At Bellava MedAesthetics & Plastic Surgery Center, 182 Rte 117 Bypass Rd, Bedford Hills, NY10507, a facelift and a neck lift are surgery performed byDr. Chang Soo Kim, MD, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery; a liquid facelift is a non-surgical filler treatment by Bellava’s injector team, led by Donna D’Alessio, MD.A facelift lifts the cheeks and jawline, a neck lift tightens the neck and under the chin, and a liquid facelift restores volume without surgery. Which suits you depends on where the change is and how much of it there is.
Side by side
| Facelift | Neck lift | Liquid facelift | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Surgery | Surgery (platysmaplasty) | Dermal filler injections — no surgery |
| Best for | Sagging cheeks and jawline, loosened facial skin | Loose neck skin, neck bands, fullness under the chin | Early to moderate volume loss, lines and folds |
| How it works | Incisions in the hairline and skin creases; deeper tissues and muscles tightened; extra skin removed | Small incisions, often under the chin and behind the ears; neck muscles tightened, extra fat removed, skin re-draped | Filler placed in small amounts in the cheeks, temples and around the mouth and nose |
| Who performs it | Dr. Chang Soo Kim, MD, American Board of Plastic Surgery certified | Bellava’s injectors, led by Donna D’Alessio, MD | |
| Where | Bellava’s Joint Commission accredited surgical suite — outpatient, home the same day | Bellava’s treatment rooms, Bedford Hills | |
| Anesthesia | Local anesthesia with sedation | Anesthesia, given by a certified anesthesiologist | Numbing cream |
| Recovery | Some swelling and bruising; a recovery plan from Dr. Kim for your own surgery | Little to no downtime; any swelling or bruising usually settles within days to two weeks | |
| How long it lasts | Varies by person; discussed at your consultation | Around 12–18 months for most patients; yearly touch-ups | |
| Cost | Quoted at a free consultation — surgeon, anesthesia and facility together | Priced by the filler and areas treated | |
Results vary from person to person, and no treatment is guaranteed to give a particular result.
Facelift: for the cheeks and jawline
A facelift addresses sagging in the lower face and jawline. Dr. Kim places incisions in the natural hairline and skin creases, tightens the tissues and muscles underneath and removes extra skin, aiming for a balanced, natural-looking lift. It is outpatient at Bellava, done under local anesthesia with sedation, and the stitches are dissolvable. A facelift can be done with or without a neck lift.
Neck lift: for the neck and under the chin
A neck lift (platysmaplasty) addresses loose neck skin, vertical neck bands and fullness under the chin. Dr. Kim makes small incisions, often under the chin and behind the ears, tightens the platysma muscles, removes extra fat and re-drapes the skin. It can be done alone or together with a facelift when the jawline has sagged as well.
Liquid facelift: no surgery
A liquid facelift uses dermal fillers such as Juvéderm and Restylane to restore volume in the cheeks and temples and soften lines around the mouth and nose. It takes about 30 to 60 minutes, with little to no downtime. Fillers do not remove loose skin or tighten muscles, so they usually suit early to moderate signs of aging rather than advanced sagging.
At Bellava, filler treatments are done by:
- Donna D’Alessio, MD — medical director, board certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, who leads Bellava’s injector team
- Grace Jacildo, BSN, RN — nurse injector; a registered nurse for over seven years, more than five of them in aesthetic medicine
- Nicole Cardwell, FNP-BC — nurse injector and board-certified family nurse practitioner
How to choose
- Is the change mostly volume or mostly loose skin? Volume loss and lines are what fillers treat; loose skin and slack muscles are what surgery treats.
- Is it the face, the neck, or both? Cheeks and jawline point to a facelift; the neck and under the chin to a neck lift; both, often to the two together.
- How much downtime can you take? A liquid facelift has little; surgery needs a recovery period.
- Do you want a repeat treatment or a single operation? Fillers wear off and are topped up; surgery is a single operation with its own recovery.
If you are unsure, start with a consultation with Dr. Kim. He looks at the whole face and neck and will tell you if a non-surgical option would suit you better than surgery for now.
Your consultation with Dr. Kim
Your first consultation is free, private and without obligation. Dr. Kim listens to your goals, examines you, recommends the approach that fits and gives you a quote that covers the surgeon, anesthesia and the facility together. Financing is available through Cherry or CareCredit, subject to approval (see financing options). Surgical consultations are not booked online: send the request form, or call or text (914) 809-9693, and Bellava’s patient coordinator will get back to you to set a time. You can see his patients’ results in thebefore & after gallery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a facelift, a neck lift and a liquid facelift?
A facelift is surgery that lifts the cheeks, jawline and lower face: the deeper tissues and muscles are tightened and extra skin is removed. A neck lift is surgery on the neck: loose neck muscles are tightened, extra fat is removed and the skin is re-draped. A liquid facelift is not surgery: dermal fillers are injected to restore lost volume and soften lines. At Bellava in Bedford Hills, Dr. Chang Soo Kim, MD, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, performs facelifts and neck lifts; liquid facelifts are done by Bellava’s injector team, led by Donna D’Alessio, MD.
Should I get a facelift or a neck lift?
It depends on where the change is. Sagging in the cheeks and jawline is what a facelift addresses; loose neck skin, neck bands and fullness under the chin are what a neck lift addresses. Many people have both, and the two are often done together. Dr. Kim examines you at a free consultation and tells you which, if either, fits your goals.
Is a liquid facelift as good as a surgical facelift?
They do different things. Fillers restore volume and soften lines, but they do not remove loose skin or tighten muscles; surgery does. A liquid facelift usually suits early to moderate signs of aging, and its results wear off over time, so it is repeated. Surgery usually suits more advanced sagging. Nobody can promise a result from either, and results vary from person to person.
What is recovery like after a facelift or neck lift?
Both are outpatient at Bellava, in its Joint Commission accredited surgical suite, so you go home the same day. A facelift is done under local anesthesia with sedation and its stitches dissolve; expect some swelling and bruising after either operation. Dr. Kim gives you a recovery plan for your own surgery at the consultation, and the Bellava team follows you through it.
What is recovery like after a liquid facelift?
There is little to no downtime. The treatment takes about 30 to 60 minutes after a numbing cream. Some swelling, redness, tenderness or bruising can follow and usually settles within days to two weeks. Avoid strenuous activity and facial massage for 24 hours. Results are visible straight away and settle over about two weeks.
How long does each one last?
Most patients find liquid facelift results last around 12 to 18 months, depending on the filler and the person, and a touch-up about once a year keeps them up. A facelift or neck lift does not stop aging, and how long it looks right differs from person to person — Dr. Kim talks this through with you at your consultation. No result is guaranteed.
Can I try a liquid facelift first and have surgery later?
Yes. Many people start with fillers and consider surgery when fillers no longer give the lift they want. Dr. Kim will also tell you at a consultation if a non-surgical option would suit you better than surgery for now.
How much does each cost at Bellava?
Bellava does not list a set price for a facelift or a neck lift, because it depends on your own surgical plan. Dr. Kim gives you a quote at a free consultation that covers the surgeon, anesthesia and the facility together, and financing is available through Cherry or CareCredit, subject to approval. A liquid facelift is priced by the filler and areas treated.
How do I book a consultation with Dr. Kim?
Call or text (914) 809-9693, or send the consultation request form on this page. Surgical consultations are not booked online: Bellava’s patient coordinator gets back to you to set a time. Your first consultation with Dr. Kim is free and without obligation.