Gene K. Lee, MD, MPH
Facelift Surgery in Beverly Hills, CA
Facelift surgery is one method to refresh the aging face. During a facelift, a plastic surgeon meticulously separates the skin from the underlying Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System (SMAS) and muscle layers to reposition the facial tissues to a higher, more youthful position. When conducted by a skilled facelift surgeon, this procedure can significantly enhance the contours of the jawline, cheeks, jowls, and neck. To achieve the best facelift results, it’s crucial to partner with a surgeon who is not only technically skilled but also has a deep understanding of facial anatomy and facial aesthetics.
Gene K. Lee, MD, MPH has extensive education and training from some of the most prestigious institutions and surgeons across the country and worldwide. Dr. Lee’s expertise has given him an understanding of the intricate details surrounding facial anatomy, allowing him to deliver safe and lasting facelift results that look naturally youthful. Dr. Lee and his expert team at LA MÔEM PLASTIC SURGERY invite you to schedule a friendly and informative consultation to see if a facelift is right for you.
Continue reading to learn more about facelift surgery in Beverly Hills with Dr. Gene K. Lee, or contact us online today to schedule your consultation. We are located in Beverly Hills and proudly welcome patients from the Inland Empire, San Fernando Valley, Downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena, and the greater Los Angeles area.
Quick Links
What Is a Facelift?
Facial aging is comprised of sagging of the facial tissues due to gravity, deflation of the facial fat compartments, and bone loss.
A facelift is a plastic surgery procedure that involves carefully separating the skin and underlying SMAS (muscle sheath) layer from the facial muscles below, with the goal of carefully lifting these tissues back to a more elevated position. As a result, the patients see a return of their youthfulness with the improvements in the cheeks, jowls, jawline, and neck without being “over-pulled.”
Just as your facial characteristics are unique, so should your facelift procedure be. Dr. Lee tailors each facelift he performs to the needs and goals of the individual patient and their distinct underlying facial structure for the most natural and transformative results.
Many patients who wish to undergo a facelift procedure commonly combine it with a neck lift to rejuvenate the face and the neck as a single unit.
What Will a Facelift NOT Address?
As we age, our skin loses essential proteins like collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid that help it hold its structure. Loss of these proteins leads to poor skin quality, complexion, and texture. Other causes of skin damage and early aging can be caused by genetics, poor lifestyle habits (alcohol, tobacco, poor sleeping patterns), and environmental factors (sun, nicotine products). A facelift surgery will be as good as the quality of the patient’s skin health, but Dr. Gene K. Lee will go over any potential adjunctive procedures to help rehabilitate and optimize the skin in order to improve the longevity and results of a face and neck lift.
What Concerns Can a Los Angeles Facelift Address?
- Sagging skin
- Jowls
- Loss of Facial Volume
- Neck banding
- Nasolabial folds
- Marionette lines
What Are the Different Types of Facelifts?
Deep Plane Facelift
A deep plane facelift goes beneath the skin’s surface to address the sheath that covers the facial muscles beneath, called the Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System (SMAS). By releasing, tightening, and securing the SMAS layer, Dr. Lee is better able to reposition the facial tissues into a more youthful position without putting tension on the skin. A deep plane facelift produces longer-lasting results compared to a traditional facelift, and results tend to look more natural because the underlying SMAS layer is holding all of the tension rather than the skin. This ultimately prevents the overly “pulled” look that is often associated with a poorly performed facelift, and promotes finer scar healing that is nearly invisible.
SMAS Rhytidectomy
A SMAS facelift also addresses the issues associated with laxity in the SMAS layer beneath the skin. As we age, the SMAS layer slowly loses its elasticity, resulting in sagging cheeks, jowls, defined nasolabial folds, and general facial ptosis.
A SMAS facelift specifically targets these issues by lifting and tightening this underlying muscle sheath without the extensive dissection and release of the ligaments holding the SMAS layer to the underlying bone and muscle, as seen in a deep plane facelift. Some patients are better candidates for a SMAS facelift than a deep-plane facelift due to their inherent facial anatomy or history previous surgeries. Dr. Lee will discuss the best option for you to devise a facelift procedure tailored to your goals and needs.
