Every surgical consultation involves a silent calculation of risk. In a city where first impressions are everything, the stakes of facelift surgery are naturally high. Clinical excellence in this environment is defined by the ability to safely and precisely provide results that look balanced and natural. High-end facial rejuvenation is an exercise in structural engineering as much as it is an art form, requiring a surgeon to look beyond the skin and into the foundational layers of the face.
At the Plastic Surgery Institute, we don’t look at facelift risks as just a list of possibilities we hope to avoid. We see them as biological factors that we can manage with the right plan. Dr. Ordon and Dr. Chopra approach every surgical procedure with a focus on patient safety, ensuring that your recovery process is as predictable and calm as possible. When you understand the "why" behind our safety protocols, the idea of surgery feels less like a leap of faith and more like a well-guided step forward.
The most common question we hear involves the nerves in the face. These are the tiny, delicate "wires" that allow you to smile, blink, and express yourself. In many older facelift procedures, surgeons focused on pulling the skin, which can put a lot of stress on these areas. This tension is often what leads to an accidental nerve injury or that pulled look that many patients fear.
To minimize risks, we prefer the Deep Plane Facelift. Instead of pulling on the surface, this technique allows us to work in a deeper, safer space beneath the muscle. By lifting the facial tissues as one solid piece, we stay far away from the danger zones where a facial nerve injury is most likely to happen.
This is how we make sure your face moves naturally, because we’re respecting the features that makes you you. This kind of facial rejuvenation is about looking refreshed, not like a different person. When the structural layers are handled with extensive expertise, the skin simply follows along, resting in a position that feels comfortable and looks authentic.
For your body to heal correctly, it needs a steady supply of oxygen. This comes from your blood flow. If the blood supply to the surgical area is interrupted, it can lead to poor wound healing or, in rare cases, skin necrosis (where the skin doesn't get enough nutrients to survive). Ensuring healthy circulation is the single most important factor in a smooth recovery.
We take a deep dive into your medical history before you ever step into the OR. We look for medical conditions that might affect healing, such as high blood pressure or health issues like poorly controlled diabetes. Both can make blood vessels a little more fragile. To keep everything running smoothly, we have a few "must-dos" that act as the foundation for your safety:
A great facelift should be invisible. You want people to ask if you’ve been on vacation, not who your surgeon was. This means placing incision lines in discreet locations, usually tucked into the natural folds of the ear or hidden within the hair.
One thing people worry about is permanent hair loss around the temples or behind the ears. To prevent this, our surgeons use a "beveled" cut. Instead of cutting straight across the hair follicles, we angle the blade to follow the direction the hair grows. This protects the roots so that hair grows right back through the scar.
By taking this extra time, we ensure that hair loss isn't a side effect of your rejuvenation. We want you to be able to wear your hair up or move freely without worrying about visible incision sites. It’s these small, technical details that separate a standard result from one that feels truly premium.
The surgery itself is only one part of the equation. Who is in the room with your plastic surgeon matters just as much as the surgeon themselves. At our institute, we utilize board-certified anesthesiologists to manage your comfort. Having a physician-led team means that your vitals are monitored with a level of precision that you won't always find in smaller, high-volume clinics.
This team approach helps us manage potential risks in real-time. By keeping you in a perfectly controlled state of relaxation, we ensure that your blood vessels remain stable, which directly impacts how much excessive swelling you experience after you wake up. A gentle emergence from anesthesia leads to a much more comfortable recovery process.
The initial recovery is the most important part of the timeline. We believe in early detection. If something feels off, we want to know about it right away. While more serious complications are rare, they are much easier to handle when treated early.
This is why we give our patients immediate access to our team. We’ll remind you to keep your head elevated to help with excessive swelling and ensure you’re following your post-operative instructions to the letter. You’ll have regular follow up appointments starting the very next day. These simple check-ins are a great way for us to make sure you’re on the path to a smooth recovery.
During these follow-up appointments, we look at everything from the color of the skin to the way the incision lines are beginning to knit together. If we see anything that needs attention, we provide prompt treatment on the spot. This level of oversight is why most of our patients find the process much easier than they originally anticipated.
Once you’re over the initial hump of the recovery process, the focus shifts to longevity. How you treat your skin in the weeks following plastic surgery will affect healing and the final look of your scars.
There are a lot of cosmetic procedures out there, but a facelift is one of the most complex. It requires extensive training and extensive experience to get it right. Most surgeons can pull skin, but an experienced plastic surgeon understands how to balance the deep structures of the face to avoid common complications and achieve facelift results that last for a decade or more.
At the Plastic Surgery Institute, we’ve seen how previous surgeries or specific medical conditions can change the way a person heals. Our extensive expertise allows us to customize the approach for every individual. We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all surgical procedure. Instead, we build a plan that accounts for your specific anatomy, your health history, and your goals.
We treat every surgery as a partnership. We provide the extensive experience, and you provide the medical history and commitment to the aftercare. Together, we make sure your journey is defined by safety, transparency, and a result that you are proud to show the world.
If you’ve been researching facelift complications or feel overwhelmed by the risks involved, we’re here to clear the air. Safety isn't just a protocol for us; it’s how we ensure you love what you see in the mirror.
No matter what brought you here, a visit with our doctors will bring out the best in you. Call us today to schedule your initial consultation, either in person or online.
465 North Roxbury Drive, Suite 1007, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Hours of Operation
Mon-Fri: 9am – 5pm
Closed Weekends
