performed on an outpatient basis, so you’ll go home the same day.

What to Expect After the Procedure

Swelling, bruising, and tightness are common in the first few days. Keeping your head elevated helps reduce discomfort. Sutures are usually removed after one week; by then, most bruising has started to fade.

Light activity can resume after two to three weeks. Full results will become visible over the next several months as tissues settle and scars soften. Dr. Mofid provides clear aftercare instructions and follow-up visits to support healing and keep you comfortable throughout recovery.

Before & After Gallery

Visit our before-and-after gallery to view natural-looking results that highlight smoother contours and restored facial balance.

Actual Facelift patient of Dr. Mofid

See Facelift Results

Benefits of Facelift Surgery

Choosing facial rejuvenation surgery with an experienced specialist like Dr. Mofid offers multiple aesthetic and emotional benefits:

Restoration of jawline definition and reduction of jowls
Smoother neckline and firmer appearance
Repositioned cheeks and lifted midface for youthful contour
Balanced, natural results—not an overdone or artificial look
Confidence boost that matches how you feel on the inside

Many patients’ results last 10 years or more, depending on their lifestyle, skin health, and maintenance regimen.

How Much Does a Facelift Cost in San Diego?

Costs vary depending on the surgical technique (mini, SMAS, or deep plane), the use of anesthesia, and whether additional procedures (e.g., neck lift, fat grafting) are included. Each facelift is fully customized, so pricing is provided during your consultation.

Financing options are available to make treatment more manageable. During your consultation, our team will explain the costs and help you find a financing plan that fits your needs and budget.

Why Choose Dr. Mark Mofid for Your Facelift?

Dr. Mark Mofid is a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience performing facial aesthetic surgery in San Diego. He is known for delivering subtle, natural-looking results that align with each patient’s unique features and goals.

Dr. Mofid completed advanced fellowship training in aesthetic and craniofacial surgery and currently serves as a clinical faculty member at UC San Diego School of Medicine. He holds staff privileges at leading area hospitals, including Scripps Memorial, Sharp Memorial, and Palomar Medical Center.

His work in facial and reconstructive surgery has been published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences. All procedures are performed in a fully accredited surgical facility with board-certified anesthesia care and close, ongoing support from Dr. Mofid and his team.

Facelift FAQs

Is there an ideal age to get a facelift?

No specific age is considered “right” for a facelift. Most patients seek surgery in their 40s to 60s, but candidacy is more about skin quality, facial aging, and overall health than age alone.

Will I need to stay overnight after surgery?

Most facelift procedures are outpatient, so you can return home the same day. In some cases, especially if combined with other procedures or if you live far from the clinic, an overnight stay can be arranged for comfort and monitoring.

Can men benefit from facelift surgery too?

Yes. Dr. Mofid routinely performs facelifts for men who want to tighten loose skin, sharpen their jawline, or reduce neck sagging while preserving a natural, masculine appearance.

How do I maintain my results over time?

Good skincare, sun protection, a healthy lifestyle, and occasional non-surgical treatments (like lasers or injectables) can help prolong your facelift results for many years. Dr. Mofid may also recommend a personalized maintenance plan during follow-up visits.

Schedule Your Facelift Consultation in San Diego

Rediscover a smoother, more confident version of yourself with facelift surgery in San Diego by Dr. Mark Mofid. To explore your options, call (858) 909-9000 or contact us online to schedule your consultation.

Our office in La Jolla is near Scripps Memorial Hospital and UTC, offering easy access, secure parking, and a discreet, comfortable environment for your care.