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Face & neck · Vancouver and North Vancouver

Facelift Surgery in Vancouver, BC

The lift starts in the deeper layer.

Facelift surgery in Vancouver with Dr. Thomas Buonassisi, MD, FRCSC, Specialist in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, with a practice limited to facial plastic surgeries. He performs the deep plane facelift, often with a neck lift, for loose skin, deeper folds and a softer jawline and neck.

Contact usGet the guideCall 604-733-1669

The first step is a complimentary, friendly call with a patient care manager.

Dr. Thomas Buonassisi, MD, FRCSC, wearing surgical loupes

At a glance

A facelift in Vancouver with Dr. Buonassisi

Facts reviewed October 2026.

What it treats
Loose skin, deeper folds and loss of definition in the lower face and neck
Technique
The deep plane facelift: the work is done beneath the SMAS, in the deeper layer of the face, so the skin and its supporting layer are lifted and repositioned as one
Often with
A neck lift, for the lower face, jawline and neck
Surgeon
Dr. Thomas Buonassisi, MD, FRCSC (Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery), over 25 years in facial plastic surgery
Anaesthesia
General anaesthesia or deep sedation
Where
A private, accredited surgical facility in the Vancouver area
Out socially
Typically after about 2 weeks
Final result
At 3 to 6 months
Consultation
With Dr. Buonassisi, in person or virtual. It has a fee.
To start
A complimentary, friendly call with a patient care manager

Hear it from Dr. Buonassisi

Facelift videos from Dr. Buonassisi

Filmed at 8 West: the deeper layer, where the incisions go, and what to expect over the year after surgery.

All facelift videos →
Dr. Buonassisi at his desk, explaining the layers of the face with two strips of material1:44
Facelift · the deeper layer

The deep plane facelift, explained

With two strips of material, Dr. Buonassisi shows why the deeper layer is lifted instead of the skin being stretched on its own.

AlsoBruising after a facelift 0:55Numbness after a facelift 0:37Why results change over time 0:45Filler after a facelift 0:49

Inside the surgery

What is a deep plane facelift?

A face changes in layers: the skin, the supporting layer beneath it called the SMAS, and the muscles and tissues of the neck.

In a deep plane facelift, Dr. Buonassisi works beneath the SMAS, in the deep fascial plane. The skin stays attached to the layer beneath it, so the two are lifted and repositioned together instead of the skin being stretched on its own. The aim is a natural, long-lasting result that avoids a stretched or overdone look.

The direction matters too. He lifts in a mostly vertical direction, and at your consultation he lifts your cheek and jawline with his hands to show you which way your tissues would move.

The incisions run around the ear, following its natural creases, and into the hairline. Excess skin is trimmed once the deeper layer is in place.

Talk it through with our team →
SKINSMASDEEP PLANElifted as one
In a deep plane facelift, the skin and the SMAS move as one, because the work is done in the deeper plane beneath them.

Face and neck

A facelift with a neck lift

The lower face and the neck change at the same time, so Dr. Buonassisi often performs a deep plane facelift with a neck lift.

Depending on your anatomy, the neck part of the surgery can include three steps most people haven't heard of:

  • PlatysmaplastyTightening and repositioning the platysma, the thin muscle at the front of the neck that can show as vertical bands.
  • Deep cervical fascial release (DCFR)The deep cervical fascial release is a step that not all surgeons perform. It works in a deeper plane of the neck to release the tissues fully, so they can be repositioned.
  • Submandibular gland reductionWhere clinically indicated. Some people have prominent glands under the jaw that still show as fullness once the skin and muscle are tightened. Dr. Buonassisi explains it in the second video below.
SKINPLATYSMAPLASTYDEEP CERVICALFASCIAL RELEASESUBMANDIBULAR GLANDSWHERE INDICATEDthe neck, layer by layer
The neck steps sit at different depths, and Dr. Buonassisi decides which ones your neck needs at your consultation.
Dr. Buonassisi, wearing surgical loupes, examining the skin in front of a woman's ear at 8 West Clinic

Your consultation

Is a facelift right for you?

Many people come to Dr. Buonassisi when they notice loose skin along the jawline and neck, deeper folds, or that injectables no longer give them the lift they're used to.

At your consultation, he looks at your skin, the deeper layers and your neck, and recommends an approach based on your anatomy and how much has changed. There is no template. He may use computer imaging to talk through your goals; it isn't a preview or a promise of your result.

If an expectation goes beyond what your anatomy can support, he'll tell you. A facelift may not suit you if you have significant health conditions that aren't under control.

Injectables or a facelift?

They do different things. Dermal fillers add volume, wrinkle-relaxing injections soften lines, and some devices tighten the skin a little. A facelift repositions the deeper tissues of the face and neck. Which suits you depends on your face.

The consultation with Dr. Buonassisi has a fee. The call with a patient care manager before it is complimentary.

Facelift stories

Our nurse Jenn's own facelift

Jenn Sheaves, RN, had a deep plane facelift with Dr. Buonassisi, and she filmed it: the consultation, a week after surgery, and her incisions as they healed.

