Who is Dr. Suzanne Trott?

Suzanne A. Trott, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a Stanford-trained, double board-certified female plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California with more than 22 years in private practice. She is certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

What makes Dr. Trott's Beverly Hills practice different?

Dr. Trott operates on one patient per surgical day, so the full attention of the surgeon and team belongs to a single patient. It is a surgeon-owned private practice focused on natural results: the goal isn't to look different, the goal is to look just right.

Is Dr. Suzanne Trott board certified?

Yes. Dr. Trott is double board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery, and she is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).

Where is Dr. Trott's office located?

462 N. Linden Drive, Suite 240, Beverly Hills, CA 90212. The practice can be reached at +1 (310) 275-3990 and serves Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and out-of-town patients.

What procedures does Dr. Trott perform?

Face procedures including facelift, neck lift, brow lift, eyelid surgery and fat transfer; breast surgery including augmentation, lift, reduction, revision and implant removal; body contouring including tummy tuck, liposuction and mommy makeover; plus injectables, lasers, skin treatments and wellness services such as alloClae.

How do I book a consultation with Dr. Trott?

Request a consultation at https://drtrott.com/contact or call the Beverly Hills office at +1 (310) 275-3990. The practice is accepting new patients and offers CareCredit and financing.

I'm only in my late 30s, is it too early for a facelift, or should I wait until things sag more?

Age is not the criterion; tissue behavior is. If your skin folds when lifted and settling has reached the jawline, a lift is what corrects it in your late 30s or at 65. If it snaps back with only early jowling, threads, energy devices or volume are better trades, and Dr. Trott will say so.

How long am I really looking at before I can be seen in public without people asking questions?

Most patients feel comfortable in low-key public settings around 2-3 weeks, once the bulk of bruising and swelling has resolved with makeup coverage. Dr. Trott typically removes sutures around the incision lines at 7-10 days post-op, after which residual swelling continues to subside gradually over the following 4-6 weeks. Some subtle puffiness, particularly around the jawline, can persist for a couple of months but is generally only noticeable to you. Planning close to three weeks off from work or social obligations is a realistic, conservative window.

Will a facelift do anything for my hooded upper eyelids, or do I need a separate procedure?

Not on its own, a facelift addresses the lower two-thirds of the face and neck by repositioning the SMAS layer and tightening the platysma, but it doesn't correct excess upper eyelid skin or brow position. Dr. Trott frequently combines a facelift with a blepharoplasty or brow lift in the same operative session when a patient's aging pattern spans both zones, since the incision planning and recovery timeline overlap well. She'll map out which areas each procedure addresses during your consultation so nothing is left untouched that you were hoping to improve.

I've heard about deep plane versus SMAS facelifts, does the technique actually change my recovery or just the result?

Both, to some extent, a deep plane approach repositions tissue at a deeper anatomical layer in one connected unit, which can produce a smoother midface result but generally involves a similar or slightly longer initial swelling phase compared to a traditional SMAS plication. Dr. Trott selects the technique based on your specific facial anatomy and the degree of midface descent rather than defaulting to one method for everyone. She'll explain during consultation which approach suits your face and what that means for your specific recovery timeline.

Will insurance or my HSA cover any part of this since it also improves my neck skin irritation?

Rarely, a facelift is considered cosmetic surgery even when it incidentally reduces skin-fold irritation, so standard insurance typically won't provide coverage. Some patients are able to use HSA or FSA funds toward the portion of care classified as medically related if a physician documents a qualifying condition, but this is uncommon for facelift specifically and worth confirming with your plan administrator beforehand. Dr. Trott's office can provide the documentation needed for you to submit to your insurer, though approval isn't something she can guarantee.

My neck is my biggest concern but my face looks fine, do I need a full facelift or something more limited?

Often a more limited approach works well, when jowling and midface laxity are minimal but neck skin and platysma banding are the primary concern, Dr. Trott may recommend a neck lift alone rather than a full facelift. This typically involves tightening the platysma muscle and removing excess submental fat and skin through a shorter incision under the chin, sometimes only 3-4 cm in length, plus a small postauricular extension if needed. She'll assess your specific proportions at consultation to determine whether isolating treatment to the neck gives you the result you're after without operating on areas that don't need it.

Traditional Deep Plane Facelift Beverly Hills

Dr. Trott's point of view

“A great facelift is deep-layer work; the skin is only the upholstery. When the SMAS carries the tension, nothing looks pulled and no one can name what you had done.”

Suzanne A. Trott, M.D., F.A.C.S.

