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Authored by: Dr. Sam Sukkar, MD on February 9th, 2026
Facelift Success Story Series by Dr. Sam Sukkar, MD in Houston, TX | Case Study #6743
This is part of our series featuring real patient transformations at The Clinic for Plastic Surgery. Each case study provides an in-depth look at actual procedures, recovery experiences, and results from Houston patients who’ve undergone facelift surgery with Dr. Sam M. Sukkar.
Robert* sat across from me in my Houston consultation room, his frustration evident. At 63, he was a successful executive who’d spent decades building his career, but lately, the mirror showed someone who looked far more exhausted than he felt. “I’m competing with people twenty years younger,” he said. “I need to look as sharp as I perform.”
His concern wasn’t vanity. In Houston’s competitive business landscape, appearance matters. The jowling along his jawline, the deep creases running from nose to mouth, and the loose skin beneath his chin had begun to undermine the confidence he’d cultivated over decades of professional success.
This wasn’t about chasing youth. This was about alignment, bringing his external appearance in line with his internal vitality.
*The patient’s name was changed to protect their privacy. All medical details and photographic before and after results are from actual Patient Case #6743. Individual results may vary based on body type, surgical approach, and adherence to post-operative instructions.
Robert* had watched his face change gradually over the past decade. The transformation wasn’t sudden, it never is. But the cumulative effect had become impossible to ignore.
His primary concerns centered on three visible aging patterns: pronounced jowling that obscured his once-defined jawline, deep nasolabial folds that made him appear perpetually tired, and loose skin beneath his chin that no amount of exercise could address. He’d maintained his fitness, kept his weight stable, and taken care of his health, but gravity and genetics had their own agenda.
“I look at photos from five years ago, and I barely recognize myself,” he explained during our first meeting. “I don’t want to look thirty again. I just want to look like me, the version that matches how I actually feel.”
His expectations were refreshingly realistic. He understood that facelift surgery wouldn’t stop the aging process, but it could reset the clock and address the structural changes that had accumulated over decades.
Male facelift patients face unique concerns that differ significantly from female patients, and Robert* voiced several of them during our consultation.
Maintaining Masculine Features: Robert* was adamant that he wanted to preserve his masculine appearance. Male faces have different anatomical proportions than female faces, stronger jawlines, broader facial structures, and different fat distribution patterns. My approach needed to respect these differences while addressing his aging concerns.
Scarring and Hair Loss: As with many male patients, Robert* worried about visible scarring, particularly around the ears and hairline. Male pattern baldness and shorter hairstyles mean less camouflage for incisions. I explained my precise incision placement techniques that follow natural skin creases and hide within the ear’s anatomy.
Recovery Timeline: Robert* had a demanding professional schedule. He needed to understand the realistic recovery timeline, not the “back to work in a week” myths he’d read online, but the honest truth about when he could return to client meetings and public-facing responsibilities without obvious signs of surgery.
Natural Results: His greatest fear? Looking “done.” He’d seen overly tight, windswept results on other men and wanted nothing to do with that aesthetic. His goal was improvement, not transformation, looking refreshed rather than radically different.
For Robert*, I designed a comprehensive facelift procedure that would address all visible aging concerns while maintaining his masculine features and ensuring natural-looking results.
1. Facelift (Deep Plane Rhytidectomy)
This wasn’t a simple “skin tightening” procedure. The deep plane facelift approach addresses the underlying muscular and fascial structures that truly support the face. By lifting these deeper layers, we achieve results that look natural immediately and continue to look natural years later, rather than the tight, obvious appearance that comes from pulling skin alone.
The deep plane technique is particularly advantageous for male patients because it respects the natural masculine facial contours. Rather than simply pulling everything back, we’re repositioning structures to restore the youthful facial proportions that time and gravity have altered.
Robert’s* procedure would directly address his jowling by repositioning the sagging tissue along his jawline back to its original position. The deep nasolabial folds would soften as we lifted the midface structures. And the loose skin beneath his chin would be addressed through careful excision and redraping.
Male facelift surgery requires a different aesthetic approach than female facelift surgery. The masculine face has distinct characteristics that must be preserved: a strong, angular jawline; a relatively square face shape; and specific proportions between facial thirds.
My decision to use the deep plane technique for Robert* was deliberate. This approach provides several critical advantages:
Longer-Lasting Results: By repositioning the deeper structural layers rather than just pulling skin, the results resist gravity more effectively over time. For a 63-year-old man who wanted this to be his only facelift, longevity was essential.
Natural Facial Movement: The deep plane approach maintains natural facial expressions. Robert* would continue to look like himself when he smiled, frowned, or showed emotion, just a refreshed version of himself. This is particularly important for professionals who rely on facial communication in business settings.
Reduced Tension on Incision Lines: Because we’re not relying on skin tension for the lift, the incisions heal with minimal tension, resulting in finer, less visible scars, critical for male patients with shorter hairstyles and less ability to conceal incision sites.
Masculine Jawline Preservation: The deep plane technique allows me to restore the sharp, defined jawline that’s essential to masculine facial aesthetics. Rather than creating a soft, rounded jawline (which can appear feminizing), we restore the angular definition that characterized Robert’s* face in his younger years.
Robert* went home the evening of his surgery with surgical dressings in place, drainage tubes (which would be removed within 24-48 hours), and a detailed care protocol. I don’t minimize what those first few days entail.
The initial recovery from facial plastic surgery involves swelling, bruising, and discomfort, not severe pain (which we manage effectively with medication), but a tight, heavy sensation as tissues begin healing. Robert* experienced all of this, as expected.
He kept his head elevated at a 30-45 degree angle for the first 72 hours, used cold compresses strategically to minimize swelling, and avoided any activity that increased blood pressure. No bending, lifting, straining, or rushing.
By the end of week one, Robert* had his sutures removed. The bruising had begun transitioning through its colorful spectrum, from dark purple to greenish-yellow, and the swelling had decreased noticeably.
But he didn’t look “ready” yet. Most patients underestimate how long residual swelling persists. Robert* could see improvement, but strangers would still notice he’d had something done. His face appeared fuller than normal, particularly around the cheeks and jawline.
Robert* returned to light office work (behind the scenes, no client meetings) after ten days. He wore button-up shirts to avoid pulling anything over his head and scheduled his days to include frequent rest breaks. The fatigue that accompanies major surgery is real, even when you’re feeling mentally sharp.
By week three, Robert* looked presentable enough to attend essential business meetings. The obvious bruising had resolved, and the swelling had decreased to the point where he simply looked “refreshed” rather than “post-surgical.”
He still had residual tightness and occasional numbness along his jawline and around his ears, completely normal as nerves regenerate. But the dramatic improvement in his jawline definition was already apparent. The jowling that had bothered him for years was gone, replaced by the clean, angular contour he’d had in his forties.
His colleagues commented that he looked well-rested. Several asked if he’d been on vacation. No one suspected surgery, exactly as he’d hoped.
The true final results of a facelift emerge gradually as residual swelling completely resolves and tissues settle into their new positions. By three months post-operative, Robert* saw his final outcome.
His jawline was sharply defined. The deep creases that had framed his mouth had softened dramatically, not erased (that would look unnatural), but reduced to age-appropriate lines rather than deep folds. The loose skin beneath his chin was gone, revealing the neck contour that had disappeared over the past decade.
Perhaps most importantly, he looked like himself. Not a younger version trying to pass for forty. Not an obviously “worked on” executive with that telltale surgical appearance. Just a well-preserved, confident professional in his early sixties who took care of himself.
Six months after surgery, Robert* returned for his final follow-up appointment. The transformation was remarkable, not because he looked radically different, but because he looked authentically better.
His redefined jawline restored the masculine facial structure that had deteriorated over years of aging. The angular definition that characterizes male facial aesthetics was back, creating the strong profile he’d lost. The jowling that had blurred his jaw-neck distinction was gone entirely.
The nasolabial folds that had made him appear perpetually tired had softened significantly. They hadn’t disappeared, completely smooth faces look artificial at any age, but they’d been reduced from deep creases to natural expression lines appropriate for a man in his sixties.
The loose skin beneath his chin that no amount of exercise could address had been eliminated, revealing a clean neck contour that conveyed vitality and self-care.
But beyond the measurable physical changes, something else had shifted. Robert* carried himself differently. The confidence he’d always possessed in professional settings now extended to his comfort with his appearance. He no longer avoided cameras at company events or felt self-conscious in video conferences.
“I look at my reflection now and see the person I recognize,” he told me at that six-month visit. “Not the person from twenty years ago, but the version of myself that matches how I feel, experienced, capable, and still in my prime.”
Several factors contributed to Robert’s* outstanding outcome, elements that any prospective facelift patient should understand.
Realistic Expectations and Clear Communication: From our first consultation, Robert* articulated exactly what bothered him and what he hoped to achieve. He wasn’t chasing an unrealistic ideal, he wanted specific improvements to specific concerns. This clarity allowed me to design a surgical plan that directly addressed his goals.
Optimal Candidate Characteristics: Robert* was an ideal facelift candidate. He maintained good overall health, didn’t smoke, had realistic expectations, and understood that facial rejuvenation would enhance rather than radically transform his appearance. These factors significantly impact surgical outcomes.
