Phoenix, AZ
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Facelift in Phoenix & Scottsdale, Arizona

Facelift

Introduction

Introduction to Facelift

For those interested in a facelift in Scottsdale, AZ, and the surrounding Phoenix area, Dr. Randall Craft and his team utilize Renuvion cosmetic technology to help “turn back the clock” by addressing sagging skin in the neck, jawline, and mid-face, resulting in a revitalized, youthful appearance. A facelift is a cosmetic procedure designed to address visible signs of aging on the face and neck, offering a surgical solution that often surpasses non-invasive treatments. This innovative approach combines helium plasma and radiofrequency energy to tighten and contour with exceptional accuracy and control, surpassing the effects of surgery alone. While a facelift can rejuvenate your appearance, it does not stop the natural aging process.

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  • Before and After Plastic Surgery Results | CraftMD Scottsdale & Phoenix, AZ
  • Before and After Plastic Surgery Results | CraftMD Scottsdale & Phoenix, AZ
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A woman in a gray robe is smiling and looking off-camera. Standing behind her and to the right is a male plastic surgeon, Dr. Craft, with a beard and a black shirt, also smiling and pointing to the side of her face. The image appears to be taken in a clinical setting with bright lighting. - Face Lift in Phoenix, AZ

What Is a Facelift?

A facelift procedure addresses the natural effects of aging by lifting and tightening sagging facial skin and underlying structures, and can also address areas of excess fat, resulting in a more youthful appearance. Over time, gravity can have a noticeable impact on the neck, jowls, and cheeks, causing them to lose firmness and definition. During a facelift, the underlying tissues are repositioned, and the overlying skin is re-draped, resulting in a rejuvenated appearance and a beautiful transformation that helps turn back the hands of time.

Facelift Techniques Dr. Craft Performs

  • A primary facelift, also known as a standard facelift, is a comprehensive procedure that can significantly transform a person’s appearance by addressing advanced signs of aging, such as deep wrinkles, chin fat deposits, and heavy jowls. Often combined with other treatments, it offers a holistic solution to reverse visible signs of aging by repositioning facial features to a more youthful position.

  • The mini facelift offers a less invasive alternative for addressing advanced signs of aging. With minimal skin pulling, it targets deeper wrinkles, chin fat deposits, and large jowls. Benefits include a shorter procedure duration, quicker recovery with reduced swelling and bruising (typically 9 to 12 days), and no need for a full facelift. After a mini facelift procedure, patients can expect mild to moderate discomfort that is usually managed with over-the-counter pain medication, and most people return to normal activities within two weeks. The cost of a mini facelift procedure in Arizona is approximately $7,500.

  • A revision facelift is a follow-up procedure performed after the initial facelift. Scar tissue and stretched skin are considered in this procedure. Consulting an experienced plastic surgeon is essential for achieving optimal results. Reasons for revision facelifts include outdated techniques, dissatisfaction, issues with specific facial areas, asymmetry, skin problems, or unnatural outcomes.

  • The deep plane facelift is ideal for patients with severe signs of facial aging. This advanced technique addresses severe drooping and skin folds by lifting not only the skin but also the underlying tissues, enabling more comprehensive facial restructuring. By lifting the skin, muscles, and fat pockets as a single unit, it achieves natural-looking results that last longer, with reduced scarring and complications. Treating both surface and sub-levels of aging yields significant benefits.

  • A liquid facelift, or non-surgical facelift, is performed with dermal fillers and neuromodulators and can address a range of aging concerns, including wrinkles, lines, deep creases, lost volume, and facial asymmetry. However, for those with more profound skin laxity, only a surgical procedure will produce the desired youthful appearance. Dr. Craft will discuss your treatment options in more depth after completing your physical assessment and medical review.

  • InstaLift is a minimally invasive, non-surgical facelift alternative designed to lift sagging skin and stimulate collagen production. Using absorbable sutures with tiny bidirectional cones, InstaLift gently repositions facial tissue to restore definition in areas such as the cheeks, jawline, and mid-face. The procedure is performed in-office under local anesthesia, with little to no downtime, making it ideal for patients looking for subtle rejuvenation without surgery. Results typically last 12 to 18 months, and many patients love combining InstaLift with other non-surgical treatments, such as fillers or Renuvion, for enhanced facial contouring.

What Sets Dr. Craft Apart as the Premier Facial Plastic Surgery Practice in Phoenix, AZ?

