Kristina Tansavatdi, MD | Facelift Expert

She Thought 49 Was Too Young for a Facelift. 👀✨

When Rita came to see me, she was approaching her 50th birthday and wondering if she was doing this too early.

She told me she felt vibrant, confident, and full of energy. But each morning, when she looked in the mirror, she saw a face that looked more tired than she felt. The changes that bothered her most were her neck, laxity in the lower face and undereye bags.

She even brought photographs from her mid 30s and the last decade, pointing to the jawline she remembered having. She wanted to recognize that part of herself again as she entered a new decade.

But she was also worried about the stigma. She associated facelifts with much older patients. Was 49 really an appropriate age?

I don’t make that decision based on a birthday. I look at the anatomy, what has changed in the face, how much loose skin is present, and which approach can best address those changes while preserving a natural appearance.

Here’s what she underwent:

✔️ Endoscopic Deep Plane Facelift
✔️ Endoscopic Midface Lift
✔️ Deep Neck Lift
✔️ Deep Neck Contouring
✔️ Submandibular Gland Reduction
✔️ Lower Blepharoplasty with Fat Transposition

🧠 An endoscopic facelift can be appropriate when deeper tissues need repositioning but there isn’t a lot of excess skin. That doesn’t make it the right choice for everyone in their 40s or 50s. The anatomy and the patient’s goals matter more than age alone.

What I remember most about Rita’s story is that she wasn’t asking to become someone different. She wanted the face she saw to feel more like the person she already knew herself to be.

Thank you, Rita, for sharing your beautiful journey. ❤️

📍 Book your consultation with Dr. Tansavatdi today:

📞 805-243-0640
📩 info@facesbydrt.com
📲 DM/Comment for Cost and Candidacy Info
📺 YT: @faceliftexpert
📍 2835 Townsgate Rd, Suite 100, Westlake Village, CA 91361

Individual results and experience may vary.

#facelift #deepplanefacelift #necklift #endoscopicfacelift #blepharoplasty

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1 week ago | [YT] | 308

Kristina Tansavatdi, MD | Facelift Expert

What Does a Facelift Look Like From 2 Weeks to 1 Year? ✨
Kendall is now 1 year out from her Deep Plane Facelift, and her recovery shows why the result you see early on is not the result you should judge long-term.

At 47, Kendall came to me with heaviness through her lower face and neck. She had tried fillers, but they added bulk without addressing the underlying laxity.

Here’s what she underwent:

✔️ Deep Plane Facelift
✔️ Deep Neck Lift
✔️ Deep Neck Contouring
✔️ Endoscopic Brow Lift
✔️ Facial Fat Transfer
✔️ Lobuloplasty

🗓 2 Weeks: Early healing. Swelling is expected, and the face can look fuller or tighter than it eventually will.

🗓 1 Month: Much of the initial swelling has improved, but the tissues are still settling. The result is easier to see, but far from finished.

🗓 3 Months: The face and neck continue to soften, and more of the underlying shape becomes visible as swelling decreases.

🗓 1 Year: Swelling has resolved, the tissues have softened, and the facelift has had time to settle.

🧠 Facelift recovery is not a straight line. You can look very different at 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 1 year because deeper tissues continue healing long after you feel back to normal.

If you’ve had a history of filler use, this could contribute to more and/or prolonged swelling.

A facelift also does not stop the aging process. After surgery, I still recommend maintenance with good skincare routine such as microneedling, IPL, lasers, and neuromodulators like Botox, as well as adding conservative volume when appropriate.

Surgery restores what has changed; maintenance helps care for the result as you continue to age.

Thank you, Kendall, for allowing others to follow your recovery all the way to one year. ❤️

📍 Book your consultation with Dr. Tansavatdi today:

📞 805-243-0640
📩 info@facesbydrt.com
📲 DM/Comment for Cost and Candidacy Info
📺 YT: @faceliftexpert
📍 2835 Townsgate Rd, Suite 100, Westlake Village, CA 91361

Individual results and experience may vary.

