Facial plastic surgery can address visible signs of aging, refine facial proportions, or restore form after changes caused by genetics, injury, or previous treatment. At Zellner Plastic Surgery, we consider the whole face rather than treating one feature in isolation.
Our goal is to understand what you want to change, identify what is causing the concern, and develop a plan that complements your natural features. That evaluation may include the skin, soft tissue, muscle, cartilage, and bone that shape the face.
Patients visit our White Plains practice from across Westchester County, New York City, Connecticut, and New Jersey for thoughtful guidance about surgical and nonsurgical facial options. Some want to look more rested. Others have considered nose reshaping, eyelid surgery, ear surgery, or facial rejuvenation for years.
During your consultation, Dr. Elizabeth Zellner explains what each procedure can realistically accomplish, what recovery may involve, and whether one treatment or a coordinated plan best fits your anatomy and goals.
Choosing the Right Facial Plastic Surgery Procedure
The right facial procedure depends on the area you want to address, the cause of the concern, your skin and underlying facial structure, your medical history, and the type of change you want.
A consultation is not simply about selecting a procedure from a list. It is an opportunity to determine whether the concern is caused by skin laxity, tissue descent, volume loss, muscle activity, facial structure, asymmetry, or a combination of factors.
A patient concerned about facial aging may need a very different plan from someone who wants to refine a feature that has always felt out of proportion. Identifying the source of the concern helps avoid unnecessary treatment and supports a result that fits the rest of the face.
Facelift Options for Facial Rejuvenation
A facelift in White Plains is designed to address aging in the lower face, including jowls, loose skin, and reduced definition along the jawline. Depending on the surgical plan, neck laxity may also be treated.
Facelift surgery repositions descended tissues and redrapes excess skin to create a smoother contour. The goal is not to pull the skin tightly or make the face look unfamiliar. It is to restore definition while preserving natural expression.
Patients with earlier or more limited aging may be candidates for a mini facelift. This more focused procedure is generally used for mild jowling and early lower-face laxity.
For patients with more significant tissue descent, Dr. Zellner may discuss a deep plane facelift. This approach releases and repositions deeper facial support structures rather than relying primarily on surface-level skin tightening.
The appropriate technique depends on your anatomy, degree of aging, recovery preferences, and the areas you want to improve. Dr. Zellner explains the differences so the procedure matches the concern rather than relying on a standard facelift label.
Rhinoplasty for Facial Balance and Nasal Function
Rhinoplasty can refine the size, shape, projection, or symmetry of the nose while considering how it relates to the forehead, cheeks, lips, and chin.
Patients may want to smooth a bridge, refine a rounded or drooping tip, improve asymmetry, narrow the nostrils, or restore shape after an injury. Some also have breathing concerns related to the septum or internal nasal support.
Because the nose sits at the center of the face, even a small change can affect the appearance of surrounding features. Careful planning is essential.
During a rhinoplasty consultation, Dr. Zellner evaluates appearance, facial proportions, skin thickness, cartilage support, and nasal function.
The goal is not to create the same nose for every patient. It is to develop a plan that respects the patient’s identity and facial structure while addressing the specific concerns found during examination.
Patients who want refinement while preserving cultural or family characteristics may also explore ethnic rhinoplasty. This approach places particular emphasis on anatomy, structural support, facial identity, and restraint.
Eyelid Surgery for a More Rested Appearance
Eyelid surgery, also called blepharoplasty, can address excess upper-eyelid skin, lower-eyelid puffiness, or prominent fat that creates a tired or heavy appearance.
Upper and lower eyelid procedures may be performed separately or together. In some patients, the concern is caused primarily by loose skin. In others, fat positioning, muscle support, brow descent, cheek volume, or skin quality also affects the eye area.
A careful evaluation helps determine which structure should be treated. Apparent upper-eyelid heaviness may sometimes be influenced by a low or heavy brow, while lower-eyelid shadows may involve both the eyelid and the transition into the cheek.
Removing too much skin or fat can create an unnatural, hollow, or overly tight appearance. Conservative planning is especially important around the eyes.
The goal of eyelid surgery is typically to create a more open and rested appearance while preserving the natural shape and expression of the eyes.
Lip Augmentation for Shape and Facial Balance
Lip augmentation can improve volume, shape, border definition, or symmetry. The treatment plan should account for the relationship between the upper and lower lips, visible tooth show, chin projection, and the rest of the face.
Options may include temporary injectable fillers or a surgical approach. These treatments differ in technique, recovery, reversibility, and expected duration.
Some patients want a modest increase in volume. Others are more concerned with definition, age-related thinning, asymmetry, or the relationship between the lips and nearby features.
Subtle changes are often the most effective. Rather than pursuing a standard lip shape or fixed ideal, Dr. Zellner focuses on proportion and movement so the lips remain expressive and fit naturally with the face.
Otoplasty for Prominent or Asymmetrical Ears
Otoplasty, sometimes called ear pinning surgery, can reposition prominent ears, improve asymmetry, or address selected concerns involving ear shape.
It may be appropriate for adults as well as children whose ears have developed sufficiently for surgery. Candidacy depends on anatomy, health, expectations, and the specific change being considered.
Incisions are generally placed behind the ears. The cartilage may then be reshaped, repositioned, or supported to create a more balanced relationship between the ears and head.
