What Does A Natural Facelift Look Like?

We often have patients tell us they’re interested in facelift surgery, but they’re worried they’ll look overdone or unrecognizable. This is a valid concern, especially when looking back at the history of this delicate procedure.

Board-certified plastic surgeon and facelift surgery expert Dr. Michelle Sieffert highlights what reads as “natural” to both surgeons and patients, how the procedure has improved in recent years, the pitfalls that once gave facelifts a bad reputation and the questions to ask so you can move forward with confidence.

What Do We Mean By “Natural” Looking?

You still look like you. Hairlines and earlobes are preserved, scars are discreet and the skin looks healthier — not pulled or “tight.” A natural result elevates your existing structure, reduces distractions (jowls, neck bands), establishes balance after volume loss and restores contours. This allows you to appear refreshed and well-rested, while avoiding looking “tight” while smiling and expressing yourself.

“A good result is one that helps you to live a life that’s unburdened by worrying about what you look like. You feel great. You look great. You just worry less. You can go about your life & focus on the other things that are more important to you.”

-Dr. Sieffert

How Does a Surgeon Achieve a Good Facelift Result?

Vector Harmony

Facial lift vectors trend upward, while neck refinement trends backward. Planning those vectors together sharpens the jawline without distorting features. In some circumstances, improvements from the facelift alone can eliminate the need for neck lift surgery.

“I have turned patients away from neck lift surgery before & redirect them to a facelift. I like to tell them that a really good facelift is actually the best neck lift.”

-Dr. Michelle Sieffert

Why Surgeons Have Moved Away from Performing Standalone Neck Lifts

Addressing platysma bands and excess neck volume at the same time as cosmetic facial concerns keeps the face-neck transition cohesive, which helps to avoid a rejuvenated face and sleek jawline with a loose neck.

Some non-surgical techniques (like Morpheus8) can be employed for patients with mild laxity in the neck.

“I’ve experienced a paradigm shift in how I think about face & neck lifting. I used to do an independent neck lift more often. On the whole, I wasn’t always satisfied with the results. My patients liked what they saw, but it didn’t look as fabulous as I felt it could. That changed when I began incorporating the deep plane facelift with deep plane neck lifting.”

-Dr. Sieffert

Preparing Patients For Great Results

“At least 50 grams of protein a day a week before & through the healing process will help quite a lot. And if you’re not going to do anything else in preparation, please just make sure you’re using your retinol at night & vitamin C in the morning.”

– Dr. Sieffert

Results Evolve & Timeline Matters

Early swelling, firmness and temporary tightness soften over weeks while refinements continue for months. It is important to judge what looks “natural” at the right milestones, not day-7 selfies.

• 6 Weeks: strong “natural” checkpoint to ensure expressions look “easy” and the incisions are visible, but in hidden spaces.
• 3 Months: The patient is camera-ready in most lights as the contours are defined without the “fresh surgical” look
• 6 Months: Small asymmetries have normalized, and scars become flatter.
• 12 Months: This is the most ideal time to gauge results, as scars have fully matured and all tissue has settled.

Note: We advise patients to avoid comparing themselves to various online before-and-afters, as they can set unrealistic expectations. We purposefully do not publish a public gallery; instead, we share case photos tailored to your features & goals. We also offer public-facing video testimonials and lifestyle photos of our patients.

Surgeon Skill & Experience Matters

What To Look For:

• Board certification, specifically in plastic surgery

• Comfort and training in deep plane techniques (and when to use them)

• Consistent before/after examples with preserved hairlines/earlobes during your consultation

• A clear neck/platysma plan (if this applies to you based on your concerns)

• A narcotic-sparing, personalized recovery protocol and committed post-operation structure

Smart Questions to Ask:

• Which plane do you lift in, and which technique would be ideal for me?

• How will you manage my neck and platysma bands?

• How do you preserve my hairline and earlobe?

• How do you mitigate scars?

• Do you use drains? If not, what techniques reduce bleeding risk?

• What does your scar care and follow-up look like?

• Do you offer scar camouflaging or other treatments if scars surface post-surgery?

“Your safety & satisfaction shouldn’t hinge on what a surgeon can or cannot do. Their experience & methods should inspire confidence — that you’re making the best decision for you & your health.”

-Dr. Sieffert