#facelift #browlift #blepharoplasty #deepplanefacelift #facialplasticsurgery

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4 weeks ago | [YT] | 813

Kristina Tansavatdi, MD | Facelift Expert

✨Why Facelift Surgery Begins Before the First Incision✨

Most patients see the consultation, the day of surgery, and the recovery.

What they do not see is how much of the operation has already begun before I ever enter the operating room.

Before every surgery, I review the patient in front of me, not simply the name of the procedure we are performing.

I study her anatomy, photographs, existing asymmetries, prior treatments, and the procedures we are planning together.

That review shapes the surgical plan.

And the plan shapes the room.

The instruments, equipment, positioning, and sequence of the operation should reflect the exact surgery we are preparing to perform.

My team also needs to understand that plan clearly.

We know our roles.

We communicate consistently.

We anticipate what may be needed next.

That preparation reduces avoidable distractions once surgery begins and allows us to remain focused on the patient in front of us.

A calm operating room is rarely accidental.

It is usually the result of decisions and communication that happened long before the patient arrived.

Many of these details are invisible to the patient, but they support the safety, comfort, and attention surrounding her care.

Preparation creates a more deliberate surgical environment where the surrounding details support the work being performed.

Preparation is not separate from the surgery.

It is part of the surgery.

📍 Book your consultation with Dr. Tansavatdi today:

📞 805-243-0640
📩 info@facesbydrt.com
📲 DM/Comment for Cost and Candidacy Info
📺 YT: @faceliftexpert
📍 2835 Townsgate Rd, Suite 100, Westlake Village, CA 91361

Individual results and experience may vary.

#deepplanefacelift #endoscopicfacelift #facialplasticsurgery #blepharoplasty #facialrejuvenation

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3 months ago | [YT] | 11

Kristina Tansavatdi, MD | Facelift Expert

He Lost 80 Pounds! So Why Did His Neck Look Worse??

This patient of mine in his mid 40s had a neck wattle he wanted to address. He always noticed that a double chin and neck wattle runs in his family. As his weight came off, the excess loose skin became even more prominent and his face sagged even more. He regularly found himself resting his chin on his knuckles or buttoning his shirts higher to cover the area.

When he came in, he wanted his appearance to reflect the work he had already put into his health.

This was not simply a matter of removing skin with an isolated neck lift. The deeper tissues have descended from the upper face - from the cheeks to the jawline, and neck, so these areas needed to be treated as one connected facial unit. The plan also had to address the deeper neck structure contributing to the fullness.

Here’s what he underwent:
✔️ Extended Deep Plane Facelift
✔️ Deep Neck Lift + Deep Neck Contouring
✔️ Endoscopic Midface Lift
✔️ Lower Blepharoplasty with Fat Transposition

🧠 EDUCATION MOMENT
After major weight loss, a double chin or neck wattle may become more noticeable because the loose skin does not always contract around the smaller facial volume. Surface fat may be only one part of the problem. Loose skin, weakened or separated neck muscles, deeper fat, prominent submandibular glands, and lower-face descent can all affect the final contour.

This is also why a neck lift alone is not be enough. When the cheeks, jawline, and neck have changed together, a balanced and natural result requires treating the face and neck together.


📍 Book your consultation with Dr. Tansavatdi today:

📞 805-243-0640
📩 info@facesbydrt.com
📲 DM/Comment for Cost and Candidacy Info
📺 YT: @faceliftexpert
📍 2835 Townsgate Rd, Suite 100, Westlake Village, CA 91361

Individual results and experience may vary.

#facelift #deepplanefacelift #necklift #browlift #blepharoplasty #facialplasticsurgery #facialrejuvenation

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3 months ago | [YT] | 8

Kristina Tansavatdi, MD | Facelift Expert

✨ 3 Ways to Improve Neck Skin ✨

When patients tell me they’re bothered by loose neck skin, the first thing I assess is why it’s happening.

Is it muscle?
Is it thinning skin?
Is it collagen loss?

Because improving the skin in the neck isn’t one-size-fits-all. Here are three non-surgical options that target different causes of neck aging.

