A natural-looking facelift should make you look like yourself on your best day, not like someone else. At the Buckingham Center for Facial Plastic Surgery in Austin, our board-certified, fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeons understand that identity is personal and priceless. Led by AAFPRS Fellowship Director Dr. Edward D. Buckingham and supported by Dr. Erin Smith and Dr. Hudson Frey, our team focuses exclusively on the face and neck, blending advanced technique with artistic restraint to highlight the features that already belong to you. Read on to discover how to preserve your individuality while refreshing your appearance.
Why “Still You” Is the Gold Standard
Many patients worry about looking overly tight or “done.” That outcome usually happens when surgery prioritizes maximum lift over natural balance. Our philosophy is different: preserve your defining features, support deeper anatomy, and improve skin quality so the result is unmistakably you, just more rested and refined. Here are the principles that keep individuality at the forefront.
The Principles Behind Natural-Looking Facelifts
- Vector planning: We map lift directions to your unique descent patterns so tissues are repositioned along natural vectors, preventing an artificial look.
- Layer selection: SMAS and deep plane strategies, when appropriate, move deeper support rather than just skin for believable contours.
- Ligament release: Selective release of facial retaining ligaments allows repositioning without surface tension, protecting natural expressions.
- Incision placement: Incisions are carefully hidden around the hairline and ear contours to protect hairstyle options and avoid visible scarring, while also preserving natural earlobe position.
Customized Care Over a Standardized Approach
Every face ages differently. Some patients benefit from a limited incision (mini) facelift for early jowling; others need a deep plane approach with targeted neck refinement. We tailor the method to your anatomy and goals rather than using a standardized approach. This allows us to enhance the jawline and neck while keeping your smile, dimples, and cheek character intact.
Incision Placement and SMAS Support
Modern facelift techniques are not about simply pulling skin tight. At the Buckingham Center, we emphasize working with the SMAS layer—the supportive structure beneath the skin—to reposition tissues in a way that restores youthful balance. By combining thoughtful incision placement with SMAS support, we achieve smoother, natural-looking results without altering the features that make you unique.
Complementary Procedures That Refine, Not Redefine
When chosen carefully, additional treatments enhance results without erasing individuality:
- Fat transfer: Restores youthful fullness in specific hollows without altering facial shape.
- Eyelid surgery: Removes heaviness or bags while maintaining natural eyelid identity.
- Brow lift: Adjusted to avoid a surprised or overly arched look.
- Skin quality: Laser resurfacing and medical-grade skincare improve texture and radiance so results look healthy, not stretched.
Start Your Path to a Refreshed, Authentic Look
Protect your individuality while refreshing your reflection. At the Buckingham Center for Facial Plastic Surgery, you’ll meet directly with our board-certified, fellowship-trained team, led by AAFPRS Fellowship Director Dr. Edward D. Buckingham, with Dr. Erin Smith and Dr. Hudson Frey, to explore a facelift plan tailored to you.
Patients across Austin and Westlake trust our exclusive facial focus, advanced expertise, and commitment to natural, lasting results. Use our contact form to begin your journey with confidence.
