Remember when everyone was pulling their hair back into high, tight ponytails Bella Hadid-style to create a more sculpted look? That desire for a lifted, tightening effect has now been translated into a cosmetic surgery aptly coined the ponytail lift. And to no one's surprise, its popularity is growing rapidly. This is in part due to catchy marketing by way of a cute name, but it's also thanks to the minimal downtime and visible results.
In short, the ponytail lift is a colloquial term for cosmetic procedure that delivers similar results to a regular facelift — but much less invasive. Generally speaking, a ponytail lift requires small incisions behind the hairline and a tightening of tissue along the face using sutures, according to Jaimie DeRosa, MD, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon and founder of DeRosa Center Plastic Surgery & Med Spa in Boston and Palm Beach.
"The ponytail lift is a minimally-invasive technique that avoids the typical [facelift] incisions around the ears seen with traditional methods and hides the incisions in the hairline," Charles Pierce, DO, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Red Bank, New Jersey, and fellow of the American College of Surgeons, explains. "It allows the patient to wear their hair up 'ponytail style' without the obvious scars."
Not only is the ability to hide scars and sutures an attractive proposition, but the taut, lifted results are really has those considering the surgery sold. So whether you're deciding if a ponytail lift is for you or if you just want to learn a little more about this type of cosmetic surgery, keep scrolling the details on side effects, cost, and more.
- Charles Pierce, DO, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Red Bank, New Jersey, and fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
- Jaimie DeRosa, MD, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon and founder of DeRosa Center Plastic Surgery & Med Spa in Boston and Palm Beach.
- Hardik Doshi, MD, FACS, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City.
- Jennifer Levine, MD, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon in New York City.
What is a ponytail lift?
Ponytail lift is an informal term used to refer to a minimally-invasive procedure that surgically tightens a patient's face for a lifted effect by pulling the brows, forehead, and cheeks upward. There are a couple reasons the procedure is referred to as a ponytail lift: it can deliver the same results as a really high, tight ponytail when it comes to lifting the skin on the face, and patients can leave the procedure and hide the appearance of the incisions due to their placement along the hairline rather than behind the ears.
Unlike a traditional facelifts, which are typically designed to remove skin using multiple incisions around the ears, the ponytail lift only requires small incisions along the hairline to tighten the tissue along the face. "The key to both these surgeries is a sufficient release of the ptotic facial structures, while redraping them to their higher and more youthful position," explains Hardik Doshi, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City.
All the experts we spoke with, though, clarify that the term has been popularized for advertising purposes, and does not have any official standing within the plastic surgery community. "Many surgeons [who perform facelifts] point out this [isn't a] surgical method described in a surgical textbook," Doshi points out. In fact, the ponytail lift isn't even a "textbook" facelift.
Because no skin is removed during the process, people who might opt for a ponytail lift rather than a regular facelift are those who want to make small improvements, rather than an entire procedure. "The best candidates are those with minimal signs of aging and little to no excess skin along the jawline and upper neck," Dr. DeRosa explains.
According to Dr. Doshi, ideal candidates for the procedure are those from their 30s to early 50s, and are without significant facial sagging or excess skin laxity. Dr. DeRosa also points out that in order to hide the scars, a candidate should have a pretty decent head of hair so they can pull it back to hide where the incisions were made. Those with thinning hair might want to go with a traditional facelift where scars or sutures can be camouflaged around the ears.
What does a ponytail lift procedure entail?
Just like most plastic surgeries, there are standard preoperative procedures to follow that you will be guided through pre-surgery. This includes setting reasonable expectations, quitting smoking a month or two prior to the procedure, limiting or stopping drinking alcohol, and refraining from medications or supplements that may cause increased bleeding, such as aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Dr. Pierce reiterates that since the ponytail lift isn't a textbook procedure officially defined by plastic surgeons, there isn't technically a standard way to execute the it. "Other forms of facelifts involve much larger incisions and are designed to remove more skin," Dr. Pierce explains. "How a ponytail lift is done is going to depend on both the surgeon and the patient's needs. "As the 'ponytail lift' is more of a marketing term rather than a surgical approach and will mean different things to different surgeons," Jennifer Levine, MD, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon in New York City, points out.
"Placing those incisions in strategic points in the scalp can help make the vector pull high and back just like one may experience with a really tight ponytail," she explains. This procedure can take anywhere between one to four hours depending on if the patient is getting additional treatments done in the same surgery, and is done under local anesthesia.
What is downtime like?
After the procedure, you might see some bruising or swelling for two weeks, according to Dr. Pierce. "Patients should plan on some down time after the procedure for a couple weeks, as with most invasive surgeries," he says.
Because of the placement of the incisions, patients have to be gentle with the hair and scalp around the area until the sutures have completely healed. "You'll want to avoid combing or brushing your hair vigorously in the suture and incision areas until they're healed," Dr. DeRosa says. She also suggests using a gentle, non-irritating shampoo and to avoid getting your hair colored for at least two weeks after the procedure.
What are the possible side effects of a ponytail lift?
"With any surgical procedure there are risks of scarring, bleeding, or damage to the nerves in the face," Dr. Levine says. "One complication, which isn't a true complication, is that a ponytail lift may not fully correct a saggy jawline or neck."
The most common possible side effect for this particular procedure, though, is hair loss. "Since the surgeon is making incisions in the hair bearing scalp, there is a risk of hair loss in the incision line," Dr. DeRosa says. "This can result in wide and visible scars within the hairline."
How much does a ponytail lift cost?
Just like any other plastic surgery, the cost of a ponytail lift will vary depending on your location and doctor. Dr. Doshi says in New York City, it can run you anywhere between $35,000 to $70,000 due to the amount of training and experience needed to execute it. On average, though, you should expect to pay at least $20,000.
All this said, it may not be a fit for every single person that wants a more-lifted appearance. "The most important thing to consider when considering facelift surgery is not only the credentials, experience, and outcomes of the surgeon, but also your thoughts on incisions, recovery times, and durability of the results," says Dr. Doshi. "Always have an open and in depth conversation with your surgeon to decide which technique may be right for you."
More info about cosmetic procedures:
- Everything You Should Know About Jaw Filler
- This New Treatment Helps Reduce Cellulite in Just One Session
- The Truth About Those "Temporary Nose Jobs"
Now, watch a cosmetic surgeon's entire routine:
