Facelift in Medellín

What a facelift can and cannot do

A facelift tightens the deeper tissues of the face and removes loose skin, but it does not stop aging. It turns back the clock by repositioning what has drifted. The muscles and fat of the face sit in layers. Over time those layers slide downward and the skin follows. A good facelift lifts the layers, not just the skin, so the result looks like you rather than like someone else.

Most people come to us for three things. They want the jowls gone, the jawline back, and a neck that matches the face. Some also want the midface lifted, the folds around the mouth softened, or the eyes addressed at the same time.

Techniques we use

There is no single best facelift. The right technique depends on your bone structure, how much sagging you have, and how your skin has aged.

Deep plane facelift. This releases the deeper attachments and lifts the muscle, fat, and skin as one unit. It is our most common approach because it moves the face vertically and rarely looks tight or pulled. See the full guide on our deep plane facelift page.

SMAS facelift. This tightens the superficial muscle layer. It works well for mild sagging and is a shorter procedure with a quicker recovery. We compare the two approaches on our deep plane vs SMAS page.

Mini facelift. A limited incision focused on the jowls and lower face. Good for younger patients or anyone who wants a smaller change. Read more about the mini facelift.

We do not push every patient toward one technique. Face shape matters more than most patients realize. A 2025 review of 78 deep-plane procedures found that round or square faces can sag again sooner with a standard deep plane because of the direction of pull. Dr. Franco matches the vector of the lift to your bone structure, and he will tell you plainly if a smaller operation will do.

Who is a candidate

Most people who get a facelift are between 45 and 70, but age matters less than what your face is doing. Good candidates have skin that still has some elasticity, a jawline that has started to soften, and realistic expectations. Smoking, uncontrolled blood pressure, and some medications can make you a poorer candidate, and we screen for all of these before surgery. If you have had non-surgical treatments such as Kybella, Ultherapy, or Morpheus8, you may need a deeper approach, and we cover that on our pre-treated neck page.

Safety comes first

A hematoma, a collection of blood under the skin, is the most common facelift complication. We follow a strict blood pressure protocol that keeps systolic pressure below 120 mmHg during and after surgery. In published studies, this cut the hematoma rate from 3.76% down to 0.5%. We also use tranexamic acid to reduce bruising and drain output by up to 71%. Read the full detail on our science and safety page.

What to expect

The procedure takes between two and five hours depending on the technique and whether you combine it with a neck lift or eyelid surgery. Most patients stay in Medellín for ten to fourteen days, long enough for the first follow-up visits and the removal of stitches.

The first week is the hardest. You will be swollen and bruised, and sleeping upright helps the swelling drain. Most people feel presentable enough to travel after two weeks and return to work after two to three weeks. The final result appears over three to six months as the tissues settle. A fuller timeline is on our recovery page.

Recovery at a glance

• Day 1 to 3: rest, ice, keep your head elevated.
• Day 5 to 7: stitches come out, swelling starts to drop.
• Week 2: most bruising can be covered, you can usually fly home.
• Week 3 to 4: light activity, still no heavy lifting.
• Month 3 to 6: the final contour emerges.

Results we can point to

We do not ask you to trust a promise. A 2025 meta-analysis of nearly 3,000 patients found a 94.4% satisfaction rate with deep plane techniques. Independent AI analysis of before-and-after photos measured an average visual age reduction of about 4.3 years. See real outcomes and the data on our before and after page.

Why patients choose Medellín

Medellín has a concentrated group of experienced plastic surgeons and modern surgical facilities. For US, Canadian, and UK patients, the main draw is the same quality of care at a lower cost, in a city built for recovery: consistent spring weather, quiet neighborhoods, and direct flights from most US hubs. You can read more in our travel guide.

Cost

A deep plane facelift in Medellín typically runs from about $8,000 to $12,000, a fraction of what the same procedure costs in the United States. Your quote depends on the technique, whether you combine procedures, and how long you stay, so we do not publish flat prices. Send us photos and your goals and we will write you a quote that covers the surgeon's fee, anesthesia, facility, and follow-up care. See how we break down pricing and what is included.

Next steps

The first step is a virtual consultation. Send three photos from the front and one from each side, and Dr. Franco will review them and tell you what he would do and whether you are a good candidate. From there we plan the dates, the travel, and the recovery.

Get a Verified Quote or Book a Virtual Consultation