Facelift Frontiers: East vs. West Aesthetics, Deep Plane Debate, Facial Nerve Safety, HBOT Recovery, and the Face Yoga Trend

Park Avenue plastic surgeon Dr. Darren Smith and Park Avenue internist and longevity expert Dr. Amanda Kahn unpack the hottest “look good, feel good” insights and solutions—this time with Beverly Hills facial plastic surgeon Dr. Babak Azizzadeh.What you’ll hear in this episode:East vs. West Coast aesthetics: What’s genuinely different now—and how social media narrowed the gap.Choosing a surgeon for their aesthetic (not their zip code): Why “aesthetic fit” matters more than geography.Deep plane vs. SMAS facelifts: Ligament release and tissue gliding vs. pulling, and what that means for natural, lasting results.Facial nerve safety: Why temporary weakness rates may be creeping up—and what modern repair can do if recovery stalls.Bell’s palsy basics: Time-sensitive steroid/antiviral care, follow-up, and treating synkinesis.Hyperbaric oxygen (HBOT): When it meaningfully speeds recovery (lasers, revisions, select facelifts) and when it’s more hassle than help.GLP-1 microdosing & peptides: What’s common in LA pre-ops, what’s evidence-based now, and why peptides could be “the GLP-1 of 2026.”Face yoga: The surprising tradeoff—firmer face, but potentially more neck banding.The $750k facelift headline: Price sanity checks, word-of-mouth reality, and why outcomes track the surgeon—not the fee.Who’s getting facelifts: Earlier (40s) and later (70s+)—and how longevity medicine is changing candidacy.The future: Integrated aesthetic medicine—coordinating surgery, devices, and medical longevity care into a single plan.Resources and links:Learn more about Dr. Babak Azizzadeh hereFind more information about Dr. Amanda Kahn's practice hereYou can read more about Dr. Darren Smith's practice hereVerify board-certified plastic surgeons via the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS)Considering facial plastic surgery? Explore the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS)Curious about HBOT safety and indications? Review the NYU Langone Helen L. & Martin S. Kimmel Hyperbaric & Advanced Wound Healing CenterLearning about GLP-1s and perioperative considerations? Check the American Society of Anesthesiologists guidance