Why Do Some People Look Like a Mannequin After a Face Lift?

    Although this look can be created surgically, many celebrities have had very good facelifts that are obvious to many plastic surgeons due to their improvement and not their oddity.  Hard to tell from the picture whether you would benefit from liposuction or neck lift. 

A waxy, shiny or pasty look is usually due to older style full face CO2 laser resurfacing.  An overdone facelift  simply looks too windswept and pulled.  Neither one of these look natural , so it is very important to go to the right surgeon

Your question is a great one, and unfortunately many people see these highly publicized, bad looking face lifts and assume that is representative of all facial surgery.  This could not be farther from the truth.  

Whether it is these eccentric people who request this overdone look or just bad plastic surgery, many experienced plastic surgeons such as myself will tell you that we have never performed facial surgery with results such as these. 

In my practice, my emphasis is rejuvenation of the patient's natural appearance.  My reputation is based on natural appearing face lifts, and I cannot imagine overdoing someone in a manner that they appeared like a mannequin after surgery.

When a face lift is performed, the skin should be raised to expose the underlying facial structures, and it is these structures (the SMAS and platysma muscles) that need to be reshaped and lifted to a more rejuvenated appearance.  The skin should be then be draped naturally to avoid an over pulled or plastic appearance.  If the skin is pulled too tight, or the underlying tissue is inadequately addressed, poor outcomes will result.

It is important to find a plastic surgeon who will educate you on the manner in which he or she will plan your facial surgery.   Check his or her before and after photos, and emphasize your interest in a natural appearance.