Hagopian Plastic Surgery: Thomas Hagopian, MD
99 Krog St. NE, Unit C110
Atlanta, GA 30307
Phone: (404) 885-8542
Tuesday–Friday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
A facelift is the gold standard for rejuvenating the lower face and correcting sagging jowls, nasolabial folds, and wrinkled neck skin. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Thomas Hagopian uses advanced, evidence-based techniques for facelift surgery at his Atlanta practice to help women and men look refreshed and energetic.
Facelift patients typically want a result that looks healthy, vibrant, and natural. Older facelift techniques emphasized pulling the skin tight and removing the excess, which produced an unnaturally tight or “windswept” appearance.
Dr. Hagopian’s technique focuses on elevating, tightening, and repositioning the layer of fibrous muscle that supports the skin and fat. This layer, called the SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system), connects facial muscles to the subcutaneous fat and skin. This approach produces a much more natural-looking result.
To perform the SMAS facelift, Dr. Hagopian makes incisions in the hairline along the natural lines in front of the ear and around the earlobe to behind the ear. After separating the skin and fat from the SMAS layer, he tightens and secures the muscle into an elevated position. He then gently re-drapes the skin and tissue, trimming the excess, before closing the incisions without putting too much tension on the skin.
Just about anyone who is in good overall health and who has realistic expectations about what facelift surgery can accomplish is a good candidate for a facelift. A SMAS facelift addresses concerns in the lower two-thirds of the face and neck, resulting in:
Most facelift patients are in their late 40s, 50s, or early 60s, but you may be younger or older and be a good candidate for the procedure.
Plastic surgery is the perfect field for Dr. Hagopian, who has a knack for fixing things and helping people. He’s a former firefighter/paramedic, and he had a business building highly sought-after custom taillights in medical school. He met his wife, Nurse Hagopian, at Emory University, and they bonded over many shared interests, including a commitment to exceptional patient care.
Meet Dr. Thomas Hagopian
Nurse Hagopian is an Atlanta native, a self-identified nursing ethics nerd, and an ANCC board-certified adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner. She’s passionate about studying informed consent, empowering fellow nurses to use their voices, and collaborating with people in addressing their aesthetic care needs.
Meet Nurse HagopianMany people who consult with Dr. Hagopian about facelift surgery realize that their aesthetic concerns include other facial features that a facelift alone won’t address. For example, you may want to combine eyelid surgery or a brow lift with a facelift for a full facial rejuvenation. Additionally, a facelift doesn’t improve the skin’s texture or age spots; those concerns can be addressed by nonsurgical treatments such as microneedling with platelet-rich plasma.
The cost of facelift surgery in Atlanta starts at $7,500. The total price depends on the extent of the procedure, including if you want to combine it with other procedures, in addition to other factors. Dr. Hagopian customizes each facelift procedure and provides a personalized pricing estimate as part of your consultation.
A facelift recovery involves both the time it takes to heal and the time needed before you feel comfortable attending a significant social or professional event. Bruising and swelling peak during the first week after the surgery, but residual swelling can take several weeks to resolve completely. The discomfort patients experience during the recovery is often much less than they anticipate. It’s important to follow Dr. Hagopian’s postoperative instructions closely to ensure your recovery goes as smoothly as possible. It’s normal for your face to feel numb or tight for up to a few months.
Dr. Hagopian takes great care when making facelift incisions, concealing them in natural creases around the ear. Your scars may appear reddish during the first few months after surgery but will gradually fade until they’re virtually imperceptible. We also offer multiple scar reduction therapies, including steroid injections and silicone gel strips from the Silagen® scar refinement system.
If you would like to learn more about whether facelift surgery is right for you, please request a consultation online or call (404) 885-8542. Our Atlanta office welcomes people interested in facelift surgery from Inman Park, Druid Hills, Decatur, and throughout Georgia.
