woman looking at herself in the mirror

Facelift

Aging, genetics, and fluctuation in weight can take a toll on the skin and muscles, causing many patients to look older than they feel. Dr. Stuart Baker, a board-certified plastic surgeon, can restore youthful definition to your face so you can feel more confident. Why do so many of our patients throughout the greater Champaign, IL, area choose a facelift?

What Is a Rhytidectomy?

A rhytidectomy, commonly known as a facelift, is a surgical procedure designed to address loose skin, excess fat, and muscle laxity that can develop with age or substantial weight loss. Patients throughout ChampaignDecatur, and Monticello, IL, choose to undergo a rhytidectomy to increase their self-confidence and look as young as they feel.
Dr. Baker tailors his facelifts to address the areas of your face that concern you. While a traditional facelift typically targets the middle of your face, he can personalize your procedure to revitalize additional areas, such as the neck and forehead.

Natural-Looking Results

Custom Cosmetic Enhancement A Phone Call Away

Dr. Baker has worked as a board-certified plastic surgeon for decades and understands the importance of personalized care. Every patient is unique, and Dr. Baker takes special care to tailor his techniques to each person's individual needs. Depending on your goals, we can provide several modern facelift techniques to ensure the most effective and natural-looking results.

While undergoing plastic surgery is a major decision, please know that we will be here every step of the way to answer your questions and ease your concerns.

Discover for yourself the benefits of working with a highly trained plastic surgeon. Schedule a consultation at one of our conveniently located offices in Champaign, Decatur, and Monticello, Illinois. You can reach us online or by calling:

(866) 893-4979

Dr. Stuart Baker
Dr. Baker is skilled in a wide variety of facial plastic surgery techniques in addition to facelifts. He also performs forehead lifts, eyelid surgery, and rhinoplasty.

Thrilled With Her Natural-Looking Results

"My look is as natural as can be. When I returned home, everyone said how great I looked, and they still do. No one could figure it out. Ironically, face lifts were in among my age group (age 53) last summer. I listened to peoples' comments "Oh my, she had a face lift." Me not being in the least bit embarrassed about mine would tell them. Everyone was shocked. As I said, they were saying I looked great." J.D.

A Closer Look at the Procedure

Depending on your skin type and the extent of your treatment plan, the surgery may take up to three hours. Here is what you can expect when you arrive at our Champaign, IL, surgical center on the day of your procedure:

Not ready for surgery? BOTOX® Cosmetic and  JUVEDERM® treatments can ease wrinkles and fine lines or add volume.
Not ready for surgery? BOTOX® Cosmetic and  JUVEDERM® treatments can ease wrinkles and fine lines or add volume.

General Anesthesia

We begin by administering general anesthesia to induce a state of unconsciousness. During the surgery, you will remain in a deep sleep while your vitals are carefully monitored by our team

Incisions

Our plastic surgeon creates incisions along the hairline and around the ear, sometimes extending down to the chin depending on the technique we have chosen. The skin is then lifted to provide access to the underlying tissues.

Contouring

Next, we begin to define the face by tightening the loose muscles. If you have a significant amount of excess fat, we may perform liposuction or a neck lift to slim the lower face and create a defined jawline. Finally, the skin is pulled taut, and the surplus is trimmed away.

Finishing Touches

Once the skin is draped in the proper position, we close the incisions with stitches or sutures. We may also place a surgical drain to prevent fluid buildup in the days immediately following the procedure.

Get the Right Answers Request Your Private Consultation With Dr. Baker

Patient in need of facelift being checked by surgeon

If you are considering a facelift, you shouldn't commit to the procedure until you have answers to questions like these:

  • Can this procedure realize the results I want?
  • Do I need extensive refinement, or would a mini facelift be a better choice?
  • Does my surgeon seem like the kind of provider I can trust, and will he provide the support I need before, during, and after my facelift?

The very best way to get the answers you need is to book a consultation with a reputable and credentialed surgeon. During your private consultation with Dr. Baker, he will listen carefully as you explain your goals, and provide easily understood answers to all of your questions. 

If you have decided to enhance your appearance with a facelift, your choice of surgeon is the most important decision you can make. We invite you to find out for yourself why so many patients have chosen Dr. Baker to provide the rejuvenation they have been dreaming of. Write to us or give us a call to schedule a consultation at our Champaign, Decatur, or Monticello offices.

"Family and friends are still complimenting me."

"Dr. Stuart Baker performed cosmetic surgery, specifically a lower facelift, on me last year. I’m a "sixty-something" grandmother who has had lots of sun damage and fine wrinkling of my face and neck. To prepare my skin for optimum surgical results, Dr. Baker suggested I have several cool touch laser and medical microdermabrasion treatments to stimulate collagen growth and to even out my skin tones. I’m glad I decided to do this before the actual procedure. I’m thrilled with the final results. I look very "natural," not at all pulled or distorted. My favorite comment from a friend was, "you look great, but you look like you!" Family and friends are still complimenting me on the benefits of Dr. Baker’s cosmetic surgical skills." P.B.

