60-Year-Old Man — Facelift, Neck Lift & Fat Transfer: My Experience With Dr. Sam Gershenbaum

60-year-old male | Facelift + Neck Lift + Facial Fat Transfer | Second Fat Transfer at 3 Months

I wanted to write this specifically for other men because when I was researching facial rejuvenation, I found an enormous number of female facelift experiences but relatively few that showed what a good result could look like on a fit, lean, 60-year-old man.

I chose Dr. Sam Gershenbaum at DRG Cosmetic Surgery after consulting with several surgeons. What immediately appealed to me was his approach to combining procedures rather than asking the facelift alone to accomplish everything.

My goal was not to look younger. I wanted to look vital.

I have spent years taking care of my health. I eat a whole-food, plant-based diet, exercise regularly with cardio, yoga and weights, take care of my skin, and have maintained a fairly lean physique. At 60, I felt strong and healthy, but my face didn't reflect how I felt. The sagging skin and loss of facial volume made me look older and, I think, more serious than I actually felt.

Why I chose Dr. Gershenbaum

I didn't want a tight or pulled appearance. I wanted the result to look harmonious and for it to be difficult to identify exactly what had been done.

Dr. Gershenbaum proposed addressing the face, neck, and facial volume together. That made sense to me because I didn't want the facelift to be responsible for doing all the rejuvenation work.

The fat transfer was particularly important in my case. I'm around 14% body fat, and several other surgeons I consulted weren't comfortable that they could harvest enough fat for the transfer. Dr. Gershenbaum also performs body procedures and was confident that he could obtain enough donor fat.

That was one of the reasons I chose him.

I also liked the idea that restoring volume could complement the lift rather than simply pulling everything tighter. In my opinion, the combination produced a much more three-dimensional and natural-looking result.

The surgery and recovery

My surgery was December 1, 2025.

I had a SMAS facelift, neck lift, and facial fat transfer. My surgery itself took several hours, and my recovery was a process rather than an overnight transformation.

I was prepared for that.

I spent about two weeks on a liquid diet, slept on my back with my head elevated even though I'm normally a side sleeper, and followed the postoperative instructions carefully. I experienced the expected swelling, numbness, firmness, redness and changes in sensation as things healed.

I did a lot of research beforehand, so I understood that the face I saw during the first several weeks was not the final result. That helped enormously. I never had the classic “Oh no, what have I done?” moment.

The office was available when I had questions, and I always felt that I could reach out if something concerned me.

The fat transfer

This is something I would encourage men considering a facelift to think about.

I was concerned about looking hollow or overly tight after a lift, particularly because I'm lean. The fat transfer gave my surgeon another tool for shaping the face rather than relying entirely on repositioning and tightening tissue.

The result gave me more definition through the cheeks and cheekbones and created a much more balanced transition through the midface.

At three months, I had a second fat-transfer procedure to add additional volume. I think this is an important part of my story because facial fat transfer isn't necessarily a one-and-done process. Some fat is absorbed, and the final volume takes time to declare itself. In my case, Dr. Gershenbaum and I ultimately decided that additional volume would improve the result.

What changed?

The biggest changes for me are:

A much cleaner jawline
A dramatically improved neck
More youthful and defined cheekbones
Restoration of midface volume
Better overall facial proportions
Less of the downward/sagging quality in my lower face
A more vital and approachable appearance

And perhaps most importantly, I still look like myself.

That's what I wanted.

I wasn't interested in looking like a 40-year-old. I wanted to look like the best, healthiest version of the 60-year-old man I actually am.

Something unexpected has happened socially, too. I seem to get more smiles and greetings when I enter a room. People seem more at ease around me. I think my previous facial expression and sagging lower face may have made me look more serious or unapproachable than I felt inside.

Now my appearance seems to communicate something much closer to how I actually feel.

The emotional part

The strangest and most wonderful part of the experience has been looking in the mirror and feeling like this is the face I was supposed to have.

I've described it to friends as finally taking off an “old man mask.”

I didn't realize how much my face had begun to contradict the way I experienced myself internally.

I always thought I looked good for my age.

Now I catch myself thinking:

I just look good.

For other men considering a facelift

If you're a man thinking about facial rejuvenation, I would encourage you to at least have a consultation.

You don't have to want to look younger.

You don't have to want anyone to know you've had surgery.

And you don't have to accept the idea that facial rejuvenation means simply pulling the skin tighter.

For me, the goal was to bring my face into alignment with the rest of me—my health, fitness, energy and the way I feel about myself.

I'm very happy that I chose Dr. Gershenbaum, and if I had to make the decision again, I would choose him again.