1️⃣ Botox (The Nefertiti Lift)

As we age, the platysma muscle separates into vertical bands. When it contracts, it pulls downward on the jawline.

Strategic Botox (neuromodulator) relaxes that downward pull, softening neck bands.

Best for:
• Early neck banding
• Pre + post-surgical maintenance

Results typically last 3 to 4 months.

2️⃣ Microneedling

Neck skin is thinner and more prone to crepey texture than facial skin.

Microneedling creates controlled micro-injuries in the skin, stimulating collagen and elastin production.

Best for:

• Early maintenance of the skin before and after surgery

Treatment plan: 3 to 6 sessions spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart.

3️⃣ Sofwave

Sofwave uses ultrasound energy stimulating collagen without breaking the skin. Like any treatments, choose your provider wisely.

Best for:

• Most skin types

• Patients wanting collagen stimulation without downtime

Results build gradually over 12+ weeks, with annual maintenance.

🧠 Neck aging happens at multiple levels - muscle, skin thickness, and collagen support. The most effective treatment depends on what is actually causing the laxity. Sometimes, a combination of treatments is needed. Early changes can often be managed non-surgically. More laxity may require structural surgical correction.

Every neck ages differently. The key is understanding the cause before choosing the treatment.

📍 Book your consultation
📞 805-243-0640
📩 info@facesbydrt.com
📲 DM/Comment for Cost and Candidacy Info
📺 YT: @faceliftexpert
📍 2835 Townsgate Rd, Suite 100, Westlake Village, CA 91361

Individual results and experience may vary. This is for information purposes only. Consult with your provider on what is best for you.

#microneedling #botox #facialrejuvenation #deepplanefacelift #plasticsurgery

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8 months ago | [YT] | 7

Kristina Tansavatdi, MD | Facelift Expert

✨ Deep Plane Facelift at 47 - Kendall’s Journey 🔥



One of the most common questions I hear is, “Am I too early to have a facelift?”

Kendall’s case is a great example of why age alone isn’t the deciding factor. This is her 3.5 month update.



Kendall came in feeling that her lower face and neck looked heavier and more tired than she felt. She had tried fillers, but instead of lifting, they added bulk, especially through the lower face.



When I evaluate patients, I focus on tissue quality, structure, and laxity. In Kendall’s case, the amount of laxity present meant that fillers, skin tightening devices, or RF treatments could not address her concerns in a lasting way and with noticeable but natural outcome.



Here’s what she underwent:
✅ Deep Plane Facelift
✅ Deep Neck Lift
✅ Deep Neck Contouring
✅ Endoscopic Brow Lift
✅ Facial Fat Transfer
✅ Lobuloplasty



🧠 Some patients in their 30s and 40s benefit from surgery earlier than expected. The most common reasons are significant weight loss, inherited structural features, or genetic factors that are more than just about age. In some of these cases, surgery restores structure in a way non-surgical treatments cannot. I do recommend skincare maintenance and Botox (neuromodulator) treatments after surgery.



Thank you, Kendall, for trusting me and for allowing others to learn through your story. You look stunning!❤️



➡️ Follow her journey in my Highlights and Stories.



📍 Book your consultation with Dr. Tansavatdi today:
📞 805-243-0640
📩 info@facesbydrt.com
📲 DM/Comment for Cost and Candidacy Info
📺 YT: @faceliftexpert
📍 2835 Townsgate Rd, Suite 100, Westlake Village, CA 91361



Individual results and experience may vary.



#facelift #deepplanefacelift #necklift #facialrejuvenation #plasticsurgery

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9 months ago | [YT] | 94

Kristina Tansavatdi, MD | Facelift Expert

Heather’s Deep Plane Facelift Journey at 56 🔥



Heather came to see me with concerns focused on her lower face and neck. She was originally interested in a mini facelift because she was understandably worried about recovery and the overall process. She was open to my recommendations once we talked through her goals.


During her consultation, we spent time looking at what was truly causing her concerns. Heather had tried many non-surgical treatments and realized she was putting temporary solutions on a deeper structural issue. The laxity in her lower face and neck involved deeper tissues, and a mini lift would not have given her the outcome she was hoping for.


