Facelift Simulator
See laxity across the lower face and jaw rendered on your own face. One photo, one render — before you sit in a consultation room deciding from a verbal description.
What a facelift actually does
The deeper layer of the face — the SMAS — is repositioned and excess skin removed, addressing descent in the lower face and jawline. Modern technique is about repositioning tissue rather than pulling skin, which is what earlier operations were criticised for.
Which measurement points to a facelift
No single measurement on this site reads facial descent, because it is a change over time rather than a proportion. The facial thirds reading shows the lower third lengthening, which is one visible consequence of it.
How long a facelift lasts, and what it costs
How long it lasts
Long-lasting rather than permanent; commonly quoted at around a decade, after which ageing continues from the new baseline.
Typical cost
Roughly $8,000–$20,000 in the United States, varying widely with technique and extent.
These are ranges commonly quoted in the United States, collected for orientation. They are not a quote and not a recommendation — price varies with surgeon, city, technique and what else is done at the same time, and the cheapest option in a medical procedure is rarely the relevant number.
What people get wrong about a facelift
That it is skin tightening. Modern technique repositions the deeper SMAS layer, and the tight, pulled look people fear is what happens when skin is pulled instead. The distinction is the main thing to establish in a consultation.
How to read facelift before and after photos
Look for the same head position, the same lighting, and results at one year. Also check the ears and hairline, which is where the technique shows.
Facelift recovery — what is typically reported
Two to three weeks before most people feel presentable, with swelling and tightness settling over months and scars maturing over a year.
Recovery varies with technique, extent and the individual. This is a summary of what is commonly reported, not what will happen to you, and your surgeon's figures are the ones that apply.
Three questions to ask before a facelift
A render is most useful as something to take into a consultation. These are the questions specific to this procedure that are worth asking while you are there.
- 1Which layer are you working on — is this a SMAS procedure or skin-only?
- 2Where exactly do the incisions go, and can I see one-year scar photographs?
- 3Do I need a neck component for the result I am describing?
What this facelift simulation cannot show
The render tightens the lower face in a photograph. It cannot show incision placement, and it cannot model skin quality — which is what decides whether a result looks natural or tight.
Alternatives to a facelift
How the facelift simulation works
Your photo is analysed for the landmarks that matter to this procedure, and the render changes laxity across the lower face and jaw while leaving the rest of your face alone. That constraint is the hard part — a generic image model will happily redraw your whole face and hand you a stranger who looks better.
What a simulation is, and what it is not
It is an illustration of a plausible direction. It is not a prediction of your result, not a medical opinion, and not a substitute for a consultation. Your anatomy, your surgeon's technique and how you heal decide the actual outcome, and none of those are visible in a photograph.
What it is genuinely good for: finding out whether you even want the change. A large share of people who render one discover the difference is smaller than they had been imagining, and stop there. That is a useful outcome.
Start from a measurement, not a guess
The free analysis tools measure symmetry, facial proportion and face shape, and tell you which measurements sit outside the reference range. Choosing a procedure from that is a much better starting point than choosing one from a photo you saved.
Facelift simulator — frequently asked questions
How long does a facelift last?
Around a decade is the figure most commonly quoted, though this varies with technique, skin quality and how much descent there was to start with. Ageing continues afterwards from the new position.
Is a thread lift a substitute?
No. Threads reposition tissue temporarily and are commonly quoted at under two years; a facelift repositions the deeper layer surgically. Studies comparing them are consistent that the durability difference is large.
Where are the scars?
Around and behind the ear, placed in natural creases. They are permanent and their quality depends on healing.
Is the facelift simulator free?
The face analysis is free and needs no account. A rendered simulation costs credits because it runs on a GPU — $4.99 buys five and does not require a subscription.
How accurate is an AI facelift simulation?
It is an illustration of a plausible outcome, not a prediction of your result. Real outcomes depend on your anatomy, the surgeon and healing. Treat it as a conversation starter for a consultation, not a promise.
Do you keep my photo?
The free measurements never leave your browser. A simulation does send the photo to a rendering service, which is why it asks for explicit consent first, and you can delete the result from your dashboard at any time.
Can I show this to a surgeon?
Yes, and that is the most useful thing to do with it. Bringing a picture of the direction you want is far more precise than describing it in words.
Other lifts simulations
This page is not medical advice and we are not clinicians. A simulation cannot tell you whether a procedure is appropriate for you, what it costs, or what the risks are. Those questions belong with a qualified surgeon.