  • Dr. Randall Craft is a highly skilled facelift surgeon who brings a rare combination of advanced surgical training, artistic precision, and innovation to facelift surgery in Phoenix. With 15 years of clinical practice and nine years of elite training at the Mayo Clinic and Harvard University, he has built a reputation for delivering refined, natural-looking results that restore youthful definition without making patients look overdone.
  • As a double Board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Craft is known for approaching facial rejuvenation with both technical depth and aesthetic restraint. His work has earned recognition not only from patients in Scottsdale and the greater Phoenix area but also from peers in the aesthetic field through his lectures, publications, and presentations on advanced rejuvenation techniques.
  • Dr. Craft’s medical background and extensive training allow him to tailor each facelift to the individual rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach. He understands that every face ages differently, which is why he carefully evaluates skin quality, facial structure, volume loss, and tissue laxity before developing a personalized treatment plan.
  • He is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and the American Board of Surgery (ABS), distinctions that reflect extensive education, rigorous training, and a commitment to the highest standards of patient safety. He is also affiliated with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM), underscoring his continued involvement in the advancement of surgical excellence.
  • What further distinguishes Dr. Craft is his signature approach to facial rejuvenation. By combining facelift surgery with advanced technologies such as Renuvion and, in select cases, his hallmark Crafted Rejuvenation™ technique, he addresses both facial structure and skin quality to achieve results that look smoother, firmer, and beautifully refreshed.

Facelift Quick Facts

  • Surgery Time: 2-6 hours
  • Price: Varies by surgical plan and technique used. For an accurate cost, please ask during your consultation.
  • Recovery: Most patients return to work in 10 to 14 days, with exercise restricted for about 6 weeks.
  • Results: Initial improvements become visible as swelling subsides, with final results developing over several months and lasting up to 10 years with proper skincare and maintenance.

What Are the Benefits of a Facelift?

When a facelift is performed with a high degree of artistry and skill by Dr. Craft in Phoenix, patients enjoy the following impressive benefits:

  • Erases signs of aging
  • Firms lax skin
  • Sharpens the jawline
  • Enhances definition, balance, and symmetry
  • Combats sagging jowls and nasolabial folds
  • Addresses excess fat and tightens remaining skin for a more youthful appearance
  • Creates the coveted V-shaped lower facial contour
  • Improves facial balance
  • Boosts confidence and self-esteem
  • Long-lasting, elegant results
  • Can be combined with other aesthetic procedures

Who Are the Best Candidates for a Facelift?

Ideal facelift patients in Phoenix are individuals who are beginning to notice sagging skin in the midface and neck. If you are interested in the procedure and fit this description, you may be a suitable candidate.

Ideal candidates also:

  • Have enough sagging/excess skin for the surgery to be beneficial
  • Have an excess of marionette lines/wrinkles/etc.
  • Are in good overall health
  • Are non-smokers
  • Between 40 and 80 years of age
  • Maintains realistic expectations about what the procedure can do
A focused, close-up portrait of Dr. Randy Craft shows him in profile, looking up and to the right with a determined expression. He is preparing for a procedure, pulling a black scrub cap over his head with both hands. He is wearing a black scrub top with the "CRAFT MD Aesthetics / Wellness" logo and his name, "Randy Craft, MD", embroidered on the chest. The background is a dim, uniform gray-blue.

How to Begin Your Facelift Journey

Starting your facelift journey at CraftMD is a thoughtful, personalized process designed to ensure your treatment plan reflects both your anatomy and your aesthetic goals. Your first steps typically include:

  • A Private Consultation with Dr. Craft: You’ll meet one-on-one with Dr. Craft to discuss what you’re seeing in the mirror and what you’d like to improve. This is a collaborative conversation, not a one-size-fits-all recommendation.
  • Comprehensive Facial Assessment: Dr. Craft will evaluate your skin quality, facial structure, volume loss, and areas of laxity. This detailed assessment helps determine which facelift technique—or combination of treatments—will deliver the most natural, balanced result.
  • Customized Treatment Planning: Based on your goals and anatomy, Dr. Craft will outline a tailored surgical plan. This may include choosing among techniques such as a traditional, mini, or deep-plane facelift, and deciding whether to incorporate complementary procedures.
  • Review of Options and Techniques: You’ll walk through the specific approach recommended for you, including incision placement, technologies like Renuvion, and how each decision supports your final outcome.
  • Transparent Discussion of Recovery and Results: Dr. Craft and his team will guide you through what to expect after surgery, including downtime, healing milestones, and how your results will evolve over time.
  • Next Steps and Scheduling: Once you feel confident in your plan, the team will help you schedule your procedure and provide clear guidance on preparing for surgery.
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6 Steps to Prepare for My Facelift With Dr. Craft

