What Makes Awake Facelifts and Neck Lifts Different?
An awake facelift and neck lift at Dr. Kenneth Kim Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills is a more advanced and refined approach to facial rejuvenation, without the need for general anesthesia. You can avoid the risks of general anesthesia such as, grogginess and nausea, prolonged recovery, heart attack, stroke, and blood clots which can be life-threatening.
In addition to the physical risks, research has also shown that an anesthetic risk linked to both general anesthesia and IV sedation is cognitive decline — including memory loss and decreased ability to analyze and process information, and an increased chance of dementia. For those who are concerned about long-term brain health and want to avoid the cognitive risks associated with general anesthesia and IV (intravenous) sedation, awake plastic surgery with local anesthesia offers a safer option.
If you have had negative experiences with general anesthesia in the past, or have medical conditions such as pulmonary disease, family history of blood clots, heart disease, sleep apnea, diabetes, or family history of dementia that increase your risks of anesthetic complications, Dr. Kim’s awake approach may be right for you. Many of our patients feel more at ease knowing that they are awake, conscious, and able to breathe on their own during their procedure. This could help reduce your anxiety and have a more positive surgical experience overall. Dr. Kim’s awake technique also leads to significantly faster recovery.
Importantly, staying awake allows for active facial feedback during the procedure, which could enhance your results. During your surgery, Dr. Kenneth Kim may ask you to move specific facial muscles, which allows him to make real-time surgical adjustments based on your natural facial expressions for a more customized and natural-looking result.
This interactive process enables Dr. Kim to customize your facelift and neck lift with greater anatomical precision, enhancing your features and restoring the most natural results without looking overdone or pulled. Unlike traditional facelifts performed under general anesthesia, Dr. Kim’s technique reveals how your face truly moves, ensuring that your results are more natural and balanced. Dr. Kim’s advanced understanding of facial anatomy across all ethnicities—including the thicker, heavier facial structures often seen in Korean and Asian patients—gives him exceptional control and precision that translate seamlessly to every facial type. His extensive experience with these more complex structures further enhances his ability to create refined, natural, and longer-lasting rejuvenation in patients with thinner or less dense tissue.
