Facial surgery includes minor and large procedures, done under local or general anesthesia, that are each designed to create lasting improvements in one’s appearance. Fillers have become popular because one of the main signs of aging is loss of facial volume. But fillers are not designed to lift the face. As the name says, fillers ‘fill’—they don’t lift! Facial surgery, on the other hand, can restore volume and lift the face at the same time, and provides more natural and impactful results when the right procedure is performed.
Dr. Gabriele C. Miotto is an internationally recognized plastic surgeon who specializes in facial rejuvenation procedures. She has treated thousands of patients at ME Plastic Surgery in Atlanta, helping each enhance their inner beauty through customized treatment plans. She has been named one of America’s Best Plastic Surgeons by Newsweek in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
If you are ready to schedule your consultation with Dr. Miotto, please submit our online contact form or call our Atlanta office at (404) 850-5851.
To see more of Dr. Miotto’s work, follow @drmiotto and @meplasticsatlanta on Instagram.
Contents
About Facial Surgery
The facial surgeries most commonly performed by Dr Miotto are the extended deep plane facelift, neck lift, blepharoplasty, endoscopic brow lift, lip lift and corner lift, ear lobe reduction, fat transfer to the face and hands, and facial resurfacing. All these procedures aim at restoring a more youthful-looking facial appearance. These transformative procedures are designed to address different concerns by removing excess skin, repositioning/tightening underlying structures, redraping tissues, restoring volume, and improving skin quality and health. Fillers can only replace volume that has been lost, and they are temporary. Regardless of which procedure is performed, Dr. Miotto is dedicated to delivering results that are timeless and surpass trends, aiming for real solutions that look natural and tasteful.
Benefits of Facial Surgery
Several advantages come with choosing facial surgery as the gold standard for facial rejuvenation. Some of these benefits include:
- Long-Lasting Results: Surgical results last several years, and it resets the face in a new, rejuvenated baseline for a lifetime when compared with not having had surgery at all.
- Surgical Precision: Dr. Miotto employs advanced techniques to make targeted adjustments to facial muscles, fascia, skin, and fat.
- Natural-Looking Effects: We focus on maintaining each patient’s natural features, ensuring that the results appear seamless and true to one’s natural appearance and anatomy.
- Customizable Solutions: Each procedure is tailored to a patient’s desires and anatomy, creating a personalized treatment plan based on their ideal results.
Candidates
Facial procedures are available for anyone who wants to address moderate to severe signs of facial aging. This includes sagging skin, nasolabial folds, jowls, or volume loss. Patients who have previously received dermal fillers and are now looking for a more permanent solution are also welcome to consider facial surgery as an alternative.
All interested candidates should be in good overall health and hold realistic expectations regarding what treatment can accomplish. All patients should be nonsmokers, as Dr. Miotto does not operate on patients who smoke due to healing issues. Patients who smoke may be considered as candidates after they have quit for at least 6 months.
Dr. Miotto will determine each patient’s candidacy for facial surgery during their personal consultation.
Personal Consultation
Each patient is asked to attend a personalized consultation before moving forward with facial surgery. During this consultation, Dr. Miotto will discuss the details of each individual’s specific procedure and desired results. A facial evaluation will also take place to assess skin quality and health. Dr. Miotto will use this information to craft your tailored treatment plan. Patients are encouraged to ask any questions they may have, as this consultation is designed to be informative and collaborative.
To schedule your personal consultation with Dr. Miotto, please submit our online contact form or call our office at (404) 850-5851.
Preparation
There is noticeably more preparation involved with a surgical procedure than with injectables. Dr. Miotto will provide each patient with a set of personalized instructions.
When preparing for facial surgery, patients will likely be advised to discontinue blood-thinning medications and supplements. Patients undergoing facial surgery will need to arrange for time off from work and other commitments, as well as transportation home from the procedure.
In addition to these general guidelines, please follow all personalized instructions you receive to ensure a safe, smooth, and effective procedure.
Procedures
We offer several different surgical facial procedures to help each patient address their concerns.
Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid lift, is a cosmetic procedure designed to rejuvenate the upper and/or lower eye area. As we age, many of us are left with hanging eyelid skin or undereye bags that can create an angry or tired appearance. A blepharoplasty aims to correct these concerns by eliminating sagging skin, reducing puffiness, and restoring a more youthful-looking appearance. Dr. Miotto can perform this procedure on both eyelids at once, through a lower blepharoplasty and upper blepharoplasty.