Prior to your surgery date, you should do the following:

  1. Cease smoking 3-6 weeks prior to the procedure.
  2. Maintain proper hydration for enhanced recovery.
  3. Discontinue use of aspirin, Advil, and anti-inflammatory drugs or supplements.
  4. Abstain from eating as instructed on the night before surgery.
  5. Prepare a comfortable recovery environment at home.
  6. Arrange for transportation and post-operative care for at least 24 hours.
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What to Expect on the Day of Facelift Surgery

Your facial structure, prior surgeries, and desired outcome will determine the appropriate facelift technique. This procedure can target the upper, mid, or lower face, as well as the entire face, often in combination with a neck lift, for optimal results. Under general anesthesia, Dr. Craft will mark the incision points based on your surgical plan. With a meticulous approach, inconspicuous incisions are made in front of the ear, often hidden within the natural creases around the ears to minimize visible scarring, with additional incisions made if necessary. Through tissue sculpting, muscle tightening, and skin redraping, your face will be rejuvenated, resulting in a natural, firmer, and youthful appearance. The incisions are then carefully closed.

Combining My Facelift with Other Procedures

At CraftMD, we offer both surgical procedures and non-surgical treatments for patients looking to achieve a more youthful appearance. Below, we have outlined some of the more commonly combined procedures.

Eyelid Surgery

Upper and lower eyelid surgery is one of the most natural pairings with a facelift because the eyes often reveal age even when the lower face has been beautifully refreshed. While a facelift improves sagging through the cheeks, jawline, and neck, blepharoplasty addresses hooding, puffiness, and under-eye bags. Combined, these procedures can create a more rested, youthful appearance without leaving one area looking noticeably older than another.

Brow Lift

A brow lift can be an excellent complement to facelift surgery for patients whose concerns extend into the upper face. If the brows have descended or the forehead contributes to a tired, heavy expression, lifting this area can open the eyes and restore a smoother, more energized look. When paired with a facelift, a brow lift helps create a more harmonious rejuvenation from the forehead to the neckline.

Neck Lift

A neck lift is frequently combined with a facelift because the face and neck age together. Tightening the jawline without addressing loose skin, banding, or fullness beneath the chin (a.k.a. “double chin”) can leave the result feeling incomplete. By combining the two, Dr. Craft can create smoother transitions, better contour beneath the jaw, and a more elegant overall profile.

Microneedling

Microneedling is often incorporated into a broader facial rejuvenation plan to improve skin quality. While a facelift repositions and tightens tissue, microneedling helps refine texture, soften superficial irregularities, and support collagen production. It can be a valuable option for patients who want their skin to look as refreshed as their new facial contours.

Injectables

Injectables can enhance facelift results by addressing concerns that surgery alone does not correct, such as volume loss or dynamic wrinkles caused by muscle movement. Dermal fillers may restore softness in select areas, while neuromodulators can smooth expression lines in the forehead or around the eyes. For the right patient, combining injectables with facelift surgery helps create a more complete and polished outcome.

Laser Skin Rejuvenation

Laser skin rejuvenation pairs beautifully with a facelift because it improves what surgery cannot: tone, texture, sun damage, and surface-level pigmentation. A facelift can lift and tighten, but it does not resurface the skin. By adding skin resurfacing to your cosmetic surgery, Dr. Craft can address both structural aging and visible skin damage, helping patients achieve more comprehensive, refined results.

Croton Oil Peel

Dr. Randall Craft is internationally recognized for his groundbreaking approach to facial rejuvenation, known as Crafted Rejuvenation™—a comprehensive technique that combines surgical facelift procedures with a deep Croton Oil Peel to deliver unparalleled skin renewal and facial transformation. Unlike traditional facelifts that address only sagging tissue, Crafted Rejuvenation™ targets both the structural and surface elements of aging by tightening underlying muscles while dramatically resurfacing the skin.

