Ponytail Facelifts: Costs, Benefits, And What You Need To Know

Jan 05, 2024

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Plastic surgeons refer to it as a "mini facelift."

Ever notice how snatched Ariana Grande's face looks when she's rocking her signature high, slicked-back pony—you know, extra lifted and taut around the eyes and jawline in particular? Maybe you’ve seen stars like Hailey Bieber, Dua Lipa, and Bella Hadid sporting similar styles to the same effect? Well, that's exactly the appearance plastic surgeons are honing in on with a facial rejuvenation technique known as the "ponytail facelift."

If you’re after a more youthful, tighter, and more contoured mug—but not the cost and downtime associated with a traditional facelift—then this surgical procedure might be worth considering.

Here's a primer on this trendy new treatment that's redefining the rules of who's getting facelifts, as well as the why and how.

Meet Our Experts: Tanuj Nakra, M.D., F.A.C.S., double board-certified facial & ophthalmic plastic surgeon, Konstantin Vasyukevich, M.D., double board-certified facial plastic surgeon and a facelift expert based in New York City

"A ponytail facelift is a modern facelift designed for patients over the age of 40 with hidden incisions," says Dr. Tanuj Nakra, MD, FACS, an Austin, Texas-based double board-certified facial and ophthalmic plastic surgeon and co-founder of AVYA Skincare. "It mimics the look of how a tight ponytail can open up the eyes and make one's face look lifted and smooth. That's how the procedure gets its name."

As part of this facial rejuvenation procedure, which is also sometimes referred to as a "mini facelift," incisions are typically made in the hairline versus behind the ears and into the scalp, which is where traditional facelift incisions are made. That means two things: First, when you pull your hair back into a tight pony or high top knot bun, you don't see the telltale visible scarring sometimes associated with old school facelifts.

In addition, instead of targeting super-saggy skin and deeper wrinkles, the smaller ponytail facelift incisions have a more subtle effect, potentially altering the shape of the eyes and making the jaw appear more taut. Some people compare the "after" of a ponytail facelift to an almost IRL filtered appearance with slightly more defined features.

Of course, the expression ponytail facelift itself is a marketing term as opposed to a medical one, but most plastic surgeons will be familiar with the name and understand that it refers to a smaller scale, more subtle facial rejuvenation surgery.

Say you’ve tried cosmetic neuromodulators or dermal fillers and haven't quite been happy with the results. Then a ponytail facelift might be a next step to consider in your anti-aging efforts.

"The ponytail facelift is right for someone looking for the more substantial results of a surgical lifting procedure over Botox and fillers," says Dr. Nakra. Specifically, he says this treatment is "very good at lifting the upper face, opening the eyes, and reducing mild heaviness of the lower face." Bye bye, jowls, and hello, tighter temples!

On a more practical note, because the ponytail facelift tends to be less aggressive than a traditional facelift, another benefit of the procedure is you can go back to work and living your life sooner while still getting a refreshed, more youthful look. "Limited incisions and faster recovery are the main benefits of this procedure," says Dr. Konstantin Vasyukevich, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon and a facelift expert based in New York City. "People with early and fairly subtle signs of facial aging would benefit from this facelift."

Like any other surgery, you’ll want to manage your post-op expectations accordingly as well as make sure you truly are a good candidate by consulting a trusted plastic surgeon long before you’re ever going under the knife to look more lifted. "This procedure is not as effective for people with heavy necks or more severe aging changes," says Dr. Nakra. That's why (though there are always outliers) the best candidates tend to be younger—around their 40s—earlier in the trajectory of aging versus someone with lots of loose facial skin or a droopy neck.

Cost for any cosmetic surgery will always be tied to your location, and your provider's level of expertise may play a factor in pricing, too. That said, according to Dr. Nakra, this procedure can run anywhere from $8,000 to $20,000, which, he says, is inclusive of both the operating room and anesthesia fees. Working in the New York City metro area, Dr. Vasyukevich puts the range a little higher, between $15,000 and $30,000 for an expertly performed procedure.

It's important to note that if a price sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Surgery is not something to skimp on and something you need to be cleared for medically, so you always want to make sure your provider is licensed, board-certified, and experienced.

Just like with any other surgery, you will experience some pain. "The pain is rarely significant, although some discomfort would be expected," says Dr. Vasyukevich. "If bruising happens, it would last for seven to 10 days."

It's also possible that excessive bleeding, poor healing, and skin discoloration can occur post-procedure, but Dr. Vasyukevich says these side effects are rare. "The biggest downside of the ponytail facelift is subtle results and limited longevity," he says, but that could be a positive if you’re trying to look like you haven't had work done.

To focus on the healing process post-op, Dr. Vasyukevich recommends taking about a week or so off work for recovery. "Most patients would already look quite good one week out," he says, though it's possible some swelling and bruising will linger. "Treating with Arnica Montana during the healing process might reduce the bruising and swelling," he adds. While complete healing typically takes two to three months, Dr. Nakra has found most patients start seeing results they’re proud of around the one-month mark.

As far as strenuous activity goes, according to Dr. Nakra, it's safe for patients to resume their normal lives after about two weeks.

Danielle Blundell is a New York City-based lifestyle writer and editor who has written on topics ranging from home to health for a variety of publications including Rachael Ray Every Day, Redbook, Family Circle, This Old House, Elle Decor, Esquire, Domino, and Apartment Therapy. She's a graduate of Columbia University's School of Journalism and has appeared as an on-air expert on Today, The Doctors, The Celebrity Page, and other local news programs. Website: https://danielleblundell.myportfolio.com/

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