Enhancing the Effects of Your Facelift

Though a facelift may be exactly what you need to rejuvenate your appearance, your cosmetic concerns may require additional attention or maintenance from our plastic surgeon. Fortunately, The Center for Cosmetic Medicine can combine your facelift with other plastic surgery options and skin treatments for stunning results. With locations in Champaign, Monticello, and Decatur, our plastic surgery offerings are convenient for people throughout central Illinois.

Forehead Lift

While a facelift focuses on giving the bottom half of the face a more youthful appearance, a forehead lift, also called a brow lift, can improve the appearance of the top half of the face. A forehead lift is an ideal procedure for treating deep expression lines and creases on the forehead and raising drooping eyebrows.

Ask About a Forehead Lift

Rhinoplasty

If you're unsatisfied with the way your nose looks, rhinoplasty is a kind of plastic surgery that can change the shape of your bridge, the tip of your nose, and the appearance of your nostrils to make your nose appear larger, smaller, or more symmetrical.

Learn More About Rhinoplasty

Eyelid Lift

As we age, our upper and lower eyelids can begin to droop, along with the rest of our faces. To counteract sagging skin, our plastic surgeon can perform an eyelid lift to safely remove excess skin and fat deposits for a more awake and younger appearance.

More About Eyelid Lifts

Laser Skin Resurfacing

Laser skin resurfacing is a great way to treat fine lines, encourage collagen renewal, and fade discoloration or scars. It's less invasive than surgery and gives patients a dewy, airbrushed glow. Dr. Baker in Champaign, IL, can perform this treatment on the face, neck, chest, and other areas of the body to correct wrinkles, acne scars, brown spots, redness, rosacea, and pigment problems

Explore Laser Skin Resurfacing

BOTOX

Though BOTOX® is only a temporary treatment, the benefits last for months and can help maintain the results of your facelift once the aging process starts again. Fortunately, you may not need BOTOX for years following your facelift.

Learn About BOTOX® Cosmetic

JUVÉDERM VOLUMA XC

JUVÉDERM® VOLUMA™ XC  is another treatment that can contribute to the maintenance of your facelift by adding volume to the cheeks and lifting the area.

Explore JUVÉDERM

Address All Your Facial Concerns Here Request a Consultation

Dr. Baker's extensive training in plastic surgery allows him to offer procedures that address your entire face, from your forehead to your neck. And for Champaign-area patients seeking to maintain their facelift results, he offers both skin treatments and medical spa indulgences.

To explore what Dr. Baker can do for you, fill out our contact form or call to request a consultation:

(866) 893-4979


We have offices in Champaign, Monticello, and Decatur.

Making Outstanding Facelift Results Affordable

While more experienced doctors may charge more than less experienced colleagues, your likelihood of satisfaction is much higher when you trust your care to a surgeon who has practiced for decades and has a track record or providing beautiful results. Fortunately, Dr. Graham's practice puts excellent care within virtually any budget. 

CareCredit® is a trusted medical lender that helps patients budget for elective procedures through low-interest and interest-free financing. During your visit with us, our staff will be glad to discuss the option with you, find the terms you qualify for based on your credit score, and help determine if this is the best way to help you budget for cosmetic surgery. 

"Thank you, Dr. Baker."

"My surgery was almost a year ago. I am delighted with the results! Each of my follow-up visits has been much like going back to visit friends who are as excited as I am. I can truly say that this is one of the best gifts I could have given myself. Thank you, Dr. Baker." M.S.

Post-Op Timeline

Days 1-3

It is important to plan for several weeks of rest and time off work following your facelift surgery. We recommend coordinating with a friend or family member to assist you in the first few days of your recovery. Post-operative pain can vary from mild to moderate, but we will help you manage discomfort with medication. 

Weeks 2-3

The most common side effects are swelling and bruising, but these should subside significantly in the second week. Many patients return to work and resume light activity 10 to 14 days after the procedure with Dr. Baker's approval. 

1 Month Onward

Some residual swelling is normal for several months after the procedure. You can expect to settle into the final results after about a year.

Long-Term Maintenance

The best way to maintain your results is by leading a healthy lifestyle, avoiding sun damage, and using good skincare products. Nonsurgical treatments like BOTOX and laser skin resurfacing can enhance your facelift results and delay the signs of aging. 

"I love the new me!"

"Dr. Baker, I think it is said that gratitude is one of the least articulate of the emotions, especially when it is deep. Thank you for making me look great - I love the "new me"!" C.D.
Dr. Stuart Baker

The Center for Cosmetic Medicine

Dr. Stuart Baker is a board-certified plastic surgeon with decades of experience. He has been recognized as a "master injector" by Allergan, the maker of BOTOX® Cosmetic and JUVÉDERM® products, for excellent patient outcomes. In addition to being a skilled plastic surgeon, he is also an orthopedic hand surgery specialist. His prestigious affiliations include:

  • American Society of Plastic Surgeons — ASPS 
  • American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery — ASAPS 
  • American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery — AACS 
  • American Medical Association — AMA 

Use our online form to schedule a consultation at a location near you in Monticello, Champaign, or Decatur. Or call us at:

(217) 877-9000

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