A recent feature in The Looker, a lifestyle and beauty vertical of The Daily Beast, highlighted a beauty entrepreneur in her late forties who achieved noticeable facial refinement without a traditional facelift. The story resonated because it showed what is possible when facial rejuvenation is approached thoughtfully rather than automatically.
At Sunder Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, this type of individualized planning is part of everyday care. Led by Dr. Sarmela Sunder, MD, a double board-certified, fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon educated at Johns Hopkins University, Cornell University Weill Medical College, and Stanford University, the practice focuses on careful assessment, patient selection, and long-term outcomes.
This case offers a useful lens for understanding what modern facial rejuvenation can realistically achieve and for whom. In this blog, we break down what it reveals for patients considering their own options.
Why This Case Drew Attention
The feature followed a patient who explored both surgical and minimally invasive options before deciding against a full facelift. As a busy entrepreneur, she wanted visible improvement without committing to the extended recovery typically associated with more invasive surgery.
Instead, she and her surgeon selected a combination of targeted procedures designed to refine facial contours with a shorter, more manageable downtime.
What made the case compelling was the decision-making behind it. Clinically, it reinforces a key reality: facial aging often begins with localized changes, and when those changes are addressed early and thoughtfully, a full facelift may not always be necessary.
Why Combination Treatments Were Selected
In this case, three minimally invasive procedures were combined to address different contributors to facial aging in a coordinated way. Rather than treating one area in isolation, the plan focused on how the lower face and neck work together to influence overall balance.
The procedures included:
- Buccal fat removal: Used selectively to reduce excess fullness in the lower midface and restore natural facial structure.
- Chin and jawline liposuction: Performed to improve definition along the jawline and refine the lower facial profile.
- Radiofrequency-based neck tightening: Applied to contract skin and address early laxity beneath the chin and along the neck.
Together, these treatments addressed volume, contour, and early skin laxity in a coordinated way. For the right patient, this kind of planning can create a refined, cohesive result without the recovery demands of a traditional facelift.
Who This Approach Is Appropriate For
A critical takeaway is that outcomes like these depend heavily on candidacy. The patient featured had good skin quality and early to moderate structural changes, making her a suitable candidate for a less invasive strategy despite being in her late forties.
Patients considering similar options should understand:
- Skin quality plays a central role: Good elasticity allows minimally invasive treatments to be effective.
- Degree of laxity matters: More advanced sagging typically requires surgical lifting to achieve meaningful improvement.
- Not every concern requires maximal intervention: Knowing what not to treat is as important as knowing what to address.
At Sunder Plastic Surgery, Dr. Sunder emphasizes detailed evaluation and expectation-setting so patients understand whether this type of plan aligns with their anatomy and goals.
Setting Expectations Around Downtime And Cost
Another reason this story resonated is that it clarified common misconceptions about recovery and expense. In the featured experience, the combined procedures were completed in a single session and involved approximately three to four days of social downtime, rather than weeks of recovery. Swelling was most noticeable in the first 24 to 48 hours, with gradual improvement thereafter.
From a cost perspective, combining targeted procedures may total roughly $15,000 to $30,000, compared to a traditional facelift that can range significantly higher depending on complexity and recovery needs. While cost comparisons are informative, they should never drive treatment decisions. Anatomy and long-term outcomes must remain the priority.
From A Media Example To A Personal Plan
What one beauty entrepreneur’s experience ultimately underscores is the role of timing, candidacy, and surgical judgment, not a formula to replicate. At Sunder Plastic Surgery, Dr. Sunder brings extensive facial-focused training and careful surgical judgment to every consultation.
If you are actively considering your own options, we invite you to schedule a consultation today. Together, we can evaluate your facial structure, skin quality, and goals to determine the most appropriate path forward.
