Drybar co-founder Alli Webb has spent her career helping people feel their most confident, so when she finally decided the time was right for her own transformation, she trusted the same surgeon she'd relied on for nearly a decade: Dr. Sarmela Sunder.
At 51, Webb underwent a lower facelift, necklift, rhinoplasty, and CO2 laser resurfacing with Dr. Sunder, a double-board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills known for results that look refreshed, never overdone.
In this blog, Dr. Sunder draws on the details of Webb's real procedure to walk you through what a modern, natural-looking facelift in Beverly Hills actually involves, from technique to recovery.
Why Alli Webb Waited Nearly Five Years for Her Facelift
Webb had been considering a facelift for roughly five years before she finally moved forward, a timeline that's common among Dr. Sunder's patients who want to feel certain before committing to surgery. Webb has said that crossing into her fifties gave her a sense of readiness she hadn't felt before, as though the milestone itself gave her the confidence to act on a decision she'd been quietly weighing.
Her experience reflects something Dr. Sunder sees often in her Beverly Hills practice: patients rarely rush into a facelift. Instead, they:
- Explore non-surgical options first, such as injectables or skin tightening, to see how far minimally invasive treatments can take them
- Watch how their face continues to change year over year before deciding surgery is the right next step
- Wait for a moment in life, whether a birthday, a career shift, or simply renewed self-assurance, that makes the timing feel right
- Choose a surgeon they already trust, rather than starting the search from scratch
Before her facelift, Webb had already undergone a trio of non-surgical treatments with Dr. Sunder that required only three to four days of downtime, giving her a preview of Dr. Sunder's approach before she chose to pursue surgical rejuvenation.
What Procedures Did Alli Webb Have Done?
Webb's transformation combined several complementary procedures performed in a single surgical session, a common approach for patients seeking comprehensive facial rejuvenation. Her treatment plan included:
- Lower facelift: Targeting sagging along the jawline and lower cheeks
- Necklift with platysmaplasty: Tightening the neck muscles for a more defined profile
- Tip rhinoplasty: A refined nasal reshaping focused on the tip rather than the full nasal structure
- CO2 laser resurfacing: Improving skin texture and tone alongside the surgical work
Dr. Sunder tailored this combination specifically to Webb's anatomy and goals rather than defaulting to a full facelift, which underscores a core part of Dr. Sunder's philosophy: every facial plastic surgery plan should be built around what a patient actually needs, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Inside Alli Webb's Deep Plane Facelift and Necklift
Dr. Sunder performed a deep-plane technique on Webb's lower face, an advanced approach that repositions the deeper facial structures rather than simply tightening the surface skin. On the neck, Dr. Sunder addressed muscle banding through a platysmaplasty, though she opted against more extensive neck restructuring for Webb's case, illustrating how a conservative, precisely calibrated surgical plan can still deliver dramatic, natural-looking change. The full procedure took approximately five hours in the operating room.
This kind of layered, technique-specific decision-making is where Dr. Sunder's training becomes evident. Her background includes degrees from Johns Hopkins University, a medical degree from Cornell University's Weill Medical College, a residency at Stanford University Medical Center, and advanced fellowship training in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. That foundation allows her to move fluidly between deep plane facelifts, mid-facelifts, and more conservative options, depending entirely on what each patient's face requires.
What Was Alli Webb's Recovery Really Like?
Recovery unfolded gradually for Webb, with the most noticeable discomfort appearing around day four, when stiffness (rather than pain) became more apparent. She described the experience as manageable with prescribed medication, noting that each day brought steady improvement.
Dr. Sunder's patients typically move through a similar arc after facelift surgery:
- The first few days: Swelling peaks, and most patients experience what Dr. Sunder describes as "social downtime" rather than true bedrest.
- Around day four: Stiffness and tightness often become more noticeable as the initial numbness fades.
- The following weeks: Bruising and swelling steadily subside, and patients begin resuming normal activities.
- By three months: Results become clearer, with continued softening and refinement over time.
By the three-month mark, Webb was ready to reveal her results publicly, a timeline consistent with what most facelift patients can expect before fully appreciating their outcome.
Why Natural, Not Overdone, Results Matter
Webb has described her results as making her look like she has "a good filter on" at all times, a description that captures exactly the outcome Dr. Sunder aims for with every patient. Rather than dramatically altering the face, Dr. Sunder's approach is designed to restore a more rested, refined version of a patient's own features.
This philosophy shapes every consultation at Sunder Plastic Surgery. Dr. Sunder evaluates each patient's unique anatomy, skin quality, and goals to build a plan that enhances facial harmony without erasing individual character, the same balance that made Webb's results feel authentic to those closest to her rather than obviously "done."
Is a Facelift Right for You?
A facelift may be worth considering if you're noticing sagging skin, jowls, or a loss of definition along your jawline and neck that makes you look older than you feel. Good candidates for a facelift in Beverly Hills are generally in good health, maintain realistic expectations, and are seeking refinement rather than a completely different appearance.
Every patient's ideal path looks different. Some, like Webb early in her journey, benefit from starting with non-surgical treatments. Others are ready for a more comprehensive procedure combining a facelift with rhinoplasty, a necklift, or laser resurfacing, much like Webb's own combination approach. A consultation with Dr. Sunder is the clearest way to determine which path fits your face, your goals, and your lifestyle.
Considering a Facelift Like Alli Webb's? Dr. Sarmela Sunder Can Help
Alli Webb's journey reflects what Dr. Sarmela Sunder believes every facelift should deliver: results that feel like the best version of yourself, not a different one. As a double-board-certified facial plastic surgeon trained at Johns Hopkins, Cornell, and Stanford, Dr. Sunder brings both surgical precision and an artist's eye to every procedure she performs in her Beverly Hills practice. If you're ready to explore whether a facelift, rhinoplasty, necklift, or a combination approach is right for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Sunder today.
This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not replace a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Outcomes, risks, and suitability vary from patient to patient.
