Introduction To Preservation Facelift
Preservation facelift surgery is a cutting-edge technique designed to provide patients with a more natural-looking appearance with a shorter recovery time. This procedure reduces the degree of trauma caused by traditional facelifts allowing patients to bounce back faster after surgery.
What is Preservation Facelift Surgery?
The preservation facelift technique aims to reposition the deep muscles of the face rather than simply tightening the skin. Accessing the deep muscular layers of the face allows the surgeon to reposition and lift the underlying structures to give a more natural appearance. This additionally involves less elevation of the skin and reduces soft tissue damage facilitating a smoother, easier recovery. By leaving the skin more connected to the deeper soft tissue structures, the facelift effect is more natural and more powerful.
Traditional facelift procedures focus on pulling the skin tight to reduce sagging, wrinkles, and fine lines; however, this often leaves patients with longer recovery and an unnatural appearance. This limitation has been addressed with the preservation facelift surgery which targets the deep muscular layer with less dissection of the skin layer.
Restoring one’s natural beauty without the appearance of having undergone surgery is best achieved with a preservation facelift. Understanding the effects of aging on the underlying muscles has allowed surgeons to target this layer and restore it to its natural position to achieve comprehensive rejuvenation of the face.
Educational videos
The Facelift Procedure
Learn more about the facelift procedure and how it can subtly enhance your facial harmony with insights from Dr. Tina Ho.
Facelift Surgery: Everything You Need to Know About the Deep Plane Facelift with Dr. Tina Ho
The deep plane facelift is an advanced facelift technique that provides dramatic, long-lasting results by repositioning deeper facial tissues. Ideal candidates range from their late 30s to 60s, seeking to restore cheek volume and jawline contour. Recovery includes swelling, bruising, and ELIXIR MD™ treatments to accelerate healing, with final results visible in 6–12 months.
Facelift: What is Expected with Surgery?
Facelift surgery is performed typically with a neck lift to achieve the best rejuvenation results. The incisions are well-hidden, as they are placed along skin creases and within the hairline. During surgery, the skin is first elevated. The SMAS plane is then entered via a deep plane approach, and the deeper tissues are released and lifted. The excess skin is trimmed as the last step.
Understanding Preservation Facelift
The aging process results in sagging of the skin and muscular layers of the face causing people to appear older than their stated age. Understanding these muscular and deeper tissue changes has allowed surgeons to better manage the aging process and simply restore the natural appearance of the face.
Where a traditional facelift focuses on tightening the skin to reduce wrinkles and sagging, a preservation facelift vertically raises the muscular layer of the face to its original position. The preservation facelift technique also addresses the fat compartments of the face, repositioning it in a way that restores the natural volume and contours of the face. The preservation facelift approach can be performed with less skin elevation and in shorter time while achieving beautiful, natural results.
Benefits of Preservation Facelift
Preservation facelifts offer several benefits to patients wishing to pursue facial rejuvenation including:
Natural results. Raising the muscular layer better preserves the natural contours and features of the face.
Long-term benefits. Addressing the underlying structures provides longer-lasting results than traditional facelifts.
Reduced recovery time. Less dissection of the skin layers and reduced need for a drain shorten the downtime of patients.
Minimal scarring. Incisions are carefully hidden within the hairline and the natural contours of the ear lessening the risk of visible scars.
Fewer complications. Minimizing dissection and aggressive manipulation reduces the risk of complications.
Why Choose Dr. Tina Ho?
Dr. Tina Ho stands out among facial plastic surgeons in Philadelphia and Wayne as a double board-certified facelift specialist with dedicated training in facial rejuvenation surgery. She understands that a facelift is both an art and a science — a highly detailed and complex procedure that requires technical precision and an artistic eye to achieve natural, harmonious results. Dr. Ho stays at the forefront of modern facelift techniques to deliver the most refined and lasting outcomes for her patients.
From the initial consultation to surgery day and every follow-up visit, Dr. Ho maintains an unwavering commitment to each facelift patient. She takes the time to listen, plan, and tailor every step of the surgical process to align with the patient’s unique anatomy and aesthetic goals. Her approach focuses on restoring youthful contours while preserving the patient’s natural appearance, ensuring results that look refreshed rather than “overdone.”
As a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon specializing exclusively in aesthetic and reconstructive procedures of the face and neck, Dr. Ho received advanced fellowship training under world-renowned facial plastic surgeon Dr. Dean Toriumi. Her expertise extends across all aspects of facial rejuvenation, including deep plane facelift, mini facelift, neck lift, and complementary procedures such as eyelid surgery and skin resurfacing.
Dr. Ho is known regionally and beyond as one of Philadelphia’s most trusted facelift surgeons, with patients traveling from throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York to seek her expertise. She devotes the time and care needed to establish realistic goals, guide patients through recovery, and ensure each person feels confident, supported, and deeply satisfied with their results.
What is Dr. Ho’s Approach to Preservation Facelift Surgery?
Preservation facelift surgery is a less invasive approach to the deep plane facelift and can be performed under twilight sedation using intravenous medications and local anesthetics or under general anesthesia.