This signature technique is what Dr. Craft is best known for and has presented at leading aesthetic conferences in New York City, Dubai, and, soon, the United Kingdom. The Croton Oil Peel component deeply stimulates collagen remodeling, significantly improves skin texture and tone, and addresses fine lines, pigmentation, and sun damage—results that cannot be achieved with surgery alone. The outcome is a truly transformative, natural-looking result that restores youthful contours and radiant, refined skin.

Crafted Rejuvenation™ is ideal for patients seeking a high-impact, full-spectrum facial rejuvenation that goes beyond lifting. During your consultation, Dr. Craft will assess your skin and anatomy to determine if this advanced, trademarked approach is the best option for your goals.

A wide shot of Dr. Randy Craft in black scrubs, sitting next to a smiling female patient, who is seated in a gray armchair. Dr. Craft is holding an open laptop and looking down at it, while the patient is looking to her left and laughing brightly. The background features a white wall with abstract black line-art of a face, and a large sign with the text "CRAFT AESTHETICS / WELLNESS" partially visible.

Facelift Recovery

After a facelift, patients can expect some swelling and bruising, which typically subsides within 1-2 weeks.

In the initial week following your facelift in Phoenix, swelling, bruising, and mild discomfort are normal. Dr. Craft may prescribe medication to alleviate these symptoms. Post-surgery, patients may experience mild to moderate pain and discomfort, which can be managed with prescribed pain medication and cold compresses. It is important that patients rest and keep their heads elevated, even while sleeping. Activities should be limited to walking and light tasks. Dressings are removed within a few days, but bruising, swelling, and soreness persist.

Most patients can return to their normal routine within 5-14 days after a facelift procedure, depending on individual recovery rates.

Most patients take 10 to 14 days off work and avoid intense exercise for six weeks. Thorough home care instructions are provided, and our staff is available for support. Bruising and swelling gradually diminish over the next few weeks, and most patients feel comfortable around others after 2 to 3 weeks. Although slight swelling and occasional tingling may persist, the final results are typically seen within 4 months, with lasting effects lasting up to 10 years when combined with proper skincare.

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7 Tips for Recovery From Facelift Surgery

  1. Keep your head elevated at all times, including while sleeping, to help minimize swelling.
  2. Take all medications exactly as directed by Dr. Craft and his team.
  3. Limit activity to short walks and light household movement during the early healing period.
  4. Avoid bending, lifting, strenuous exercise, and anything that raises blood pressure too soon.
  5. Use cold compresses only if instructed, and avoid placing pressure on the treated areas.
  6. Follow all incision and dressing care instructions carefully to support clean, uneventful healing.
  7. Be patient with the recovery process, as swelling and bruising improve gradually and final results take time to appear fully.
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How Much Does a Facelift Cost in Phoenix, AZ?

Facelift procedures in Scottsdale and the surrounding area can vary in price depending on several factors, including geographic location, the surgeon’s experience, and the specific techniques used.

A photograph of two doctors, Dr. Randy Craft (left) and Dr. Matt Anderson (right), standing side-by-side in what appears to be a consultation or treatment room. Both men are smiling, have their arms crossed, and are wearing black scrubs embroidered with the "CRAFT MD" logo and their respective names. Behind them is a large, illuminated sign in a window that reads "CRAFT MD AESTHETICS / WELLNESS", and a wall of white glass-front cabinets.

Our Ethos

Why Choose Dr. Craft?

Dr. Randall Craft, a double Board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, completed nine years of prestigious training at the Mayo Clinic and Harvard University. As the founder of CraftMD, he specializes in aesthetic and reconstructive procedures, including gender confirmation surgery and facelift surgery in Phoenix.

With 15 years of clinical practice and extensive surgical training, Dr. Craft has the expertise to deliver exceptional care and achieve natural-looking results. His patient-centric approach, coupled with a commitment to safety, ensures compassionate care. His knowledge, artistry, and numerous publications enable him to deliver customized outcomes for his patients.

Dr. Randall Craft is affiliated with the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), the American Board of Surgery (ABS), the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), and the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM). Dr. Matthew Andersen is a Board‑certified anesthesiologist with the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).

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Schedule Your Consultation

If you have questions about facelift surgery in the Phoenix area and believe you are a suitable candidate, please contact our team at CraftMD in Scottsdale, AZ, today to schedule a consultation. We look forward to working with you to create your customized facelift procedure and providing exemplary care in a technologically advanced practice setting.

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