Other Facial Procedures

Face Lift
Rhytidectomy

The perfect complement to Facial Feminization Surgery. When FFS gives your facial skeleton a female outline, a face lift ensures that outline is clearly visible — pulling up the cheeks and jowls, tightening lax skin, and giving your face an extra decade of youth.

Anesthesia General
Duration 2 to 3 hours
Hospitalization Half a day / 2 days (if combined with FFS)
Return to activities 10 days (longer if combined with FFS)
Consultation [PRECIO_CONSULTA]
Why It Matters After FFS

Making feminization
fully visible

When FFS gives your facial skeleton a female outline, you probably want to show this outline sharply, without saggy skin concealing or spoiling it. In young faces, soft tissues adapt by themselves over the feminized bones — but in mature patients, this doesn't happen, especially when the skin started to sag before FFS.

"The more advanced the aging process is at the time of the facelift, or the higher the amount of bone removed during FFS, the more impressive the rejuvenating effect will be."

Important

A face lift is not a facial feminization surgery by itself. It brings out the facial bony outline you already have. If your chin and jaw bones are still masculine, tightening the skin will highlight that. If you have had FFS or have naturally feminine bone structure, a face lift will reveal that femininity clearly.

What It Achieves

Results you can expect

01

Reveals FFS results

Tightens the skin and lax muscles of the cheeks and jowls to bring out the effects of facial feminization on chin and jaw.

02

Enhances cheeks

Excess muscle tissue is folded over the cheekbones rather than removed, creating fuller cheeks beneath tightened skin — which may eliminate the need for cheek implants during FFS.

03

Reduces nasolabial folds

When nasolabial folds are caused by saggy cheeks, tightening the jowl tissues reduces them significantly.

04

Complete rejuvenation

Combined with neck lift, brow lift, and blepharoplasty, a face lift achieves complete facial rejuvenation in a single comprehensive plan.

What it does NOT do

Does not remove crow's feet or wrinkles around the eyes (these require blepharoplasty or brow lift) Does not improve the forehead or eyebrows (forehead or brow lift surgery is required for that) Is not a facial feminization surgery by itself
The Surgical Technique

How a face lift
is performed

The surgeon makes an incision very close to the ear, following its natural outline. He then separates the muscles and skin of the middle area of the face and tightens them toward the ears to give the face a more youthful look.

The excess muscle tissue — worked at the SMAS level — is not removed but folded upward over the cheekbones, creating natural volume and fullness. The excess skin is then trimmed and incisions are closed. Flabby tissues over the jowl area are tightened, reducing nasolabial folds.

When a face lift is performed alongside FFS, it is always the last procedure in the session. To rejuvenate the lower face and neck outline, a neck lift is performed in conjunction.

Surgical Details

What to expect

Anesthesia General anesthesia.
Duration Between 2 and 3 hours.
Hospitalization Half a day when done alone. Two days when combined with FFS.
Bandages A compression bandage is applied around the head and removed approximately 24 hours after surgery. May be left on longer if combined with FFS.
Stitches Removed approximately two weeks after surgery.
Swelling Worst during the first week, lasting about a month. When combined with FFS, swelling may last longer. Cold compresses help reduce it.
Scars The incision area heals very well. Scars are placed close to the ear following its natural outline and are not easily spotted once fully healed.
Recovery

What to expect
after surgery

1

First 48 hours

Rest at the hotel. Avoid abrupt head movements. Cheeks may feel numb at first — this is normal.

2

Days 2–10

Bruising may appear, especially below the eyes. Swelling gradually recedes. Sleep with head elevated. Cold compresses help.

3

Day 10

Most patients return to work and daily activities. If combined with FFS, the recovery period is somewhat longer.

4

~1 month

Swelling fully resolved. Results become clearly visible. Scars continue to fade over the following months.

Risks & Complications

What you should know

Complications are very unlikely when a face lift is performed by a qualified surgeon. As with any surgery, certain risks exist and should not be ruled out.

  • Infections — less likely with appropriate antibiotics.
  • Adverse reactions to anesthesia.
  • Hypertrophic scars or keloids, due to genetic traits of certain skin types.
  • Bruising.
  • Seromas — fluid accumulation beneath the skin, drained by aspiration if needed. More frequent when combined with FFS.
The Outcome

Decades younger.
For the rest of your life.

Face lift surgery will make you look many years younger. The difference between your real age and your appearance will last for decades — as you grow older, you will still look significantly younger than you are.

For patients who have had facial feminization surgery, a face lift adjusts the soft areas of the face to the new bone structure. The feminization achieved on the bones becomes more clearly defined — visible in a way that soft tissue alone could never reveal.

International Patients

We take care of
every detail

Our patients travel from across the Americas, Europe, and beyond. We coordinate everything so you can focus entirely on your recovery.

Get in Touch

Bilingual Assistants & Transportation

Land transportation from and to the airport, medical appointments, and surgery — with bilingual support throughout.

In-Hospital Translators

Translators available during hospitalization so you can communicate clearly with nursing staff at all times.

24/7 Staff Access

A cell phone provided at no charge so you can reach our team at any hour during your stay in Buenos Aires.

Special Hotel Discounts

Partner hotel rates near the clinic, selected for comfort, proximity, and suitability for post-operative rest.

Take the Next Step

Ready to reveal your
feminine bone structure?

Schedule a virtual consultation. We'll assess whether a face lift is right for you — alone or as a complement to your facial feminization surgery.

Contact Us