Aging can significantly affect your facial appearance, making you seek out clinical treatments to restore your youthful looks. One of the procedures that many people go for in this regard is a facelift, a surgical treatment to tighten facial skin and the muscles underneath. This procedure effectively treats wrinkles and creases on the face and reduces sagginess.

However, a traditional facelift may have shortcomings, one of which is that it treats your face in sections rather than in its entirety. While most candidates consider this treatment viable, some demand a more comprehensive anti-aging solution. Luckily, they can benefit from a ponytail facelift.

What Is A Ponytail Facelift?

A ponytail facelift is a minimally invasive procedure performed through small incisions behind the hairline. It develops a lifted facial appearance, making your eyebrows, cheeks, and jawline appear more youthful and tightened. This appearance typically mimics the look created when you wear a tight, high ponytail. This is why this procedure is called a ‘ponytail’ facelift.

Another possible reason for the unique name of this treatment is that it doesn’t involve making incisions on the visible skin area behind the ears. The scars get concealed within the hairline and remain hidden when you wear a ponytail.

What Are The Benefits Of A Ponytail Facelift?

A ponytail facelift has numerous benefits, some of which are mentioned below.

Minimally invasive: A ponytail facelift is less invasive than a traditional facelift. The small incisions lead to less discomfort, allowing you to resume your routine activities soon after the treatment.
Requires less time: This procedure is generally completed in less time than a regular facelift. It is usually performed under local anesthesia. The entire procedure lasts around an hour.
Shorter recovery duration: The ponytail facelift doesn’t cause much pain, redness, and swelling at the treatment site. And since it doesn’t involve large incisions, you may expect quicker healing.
Incredible results: As stated above, instead of lifting only a portion of the face like during a traditional facelift, a ponytail facelift tightens the skin and muscles in different areas of the face. This brings a holistic improvement in your facial appearance.
Lower risk: Last but not least, a ponytail facelift doesn’t lead to many risks and complications. It is one of the safest surgical methods to improve your facial appearance.

How Is It Performed?

Although a ponytail facelift is less invasive than a traditional facelift and many other cosmetic procedures, it is still a surgical process. This is why its pre-op protocols are identical to those of different surgical procedures. For instance, you must stop smoking 30 days before the procedure, be careful about your overall health, have realistic expectations, and stop eating from midnight before surgery.

A ponytail facelift is generally performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on your needs or preferences. And since it isn’t a textbook procedure – as we have mentioned above – each surgeon may have different protocols for carrying it out.

But generally, it involves small incisions that are made within the hairline. These incisions allow your surgeon to access deeper tissues, which are tightened and loosened strategically using sutures to develop the intended facial appearance.

A ponytail facelift helps elevate several facial areas, such as the upper half of the face, jowls, and cheeks.

This treatment may be performed using suspension sutures and an endoscope to ensure accuracy and natural results.

Traditional Facelift vs. Ponytail Facelift

Traditional Facelift	Ponytail Facelift
Involves surgical removal of excess skin and tissue	A minimally invasive procedure that involves using sutures to lift the skin
Requires general anesthesia	Can be performed under local anesthesia
Incisions are made along the hairline and behind the ears	Incisions are small and made along the hairline
Results in more dramatic, longer-lasting results	Results are more subtle and may not last as long
Recovery time is longer, with swelling and bruising lasting several weeks	Recovery time is shorter, with minimal swelling and bruising
Risks include infection, scarring, and nerve damage	Risks are minimal and include temporary discomfort and bruising
Typically more expensive	Typically less expensive

What Are The Side Effects Of A Ponytail Facelift?

A ponytail facelift doesn’t involve as many incisions as a traditional one. Hence, its side effects and complications are fewer and short-term. Nonetheless, some side effects like bruising, swelling, and discomfort are common due to the surgical nature of this procedure. These complications are less likely to interrupt your routine and usually subside in a few days.

How Long Do Ponytail Facelift Results Last?

A ponytail facelift tightens your facial skin and muscles to give you a rejuvenated and youthful appearance. However, these results only last for a while, as aging ultimately gets the better of your looks. The results of a ponytail facelift last 5-7 years, depending on the pace of your skin aging.

So, Who Can Benefit From A Ponytail Facelift?

Patients in their 30s or 40s wanting to enhance and tighten their facial skin, like when wearing a ponytail, are the ideal candidates for this facelifting procedure. This treatment is also suitable for candidates who have been trying dermal fillers and neuromodulators but are unhappy with the results.

A ponytail facelift is less invasive than traditional facelifts and provides distinct benefits over dermal fillers and Botox. Hence, if you want to tighten and lift your facial looks without enduring the hassles of a regular facelift, this treatment will help you revel in a rejuvenated, youthful appearance.

To sum it up, whether or not you can benefit from a ponytail facelift depends on your age, skin condition, and rejuvenation goals. Therefore, it is always a good idea to consult a highly experienced and skilled surgeon beforehand to discuss the treatment, its outcome, and everything you have in mind.