Is a Serenity Lift Painful?

Immediately after surgery, patients may experience mild swelling, tightness, and soreness in the treated areas. However, this discomfort is usually well-managed with prescription pain medications. Most patients report a manageable recovery, with pain levels significantly diminishing after the first few days. By the end of the first week, the majority of swelling and bruising will have subsided, and any residual discomfort can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.

How Many Appointments Will I Need?

Typically, you will have several follow-up appointments after your Serenity Lift surgery. These appointments are crucial to ensure that your healing process is on track. The first follow-up is usually scheduled the day following your procedure, when Dr. Ibrahim will assess your incision sites, remove any sutures if necessary, and check for signs of complications. The next few visits are spaced out over the following months, allowing Dr. Ibrahim to monitor your recovery, evaluate the final results, and offer advice on maintaining your rejuvenated appearance. During these visits, you will also have the opportunity to discuss any questions or concerns you may have about your healing progress.

How Long Until I See Results?

Results from the Serenity Lift are typically visible within the first few weeks after surgery as swelling begins to subside. However, your ultimate results—those that reveal the full effects of the procedure—usually become apparent between 3 and 6 months as the tissues settle and your face adapts to its new contours. While you’ll see gradual improvements, the final rejuvenating effects of the lift continue to enhance over time.

Can I Combine a Serenity Lift With Other Procedures?

Some of the most popular complementary procedures include eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) to address drooping eyelids, laser skin resurfacing to improve skin texture and tone, and injectables such as Botox or dermal fillers to target areas like the forehead, crow’s feet, or laugh lines. Combining procedures can enhance your overall facial appearance, reducing recovery time and overall costs for multiple surgeries.

What Are the Risks Associated With a Serenity Lift?

Like any surgical procedure, the Serenity Lift comes with inherent risks. While rare, some risks include infection, hematoma (blood collection under the skin), scarring, and complications related to anesthesia. Swelling and bruising are common post-surgical effects but typically subside over time. Dr. Ibrahim’s expertise and attention to detail significantly reduce these risks, and he takes every precaution to ensure your safety and comfort. During your consultation, he will discuss these potential risks in-depth, provide strategies for minimizing them, and outline the steps you can take to promote a smooth recovery.

Melbourne | Tampa | St. Petersburg

Deep Plane Faeclift

Introduction to Serenity Lift (Deep Plane Facelift)

Some procedures chase youth. The Serenity Lift doesn’t chase anything—it simply restores what time has shifted, with a calmness that reflects its name. Designed for those who value grace over drama and longevity over illusion, this refined approach to facial rejuvenation offers something some facelifts just can’t: results that look and feel entirely your own.

Available at AR Aesthetics, the Serenity Lift is the signature procedure of Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim, one of Florida’s few dual fellowship-trained surgeons in both Facial Plastic Surgery and Burn Surgery, in addition to his training in Plastic Surgery. With practices in Melbourne, Tampa, and St. Petersburg, Dr. Ibrahim leads with knowledge, subtlety, and a belief that cosmetic surgery should never overpower the person beneath.

The Serenity Lift is less about turning back time and more about changing how you move through it.

Before & After Photos

Gallery

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What is a Serenity Lift?

The Serenity Lift is a specialized deep plane facelift that addresses facial aging at its source—beneath the skin’s surface. Unlike traditional techniques that focus primarily on skin tightening, the Serenity Lift repositions the underlying facial layers to restore natural structure and contour.

This method reduces tension on the skin, allowing for smoother, more balanced outcomes that move with the face, not against it. Because it works below the superficial layer, the Serenity Lift offers improvements that feel integrated rather than imposed, preserving individuality while softening visible signs of aging.

What Are the Benefits of a Serenity Lift?

Patients who choose the Serenity Lift often do so because they’re seeking results that won’t read as “surgical.” The benefits are both aesthetic and structural, including:

A more defined jawline and softened jowls
Restoration of cheek volume and midface lift
Fewer visible folds around the nose and mouth
Smoother, natural-looking skin without tightness
Results that last significantly longer than skin-only facelifts

Because the deeper facial layers are repositioned, not just pulled, the overall effect is more durable and fluid, maintaining harmony as the face continues to age.

Who Are the Best Candidates For a Serenity Lift?

For patients in the Melbourne area or our other Florida offices, the Serenity Lift may be ideal if you are beginning to notice deeper structural changes in your face, such as sagging in the midface, jowling along the jawline, or a general heaviness that wasn’t there before. Most candidates are in their 40s to 60s, but age isn’t the main qualifier—it’s about the depth and location of facial aging.