Revision Facelift
A revision facelift is a facelift that is performed for a second or more times. There are multiple reasons why a patient may choose to undergo a revision facelift; either they are unhappy with the results of their initial surgery, or it has been years to decades since their first facelift, and they are beginning to see the return of signs of facial aging. Revision facelifts require meticulous care, as the patients requiring this secondary surgery have a layer of scar tissue from their previous surgery. Dr. Lee is well-equipped to address primary and revision/secondary facelift surgeries to address any asymmetry or recurrent facial sagging and deflation to rejuvenate the face once again.
What Adjuncts Are Commonly Used at the Time of a Facelift?
Fat Grafting With Microcannula
Facial fat grafting procedure involves re-volumizing the face with the patient’s own fat. Fat grafting is a powerful adjunct to a facelift since it replenishes and addresses the hollowing and sunken areas of the face that occur with aging due to bone and natural facial fat loss. During a fat grafting procedure, the fat is removed and is then purified through a centrifuge and injected into hollow, sunken-in areas of the face using a microcannula. The fat can be used to fill in hollow cheeks, pre-jowl sulcus, define the jawline, refine the lower and/or upper eyelid, brow area, or areas of temporal hollowing.
The microcannula makes this procedure safe, as well as artistic and nuanced. Dr. Lee is able to precisely sculpt and transform the face in a natural way by gradually adding volume in diffused increments.
Dr. Lee often recommends the addition of fat grafting to patients who are experiencing hollowness in areas of the face that need more volume to augment the areas of the face that we see during our youth. Too much of anything can be counteractive, and an aesthetic eye and appreciation of facial anatomy and beauty is important to bring your facial contours to life!
Chemical Peels and C02 Laser Resurfacing
In order to improve areas of suboptimal skin quality, Dr. Lee will discuss and recommend additional procedures as appropriate in order to optimize and reach the goals that you want! To address areas of sun damage or fine wrinkles and/or scarring from acne, Dr. Lee will generally combine chemical peels or CO2 laser resurfacing along with the facelift. Recommendations that best suit the individual needs will be discussed at the time of the consultation to tailor the procedures to the patient, with the goal of achieving the facial rejuvenation that they desire.
Neck Lift
A neck lift is a surgical procedure that aims to rejuvenate the neck and chin area by addressing the excess skin, fat, and underlying muscle called the platysma. This procedure will tighten loose muscle and skin along the chin and neck in order to correct a “turkey neck” and restore the neck contour for a smoother silhouette. This can be done as a standalone procedure or in conjunction with a facelift for a comprehensive enhancement of the lower face and neck. With Dr. Lee’s expertise, patients can achieve a more youthful and refined neckline that complements their facial rejuvenation.
Fat Grafting with Microcannula
Facial fat grafting procedure involves re-volumizing the face with the patient’s own fat. Fat grafting is a powerful adjunct to a facelift since it replenishes and addresses the hollowing and sunken areas of the face that occur with aging due to bone and natural facial fat loss. During a fat grafting procedure, the fat is removed and is then purified through a centrifuge and injected into hollow, sunken-in areas of the face using a microcannula. The fat can be used to fill in hollow cheeks, pre-jowl sulcus, define the jawline, refine the lower and/or upper eyelid, brow area, or areas of temporal hollowing.
The microcannula makes this procedure safe, as well as artistic and nuanced. Dr. Lee is able to precisely sculpt and transform the face in a natural way by gradually adding volume in diffused increments.
Dr. Lee often recommends the addition of fat grafting to patients who are experiencing hollowness in areas of the face that need more volume to augment the areas of the face that we see during our youth. Too much of anything can be counteractive, and an aesthetic eye and appreciation of facial anatomy and beauty are important to bring your facial contours to life!
Chemical Peels and C02 Laser Resurfacing
In order to improve areas of suboptimal skin quality, Dr. Lee will discuss and recommend additional procedures as appropriate in order to optimize and reach the goals that you want! To address areas of sun damage or fine wrinkles and/or scarring from acne, Dr. Lee will generally combine chemical peels or CO2 laser resurfacing along with the facelift. Recommendations that best suit the individual needs will be discussed at the time of the consultation to tailor the procedures to the patient, with the goal of achieving the facial rejuvenation that they desire.