Heather is now 6 months post-op:
✅ Deep Plane Facelift
✅ Deep Neck Lift
✅ Upper Blepharoplasty
✅ Facial Fat Transfer
✅ CO₂ Laser Resurfacing
✅ Removal of Threads


Before surgery, Heather had tried so many non-surgical treatments - MyEllevate, thread lifts, FaceTite, Ultherapy, fillers, and Morpheus8 RF microneedling and Sofwave.


Her permanent sutures from her prior MyEllevate procedure had tethered the platysma muscle in unnatural positions, which worsened her jowling. During surgery, I carefully removed those sutures so the deeper tissues could be lifted correctly.


🧠 Thread lifts may offer temporary tightening, but they do not correct deeper laxity in the face and neck. In some cases, permanent threads can distort natural contours and complicate future surgery. Removing them is meticulous but essential for achieving a smooth, natural result.


Heather, you are beautiful from the start and you’re simply glowing even more today!

Thank you for being so open so others can learn from your experience. ❤️

➡️ Follow her journey in my Highlights and Stories.

📍 Book your consultation with Dr. Tansavatdi today:
📞 805-243-0640
📩 info@facesbydrt.com
📲 DM/Comment for Cost and Candidacy Info
📺 YT: @faceliftexpert
📍 2835 Townsgate Rd, Suite 100, Westlake Village, CA 91361


Individual results and experience may vary.


#facelift #deepplanefacelift #necklift #facialplasticsurgery #facialrejuvenation #blepharoplasty #fattransfer

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10 months ago | [YT] | 55

Kristina Tansavatdi, MD | Facelift Expert

2.5 Months After Facelift 🔥 - Incisions and the Real Downtime Timeline



This beautiful patient wanted to restore balance to her lower face and neck while softening the fine lines and aging signs around her mouth. She also felt that her upper lip had lengthened over time and that she’d lost the natural volume that once framed her smile.



To address this, I performed a deep plane facelift and deep neck lift to lift and redefine her jawline and address the loose skin and laxity in her neck. I also combined a subnasal lip lift and corner lip lift to shorten and elevate the upper lip naturally, along with lip augmentation using mastoid fascia graft (taken from behind the ear), facial fat transfer, dermabrasion to the lip border, and CO2 laser resurfacing to improve her skin quality and texture.



At 2.5 months, her swelling has softened beautifully, and her results are starting to settle into place. Her neckline is smoother, her lower face is lifted, and the lip area has a more balanced proportion again - youthful but age-appropriate look! Her incisions healed well.



🧠 Understanding Facelift Downtime
Facelift recovery happens in stages — and patience is key:
✅ Weeks 1–2: You’re swollen and bruised, but healing is active.
✅ Weeks 3–4: Swelling starts to come down, the two sides of the face don’t heal at the same rate.
✅ Weeks 6–8: Most patients feel presentable — comfortable going out, seeing friends, and resuming normal activities.
✅ 3 Months and Beyond: You look refreshed and natural, though subtle refinements continue over the first year as tissues fully settle.



At 2.5 months, this patient is right in that transformation window — confident, radiant, and glowing as her final definition continues to refine.

I am so ecstatic for her amazing transformation and grateful for her sharing! ❤️



📍 Book your consultation with Dr. Tansavatdi today:
📞 805-243-0640
📩 info@facesbydrt.com
📲 DM us anytime
📺 YT: @faceliftexpert
📍 2835 Townsgate Rd, Suite 100, Westlake Village, CA 91361
.
Individual results and experience may vary.
.
#deepplanefacelift #necklift #liplift #facialfattransfer #facialplasticsurgery #facelift #facialrejuvenation #co2laser #lipaugmentation

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11 months ago | [YT] | 31

Kristina Tansavatdi, MD | Facelift Expert

✨ When Will I Look “Normal” Again After a Facelift? ✨



One of the most common questions I get is: “When will I be socially presentable?” 👀


The truth is recovery happens in phases, not all at once. Every week brings subtle changes that add up to your final result. Here’s the realistic timeline I share with my facelift patients:


🗓 Week 1: You’re swollen, bruised, and resting — but it’s expected. The best thing you can do is stay patient and follow recovery instructions closely.


