The full facelift (or rhytidectomy surgery) is the most complete and long-lasting procedure. The surgeon makes an incision starting at one ear, extending across the hairline, and ending at the other ear. After cutting away extra skin, tightening the muscles underneath and removing fat deposits, the doctor then reattaches the skin. This surgery addresses the entire face and neck, and results last from eight to 10 years. Cost ranges from $5,500 to $10,000.

The mini or mid-facelift is a partial procedure that affects only the cheek area. “You get what you pay for,” says Mobley. “It won’t give you the duration of a full facelift, and it doesn’t address the brow, eyes or neck, but it’s a reasonable procedure for younger people in their 40s who are just beginning to see some laxity in their cheeks. I might even use it on a 58-year-old who had a full facelift at 48 and just needs a little refreshing.” Both physicians stress that the mid-lift is not a replacement for the facelift. “It’s better to spend a little more and get the real thing, especially for people in their 50s and older,” says Hillstrom. Costs range from $3,000 to $6,000.

A brow lift fixes drooping brows and removes those frown lines in your forehead that make people ask what you’re angry about. In the conventional procedure, the incision is concealed beneath the hairline. The incision may be smaller (about a half-inch or so) if the physician employs a viewing device called an endoscope. “Endoscopic technique for forehead and brow is a novel approach that I use for some of my patients,” says Hillstrom. “The incisions are smaller. But the results aren’t always as noticeable or dramatic. I tend to not recommend that procedure unless the candidate just needs a little lift; it’s a tradeoff.” Costs range from $2,500 to $4,000.

Eyelid surgery (or blepharoplasty) removes excess fat, skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. While this procedure can correct drooping upper lids and puffy bags below your eyes, it won’t correct crow’s feet, wrinkles or dark circles. Costs range from $2,400 to $5,000 per upper and lower.

Radiage and Sculptra

Dr. Michael Stampar is an osteopathic physician who specializes in aesthetic surgical and nonsurgical procedures. He’s excited about two procedures he feels are at the cutting-edge of aesthetic medicine. One is a nonsurgical skin tightening procedure called Radiage.

“It’s a remarkable improvement on Thermage,” he says, “which is a non-invasive radiofrequency technology that tightens skin and renews facial contours. The problem with Thermage is that the results aren’t predictable and the cost is often prohibitive. Radiage uses a more targeted radio frequency system to heat the soft tissue beneath the skin, causing the collagen to contract and tighten.” Stampar claims that the two-hour procedure can eliminate wrinkles and firm and tighten the skin of the forehead, face and neck. “It’s not the equivalent of a facelift,” he says. “It’s for younger patients who are just beginning to see signs of aging. It’s the only procedure I know of that turns back the clock on the skin itself. It’s reliable, there’s no downtime, and it’s not painful. Results last years—and you can look anywhere from five to 10 years younger.” Costs are about $2,000 for the full face.

Sculptra is another procedure that Stampar recommends. It was first used as a way to restore lost facial fat in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). While it is not yet FDA-approved for other uses, Stampar feels it has great potential. “Sculptra stimulates growth of tissue,” says Stampar, “and is a great procedure for people who have loss of fat, resulting in hollow eyes and sunken cheeks. It’s like planting a seed under your skin; it’s true restoration—not a short-term cover.” He explains that Sculptra is injected beneath the skin, providing a gradual increase in skin thickness, especially in areas of creases, such as the fold between nose and mouth. It’s done in stages, he says, usually two to five treatments, administered four to eight weeks apart. The full treatment takes three to five months. “Sculptra works nicely for people in their early 40s and older, when they first begin to see changes in skin laxity or drooping skin. It softens edges, restores roundness and fullness of the face in an elegant manner.” Costs are $1,000 per treatment.

Fillers and laser treatments