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. 

Unfortunately, in this age of high-definition, Hollywood stars show the effects of aging much more than even a generation ago! So when a star hopes to "stop the clock" of aging, especially with the aid of often-substantial wealth, "just enough" easily becomes "too much!" Michael Jackson's nose and face come to mind, as do Lisa Rinna's lips, and Kenny Rogers' face.

The presence of wealthy celebrities trying to stay youthful-appearing attracts plenty of plastic surgeons (and plastic surgeon wannabees) to Hollywood, LA, and the entertainment suburbs; unfortunately, they are not always the best-trained, most-experienced, or ethically-minded ABPS-certified plastic surgeons.

And while many stars and entertainers are brilliant, well-educated, and thorough in their selection of plastic surgeons, some are, well, you know!

So, just like everywhere, there are less sharp tools in the shed, both on the consumer side and the provider side, plastic-surgical-wise! Hence, the results you see. (And the best ones you don't!)

Always see one or more ABPS-certified plastic surgeons with plenty of experience in the area of concern. There is nothing so visible as your face, so choose carefully. Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

Facelift surgery should be performed by Board Certified Plastic Surgeons, and I certainly have seen patients who have been pulled too tight, and also some who have had multiple facelifts, both of which can create the look you’re speaking about.  I spend a great deal of time with my facelift patients preoperatively, explaining my techniques to them, and also familiarizing myself with their anatomy and determining their expectations, as I never want a patient to have an unnatural appearance. 

Jonathan Ross Berman, M.D. , F.A.C.S.