Laser-Assisted Precision
The laser lets your surgeon work with a precision traditional instruments don't allow: cleaner incisions, less disruption at each layer. Less disruption means less healing required, and a more comfortable recovery.
Laser Facelift NYC
The Procedure That Works
With Your Biology.
A MILA is a laser-assisted procedure unlike the traditional facelift — surgical precision enhanced by laser technology Dr. Theodorou co-developed, which triggers your body's natural collagen production. Results build for up to 90 days after you walk out.
What Makes It Different
Not a Facelift. An Evolution of One.
The traditional facelift has been the standard in facial rejuvenation for decades. It works. But it was designed around general anesthesia, operating rooms, and patients who could afford to disappear for four to six weeks. That's not the reality of most New Yorkers.
A MILA starts from the same surgical foundation — tissue repositioning, SMAS-layer work, natural contour restoration — and adds a laser component that changes the recovery equation. The laser makes incisions with precision, reducing trauma to surrounding tissue and sealing capillaries as it works. Less bruising. Less swelling. Faster healing.
Then there's what the laser does afterward: it leaves the surrounding tissue in a state of thermal stimulation that triggers natural collagen production. That's why a MILA keeps refining over the first three months — the result continues to build after you leave.
Candidacy, the procedure-day timeline, how a MILA compares to deep plane and mini facelifts, and pricing are all covered on the full procedure page. The technology is the reason to choose MILA.
The Surgeon
He Didn't Just Use This Technology — He Helped Develop It.
From 2015 to 2024, Dr. Theodorou served as Chief Medical Officer of InMode Ltd. (NASDAQ: INMD). He oversaw the company's clinical development across its product portfolio — its studies, training protocols, and physician-education programs — including FaceTite, BodyTite, Morpheus8, and EmbraceRF.
He co-developed EmbraceRF, the first procedure to combine radiofrequency-assisted lipolysis with subdermal adipose remodeling for minimally invasive facial rejuvenation, and directed the research that led to FDA clearance of FaceTite and BodyTite. The laser and RF principles at the core of MILA are the same ones he spent nine years refining at the clinical and engineering level.
Full Credentials →30+
Peer-reviewed publications
FACS
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
4
Teaching-hospital faculty positions
Thieme
Published textbook author
The MILA Advantage
Four Things That Set This Procedure Apart
Awake Sedation. No General Anesthesia
General anesthesia requires intubation, an operating room, and a recovery measured in days. A MILA is performed without it — sedation tailored to you, comfortable throughout, home the same day. It avoids the risks associated with general anesthesia, including intubation.
Post-Procedure Collagen Stimulation
The laser's thermal effect initiates a biological response: your body produces new collagen in the treated area over the following 90 days. It's why a MILA's results continue to improve for about three months after surgery.
Results That Look Like You
A MILA addresses volume and structure, not just surface tension. The result doesn't look pulled. It doesn't look operated on. It looks like what you looked like before the parts you'd prefer to address began showing up in photographs.
Patient photography at 30 days and 90 days — see results →Procedure Day
What Happens on the Day
From arrival to departure, the MILA Facelift takes approximately two hours. Here's what that day looks like.
Arrival
You arrive at the accredited surgical facility for intake, vitals, and pre-procedure preparation with your surgical team.
Sedation
Your surgeon reviews your history, answers any last questions, and begins your tailored sedation. You're comfortable within minutes.
The Procedure
Your surgeon performs your MILA. You're relaxed and comfortable throughout; the time passes quickly.
Recovery
Incisions are closed and your compression garment is applied. You come out of sedation in a quiet recovery room.
Discharge
You're discharged the same day with your support person. You'll leave with prescription instructions and your Patient Care Consultant's direct contact.
Follow-Up (about a week later)
Your first post-operative visit with your surgeon: garment adjustment, healing assessment, first photographs.
Recovery Timeline
Back to Your Life in Days, Not Weeks
The laser-assisted approach reduces tissue trauma, and that shows up directly in how quickly you recover.
