The Facelift Gets a Facelift: Hollywood's Favorite Procedure Is Back

Yahoo

04-08-2025

Facelifts have come a long way from the startled, windswept looks that once abounded on Rodeo Drive. 'They used to be looked at as what older women got — grandmothers and women who looked pulled,' says Julie Obst, co-founder of LA Beauty Connect, an elite plastic surgery consultancy. 'They were last resorts for people who had aged out of their youth.'
Not anymore. Whether it's a subtle enhancement or a full reboot, the facelift has become 'much more socially acceptable,' and 'so advanced in their techniques you can barely tell if a person has had them done, so more people are running out to get them,' Obst says.
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Plastic surgeons typically perform two types of lifts: SMAS, or superficial muscular aponeurotic system, and deep plane. Dr. Sarmela Sunder explains the difference: 'SMAS facelifts tighten the superficial muscular layer of the face by lifting and repositioning it, improving sagging in the cheeks and jawline,' she says. 'Deep plane facelifts go beneath the SMAS layer, releasing the facial ligaments that anchor the soft tissues, which allows for a more significant release and subsequent lifting of the face.' Think of SMAS as more surface-level, whereas deep plane goes, well, deeper, often resulting in more dramatic results.
In recent years, some highly sought-after doctors have dramatically raised their facelift fees to over $100,000. That's a brow-lifting sum, considering many of the most skilled surgeons charge between $30,000 and $75,000. 'Some surgeons feel that if patients are willing to pay, they can increase the price accordingly,' says Sunder. 'I personally don't agree with charging exorbitant prices just because you can.'
The higher-priced surgeons are generally found in cities where the cost of living is greater overall. 'You'll pay more in Los Angeles, New York, Miami and London,' says Melinda Farina of Beauty Brokers. But she warns that 'higher fees often reflect experience, surgical complexity and demand, not necessarily quality.' As she tells THR, 'The price tag alone doesn't guarantee excellence. That's where proper vetting comes in. There are exceptional surgeons in other regions charging significantly less, but unfortunately, there are also many who overpromise and underdeliver.'
A facelift, she emphasizes, is never just a transaction: 'It's a highly individualized procedure that requires long-term planning, precision and trust. It should never be treated like a trend or a luxury status symbol. And the more people keep speaking about and hyping up a few surgeons, the higher the prices will continue to go.'
This story appeared in the July 30 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.
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