Her recovery, week by week, is in the guide →
Dr. Buonassisi gently lifting Jenn's cheek and brow during her facelift consultation1:55
Consultation · 1:55

Which way her face would lift

Dr. Buonassisi lifts Jenn's cheek and jawline to show the direction of the lift, and what it will and won't change.

Dr. Buonassisi explaining with his hands how surgery repositions tissue0:32
Consultation · 0:32

Repositioned, not just tightened

Jenn has kept up her skin with laser treatments and fillers for years. Dr. Buonassisi explains what surgery adds: it repositions the tissues.

Dr. Buonassisi checking Jenn's jawline at her follow-up visit0:45
A week after surgery · 0:45

Her follow-up, a week on

Dr. Buonassisi checks her incisions and bruising, and Jenn talks about the two days after surgery.

Dr. Buonassisi pointing to Jenn's incision line at the hairline1:32
Incisions · 1:32

Where her incisions sit

In front of the ear, behind the earlobe and at the hairline, shown by Dr. Buonassisi as they heal.

More facelift patients

Before & after

Facelift before and after photos

Facelift results by Dr. Buonassisi. Every patient is different.

Facelift, before, three-quarter viewBefore
Facelift, after, three-quarter viewAfter
Facelift2 months after surgery
Facelift and neck lift, before, front viewBefore
Facelift and neck lift, after, front viewAfter
Facelift and neck lift1 year after surgery
Facelift, neck lift, upper blepharoplasty and brow lift, before, three-quarter viewBefore
Facelift, neck lift, upper blepharoplasty and brow lift, after, three-quarter viewAfter
Facelift, neck lift, upper blepharoplasty and brow lift2 years after surgery

Real 8 West patients. Results vary.

More facelift before and after photos

Recovery

What facelift recovery is like

Most people are out socially after about 2 weeks, and the final result shows at 3 to 6 months.

  1. Week oneBruising, swelling and a tight feeling are normal. You see Dr. Buonassisi about a week after surgery.
  2. About two weeksMost people are out socially. Bruising fades, and it often turns yellow along the way.
  3. The next monthsSome numbness where the skin was lifted is expected, and it usually gets better with time. The incisions settle and fade.
  4. 3 to 6 monthsThe final result.
  5. The years afterA little relaxation, mostly in the neck skin, is normal in the year after surgery, and your face keeps changing with time.

Dr. Buonassisi gives you your own instructions for sleeping, activity and going back to work, and sees you for follow-up visits as you heal.

SURGERYWEEK ONEOUT SOCIALLYFINAL RESULTTHE YEARS AFTERit settles over months
Recovery from a facelift, as Dr. Buonassisi describes it. Every patient heals at their own pace.

Your surgeon

Meet Dr. Buonassisi

Dr. Thomas Buonassisi, MD, FRCSC. His entire surgical practice is the face, head and neck.

He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, and Board Certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He has over 25 years of experience in facial plastic surgery and has performed over 4,000 facial procedures.

He operates at a private, accredited surgical facility in the Vancouver area.

About Dr. Buonassisi →
Dr. Thomas Buonassisi, MD, FRCSC, in surgical scrubs
Dr. Thomas Buonassisi MD, FRCSC · Specialist in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Dr. Buonassisi in his office, explaining a patient's facelift

With a patient · Facelift · 1:10

Two months after a facelift

Dr. Buonassisi talks through a patient's facelift and neck work at two months: what was done in the neck, and what will still settle over the next few months.

How it works

Booking a facelift consultation

CONTACTFIRST CALLCONSULTATIONSURGERYwhen you're ready
  1. 01

    Contact us

    Send the form below or call (604) 733-1669.

  2. 02

    A complimentary, friendly call with a patient care manager

    We answer your questions and help you figure out your next step, with no commitment.

  3. 03

    Your consultation with Dr. Buonassisi

    In person or virtual. He assesses your face and neck and recommends an approach for your anatomy. The consultation has a fee.

  4. 04

    Surgery

    At a private, accredited surgical facility in the Vancouver area, under general anaesthesia or deep sedation, with follow-up visits as you heal.

The guide

The Essential Guide to Facial Rejuvenation

It answers the questions most people have before a facelift consultation, with drawings and short videos from Dr. Buonassisi. Inside:

  • The deep plane facelift and the neck, explained, with drawings of where the incisions go
  • Jenn's facelift recovery, week by week, with a short video at each stage
  • Eyes, brows and the lip lift, with before-and-after photos
  • Cost and financing, and your next steps

We email you the guide right away. Strictly confidential.