The surgical approach mattered enormously. The deep plane facelift respects masculine facial proportions while providing structural, long-lasting lift. This technique prevented the overly tight, feminized appearance that can result from more superficial approaches that simply pull skin without addressing deeper structures.
Meticulous Attention to Incision Placement: For male patients, incision concealment requires extra precision. Men have shorter hairstyles, less facial hair to hide scars in certain areas, and different hairline patterns than women. My incision placement followed natural skin creases and ear anatomy to minimize visibility, critical for Robert’s* comfort in professional settings.
Strict Adherence to Post-Operative Protocol: Robert* followed every recovery instruction precisely. He elevated his head, avoided strenuous activity, protected his incisions from sun exposure, and attended all follow-up appointments. Patient compliance isn’t just a suggestion, it’s a determining factor in final results and complication avoidance.
Over 25 years of performing facial rejuvenation procedures has taught me that exceptional results come from the intersection of surgical skill, appropriate patient selection, and meticulous attention to individual anatomical characteristics. Robert’s* outcome exemplifies what’s possible when all these elements align.
Natural results on male patients require a surgeon who understands masculine facial aesthetics. The male face should maintain its angular, defined characteristics, not adopt the softer, rounder contours sometimes seen in female facelift results. I use the deep plane technique specifically because it lifts deeper structural layers while maintaining natural facial proportions. The key is subtle enhancement rather than dramatic transformation, you should look refreshed and well-rested, not “worked on.”
Scar visibility is a primary concern for male patients, and rightfully so. I place incisions strategically within the natural ear anatomy and along hairlines where they’re least visible. For men with receding hairlines or minimal hair around the temples, I adjust incision placement to avoid visible scarring in exposed areas. With proper healing and my scar care protocol, most men find their scars virtually undetectable within several months. The combination of precise surgical technique and strategic placement means colleagues and clients won’t spot telltale signs of surgery.
The timeline depends on your profession and public visibility. Robert* returned to behind-the-scenes office work after ten days but waited three weeks before attending client-facing meetings. If your work involves video conferences or public presentations, plan for 2-3 weeks before you’ll look “normal” enough to resume those activities comfortably. Most residual swelling resolves within the first month, but subtle fullness may persist for 6-8 weeks. I provide realistic timelines during consultation because understanding the recovery commitment is essential for planning this procedure around professional obligations.
Robert* walked into my Houston office carrying the weight of years, visible aging that undermined the confidence he’d built over decades of professional success. Three months later, he walked into boardrooms looking like the sharp, capable executive he’d always been, just without the visual evidence of exhaustion and time.
Your concerns might be different. Maybe you’re worried about maintaining professional credibility in a competitive market, wondering whether facial rejuvenation can look natural on male anatomy, or trying to understand what recovery actually involves for someone with professional obligations.
But the fundamental truth remains: You deserve to look as vital and capable as you feel. Your face should reflect your experience and competence, not work against the confidence you’ve earned.
If aging signs are affecting your professional confidence or personal satisfaction, transformation is possible.
Schedule Your Personalized Consultation here, or call us today at (281) 940-1535 and discover what’s possible for your unique body and goals in Houston!
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Dr. Sam Sukkar, MD, FACS is a highly respected Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon in Houston, Texas, known for his expertise in advanced cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. As the founder of The Clinic for Plastic Surgery, Dr. Sukkar has set a new standard for excellence, performing over 20,000 procedures with a focus on delivering natural, refined results.
Dr. Sukkar earned his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in 1992 after graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology. He then completed an intensive General Surgery Residency at the University of Texas Hermann Hospital before being selected for a highly competitive Plastic Surgery Fellowship at Northwestern University in Chicago, one of the most prestigious training programs in the country.
With more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Sukkar is a Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). He is also an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the Houston Society of Plastic Surgery (HSPS). His dedication to innovation and continuing education has solidified his reputation as a leading expert in aesthetic surgery, specializing in breast surgery, body contouring, facial procedures, and non-invasive treatments.
Dr. Sukkar’s expertise has been recognized by Houston Magazine, naming him one of Houston’s “Top Docs for Women,” and he has been featured among RealSelf’s America’s Top Doctors. Committed to his patients, he prioritizes personalized care, ensuring every individual feels informed, comfortable, and confident in their aesthetic journey.
Contact Dr. Sukkar today to schedule a consultation, visit DrSukkar.com to learn more, or call us directly at (281) 940-1535.
Cover Image Illustration by: Dr. Sam Sukkar, MD, The Clinic for Plastic Surgery.
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