For many patients, the goal is not to make the ears look dramatically different. It is to reduce how much they draw attention while maintaining a natural contour.
What to Expect During a Facial Plastic Surgery Consultation
Your consultation begins with a conversation about what you notice, what bothers you, and what degree of change would feel worthwhile.
Dr. Zellner reviews your medical history, previous procedures, medications, allergies, healing concerns, nicotine use, and lifestyle factors that may influence candidacy or recovery.
She then evaluates facial proportions, skin quality, soft-tissue position, muscle activity, bone and cartilage structure, symmetry, and the relationship among facial features. Photographs may be used to support planning and help explain the areas being discussed.
You will receive guidance about:
- Which surgical or nonsurgical options may be appropriate
- What each option can and cannot accomplish
- Expected incision placement or scarring
- Anesthesia and surgical setting
- Recovery and activity restrictions
- Potential risks and tradeoffs
- When results may become visible
- Whether procedures should be combined or staged
A consultation may confirm that the procedure you had in mind is appropriate. It may also reveal that a different or more focused treatment would address the concern more effectively.
For example, someone who feels that the face looks tired may initially assume a facelift is needed. Examination may show that upper-eyelid skin, lower-eyelid fullness, brow position, or cheek support is the primary issue.
Dr. Zellner may also recommend waiting, choosing a nonsurgical option, or not having a procedure when treatment is unlikely to provide meaningful benefit. The purpose of the consultation is to create a clear plan, not to pressure you into surgery.
Facial Surgery Safety, Recovery, and Results
Every facial surgery plan includes a discussion of preparation, anesthesia, incision placement, swelling, bruising, activity restrictions, scar care, potential risks, and follow-up.
Recovery varies considerably by procedure and patient. Eyelid surgery has a different healing pattern from facelift surgery or rhinoplasty. Combining procedures can also affect swelling, bruising, activity limitations, and the amount of help needed during early recovery.
Visible recovery and final healing are not the same. A patient may feel ready to return to work or social activity while swelling, scar maturation, and tissue refinement continue.
Some changes are noticeable within weeks. Final definition may take several months as the tissues settle. Rhinoplasty can continue changing for a year or longer, particularly around the nasal tip.
Dr. Zellner provides procedure-specific instructions and follows patients throughout recovery so questions can be addressed as healing progresses.
Natural-looking results depend on more than making a feature smaller or pulling skin tighter. Facial surgery requires an understanding of anatomy, proportion, tissue quality, function, and how one change may affect surrounding features.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Elizabeth Zellner brings experience in facial aesthetics, rhinoplasty, pediatric craniofacial surgery, and facial trauma reconstruction. Her approach emphasizes careful preparation, precise execution, and results intended to look appropriate for the individual patient.
Can Facial Plastic Surgery Procedures Be Combined?
Facial procedures may be combined when doing so is safe, supports the patient’s goals, and allows for a manageable recovery.
A facelift may be paired with eyelid surgery when aging affects both the lower face and eye area. Rhinoplasty may be considered alongside chin augmentation when limited chin projection affects profile balance. Skin resurfacing or injectable treatment may complement surgery when surface-level skin concerns or volume loss also need attention.
Combining procedures can create a more coordinated result and may consolidate anesthesia and recovery. It also increases surgical time and may make the early healing period more involved.
More surgery is not automatically better. Each additional procedure should address a distinct concern and add meaningful value to the overall result.
The decision depends on your health, anatomy, surgical time, recovery needs, support at home, and whether the treatments can be performed together safely. Some patients benefit from combining procedures, while others are better served by staging treatment.
Dr. Zellner explains both approaches and recommends a plan that prioritizes safety, clarity, and a realistic recovery.
Why Choose Zellner Plastic Surgery for Facial Surgery?
Facial surgery is personal. Patients want to feel heard, respected, and confident that the recommended plan reflects their goals rather than a trend or standard formula.
Zellner Plastic Surgery provides a discreet, professional environment where questions are encouraged and expectations are discussed openly.
Dr. Elizabeth G. Zellner has been certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery since 2018 and has been recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2022. Her background includes facial aesthetics, rhinoplasty, pediatric craniofacial surgery, and reconstructive care for facial trauma.
This range of experience supports an understanding of appearance, structure, function, proportion, and healing. It also allows Dr. Zellner to evaluate when a cosmetic concern may involve deeper anatomical or reconstructive considerations.
Credentials are important, but the consultation should also help you decide whether the surgeon’s communication style, treatment philosophy, and aesthetic judgment fit your priorities.
Our White Plains location is convenient for patients throughout Westchester County and the greater New York City, Connecticut, and New Jersey region. From the first consultation through postoperative visits, our team emphasizes preparation, clear communication, privacy, and attentive follow-through.
Schedule a Facial Plastic Surgery Consultation in White Plains
You do not need to arrive at your consultation knowing exactly which procedure you need. Bring your concerns, questions, and goals, and Dr. Zellner will help you understand the options.
Your visit will include an evaluation of your facial anatomy, a discussion of realistic outcomes, and clear guidance about surgery, nonsurgical alternatives, recovery, risks, and next steps.
Call 914-428-4700 to schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon at Zellner Plastic Surgery.
