If you’re considering a facelift in Dallas, Dr. Sam Lam uses only the safest and most effective techniques. These involve elevating and rejuvenating the midface (cheek area), jawline, and neck. A deep neck lift can also be performed in addition to (or sometimes instead of) a facelift.
Facelift surgery does not automatically include brow lifting, blepharoplasty, or fat grafting, which rejuvenate the upper third of the face. A facelift does not improve skin texture and wrinkles, which may require skin therapies like MesoBotox or fillers.
Today, with shorter recoveries and improved outcomes, the Dallas facelift has become much more accepted in individuals in their late 30s to early 50s who may only show signs of early aging.
What Kind of Facelift Does Dr. Lam Perform?
The simplest categorizations of facelift types are SMAS and deep plane. For the first decade of his practice, Dr. Lam performed SMAS facelifts, which showed good but not excellent results. In the past decade, he has entirely switched to deep plane for every procedure, with far superior results without adding recovery time, swelling, or discomfort.
The deep plane facelift involves releasing ligaments that attach the SMAS (Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System) layer of tissue to the underlying parotid gland beneath it. There are four ligaments that prevent good tissue elevation if not released, so a deep plane facelift allows for better outcomes and longer-lasting results.
What Vector of Elevation Does Dr. Lam Perform?
Dr. Lam performs a multi-vector lift, elevating the tissues at different angles for optimal results. The goal for the jawline is to re-establish a longer jawline rather than just improving the sagging jowl. He anchors the deeper tissues (SMAS) along the mastoid behind the ear so that the jawline is better delineated.
The direction is near horizontal for jawline elevation, continuing down the neck. As Dr. Lam moves upwards toward the temple area, he progressively lifts the vector vertically to ensure sagging tissues are elevated against gravity.
Is Dr. Lam’s Facelift Considered A Mini Lift?
The term “mini facelift” is primarily used in marketing but lacks scientific significance. If a “mini facelift” implies a simple SMAS elevation, then no, Dr. Lam does not perform this inferior procedure.
However, if it refers to shorter downtime with little discomfort and well-camouflaged incisions, then perhaps yes, you could call his technique a “mini facelift.” He does perform what he calls a “preservation facelift,” in which he elevates very little superficial skin since most elevation occurs in the deep plane.
How Does Dr. Lam Manage Neck Sagging?
Dr. Lam performs two types of neck lifts: a standard neck lift that is part of every deep plane facelift and a deep neck lift (which can still be combined with a deep plane facelift).
A standard neck lift ties the two separated muscle bands (platysma muscle) back together before elevating the sides of the face. However, when there’s excessive neck fullness, a specialized technique is required that 99% of facelift surgeons do not know how to perform. As we age, the submandibular glands fall in our necks, leading them to look too full. That’s why neck liposuction will not reduce a bulky neck and often makes it look worse.
This 38-year-old male underwent an isolated deep neck lift procedure with no lateral elevation of his jawline. That is, he did not have a deep plane facelift along with his neck lift:
This 36-year-old lady underwent a deep plane facelift and deep neck lift to improve a jawline and neck that were too full, even in her youth:
Dr. Lam’s deep neck lift technique is incredibly safe, as he discusses in this video tutorial on the subject:
This 72-year-old patient appears to have neck fullness but, in fact, just has sagging muscle and skin. She underwent a standard neck lift along with a deep-plane facelift procedure.
This 58-year-old woman underwent a deep neck lift/deep-plane facelift with some removal of deep neck fat and without any removal of superficial fat in the neck (liposuctionable fat).
This 64-year-old woman underwent a combination of a deep-plane facelift and a deep neck lift, with fat removed in the deep neck as well as in the superficial, subcutaneous plane.
What Kind of Incisions Does Dr. Lam Use?
The key is that facelift incisions must be long enough to remove excessive, unwanted skin without tissue bunching, and also permit access to perform the procedure. However, they need to be short enough that the incisions do not cause hair loss or visibility in exposed facial areas.
The graphic below shows the standard facelift incisions Dr. Lam performs in green. In red are the ones he believes are unacceptable, either because they’re too long and can be visible (left diagram) or go into the hair-bearing areas, which can lead to a hairline that is repositioned backward (right diagram). The latter is the worst of the two bad options.
Dr. Lam meticulously creates incisions with no tension (so they should not stretch back). That is because tension would lead to a visible incision. He never pulls the skin.
In addition, the incisions are meticulously curvilinear (not straight) and hidden in areas where your eye won’t see them. Other attributes of his incisions include thinning down the tragal region (in front of the ear) so that it looks natural. Dr. Lam also does a trichophytic incision, intentionally cutting through a row of hairs to allow them to grow through the incision to further camouflage and mask it.
For more information on Dr. Lam’s facelift incisions, please see the below diagrams and videos:
Your Dallas Facelift Procedure
95% of Dr. Lam’s facelift procedures are performed in his office at Lam Facial Plastics, which has a state-of-the-art Joint Commission-accredited surgical facility. After 20 years of running his surgical center, he completely tore down the entire facility and rebuilt it from scratch to further enhance the safety and quality of healthcare delivery.
After a thorough workup with Dr. Lam (which his staff will guide you through), you will most likely qualify to have your procedure performed at his surgical facility. If not, he also does about 5% of his facelifts in the nearby Texas Presbyterian Health Hospital, where he has been on staff for the past 23 years.
The procedure is performed under sedation or general anesthesia. You won’t need to stay overnight in the office or the hospital. For out-of-town patients, you’ll come in the day before to meet with Dr. Lam and his staff, and then typically stay for a few days to a week after the procedure.
His staff can recommend many local hotels if need be. If you do not have a companion traveling or staying with you the first night after the procedure (as required by law), we can assign you a care provider at a small extra cost.
What Is The Recovery Like?
Dr. Lam has invented a technique to immediately eliminate facial pain during recovery using hyper-dilute Botox. He can also eliminate sore throat, nasal congestion, and nausea on the first postoperative day with his patent-pending methodology.
Dr. Lam minimizes bruising through five methods: performing a “preservation facelift” using tumescent fluid, placing TXA into each dissected area, using TXA intravenously, and being a very gentle surgeon.
Major limitations include: no driving for 7-10 days, only light workouts after 10 days, and no exercises causing excessive neck stretching for 6 weeks.
Benefits of Facelift Surgery in Dallas
- Advanced deep plane technique for superior, longer-lasting results
- Multi-vector lifting approach for natural-looking facial rejuvenation
- Patent-pending pain elimination technique
- Minimal bruising and swelling through specialized methods
- Well-camouflaged incisions that heal virtually undetectably
- State-of-the-art accredited surgical facility
- Over two decades of expertise in facial rejuvenation
- Permanent results that age naturally with you
How Much Does a Facelift Cost?
Dr. Lam’s approach is unique, so he charges a cost that is proportionate to his skills and services. Meeting with him in person is critical to determine which strategy would be ideal for you. We do not publish prices online, but we would be happy to answer questions via phone at 972-312-8188 or in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there special facelift considerations for me if I am a man?
I am a person of color; is there a higher risk of seeing my facelift incisions?
Theoretically, yes, but Dr. Lam has never seen this outcome in his own surgical experience because he pays meticulous attention and doesn't allow tensioned closures.
I have heard of using glues instead of drains. Why does Dr. Lam not use glues?
These glues use human blood products and haven't been shown to minimize risks or speed healing. Drains provide the fastest route to minimal swelling and bruising by the second week, and Dr. Lam now only uses drains in most cases for one night.
What if I have keloids? Can I still get a facelift?
The answer depends on whether you truly have keloids and their severity, as 80-90% of people incorrectly use "keloid" to describe hypertrophic scars.
Does Dr. Lam ever perform thread lifts?
Absolutely not, as these procedures offer no benefit and only make future facelifts harder to perform. Dr. Lam highly recommends against thread lifts.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
If you’re considering a facelift in Dallas, Texas, the first step is meeting with Dr. Lam to discuss your goals and determine the best approach. During your consultation, he will evaluate your anatomy, discuss treatment options, and create a personalized plan that delivers natural, long-lasting results. Contact Lam Facial Plastics today to schedule your consultation.
Videos
Photos
For more photos of Dr. Lam’s facelift results, please visit his before-and-after gallery.