Gene K. Lee, MD, MPH
Ethnic Facelift in Beverly Hills, CA
Facial aging affects every patient differently, and so does the ideal approach to correcting it. At LA MÔEM Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Gene K. Lee, MD, MPH, performs facelift surgery that is customized to each patient’s unique anatomy, skin characteristics, and aesthetic goals — including the specific considerations that matter most for Asian, Hispanic, and African American patients. If you are considering a facelift and want a result that looks refreshed and youthful while preserving the features that reflect your heritage, this page will help you understand what an ethnically informed approach to facelift surgery involves.
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What Is an Ethnic Facelift?
An ethnic facelift is not a separate or standardized surgical procedure. It is a term used to describe the same facelift techniques Dr. Lee performs for every patient — including deep-plane and SMAS (Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System) rhytidectomy — applied with specific attention to the anatomical and skin characteristics that can vary among Asian, Hispanic, and African American patients.
Dr. Lee’s approach begins with a comprehensive facial assessment that considers each patient’s individual bone structure, skin quality, and aging pattern. Rather than applying a single standard of beauty to every patient, he tailors the surgical plan to preserve the features that reflect a patient’s ethnic identity while addressing the specific signs of aging that brought them in for a consultation.
What Can an Ethnic Facelift Improve?
Like any facelift performed at LA MÔEM Plastic Surgery, this approach can address:
- Sagging cheeks and jowls
- Loss of jawline definition
- Deepening folds around the mouth
- Loose or banded skin in the neck
The goal is the same for every patient: a natural, refreshed appearance that avoids an overly tight or “pulled” look, while respecting the facial proportions and features that are unique to each individual.
Why Do Patients Choose an Ethnically Informed Approach?
Many patients considering a facelift want reassurance that their result will look like a refreshed version of themselves — not a different face altogether. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, most patients from ethnic backgrounds want to maintain the features that reflect their racial and cultural identity, and applying a single, generic standard of beauty across all patients can produce results that look inconsistent with a patient’s other facial features.
Dr. Lee’s philosophy at LA MÔEM Plastic Surgery is built around this same principle: preserving individuality rather than changing a patient’s fundamental appearance. For Asian, Hispanic, and African American patients, this means a facelift plan that accounts for differences such as:
- Skin thickness and elasticity, which can affect how tissue is lifted, trimmed, and repositioned
- Facial fat distribution and bone structure, which influence where volume should be preserved or restored
- Incision placement, planned to stay well concealed within the hairline and around the ear
- Individual scarring tendencies, since keloid and hypertrophic scarring is more common in patients of Asian and African ancestry and may call for more conservative, less-invasive techniques and closer postoperative scar management
Who Is a Good Candidate for an Ethnic Facelift?
You may be a good candidate for this approach if you:
- Are in good general health with realistic expectations for your results
- Are noticing sagging skin, jowling, or a loss of jawline definition
- Want to address visible signs of facial aging without losing the ethnic features that are part of your identity
- Have a personal or family history of keloid or hypertrophic scarring and want a surgeon who will plan around that risk
- Are looking for a fully customized surgical plan rather than a one-size-fits-all technique
During your consultation, Dr. Lee will evaluate your facial anatomy, skin quality, and medical history to determine whether a deep-plane facelift, a SMAS facelift, or another approach is the most appropriate fit for your goals.
What Should You Expect During Your Consultation and Procedure?
Every facelift at LA MÔEM Plastic Surgery starts with an in-depth consultation. Dr. Lee will discuss your aesthetic goals, examine your facial structure and skin quality, and review your medical history to confirm you are a safe candidate for surgery. This is also the time to talk openly about which features matter most to you and how you’d like your ethnic identity reflected in your results.
From there, Dr. Lee customizes the surgical plan to your anatomy. Depending on your needs, this may involve a deep-plane facelift, which repositions the deeper facial ligaments and muscle layers to lift the face from its structural foundation, or a SMAS facelift, which tightens the underlying muscle sheath with a different pattern of tissue release. You can read more about these techniques on our Facelift page. In both cases, incisions are planned to be as inconspicuous as possible, and excess skin is trimmed only as needed to avoid pulling the face into an unnatural position.
Many patients also choose to combine a facelift with a Neck Lift for more complete rejuvenation of the lower face and neck.