Days 1–3
Rest at home. Mild swelling and bruising, typically less than a traditional facelift. Discomfort is managed with prescribed medication. Most patients are surprised by how comfortable this period is.
Days 4–7
First follow-up with your surgeon. Most patients are comfortable moving around their home and going for walks. Swelling continues to reduce noticeably.
Weeks 2–3
Most patients are comfortable being seen in public, returning to desk work, and resuming light social obligations. Some residual swelling in specific areas is normal and expected.
Months 1–3
Tissue settles, collagen production continues, and your result reveals itself progressively. The three-month mark is typically when patients see the full picture.
Month 6+
Your six-month follow-up with your surgeon. Results are stable, and collagen density continues to increase subtly over the following months.
Am I a Candidate?
Who a MILA is For
The ideal MILA patient is typically between 45 and 70, in good general health, and experiencing signs of facial aging — jowling, mid-face volume descent, deepening nasolabial folds, or loss of jaw definition. They're not looking for a dramatic transformation. They want to look like themselves again, at a stage they recognize.
Candidacy is evaluated at consultation. Patients with significant medical conditions affecting healing, those who smoke, or those whose primary concerns are in the upper third of the face (brow, forehead) may be better served by a different approach — and your surgeon will tell you directly if that's the case.
The most common question: "Am I too old for this?" Candidacy is determined by health, not birthdate; patients in their 70s who are in good health are often excellent candidates.
The practice is based on the Upper East Side. A full overview of the MILA New York City practice — location, scheduling, and the complete list of procedures — is here.
Frequently Asked
Laser Facelift NYC. FAQ
What is a laser-assisted facelift?
A laser-assisted facelift uses laser technology to assist the surgeon during the procedure and to stimulate natural collagen production afterward. The laser allows more precise incisions, reduces tissue trauma, and initiates a healing response that continues to improve results for up to three months.
How is a MILA different from a traditional facelift?
A traditional facelift repositions tissue under general anesthesia, typically in a hospital or OR, with several weeks of visible recovery. A MILA uses the same surgical foundation but adds laser precision, replaces general anesthesia with awake sedation, and triggers ongoing collagen production afterward. Recovery is faster.
Is a MILA safer than a traditional facelift?
The risk profile is different. Awake sedation avoids the risks associated with general anesthesia, including intubation, and the laser reduces tissue trauma. That said, all surgical procedures carry inherent risks, and candidacy is evaluated carefully at your consultation.
How long do results last?
A MILA produces lasting structural correction. How long it lasts depends on your genetics, lifestyle, and rate of aging. No procedure stops aging permanently, but most patients remain satisfied for many years. Your surgeon will discuss what to expect for you.
Can I combine a MILA with a neck lift or eyelid lift?
Yes. Many patients address the neck and lower face together, or add upper eyelid work to address hooding. These are discussed at consultation, priced separately, and combined in a single procedure when appropriate.
Will I have visible scars?
Incisions are placed in concealed locations — natural skin folds and along the hairline — and typically fade over the following months.
The MILA Facelift. And Enhancements.
The Flagship
The MILA Facelift
Laser-assisted. Awake, without general anesthesia. Same day. Results that keep building for up to 90 days. Our singular focus — refined at the intersection of laser technology and facial surgery.
Enhancement
Neck Lift
Jawline definition. Profile transformation. Often combined with a MILA for patients whose concerns include the neck and lower face. Priced separately. Discussed at consultation.
Enhancement
Eyelid Lift
Address hooding. Refresh the gaze. A natural complement to a MILA for patients whose concerns include the eye area. Priced separately. Discussed at consultation.
Find Out What's Possible for Your Face.
Book a complimentary consultation with Dr. Theodorou or Dr. Chia. You'll leave with a clear picture — candidacy, procedure details, and next steps; your Patient Care Consultant reviews pricing. No pressure to commit.
Complimentary. No obligation. In person or by secure video where you're located.
Book Your NYC Consultation