Neck Lift
A neck lift is a surgical procedure that aims to rejuvenate the neck and chin area by addressing the excess skin, fat, and underlying muscle called the platysma. This procedure will tighten loose muscle and skin along the chin and neck in order to correct a “turkey neck” and restore the neck contour for a smoother silhouette. This can be done as a standalone procedure or in conjunction with a facelift for a comprehensive enhancement of the lower face and neck. With Dr. Lee’s expertise, patients can achieve a more youthful and refined neckline that complements their facial rejuvenation.
Why Choose Dr. Gene K. Lee for a Facelift in Beverly Hills, CA?
Dr. Gene K. Lee is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon located in Beverly Hills, CA, who specializes in face and neck aesthetic procedures. He earned his education from some of the most prestigious institutions across the country, making him uniquely qualified to perform a wide range of facial and body transformation procedures. His uncompromising dedication to patient safety and surgical success ensures that every procedure is curated and executed with the utmost precision and care.
Dr. Lee’s extensive training as both a facial and body plastic surgeon provides him with the skill and confidence to perform a myriad of aesthetic procedures for patients across the greater Los Angeles area. One of the main emphases of the practice is in performing surgeries for the aging face, including facelift surgeries. His philosophy and focus are to deliver the most powerful but natural-looking results that beautifully revitalize the patient’s inherent features.
With his warm and compassionate approach, patients appreciate the time and attention he spends listening to their individual desires and concerns. This attention to detail allows him to customize treatment plans that cater to every age group to create results that are natural but transformative.
What To Expect From a Los Angeles Facelift with Dr. Gene K. Lee?
Every facelift procedure begins with a comprehensive facial assessment performed by Dr. Lee. During this assessment, our goal is to understand the patient’s specific aesthetic desires and determine candidacy for surgery based on the patient’s goals, anatomy, and medical history. Dr. Lee places utmost importance on patient safety, and the patient’s medical history will also be explored in depth to ensure they’re a safe candidate for surgery.
Deep Plane Facelift Incisions
A deep plane facelift involves an incision that starts in the sideburn and extends behind the ears. The Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System (SMAS) muscle is released from its underlying connections to the facial skeleton to gain optimal mobility and lifted in a vertical vector to create a powerful lift. Dr. Lee will then reposition the SMAS layer and the skin upwards, addressing laxity in the cheeks, jawline, and upper neck.
SMAS Facelift Incisions
During a SMAS facelift, Dr. Lee will create an incision at the sideburns of the hairline that extends behind the ear. Then, he’ll begin lifting the skin to separate it from the underlying SMAS layer. The underlying tissues are trimmed and repositioned vertically to produce the desired results before the skin is sutured.
Any excess fat deposits and excess skin are removed to produce a beautifully smooth and youthful facial appearance. Once complete, the incisions are closed, and patients are sent to recovery.
What To Expect During Facelift Recovery?
Dr. Lee performs facelifts under various anesthesia techniques, including intravenous (IV) moderate sedation or full general anesthesia. With access to a fully accredited surgical facility, Dr. Lee is assisted by a highly skilled surgical team, including highly skilled anesthetists and nursing staff.
Both before and after surgery, Dr. Lee will provide the patients and their caretakers with a list of restrictions and detailed instructions on how to care for their incisions. On a few occasions, patients may need to have drains placed in the neck to help reduce swelling, but these would typically be removed 1-3 days after surgery.
Just like with most procedures, a time of recovery is mandatory for optimal results and to minimize the chances of complications. How long this recovery will take varies by individual and the facelift method used. In general, plan for two weeks before the resolution of most of the swelling and bruising, and to be presentable for social outings. Over the course of the first week, bruising and swelling will begin to fade. During this phase, you will be provided with medication to ease any discomfort.
Patients will be seen the very next day after surgery by Dr. Lee to make sure everything is healing as expected. You will then be seen again on day 7 for suture removal. At this time, most bruising will be faint or have resolved, but mild swelling may still be present.