What Is Recovery and Aftercare Like?
Recovery varies from patient to patient and depends on the specific technique used. Dr. Lee provides detailed preoperative and postoperative instructions, and you will be seen the day after surgery to confirm that healing is progressing well, with a follow-up visit typically scheduled for suture removal.
Because keloid and hypertrophic scarring can be more common in patients of Asian and African ancestry, Dr. Lee places additional emphasis on incision care and scar management during recovery for patients who may be at higher risk. This can include closer monitoring of the incision sites and, when appropriate, additional scar-management guidance during your follow-up visits. As with any facelift, allowing adequate time for swelling and bruising to resolve is an important part of achieving your final results.
What Results Can You Expect?
The goal of an ethnically informed facelift at LA MÔEM Plastic Surgery is the same as any facelift Dr. Lee performs: a natural, rejuvenated appearance that restores a more youthful position to the facial tissues without altering the features that make your face uniquely yours. Results are influenced by your individual skin quality, anatomy, and the specific technique used, and Dr. Lee will discuss realistic expectations with you in detail during your consultation.
Meet Gene K. Lee MD, MPH
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
At LA MÔEM Plastic Surgery, Dr. Gene K. Lee combines advanced surgical training with a thoughtful, ethical approach to aesthetic care. Known for his natural-looking results and deep respect for each patient’s unique goals and cultural identity, Dr. Lee creates personalized treatment plans focused on safety, integrity, and long-term satisfaction. When you choose Dr. Lee, you’re choosing a surgeon who values your trust and is dedicated to helping you look and feel your best—authentically.
Why Choose Dr. Gene K. Lee for Your Ethnic Facelift?
Dr. Gene K. Lee is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon who completed dual residencies in General Surgery and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Southern California.
At LA MÔEM Plastic Surgery, he is known for combining advanced surgical training with a thoughtful, ethical approach to aesthetic care, and for his deep respect for each patient’s unique goals and cultural identity.
Rather than applying a single technique to every patient, Dr. Lee builds a personalized treatment plan around your individual anatomy, aging pattern, and aesthetic goals — with the aim of helping you look refreshed and rejuvenated while preserving what makes your appearance authentically yours.
How Do You Schedule Your Ethnic Facelift Consultation in Beverly Hills?
If you are considering a facelift and want a plan built around your individual features and heritage, Dr. Gene K. Lee and the team at LA MÔEM Plastic Surgery invite you to schedule a consultation. Call (310) 919-0777 or contact us online to get started. LA MÔEM Plastic Surgery welcomes patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, Pasadena, the Inland Empire, and throughout Southern California.
Los Angeles Ethnic Facelift FAQ
Is an ethnic facelift a different surgery than a standard facelift?
No. It uses the same facelift techniques — including deep-plane and SMAS approaches — that Dr. Lee performs for all of his patients, applied with attention to the anatomical and skin characteristics that matter most for Asian, Hispanic, and African American patients.
Will a facelift change my ethnic features?
Dr. Lee’s approach is built around preserving the features that reflect your ethnic identity while addressing visible signs of aging. Your goals and preferences are discussed in detail during your consultation so your plan reflects what matters most to you.
Am I more likely to scar from facelift surgery because of my ethnicity?
Keloid and hypertrophic scarring is more common in patients of Asian and African ancestry, though not every patient is affected. Dr. Lee takes this into account when planning incision placement and postoperative scar care, particularly for patients with a personal or family history of these scars.
How long is recovery after a facelift?
Recovery varies by patient and by the specific technique used. Dr. Lee will review what to expect for your individual case during your consultation and provide detailed pre- and postoperative instructions.
Can I combine a facelift with other procedures?
Many patients choose to pair a facelift with a neck lift for more complete rejuvenation of the lower face and neck. Dr. Lee can discuss whether combining procedures makes sense for your goals during your consultation.
How do I know if I'm a good candidate?
Good candidates are in good general health, have realistic expectations, and are bothered by visible signs of facial aging such as sagging skin or jowling. A consultation with Dr. Lee is the best way to determine which approach is right for your anatomy and goals.
What should I bring up during my consultation?
Let Dr. Lee know which facial features are most important for you to preserve, any personal or family history of keloid or hypertrophic scarring, and any questions you have about how your specific anatomy will affect your results.