Questions

Your facelift questions, answered

What is a facelift, and what does it involve?
A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is surgery for loose skin, deeper folds and loss of definition in the lower face and neck. Dr. Buonassisi performs the deep plane facelift: through incisions around the ear and into the hairline, he lifts and repositions the deeper layer of the face, the skin moves with it, and excess skin is removed. It's done under general anaesthesia or deep sedation.
What is a deep plane facelift?
A deep plane facelift is a facelift in which the work is done beneath the SMAS, the supporting layer under the skin, in the deep fascial plane. The skin stays attached to that layer, so both are lifted and repositioned instead of the skin being stretched on its own, for a natural, long-lasting result.
Who is a good candidate for a facelift?
A good candidate has loose skin along the jawline and neck, deeper folds or a softer jawline, is in good general health and has realistic expectations. Many people come in when injectables no longer give them the lift they want. A facelift may not suit you if you have significant health conditions that aren't under control. Dr. Buonassisi assesses this at your consultation.
Should I have a neck lift with my facelift?
Often, yes. The lower face and neck change at the same time, so Dr. Buonassisi often performs a neck lift with a deep plane facelift. Depending on your anatomy, it can include deep cervical fascial release (DCFR), platysmaplasty and, where clinically indicated, submandibular gland reduction.
How long does it take to recover from a facelift?
Recovery is typically about 2 weeks before you're out socially, and the final result shows at 3 to 6 months. Bruising and swelling are normal in the weeks after surgery, and some numbness where the skin was lifted usually gets better with time. Dr. Buonassisi gives you your own instructions and sees you for follow-up visits.
Are facelift scars visible?
The incisions are placed around the ear, following its natural creases, behind the earlobe and into the hairline, and Dr. Buonassisi marks where they'll go at your consultation. Like any scar, they take months to settle and fade. His video on facelift incisions shows exactly where they go.
How long does a facelift last?
The result of a deep plane facelift is long-lasting, but your face keeps changing with time. Dr. Buonassisi explains that a little relaxation, mostly in the neck skin, is normal in the year after surgery, and that the skin doesn't hold surgical tension forever.
Can injectables give the same result as a facelift?
They do different things. Dermal fillers add volume, wrinkle-relaxing injections soften lines, and some devices tighten the skin a little. A facelift repositions the deeper tissues of the face and neck. Which suits you depends on your face, and Dr. Buonassisi will tell you if surgery isn't what you need.
Can I have a facelift if I've had fillers?
Yes. Having had fillers or skin treatments doesn't rule out a facelift, and many of Dr. Buonassisi's facelift patients have had them. After surgery, he tells you when filler and wrinkle-relaxing injections can start again; he talks through the timing in one of his videos.
What happens at a facelift consultation?
Dr. Buonassisi looks at your skin, the deeper layers and your neck, and talks through which way your tissues would be lifted, where the incisions would go and what a facelift will and won't change. He may use computer imaging as part of that conversation; it isn't a preview of your result. The consultation can be in person or virtual. It has a fee, and the call with a patient care manager before it is complimentary.
How much does a facelift cost in Vancouver?
The cost depends on what your surgery includes, for example whether a neck lift or eyelid surgery is part of it. Dr. Buonassisi recommends your surgery at your consultation, and our team gives you the cost. Call us or send the form below for current prices. Financing is available through partner companies.

Patient reviews

Reviews from facelift patients

Our patients' trust, across both clinics and every kind of treatment.

4.8 average across 1,900+ verified reviews

  • RateMDs, Dr. Buonassisi 4.8 · 520+ reviews
  • RealSelf, Dr. Buonassisi 4.7 · 231 reviews
  • RealSelf, 8 West Clinic 4.8 · 365 reviews
  • Google, 8 West Clinic Vancouver 4.8 · 554 reviews
  • Google, 8 West Clinic North Van 4.8 · 70 reviews
“All my expectations were exceeded and have no regrets with my decision to proceed. My procedure was an exciting and rewarding experience. My post-op healing went exceedingly well as I followed all the detailed instructions that I was meticulously given. Very best wishes to Dr. Buonassisi and staff.”
Andrew H. · Facelift Surgery

Also at 8 West Clinic

Other services at our clinics

8 West Clinic's other services each have their own team and their own pages.

Medical aesthetics

Skin and injectables

Injectables, biostimulators and skin treatments.

Skin & injectables →Medical aesthetics

Laser and light

HALO, Forever Young BBL, Moxi and other laser and light treatments.

Laser & light →Health

Health optimization

DEXA and VO2 max testing, hormone optimization, IV therapy and wellness sessions.

Health optimization →

Learn

Read and watch before you decide

Article

Staple removal, a week after a facelift

What happens at the one-week visit after a facelift with Dr. Buonassisi.

Read the article →Video

The SMAS, in surgery

From Dr. Buonassisi's facelift video series: how the SMAS is lifted.

Watch the video →In the media

How Zoom is causing a cosmetic boom

VITA Magazine on how video calls led more people to look into cosmetic procedures.

Read the article →
More articles →More videos →Media mentions →

Two clinics

Find us in Vancouver and North Vancouver

8 West Clinic is at 1788 W Broadway in Vancouver and 221 West Esplanade in North Vancouver. Financing is available through partner companies, and we can help you choose an option that fits your budget.

Financing →Contact and locations →

Every patient is unique and treatment results vary.

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