🗓 Week 2: Swelling starts to come down, but things may look uneven or “off.” This is normal as different sides heal at different speeds.


🗓 Week 3: Many patients start to feel discouraged here. The big, daily changes slow down — but healing is still happening beneath the surface.


🗓 Week 4: You start recognizing your face again. Most patients feel comfortable seeing close friends or going out for a quiet dinner.


🗓 Weeks 5–6: The swelling continues to soften, expressions look more natural, and you begin to feel like yourself again.


Full recovery — including all internal healing — takes about a year, but most patients feel confident in public by 6 to 8 weeks.


If you also had fat transfer, CO2 laser, or a brow lift, expect slightly longer healing - closer to 8 to 10 weeks because those add more swelling.


Remember: Healing is a gradual process. Be patient with yourself. Each phase brings you closer to your refreshed, natural result. 💕



➡️ Follow Heather’s Journey under my IG Highlights.

📍 Book your consultation with Dr. Tansavatdi today:
📞 805-243-0640
📩 info@facesbydrt.com
📲 DM us anytime
📺 YT: @faceliftexpert
📍 2835 Townsgate Rd, Suite 100, Westlake Village, CA 91361
.
Individual results and experience may vary.

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 year ago | [YT] | 20

Kristina Tansavatdi, MD | Facelift Expert

✨A Difficult Facelift Case - And Why It Was Worth It ✨
Kim was 58 when she came to see me. She’s active and healthy. 5 years ago, her face and neck started changing fast—jowling, loose skin, hollowing. That’s when the spiral began.
She was told non-surgical treatments would be the solution. She tried everything:

💉 HA Fillers
⚡ Morpheus8
⚡ Ultherapy
💥 CO2 laser
💥 Fraxel
💥 IPL

Nothing worked. And worse, they layered damage.

By the time she came to me, Kim had:
– 8 years of Filler fatigue
– Morpheus8 which likely melted precious fat under the skin
– Ultherapy treatments which layered more scarring in the deeper plane where I needed to perform the lift
– Dozens of squamous cell carcinomas removed from the face and body
– Aggressive lasers on fragile, Irish skin

Her face had lost structural integrity. Skin was sun-damaged and scarred. Filler had masked the problem—then it was overdone and migrated.

To fix this, we had to start over from zero.

✅ Step 1: Dissolve her filler
– Lips, cheeks, jawline, oral commissures
– I couldn’t lift or restore until the distortions were gone

✅ Step 2: Rebuild
✔️ Deep Plane Facelift & Neck Lift
✔️ Temporal Brow Lift
✔️ Fat Transfer to cheeks, eyes, temples
✔️ Subnasal + Corner Lip Lift
✔️ Lip Augmentation using her own graft taken from behind the ears
✔️ Upper Blepharoplasty

Why this worked:
🧠 I rebuilt for structure first, not volume.
💉 I replaced her HA filler with natural fat.
⚠️ I respected the limits of her skin.

She now looks natural. Rested. Like herself again. No distortion, no heaviness.

This isn’t just a facelift. It’s a reversal of years of compounding mistakes - treatments that weren’t addressing the structural issue.

Non-surgical treatments have a place, but only when used at the right time, on the right face, at the right place, and for the right reason.

👩‍⚕️ My role is not just to lift, it’s to reset.
Some patients need more than just a facelift.
They need a clean slate.

⸻
📍 Book your consultation
📞 805-243-0640
📩 info@facesbydrt.com
📲 DM us anytime
📺 YT: @faceliftexpert for educational videos
📍 2835 Townsgate Rd, Suite 100, Westlake Village, CA 91361
.

#deepplanefacelift #necklift #facialplasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #facialrejuvenation #facelift #fattransfer #blepharoplasty #filler

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1 year ago | [YT] | 22