How to Choose a Facelift Surgeon in Austin
Once someone decides on a facelift, they usually start by researching techniques: deep plane, SMAS, preservation, extended, mini. Then they look at quotes and realize those vary wildly too.
Here is what I tell patients at almost every consultation in my Austin office. The name of the technique matters less than the person performing it. When you choose a facelift surgeon, you’re paying for their judgment: how they read your anatomy, what they recommend and why, what they decline to do, and how they take care of you if something doesn’t go to plan.
Below are the seven questions I would bring to every consultation, including one with me, and what a good answer sounds like. These are the seven questions I’d bring to every consultation, including one with me, and what a good answer sounds like. They apply whether you’re looking for a deep plane facelift surgeon in Austin or anywhere else.
1. “Which Board Certifies You, and Is Your Practice Focused on the Face?”
“Board-certified” on its own doesn’t tell you much. Ask which board.
Facial plastic surgeons usually come from otolaryngology (head and neck surgery) or plastic surgery training. The American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) certifies surgeons who already hold a primary board certification and then pass a two-day exam and a peer review of their facial surgery cases (ABFPRS). Some “cosmetic surgery” boards have different training requirements, and the ABFPRS itself suggests simply asking a surgeon what their credential means.
I’m double board-certified, including Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and my practice is limited to the face. I completed a facial plastic and reconstructive surgery fellowship at Boston University, then trained further in deep plane and preservation techniques with Dr. Mike Nayak and Dr. Neil Gordon.
2. “How Many Facelifts Do You Perform, and How Much of Your Practice Is the Face?”
Board certification shows a surgeon has been trained. It doesn’t tell you how often they perform your specific procedure. The ABFPRS recommends asking that directly (ABFPRS). A deep plane facelift is technically demanding, and consistent results come from doing it routinely.
A good answer is specific and given without hesitation. It should also come with photos of the surgeon’s own patients, which is where the next questions come in. Because my practice is limited to the face, facelifts and related procedures like neck lifts and eyelid surgery are the core of what I do every week.
3. “Which Technique Do You Recommend for My Face, and Why?”
This question reveals more about a surgeon’s judgment than any other.
Briefly, the main techniques are:
- SMAS facelift. The skin is lifted off the deeper SMAS layer, and the SMAS is tightened separately, either by folding it (plication) or by trimming and overlapping it (imbrication).
- Deep plane facelift. The key retaining ligaments are released, and the skin, fat and SMAS are moved together as one unit. That lets me lift the cheek and jawline with less tension on the skin.
- Preservation deep plane facelift. This is my approach. It’s a deep plane lift that keeps more of the natural connection between the skin and the deeper layer intact. I explain it in What Is a Preservation Deep Plane Facelift?
I use deep plane techniques in my own practice because I believe they reposition the face more naturally and durably. Even so, a well-done SMAS facelift can look better than a poorly done deep plane facelift, and the right choice depends on your anatomy. I compare the two in Deep Plane vs SMAS Facelift.
A good answer to this question sounds specific to you, covering your midface, your jawline, your neck and your skin. Be wary of a surgeon who recommends the same operation to everyone, whatever it’s called.
4. “Can I See Results at 6 to 12 Months on Patients Like Me?”
Photos taken two weeks after surgery mostly show swelling. Ask for results after the tissues have settled, ideally on patients whose age, skin and starting anatomy resemble yours, from several angles. Professional societies recommend reviewing before-and-after photos and asking what results are realistic for you (ASPS; The Aesthetic Society).
Look closely at the side of the face, in front of the ear, and at the earlobe. A natural result looks rested. You shouldn’t see a pulled or windswept look.
The ABFPRS has a tip I love. Ask your hairdresser. They see the scars (ABFPRS).
You can see my own patients in the Facelift Before and After Gallery.
5. “Where Is Surgery Performed, and Who Provides Anesthesia?”
Ask whether the facility is accredited and who will be giving your anesthesia (ASPS). These are basic safety questions, and any surgeon should be happy to answer them.
I operate at Pinnacle Surgery Center of Austin and Sharp Surgery Center. Both are fully accredited and licensed with the State of Texas. My anesthesia is provided by Celebrity Anesthesia, a team of certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) I’ve worked with for years. Working with the same people again and again matters to me, because everyone in the room knows how I work.
6. “What Does Your Quote Include?”
