Facelift after weight loss
Losing a lot of weight, including with GLP‑1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound, can leave loose skin along the jaw and neck and hollow cheeks. Dr. Ersilia Anghel combines three procedures to restore shape, not just tighten skin.
Three procedures, planned together
- 1
Deep plane facelift
Lifts the cheeks and jawline where volume loss has let them fall.
- 2
Neck lift
Tightens loose skin and banding under the chin.
- 3
Facial fat grafting
Replaces lost volume in the temples, cheeks and lips with your own fat.
When to plan surgery
Wait until you have reached your goal weight and kept it stable for several months. Dr. Anghel asks patients to be within about 15 pounds of their goal before surgery.
Most patients return to work and social plans 10 to 14 days after surgery. Swelling peaks on day 2 or 3, bruising usually fades in 1 to 2 weeks, and about 80% of swelling is gone by one month.
Facelift recovery, step by stepCost of the three procedures
Your exact price depends on your plan, which is set at your consultation. When fat grafting is added to a facelift, it is priced as part of your plan.
Patient financing
Pay over time with Cherry or PatientFi, two patient financing services. Each lender sets its own approval and terms. Ask about financing at your consultation.
Questions after weight loss
Can a facelift help with loose skin after GLP‑1 weight loss?
Yes. A deep plane facelift repositions the deeper layers to restore the jawline and cheeks, and a neck lift addresses loose neck skin. Dr. Anghel often adds fat grafting to replace lost volume.
How long should I wait after weight loss?
Wait until you have reached your goal weight and kept it stable for several months. Dr. Anghel asks patients to be within about 15 pounds of their goal before surgery.
What can be combined with a facelift?
Eyelid surgery, fat grafting, lip lift and CO2 laser resurfacing.
How do I prepare?
Stop nicotine at least 4 weeks before surgery, and avoid blood-thinning medicines as Dr. Anghel directs. Plan for a support person for the first 24 to 48 hours. The practice can arrange hired help if you need it.
Reviewed by Dr. Ersilia Anghel, MD
Double board-certified in Plastic Surgery and Facial Plastic Surgery · Fellowship-trained · Vancouver, WA
Updated October 2026 · About Dr. Anghel