Incisions hidden in the hairline and contours of the ears are first made, and the facial and neck skin are elevated. The deeper SMAS layer, a tough layer of tissue from the head to the neck to which the muscles of the face attach, is identified and accessed. Mobilization of this layer allows a more comprehensive correction as it is lifted vertically and resuspended. The deeper layer of correction reduces the trauma of the surgery, shortens recovery, and improves the degree of correction. Overall less skin is dissected, which leads to less trauma of the tissues and quicker recovery.
The procedure is typically completed within four to five hours; however, this can be longer if additional procedures are performed. Once the surgery is completed, you will recover at our facility and be discharged home the same day.
Ideal Candidates for Preservation Facelift
Preservation facelift surgery is ideal for men and women who are unhappy with the unwanted signs of aging. This technique is ideal for patients wanting a quicker recovery, a more natural appearance, and longer-lasting results.
Ideal candidates should be in good mental and physical health without significant medical conditions that can increase the risks of complications. Non-smokers or those willing to quit smoking and patients not taking blood thinning medications are ideal candidates for facelift surgeries. To maximize the overall success of the procedure, patients must have realistic expectations for the procedu
Meet Dr. Ho
Introducing Dr. Tina Ho!
A Double Board-Certified, Fellowship-Trained Facial Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Ho is a highly respected female surgeon in the medical community, noted for her charitable work, scientific contributions, and impressive leadership. She is a proud member and is board-certified by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. As a female double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Ho is both approachable and relatable to her patients and strives to empower them with beautiful, natural results. Her philosophy is to provide the highest standard of individualized care in greater Philadelphia for a broad spectrum of facial rejuvenation and reconstructive procedures.
Recovery and Aftercare
Compared to a traditional facelift, the preservation facelift recovery is shorter and may not require managing a drain. The majority of swelling and bruising resolves in 10 to 14 days, while many patients feel presentable at one month out. Heavy lifting, strenuous activities, smoking, and excessive sun exposure should be avoided for the first two weeks. After this time, a progressive return to normal activities is advised.
Post-operative dos and don’ts:
Enhance Your Recovery with Elixir MD
The Elixir MD™ is an innovative recovery tool that offers various treatment programs using different LED light wavelengths to achieve specific pre and post-surgical goals. These programs are supported by advanced artificial intelligence temperature controls and adjustable settings to address a range of concerns and goals. This non-invasive therapy is safe, painless, and can reduce infections after surgery while also enhancing recovery and minimizing scarring after rhinoplasty surgery.
Benefits of Elixir MD
Enhanced post-operative recovery after rhinoplasty. Using LED light, Elixir MD™ stimulates the skin to accelerate wound healing and minimize scarring post-surgery.
Improved healing and cellular repair. Specific wavelengths stimulate collagen and elastin production, which are essential for healing after surgery.
Easier rhinoplasty recovery. Reduces inflammation responsible for swelling and pain after surgery.
Improved lymphatic drainage and blood flow. Enhances the delivery of nutrients and removal of waste for optimal healing.
Elixir MD Treatment Programs for Rhinoplasty
Elixir Detox
This pre-operative therapy uses blue light to reduce the number of bacteria, oils, and toxins on the skin, reducing surgical complications such as infection.
Elixir Cellular Repair
Post-rhinoplasty, Cellular Repair uses yellow light to improve circulation, reducing bruising and swelling, accelerating healing, and shortening recovery.
Elixir NeoXcell
The NeoXcell™ treatment program combines the benefits of Elixir Cellular and Thermal to boost healing and balance melanin production for a more even skin tone.
Elixir RoXium
RoXium™ uses yellow and blue light to reduce swelling/bruising, prevent skin oxidation, decrease sebum, minimize pores, and clear the complexion.
Patient Testimonials
Real Stories from Facelift Patients
Before and After My Deep Plane Facelift & Neck Lift Surgery with Dr. Tina Ho
My name is Kimberly. I am from Rhode Island. This is my husband, Vincent, and I wouldn’t be here today getting this facelift and neck lift surgery or had this journey if it wasn’t for him. From the time I was young, I call it the curse. My father had a double chin. My grandmother had a double chin. My aunts had one too, and they would all tease me. You know, as a young child, they’d say, “Someday you’re going to look like this.” And I did get that double chin. I never really felt confident with it. It always bothered me. I was always self-conscious about it. I didn’t feel comfortable meeting new people. I didn’t feel comfortable in myself. I didn’t feel pretty. I didn’t feel comfortable taking photos.
Patient Testimonial: Facelift & Neck Lift
This beautiful patient in her 40s came to me for surgical consultation, bothered by her aging face and neck. We pursued a deep plane facelift and deep neck lift to restore more youthful contour to her face, jawline, and neck. We are so grateful for her kind testimonial that describes her patient journey and for her beautiful, natural results.
Real Patients, Real Results
Patient Testimonials
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RealSelf
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As Seen In
Dr. Tina Ho in the Press
Dr. Tina Ho has been featured in leading media publications that highlight her expertise in facial plastic surgery.
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