Model Face · Surgical rejuvenation
A facelift repositions the deeper tissues of the lower face and neck so you look rested and defined, not pulled. The goal is a version of you that friends can’t quite put their finger on.
About the procedure
A facelift (rhytidectomy) addresses the structural changes that come with aging in the lower face, jawline and neck. Rather than stretching the skin, modern techniques release and reposition the deeper layer where most of the descent happens, then remove only the excess skin that’s left over. The result is smoother contour and a more defined jawline that still moves and looks like you.
Dr. Khan plans each facelift around your anatomy, your skin quality and how far the aging changes have progressed. Depending on what she finds, she may recommend a deep plane, SMAS, mini or extended approach, and she often pairs a facelift with a neck lift, facial fat grafting, a brow lift or eyelid surgery when the face reads better as a whole.
The Empowered approach
She evaluates the face and neck together and chooses the technique based on your aging pattern and the level of correction needed, not a one-size-for-all procedure. Her aim is subtle refinement: restore contour, preserve your expression and avoid the tight or wind-swept look that gives surgery away. Incisions are planned around the ears and along natural contours so they settle as discreetly as your anatomy allows.
Your recovery plan is built around the procedure actually performed and how you heal, rather than a fixed timeline. Dr. Khan walks you through what to expect for your specific plan, follows your healing at scheduled visits, and established surgical patients have a direct way to reach her after hours.
Facelift surgery can be performed under general anesthesia or, for appropriate candidates, with an awake technique that uses local anesthesia and the tumescent method. Some patients prefer being awake and avoiding general anesthesia; others are better suited to general anesthesia, especially when the surgery is more extensive.
The right approach depends on the extent of surgery, your medical history and your comfort. Dr. Khan reviews both options at your consultation and recommends the one that fits your procedure and your goals.
How awake surgery works
Who it may suit
Candidacy is confirmed at your consultation, after an examination and a review of your medical history.
What to expect
About an hour with Dr. Khan to examine facial structure, skin quality and muscle tone, talk through technique options and anesthesia, review before-and-after photos, and decide whether neck, brow, eyelid or fat-grafting procedures belong in the plan.
A written surgical plan covering the technique, incision placement, the anesthesia approach, pre-operative instructions and what to arrange at home. Pricing is reviewed with your plan.
Incisions are placed around the ears and along natural contours. Deeper tissues are repositioned and supported, excess skin is removed and incisions are closed in layers. Some plans include a small drain or a supportive dressing for the first days.
You’ll rest with your head raised during the first week while swelling and bruising peak. Dr. Khan sees you at scheduled visits, removes sutures as healing allows and clears each step back to normal activity.
Recovery
Expect swelling, bruising and a feeling of tightness in the first week, when rest matters most. By the second week many patients feel considerably more comfortable and begin light daily activities with Dr. Khan’s guidance. Desk work and low-key social plans are often realistic within two to three weeks, although some residual swelling can remain.
Exercise and strenuous activity wait for clearance. Scars look pink at first and fade over the following months. The final result continues to refine for several months as swelling fully resolves and tissues settle, and it holds best with sun protection, good skincare and not smoking.
Risks and limitations
Every surgery carries risk. These are the ones most relevant to this procedure; Dr. Khan reviews your personal risk profile and the alternatives with you before anything is scheduled.
Before & after
Before-and-after photographs for facelift are not currently featured on this page. Explore the patient gallery to view available results, or ask to see cases like yours at your consultation.
Every photograph in the gallery is one of Dr. Khan's own patients, shared with consent. Individual results vary.
FAQ
Every answer here is general information. Your own plan, risks and recovery are discussed in person at your consultation.
Results vary from patient to patient. Many patients enjoy meaningful improvement for years, but longevity depends on your anatomy, skin quality, the technique used, weight stability, sun exposure, smoking and genetics. A facelift doesn’t stop aging; it resets the lower face and neck so you age forward from a better starting point. Deep plane and SMAS-based approaches may hold up longer in appropriate candidates because they support deeper tissue rather than skin alone.
A mini facelift is a more limited procedure for earlier signs of lower-face aging, with shorter incisions and a somewhat shorter recovery. A fuller facelift addresses more advanced changes in the cheeks and jawline, and usually the neck as well. The right choice depends less on your age and more on your anatomy, how much laxity you have and what you want corrected. Dr. Khan recommends the approach that fits what she sees rather than applying one procedure to every patient.
For appropriate candidates, yes. The awake technique uses local anesthesia and the tumescent method so the treatment area is numb while you remain awake and comfortable. It isn’t the right fit for every patient or every plan; more extensive surgery is often better suited to general anesthesia. Dr. Khan reviews both options with you at consultation and recommends the one that fits your procedure, your health history and your comfort.
Incisions typically run in front of and behind the ears and along natural contours, sometimes extending into the hairline or under the chin when the neck is included. All surgery leaves scars, but they are placed to be hard to notice in everyday settings once healed. They look pinker and more visible early on and improve over the following months. How they mature depends on your skin, your healing response and how closely you follow aftercare instructions.
Recovery is gradual and depends on the extent of surgery and whether the neck or other procedures were included. The first week is for rest, with swelling and bruising at their peak and possibly a dressing or small drain. By the second week most patients are more comfortable and starting light activity. Desk work and quiet social events are often realistic within two to three weeks. Exercise resumes only after Dr. Khan clears it, and final refinement continues for several months.
Pricing depends on the technique, whether the neck is included, the complexity of the surgery, the anesthesia approach and whether other facial procedures are performed at the same time. Because every plan is customized, a quote is provided after Dr. Khan has evaluated your anatomy and discussed your goals at consultation. Financing is available through Cherry, PatientFi and CareCredit.
Related reading
Request a consultation
Consultation fees are currently waived. Plan on about an hour with Dr. Khan, in person in Sugar Land or virtually, to talk through goals, candidacy and the approach that fits you.
New patients can book a consultation; existing patients can book a treatment, follow-up or post-op visit. Opens PatientNow’s secure booking page in a new tab.
Call (281) 716-3224 · Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sugar Land, Texas · Virtual consultations available