With more than 26 years behind me, I’ve learned that the best results come from pairing meticulous surgical technique with transparent patient education. I’ve built my approach around the principles that matter most to patients; skill, experience, honesty, and trust, which is exactly what this quick guide is designed to reflect. That philosophy comes to life in every step of the surgical journey. Below is a breakdown of what you can expect, designed to be transparent, data-backed, and rooted in nearly three decades of facial surgery experience.
1. A Consultation Grounded in Evidence
During your first visit, I photograph and analyze facial proportions and analyze them to help design an approach best suited for each individual. Together we set realistic goals, tightening jowls, refining the jawline, restoring mid-face volume, based on peer-reviewed data and over nearly three decades of my own results.
2. Safety-First Surgery Day
All procedures occur in my AAAHC-accredited Vista, CA operating suite, staffed by board-certified anesthesiologists. Decades of complication-tracking inform every protocol, from pre-op labs to infection-control checklists that meet the highest standards. Patients can choose between General Anesthesia or IV sedation which studies show speeds recovery without compromising comfort.
3. The Deep-Plane Difference
Old-school “skin-only” lifts gave facelifts their bad reputation. My preferred deep-plane and at times combined with extended SMAS approach re-suspends the muscular layer that truly sags with age. By lifting the SMAS and ligaments, tension is absorbed deep inside, not on the skin, so results look authentic and last 8-12 years. My experience as a volunteer Surgeon at UCSD anatomy over the last 20 years has continued to expand my knowledge and expertise in the facial anatomy.
4. Precision Closure & Immediate Care
Excess skin is re-draped along natural hairline curves and anchored with absorbable sutures to reduce hypertrophic scars. Tiny drains and a custom compression garment minimize swelling. Nearly all patients head home the same day with a 24/7 direct-text line to myself, trust-building protocol that has helped us avoid complications.
5. Recovery Milestones
- Days 1–3: Peak swelling/bruising; prescription analgesics keep discomfort to a minimum.
- Day 7–10: Sutures out; most patients feel comfortable attending casual social events.
- Week 3–6: Residual puffiness resolves; numbness fades.
- Month 3–6: Scars mature; final contours emerge.
6. Long-Term Partnership
Any surgical procedure at our office starts a partnership between us and our patient that lasts for years. Once healed we continue to follow are patients for years and we stay only a phone call away.
About the Author
Dr. Amir Moradi is a double-board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, adjunct clinical professor, and principal investigator in FDA trials. Being selected as Top Facial Plastic Surgeon on multiple platforms, he lectures globally on deep-plane facelift anatomy and other facial plastic surgery procedures.
Key Takeaway
A modern facelift is a marriage of surgical artistry and evidence-based medicine. When performed by a credentialed expert who audits outcomes and prioritizes patient trust, the procedure delivers natural rejuvenation safely, predictably, and for the long run.
