The majority of patients are genuinely concerned about one thing before their facelift: looking unnatural. And who can blame them?
Most people dread that “pulled tight,” “plastic,” or, even worse, “I had work done” appearance. But here’s the thing: those results still pop up a lot. It’s as if some facelifts are viewed merely as a quick fix for skin rather than an understanding of individual anatomy with aging.
At Revive Surgical Institute, steering clear of that unnatural facelift look isn’t some sales pitch. It’s truly the foundation upon which they build each surgery plan and perform the procedure itself.
Under the expert hands of board-certified surgeons Dr. Morad Askari (named America’s Best Plastic Surgeon 2025 by Newsweek) and Dr. David Gerth, patients have gained a reputation for results that appear refreshed, balanced, and expressive.
Why Facelifts Sometimes Look Unnatural
The common cause of an unnatural facelift result is not necessarily “excess surgery.” More often, it’s about how the procedure was done.
When aging is seen as a problem just with the skin, like tightening the surface without dealing with the layers underneath, faces can end up looking pulled or distorted.
Facial aging happens in layers. Over time, skin becomes slack, fat shifts, muscles descend, and there are changes in the jawline and neck. If a facelift just stretches the skin back into place, then you get tension without restoring harmony.
It is this tension that results in visible scars, altered expressions, and outcomes that don’t age well. At the Revive Surgical Institute, they see the facelift differently. For them, it’s not about painting on a mask. It’s about restoring structure, giving you back your unique identity.
What a Modern, Natural Facelift Actually Does
The goal of a facelift procedure at Revive Surgical Institute is to bring out your natural beauty, not make you look like someone else. They specialize in restoring youthful contours to the lower face and neck while preserving natural expression.
They don’t just pull the skin tighter (which can lead to that “windblown” look). Dr. Askari and Dr. Gerth use techniques such as deep plane facelifts or those involving the SMAS layer.
In simple terms, this means they lift and support the deeper tissues of your face, too. When these layers are addressed correctly, there’s no need for tension on the skin, so it can be redraped smoothly. This approach helps to achieve results that don’t just look natural weeks after surgery, but years later as well.
Technique Matters – but Judgment Matters More
Today, patients can choose from multiple facelift types, not just the traditional full facelift, but also mini versions, deep-plane procedures, and non-surgical approaches. But here’s the thing: choosing the right one should be based on your individual anatomy, not on what’s trendy.
At Revive Surgical Institute, surgeons look at a few things when recommending a facelift technique: the underlying bone structure, the quality of the skin, how fat is distributed, and how much aging has occurred.
“While technique presents a range of possibilities, it’s ultimately judgment that dictates the final result,” states Dr. Morad Askari. “A natural-looking facelift is all about understanding the safe limits of how much skin can be lifted, recognizing the best spots to ease tension, and, crucially, knowing when to say enough is enough and stop.”
Overdoing it (or underdoing it) can both lead to problems. That’s why good surgical judgment is so important. A skilled surgeon knows how much they can lift safely, where they need to release tissue from previous procedures, and most importantly, when it’s time to stop.
The Consultation: Where Natural Results Begin
Getting a natural-looking facelift isn’t about luck. It comes down to careful planning and good communication with your surgeon. During your consultation, Drs. Gerth and Askari examine things like bone structure, skin condition, and how you are aging overall. They will want to know what you hope to achieve, but also what you would like them to avoid.
They are very good listeners. Unlike some surgeons, these surgeons aren’t interested in creating an entirely new appearance for their patients. Their goal is to produce results that look as if the person had simply been restored slightly.
Dr. Gerth says, “No facelift can stop time from moving forward (although there are some excellent sunscreens around). So it’s important to have realistic expectations about what the procedure can do.”
When there is a good match between those expectations and factors such as age and skin condition, the outcome is often an appearance that feels quite natural.
Preparing for Surgery the Right Way
Preparation is key to achieving natural results. It’s not just about luck. Before surgery, patients might be asked to stop smoking or certain medications and follow some skincare and hygiene rules.
These simple requests are designed to minimize any potential problems during the operation itself and aid recovery afterward so your body can heal as smoothly and quickly as possible.
Making sure you have support at home while you take the necessary time off work also helps avoid putting stress on the areas being treated. This, too, has an impact on just how good and natural the final appearance of your results will be.
Recovery and Long-Term Results
In the recovery period, swelling, bruising, and temporary numbness are all entirely normal. At Revive Surgical Institute, they give patients detailed guidance on caring for their incisions, keeping their heads elevated, and what activities to avoid, all to make sure they heal well.
Most people feel ready to get back out in public after a few weeks, although the improvements will keep getting better for some time. Because surgeons work on the tissues beneath the skin, the results generally look very natural rather than “pulled.” And as your face continues to age (as all faces do), it will do so from a better starting point.
The Bottom Line
Like everything in life, getting an unnatural-looking facelift isn’t set in stone. If surgeons use sound techniques, have the right attitude, and employ good judgment, it’s entirely avoidable.
At Revive Surgical Institute, Drs. Morad Askari and David Gerth focus on just three things: restoring structure, preserving expression, and celebrating individuality.
With Dr. Askari recently named America’s Best Plastic Surgeon 2025, their approach continues to show why patients needn’t fear looking “worked on” after all. They simply won’t look different from the way they did before, refreshed, confident, and naturally comfortable in their own skin.