You might be a strong candidate if:

You want lasting facial rejuvenation without looking “done”
You’re noticing volume descent, not just surface wrinkles
You want a solution that goes beyond injectables
You’re in good overall health and ready for surgical recovery

This procedure is often chosen by those who have tried non-surgical methods and found them inadequate, or by those who simply want to skip the cycle of temporary fixes and opt for something more permanent.

What is the First Step?

A consultation with Dr. Ibrahim is not just a formality. Rather, it’s the cornerstone of the process. During your one-on-one meeting in Melbourne, Tampa, or St. Petersburg, FL, he’ll assess your facial anatomy in detail, ask about your goals, and walk you through what a Serenity Lift would look like.

He’s known for his candid, thoughtful approach. He never rushes decisions or pushes procedures. Whether you’re coming in with clear goals or just exploring options, the focus is always on creating a plan that aligns with your features, timeline, and comfort level.

What to Expect on the Day of Serenity Lift Surgery

On the day of surgery, you’ll arrive at one of our accredited surgical locations in Melbourne, Tampa, or St. Petersburg. The experience is designed to feel calm, private, and unrushed from the moment you check in.

Dr. Ibrahim performs the Serenity Lift under deep sedation or general anesthesia, depending on your unique circumstances or preferences. The procedure typically takes several hours and involves lifting and repositioning the deeper facial structures, not just tightening the skin. By the time you leave, you’ll already be on your way to recovery with supportive bandaging, detailed instructions, and a direct line of communication with our team throughout the healing process.

Serenity Lift Recovery

Recovery after a Serenity Lift is a balance between rest and patience. You’ll likely experience swelling, bruising, and a feeling of tightness in the first week; this is completely normal as your tissues begin to settle. Most patients take 10 to 14 days away from work and social activities, with swelling continuing to fade over the next few weeks.

You’ll follow a personalized aftercare plan created by Dr. Ibrahim, which includes gentle skincare, activity guidelines, and follow-ups to monitor your healing progress. Many patients begin to feel more like themselves within 2 weeks, but true refinement continues for several months as the deeper layers integrate and the final shape reveals itself.

Improving Your Recovery with PDGF and Peptides

A deep plane facelift heals differently than a skin-only lift—it involves deeper tissues, more anatomic repositioning, and therefore deserves a recovery protocol as advanced as the technique itself. At AR Aesthetics, Dr. Ibrahim enhances Serenity Lift healing with Pure PDGF by AriEssence and the AR Radiant Recovery Protocol, a curated trio of peptides scientifically designed to accelerate recovery, refine scars, and support long-term tissue quality.

While traditional scar-management often begins one month after surgery, PDGF allows patients to begin supporting tissue healing immediately, thanks to its remarkable ability to regulate inflammation, stimulate collagen formation, and encourage organized, healthy tissue remodeling from day one. This early support is invaluable in facelift surgery, where incisions must heal delicately, and the deeper layers integrate seamlessly for the most natural result.

To further elevate healing, Dr. Ibrahim pairs PDGF with the AR Radiant Recovery Protocol—Aesthetic-grade peptides that work internally to support postoperative recovery:

BPC-157 reduces swelling and bruising, accelerates soft-tissue repair, and improves microcirculation throughout the treated areas.
TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4) works synergistically with BPC-157 to promote deeper tissue integration, healthy angiogenesis, and smoother recovery of the lifted facial layers.
GHK-Cu enhances collagen remodeling, refines scar quality, and reduces postoperative inflammation to encourage a soft, luminous skin finish.

Together, PDGF + peptides create a dual pathway of regeneration—external and internal—that supports faster healing, improved comfort, and a more elegant settling of your facelift results. This comprehensive healing strategy ensures that the Serenity Lift’s outcomes remain as refined and natural as its philosophy: rejuvenation that honors your features, your expression, and your time.

How Much Does a Serenity Lift Cost in Melbourne, FL?

The cost of a Serenity Lift in Melbourne, Tampa, and St. Petersburg typically starts at $21,000 but can be higher depending on the complexity of the procedure and whether additional treatments are combined. Pricing is consistent across our Melbourne, Tampa, and St. Petersburg locations, with transparent breakdowns provided at your consultation.

This fee includes pre-operative planning, surgical time, anesthesia, facility fees, post-operative care, and the advantage of being treated by one of Florida’s most rigorously trained facial surgeons.