Brow Lift
A brow lift is a procedure that shapes the eyebrows to address drooping or sagging in the brows and forehead. Many patients seek this procedure to reduce the appearance of forehead hooding. This procedure may also provide a subtle lift in the upper eye area, complementing the upper eyelid lift procedure.
Deep Plane Facelift
A deep plane facelift is a specialized variation of the facelift that aims to restore a more youthful-looking appearance to the face and neck. Also known as a deep plane rhytidectomy, this procedure removes excess skin while also addressing the underlying layers of muscle and connective tissue as one unit to provide stable, lasting rejuvenation and natural-looking results. (1)
Facial Fat Transfer
Fat grafting to the face, also known as a facial fat transfer, is a procedure that uses a patient’s own fat to restore youthful fullness in the face. Fat grafting utilizes fine liposuction to remove fat deposits from other parts of the body before they are purified and reinjected back into the face. Because each patient’s own fat is used, the results appear natural and cohesive.
Lip Lift
A lip lift can be performed to enhance the appearance and proportions of the lips. (2) Many patients are born with thin and long upper lips and wish to enhance their appearance. Others may see their lips become thinner and droopier with age. Dr. Miotto can perform a lip lift with or without a corner lift to address issues such as shape, disproportion, all while augmenting the curvature and positioning of the lips.
Midface Lift
An endoscopic midface lift, or cheek lift, can reduce the appearance of aging in the middle section of the face. The endoscopic mid-face extends from the temples to the cheeks, and is ideal for younger patients with early signs of aging. This procedure is often performed by Dr Miotto in conjunction with an endoscopic brow lift.
Neck Lift
A neck lift is performed to address excess skin, excess fat, muscle laxity, jowls, and other concerns on the neck, effectively improving sagging and the appearance of a double chin.
Rhinoplasty
More commonly known as a nose job, a rhinoplasty enhances the appearance and function of the nose. This procedure can be performed with fat grafting of the face to enhance the profile and facial highlight. Common concerns that patients have that would require a rhinoplasty include: a dorsal hump, nose asymmetry, breathing concerns, a wide nasal tip, and a droopy nasal tip.
Recovery and Results
Each patient’s recovery timeline will vary depending on the type of procedure performed and the surgical techniques employed. During recovery, it is common for patients to experience temporary bruising, swelling, and numbness, which gradually dissipate over several weeks. Many patients can resume their normal routines within one or two weeks, but intense physical activities should be limited for 4-6 weeks.
The final results of facial surgery can take several months to develop. Dr. Miotto can make precise adjustments to the facial tissues, resulting in changes that can last at least several years.
Cost of Facial Surgery in Atlanta
The cost of each patient’s procedure can vary depending on the type of procedure performed, the extent of corrections, the surgical techniques employed, and more. Dr. Miotto will provide a cost estimate once your treatment plan is established. ME Plastic Surgery also offers various financing options through our partnership with CareCredit for those who qualify.
To learn more about the pricing of your customized facial procedure(s), please schedule a consultation by submitting our online contact form or calling our office at (404) 850-5851.
FAQ
How long do the results of facial surgery last?
The results of facial surgery typically last longer when compared to other non-surgical aesthetic procedures. While the exact timeframe can vary, many patients see improvements for several years, depending on the procedure performed.
Are there any non-surgical alternatives to facial surgery?
Dermal fillers and Botox are popular non-surgical alternatives for minor refinements. Results are temporary and require touch-ups, making them less favorable for significant changes or long-term results.
At what age should I consider facial surgery?
Candidates as young as their late 30s or as old as their 70s may benefit from facial surgery, depending on their concerns and overall health. Scheduling a personal consultation with Dr. Miotto can help determine the right timing and treatment for your needs.
Are there any risks to undergoing facial surgery?
As with any procedure, there are certain risks associated with facial surgery. These may include infection, scarring, and undesirable outcomes. Dr. Miotto mitigates these risks through carefully planning each procedure, operating in highly certified surgery centers, and using high-quality surgical techniques and equipment.
Can facial surgery be combined with other procedures?
Yes, some patients can associate facial and breast surgeries at the same time, and that is discussed with Dr. Miotto during the consultation.
References
- Timberlake AT, Brawley CC, Paul BC, Rosenberg DB. Complete Platysma Muscle Suspension in Deep Plane Facelift Surgery. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. Published online August 30, 2024. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/prs.0000000000011705
- Faryan Jalalabadi, Lisiecki JL, Chiodo MV, Rohrich RJ. Lip Lifting: The Missing Link in Central Facial Rejuvenation. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. Published online May 22, 2023. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/prs.0000000000010735
