When Alli Webb, a beauty entrepreneur in her late forties, noticed changes in her facial structure due to aging, she decided to consult a professional. She turned to Dr. Sarmela Sunder, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, to discuss both surgical and minimally invasive options.
Webb, who founded Drybar and Messy by Alli Webb, was open to the idea of a facelift but hesitated. With her busy schedule, committing to a lengthy recovery period was a concern.
Good Things Come in Threes
In the end, Webb and Dr. Sunder opted for a trio of minimally invasive procedures, including:
- buccal fat removal
- chin and jawline liposuction
- a radiofrequency neck-tightening treatment
Instead of the lengthy recovery a facelift would require, Webb needed only three to four days of downtime.
Her procedures took a total of 90 minutes, with each procedure lasting roughly 30 minutes and performed under twilight anesthesia.
According to Dr. Sunder, the cost of such combined procedures across the U.S. can be between $15,000 and $30,000. In California, Webb’s procedures amounted to $28,500, a significant saving compared to facelift prices, which can run from $55,000 to $150,000.
Aftercare & Healing
Dr. Sunder advised that the aftercare for procedures like Webb’s isn’t overly disruptive. Patients typically wear a headwrap for five to seven days to address swelling and should avoid strenuous exercise for at least a week.
Rather than strict bed rest, post-procedure time is more about “social downtime,” she clarified. While some patients might need prescription pain relief, many manage just fine with over-the-counter medications like extra-strength Tylenol.
Patients often appear quite swollen for the first couple of days, so if social plans can be adjusted, it might be wise.
What to Keep in Mind
Dr. Sunder highlighted that part of what made Webb’s results so impressive was her pre-existing skin quality. Not all patients will achieve the same stunning transformation from the same procedures.
“If someone decides to undergo this at a later age or has looser skin, the outcomes may not be as pronounced,” she noted.
Ideally, candidates for such procedures would be in their late thirties or early forties for optimal results.
Ultimately, it’s the surgeon’s duty to set realistic expectations tailored to each patient. Dr. Sunder emphasized this point, noting that in Webb’s case, her good skin quality contributed significantly to her successful results, which rival those of a facelift—without the steep cost and lengthy recovery time.