Our Ethos

Why Choose Dr. Ibrahim?

Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim’s training is rare. In addition to his training in Plastic Surgery, he is dual fellowship-trained in both Facial Plastic Surgery and Burn Surgery. His approach combines a comprehensive understanding of anatomy with meticulous attention to detail. But credentials only tell part of the story. His extensive training includes a PhD from Erasmus University Rotterdam and a research fellowship in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Harvard Medical School/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Dr. Ibrahim has contributed to over 80 publications in top plastic surgery journals and serves as a reviewer for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. His passion for education is reflected in his role as an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Patients choose Dr. Ibrahim because of how he listens. Every face is approached individually—no “template,” no assumptions. Whether you’re walking into our flagship location in Melbourne or visiting us in Tampa or St. Petersburg, you’ll find a culture of clarity, kindness, and surgical care that prioritizes the long term.

Serenity Lift FAQs

Immediately after surgery, patients may experience mild swelling, tightness, and soreness in the treated areas. However, this discomfort is usually well-managed with prescription pain medications. Most patients report a manageable recovery, with pain levels significantly diminishing after the first few days. By the end of the first week, the majority of swelling and bruising will have subsided, and any residual discomfort can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.
Typically, you will have several follow-up appointments after your Serenity Lift surgery. These appointments are crucial to ensure that your healing process is on track. The first follow-up is usually scheduled the day following your procedure, when Dr. Ibrahim will assess your incision sites, remove any sutures if necessary, and check for signs of complications. The next few visits are spaced out over the following months, allowing Dr. Ibrahim to monitor your recovery, evaluate the final results, and offer advice on maintaining your rejuvenated appearance. During these visits, you will also have the opportunity to discuss any questions or concerns you may have about your healing progress.
Results from the Serenity Lift are typically visible within the first few weeks after surgery as swelling begins to subside. However, your ultimate results—those that reveal the full effects of the procedure—usually become apparent between 3 and 6 months as the tissues settle and your face adapts to its new contours. While you’ll see gradual improvements, the final rejuvenating effects of the lift continue to enhance over time.
Some of the most popular complementary procedures include eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) to address drooping eyelids, laser skin resurfacing to improve skin texture and tone, and injectables such as Botox or dermal fillers to target areas like the forehead, crow’s feet, or laugh lines. Combining procedures can enhance your overall facial appearance, reducing recovery time and overall costs for multiple surgeries.
Like any surgical procedure, the Serenity Lift comes with inherent risks. While rare, some risks include infection, hematoma (blood collection under the skin), scarring, and complications related to anesthesia. Swelling and bruising are common post-surgical effects but typically subside over time. Dr. Ibrahim’s expertise and attention to detail significantly reduce these risks, and he takes every precaution to ensure your safety and comfort. During your consultation, he will discuss these potential risks in-depth, provide strategies for minimizing them, and outline the steps you can take to promote a smooth recovery.

Patient Reviews

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I can’t say enough good things about AR Aesthetics!

Dr. Ibrahim is absolutely phenomenal—caring, attentive, and genuinely listens to his patients. He made me feel completely at ease during my procedures, explaining every step thoroughly. Plus, he’s incredibly gentle—I didn’t feel a thing!

The entire staff is just as amazing. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with warmth and kindness, and the spa itself is immaculate and welcoming—a true oasis. Every detail is thoughtfully designed to make you feel relaxed and well cared for.

– H.A.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I’m a new patient with AR Aesthetics

Ahmed was fantastic! He took time to explain to me the different procedures offered, and what to expect as the result. I will definitely be returning!

– G.B.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I love everything about the service provided to me.

From entering the office, which is incredibly beautiful, the staff is friendly, efficient, and kind.
My experience has been second to none.
Dr. Ibrahim is by far the ABSOLUTE BEST surgeon I have ever met, and I have met many.
If he could take care of all of me, I would be extremely grateful.
Thank you Dr. Ibrahim for making me happy! You are the BEST!!!!

– B.B

Schedule a Consultation

Whether you’re in Melbourne, Tampa, or St. Petersburg, you can easily schedule your consultation online or by calling our office. Dr. Ibrahim’s approach is built on transparency, education, and trust, so you feel confident and informed every step of the way.

Don’t wait to transform the way you feel about your appearance. Contact AR Aesthetics today to schedule your one-on-one consultation with Dr. Ibrahim.

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