Two quotes can look very different simply because they cover different things. Ask whether the price includes:
- The surgeon’s fee
- The facility fee
- Anesthesia
- Post-op visits, and how many
- Supplies and medications
- Nursing care after surgery
- Your surgeon’s revision policy
My quotes include the surgical, facility, and anesthesia fees, plus any products you’ll need. Surgery pricing also includes a recovery box with all the supplies you’ll need to clean your incisions. For facelifts, the quote includes 24 hours of private nursing care from Kalon Concierge after surgery.
The same question helps when you’re comparing a Texas quote with one from another state or country. Factor in travel, how long you’ll need to stay, and who will see you for follow-up care once you’re home. Some patients have very good experiences traveling for surgery. Compare the full plan, including follow-up care, before you compare the totals.
For patients who travel to me, I go over the logistics in Traveling for a Deep Plane Facelift in Austin. Consultations and follow-up visits are at my office in southwest Austin, toward Dripping Springs, and surgery happens at one of two accredited surgery centers in Austin.
7. “How Do You Handle Complications, and What If I’m Not Happy?”
Every surgeon has complications at some point, and the best ones plan for that. Ask how complications are handled, who you call after hours, and what your options are if you’re unhappy with the result (ASPS). You can also look up any surgeon with the Texas Medical Board, which the ABFPRS suggests as part of your homework (ABFPRS).
The risks of a deep plane facelift include bleeding, infection, scarring, nerve weakness and temporary numbness. I review each of them in Potential Facelift Complications.
When patients have a concern after surgery, I want them to reach us easily. My patients have an emergency line that comes straight to me. For everyday questions, they can text my team through the Symplast app, which keeps those messages HIPAA-compliant. Whoever you choose, ask how you’d reach them at 10 PM on a Saturday. A clear answer tells you a lot about how a practice takes care of its patients.
Common Myths About Choosing a Facelift Surgeon
“The most expensive or most famous surgeon is the best.” Price and follower count don’t tell you whether a surgeon’s style and judgment fit your face.
“Deep plane is always better.” I prefer it for most of my patients. The right technique still depends on anatomy.
“Board-certified means face-specialized.” Not necessarily. Ask which board, and how much of the practice is the face.
“A lower quote is the same surgery.” Sometimes it is. Often the quote covers less. Compare everything included.
How Long Will My Results Last?
Patients ask this at nearly every consultation. No facelift stops aging. It resets the clock, and you keep aging from a better starting point. Many patients choose a second, smaller facelift 10 to 15 years later. A 2026 single-surgeon study tracked how long deep plane patients waited before returning for a second lift, and I wrote about it in How Long Does a Deep Plane Facelift Last?
FAQ
What should I ask at a facelift consultation?
Ask about board certification, how often the surgeon performs facelifts, which technique they recommend for you and why, healed results on patients like you, where surgery is done and who gives anesthesia, what the quote includes, and how complications are handled.
Is a facial plastic surgeon different from a plastic surgeon?
Both can be well-trained facelift surgeons. Facial plastic surgeons focus their training and practice on the face and neck. Ask any surgeon which board certifies them and how much of their practice is facial surgery.
Where are facelift consultations and surgery done?
I see patients for consultations and follow-up visits at my office at 13341 W. US Hwy 290, Building 8, in southwest Austin. Surgery is performed at Pinnacle Surgery Center of Austin or Sharp Surgery Center, both fully accredited and licensed with the State of Texas.
In the end, the right facelift surgeon is the one whose judgment you trust after they’ve examined your face, answered these questions plainly, and told you what they wouldn’t do as well as what they would. Bring this list to every consultation, including one with me. When you’re ready, book a deep plane facelift consultation in Austin and we’ll go through each question together.
You May Also Like:
- Deep Plane vs SMAS Facelift: What’s the Difference?
- What Is a Preservation Deep Plane Facelift?
- How Long Does a Deep Plane Facelift Last?
- Traveling for a Deep Plane Facelift in Austin
- Deep Plane Facelift Before and After Gallery
References
- American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Patient FAQs.
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons. What questions should I ask my plastic surgeon about facelift surgery?
- The Aesthetic Society. Facelift: selecting a surgeon.
- American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Facelift.
- Levin M, Frankel A. Thirty years of deep plane facelifts: characterizing outcomes and longevity. Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med. 2026.
This article is for general education and isn’t a substitute for a personal medical evaluation.