After two weeks, most patients are able to return to very light activities. Between four to six weeks, patients can resume most normal activities, including exercise and attending any social functions.
Schedule Your Beverly Hills Facelift
with Dr. Gene K. Lee
Facelift surgery can effectively turn back the clock and help you look as young as you feel. To schedule a consultation, call our office (310) 876-2807 or fill out our online contact form, and a member of our staff will be happy to assist you. We look forward to meeting you soon!
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.
Beverly Hills Facelift Surgery FAQ
What is the difference between a facelift and a neck lift? Can they be done together?
A facelift and necklift surgery can be thought of as a similar procedure on different parts or compartments of the head and neck area. The goal of both of these procedures is to reposition the skin, SMAS, and/or the muscle layer to a position where it was during a time of youth. Hence, these two procedures are quite commonly performed together because the face and the neck age together over time, and not separately. So if a patient has signs of aging on both the face and the neck, then this can lead to an unfinished job and a disconnect in the adjacent anatomical units that leads to an unnatural appearance. Therefore, combining both procedures is common and can provide a harmonious, youthful appearance from the cheeks to the collarbone. Dr. Lee often recommends a combined approach for a seamless transition between the face and neck contours.
Will I look natural after a facelift?
Dr. Lee prioritizes achieving natural-looking results for all aesthetic surgeries that he does. The goal is not to change your fundamental appearance but to refresh and rejuvenate your facial features. Our individuality is what makes each and every one of us special and beautiful, but improving areas of imperfections to help bring about a more harmonious, individualistic, and natural-looking result is the overarching goal for every facelift surgery he performs. By tailoring the procedure to your specific anatomy and using meticulous techniques that address underlying structures, Dr. Lee ensures the results enhance your natural beauty without appearing overdone or “pulled.”
How long does a facelift last?
A facelift’s longevity varies depending on the individual’s skin quality, lifestyle, and the type of facelift performed. A meticulous facelift, performed on a healthy individual, can be expected to enjoy the results of a facelift for more than 10 years. It’s important to note that maintenance is key to prolonging the outcome of a facelift as long as possible, such as following a healthy skincare regimen, protecting the skin from environmental factors such as the sun, maintaining a relatively stable weight, and practicing good sleep hygiene.
How much is a facelift in Beverly Hills?
The cost of a facelift can vary widely based on the extent of the procedure and the combination of procedures a particular patient needs to achieve the desired goals. Dr. Lee’s office can provide a detailed quote during your consultation, which will include surgeon’s fees, facility costs, anesthesia, and any aftercare necessities. Facelifts are generally considered cosmetic procedures and are not covered by insurance. However, financing options are available, and our staff is happy to discuss these with you to find a plan that suits your budget.
How do I know if I'm a good candidate for a facelift?
Ideal candidates for a facelift are individuals who are in good general health, have realistic expectations, and are looking to address signs of aging, such as sagging skin, deep wrinkles, and loss of facial volume. During your consultation with Dr. Lee, he will assess your facial structure and skin quality and discuss your aesthetic goals to determine if a facelift is the right choice for you.
How should I prepare for facelift surgery?
Preparation for a facelift includes stopping certain medications that can increase bleeding, quitting smoking to improve healing, arranging for help during the initial recovery period, and following any specific instructions provided by Dr. Lee. He will provide a comprehensive list of pre-operative guidelines to ensure you are fully prepared for the procedure and recovery.
What kind of anesthesia is used during a facelift?
Dr. Lee typically performs his facelifts under IV sedation, similar to what is used during a colonoscopy. However, he also performs this operation under general anesthesia on select patients who wish to go completely under anesthesia. Dr. Lee works with a tight group of very skilled anesthetists to ensure the highest safety standards are met. For some less invasive procedures, local anesthesia with minimal sedation may be an option, which Dr. Lee will discuss with you if this is an applicable option.
What are the risks associated with facelift surgery?
As with any surgical procedure, there are inherent risks involved with a facelift. These can include bleeding, infection, scarring, nerve injury, and complications related to anesthesia. Dr. Lee takes extensive precautions to mitigate these risks and will discuss all potential complications and how they are managed during your pre-operative consultations.