Frequently Asked Questions Face Forward

At Face Forward, the highest-demand procedures are deep plane face and neck lift, brow lift, and lip lift—often combined for balanced rejuvenation. We also perform mini lift (select cases), fat grafting, hairline advancement, chin surgery (osseous genioplasty, augmentation/reduction,) and jaw implants when proportion calls for it. Houston patients want sharper jaw–neck definition, refreshed eyes/forehead, and results that hold up in real light and real life.

A deep plane facelift releases and repositions the SMAS/platysma layer and the skin as one unit. The deeper lift frees tethered ligaments, so the cheek, jowl, and neck lift more naturally with minimal skin tension. A SMAS plication/SMASectomy tightens the layer without full release. A mini lift is a smaller, targeted move for early laxity in younger patients. If you want durable midface, jawline, and neck change, deep plane is usually the right lane.

Start with board certification and a practice focused on the face, head, and neck. Review before-and-after photos shot in consistent lighting and angles; look for natural expressions, clean scars, and contours that make sense from multiple views. Read long-form reviews that describe planning, communication, and recovery, not just star ratings. Meet the surgeon who will operate and expect a candid discussion about options, risks, and recovery tailored to your anatomy. A great fit feels positive, precise, transparent, and calm, with a plan that makes both aesthetic and medical sense.

Yes. We do virtual consults for out-of-town patients. Dr. Rodman reviews photos patients send of themselves and meets with patients on a HIPAA secure private video chat to discuss your goals, your anatomy, and then develops a surgical plan with you. In the same video visit, our patient care coordinator can assist with planning nursing care post op, lodging for travelers and follow-up visits. Most patients fly in 1–2 days before surgery and stay 10–14 days for checks and early healing before returning home with a clear plan.

Both complete rigorous surgical training, but a facial plastic surgeon devotes both residency training and fellowship to focus on the anatomy of the face, head, and neck. That specialization matters for procedures that rely on millimeter-level changes like rhinoplasty, brow lift, lip lift, and hairline advancement. Specialization on only the face can be the difference between a good versus an outstanding result. Additionally, Dr. Rodman did focused training in craniofacial surgery, and is one of the few surgeons who is able to cosmetically improve the bones of the face as well as the soft tissue. This additional specialized training is key to her excellent outcomes, especially osseous genioplasty and other bony facial work. You benefit from a surgeon who lives in facial anatomy daily, understands proportions across genders and ethnicities, and builds plans that age well instead of chasing short-term trends.

Costs vary based on the combination of procedures that will best achieve your goals (deep plane facelift/neck, browlift, lip lift, fat grafting), operating time, anesthesia, and any combined procedures like chin augmentation or limited liposuction for definition. Because anatomy and goals vary, an in-person or virtual consult is the only way to get a number that’s accurate for you. Price ranges online can be misleading, as they may not include OR and anesthesia fees or may not incorporate the best procedures for you. You will receive an itemized estimate that separates surgeon’s fee, facility, anesthesia, and structured follow-up so nothing feels vague.

Choose deep plane when there’s midface descent, jowling, neck heaviness, or excess/loose skin in the face and neck. Choose a mini lift when neck skin laxity is mild, the skin is good quality, and fullness is limited to the area under the chin, and no real lift in the face is needed. We’ll map bone, soft tissue, and ligaments in consultation and show you the realistic win for each path.

Non-surgical care can sharpen results or bridge time before surgery. We use Renuvion skin tightening when appropriate (often paired with a mini lift), Morpheus 8 to improve skin tone and texture, targeted resurfacing with the Clear and Brilliant laser for fine lines and sun texture, and select neuromodulators and fillers when subtle softening improves balance around surgical work. We don’t push quick fixes as a substitute for structural change. Instead, we map how non-surgical tools can support a surgical plan or extend longevity, keeping the routine simple enough to follow in Houston’s heat and busy schedules.

Most clients plan 7–10 days of social downtime for a lip lift or brow lift, 5-7 days for a mini lift with Renuvion, and 2–3 weeks for a facelift/neck lift. Swelling tapers over weeks; scars mature and fade over months. Houston’s climate adds two rules: shade and hydration. We give clear guidance on elevation, cooling, walks, and gentle movement, and staged return to activity. The goal isn’t just speed; it’s a controlled recovery that protects the quality of your final result.

We understand that our patients are busy professionals with full lives. While some downtime is necessary (you deserve to relax and be cared for!), we offer several adjunct therapies complimentary for our patients. The first is Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy (HBOT). Patients lie in our HBO chamber for 1 hour a day to improve oxygen delivery to healing tissues, speed the regrowth of new blood vessels, and ultimately accelerate healing. We also provide Arnica and tablets, and cream. Arnica is an herbal supplement known to decrease inflammation, bruising, and swelling. We provide clear guidance on post-operative diet and nutrition to ensure your body has the building blocks and fuel it needs to heal. Finally, we provide all patients with external incisions with a medical-grade scar gel to ensure near-invisible healing of scars.

Yes. In a deep plane facelift, freeing the retaining ligaments allows the face to lift in its native vectors, so the result reads rested and youthful, not pulled. With stable weight and good skincare, improvement holds for many years. The neck restructuring after a deep-plane necklift ages especially well when the deep neck structures are addressed. For many patients, heaviness in the neck is due to deep fat, loose muscles, and sagging glands. In a deep neck lift, Dr. Rodman removes the excess tissue, and these structures do not return! Your new neck contour will be sleek and stable for many years to come. While skin continues to age, a deep plane facelift lifts the deeper structures in the face, not just the skin. The results of a deep plane face and necklift are much longer lasting since we are not relying on skin tension to create a lift, as is often done in a traditional SMAS facelift. Mini lifts fade sooner because the move is smaller.

Yes. We partner with reputable third-party lenders like Cherry and Patient Fi, and accept major credit card payment methods. Your coordinator will walk you through financing options and repayment timelines. In most cases, patients can get approved before the consult or same day with no hard credit check, so you can book with clarity. We also stage procedures when that approach makes medical and aesthetic sense, helping you prioritize the changes that deliver the most visible impact first.

Expect a conversation about your concerns, a physical exam that checks bone, soft tissue, skin quality, and symmetry, as well as a thorough review of your medical history and current health. Dr. Rodman will give you an explanation of what will and won’t change with each option and what to expect. Ask to see case examples that resemble your anatomy and age. You should leave with a written plan, realistic timelines, scar locations, recovery expectations, and costs. If a non-surgical option can accomplish the same outcome or provide an additional improvement to surgery, she will explain that, too.