About Dr. Trott →

Ideal Candidates For a Facelift

Often, individuals interested in a facelift procedure are frustrated by advanced lines and wrinkles in the mid or lower regions of the face. Facelift surgery can target one or more areas, depending on your personal needs. It is important to note that age won't always define the most effective time to have cosmetic facial surgery. There are numerous unique aspects, as well as multiple lift types, to inform the choice. The method performed will vary for candidates under 50 versus those in their 60s and 70s. Skin laxity is one of the key elements in the decision-making process. Further, facelift patients need to be in good overall health, be a nonsmoker, and approach the procedure with realistic result expectations.

Surgical Facelift Technique

Regardless of your aesthetic concerns, a facelift is planned by zone. The upper, middle and lower face age at different rates, so the plan usually combines two or three of the areas below. In each one the deeper support layer is repositioned rather than the skin alone being pulled, which is what keeps the result looking like you. Eyelid surgery, fat grafting or a small amount of filler is often added to complement the lift.

Brow Lift

The upper third often gives the first signs: the brow descends, the forehead lines deepen, and skin settles over the upper lids. A brow lift resets brow position and opens the eye area, and it can be done endoscopically through short incisions hidden in the hair. Upper blepharoplasty is frequently added when excess lid skin remains.

Mid Face Lift

The mid face is where cheek support drops and the folds beside the nose and mouth deepen. A mid face lift repositions the cheek support and the fat pad over it, softening the nasolabial folds and the marionette lines without overfilling the face.

Lower Face & Neck Lift

The jawline, jowls and neck contour are what most patients notice first. This lift repositions the lower facial support, tightens the platysma muscle in the neck, and removes excess skin so the jawline reads cleanly and the neck sits smoother. Submental platysmal plication and neck lift are performed within this zone when the neck needs separate attention.

Incisions

The comparison

Facelift technique comparison
What you care about	Skin-only lift	SMAS lift	END-of-Aging Endoscopic Deep Plane Facelift	Traditional Deep Plane Facelift
What gets moved	Mostly skin	Support layer tightened or repositioned	Skin + fat + SMAS as one unit	Skin + fat + SMAS as one unit
Ligaments	Usually left intact	Varies by technique	Released so the face can rise	Released so the face can rise
Direction of lift	Skin redraping; direction varies	Tailored to the technique	More vertical lift	More lateral pull
Surgical access	Open access	Open access	Endoscope through smaller incisions	Open access through longer incisions
Scarring	Longer incision pattern	Longer incision pattern	Less scarring; incisions hidden in the hair	Longer scars around the ears
Midface / cheek	Does not directly reposition deep cheek tissue	Depends on the approach	Targets descended cheek tissue	Targets descended cheek tissue
Scar in front of the ear	Yes	Yes	No, in the right candidate	Yes — used when extra skin must be removed
Where lift support comes from	Primarily skin	The SMAS support layer	Deeper tissue; skin is not the sole support	Deeper tissue; skin is not the sole support
Best for	Surface laxity	Jawline-focused aging	Structural aging with limited extra skin	Structural aging with more skin redundancy

What gets moved

Skin-only liftMostly skin

SMAS liftSupport layer tightened or repositioned

Endoscopic deep planeSkin + fat + SMAS as one unit

Traditional deep planeSkin + fat + SMAS as one unit

Ligaments

Skin-only liftUsually left intact

SMAS liftVaries by technique

Endoscopic deep planeReleased so the face can rise

Traditional deep planeReleased so the face can rise

Direction of lift

Skin-only liftSkin redraping; direction varies

SMAS liftTailored to the technique

Endoscopic deep planeMore vertical lift

Traditional deep planeMore lateral pull

Surgical access

Skin-only liftOpen access

SMAS liftOpen access

Endoscopic deep planeEndoscope through smaller incisions

Traditional deep planeOpen access through longer incisions

Scarring

Skin-only liftLonger incision pattern

SMAS liftLonger incision pattern

Endoscopic deep planeLess scarring; incisions hidden in the hair

Traditional deep planeLonger scars around the ears

Midface / cheek

Skin-only liftDoes not directly reposition deep cheek tissue

SMAS liftDepends on the approach

Endoscopic deep planeTargets descended cheek tissue

Traditional deep planeTargets descended cheek tissue

Scar in front of the ear

Skin-only liftYes

SMAS liftYes

Endoscopic deep planeNo, in the right candidate

Traditional deep planeYes — used when extra skin must be removed

Where lift support comes from

Skin-only liftPrimarily skin

SMAS liftThe SMAS support layer

Endoscopic deep planeDeeper tissue; skin is not the sole support

Traditional deep planeDeeper tissue; skin is not the sole support

Best for

Skin-only liftSurface laxity

SMAS liftJawline-focused aging

Endoscopic deep planeStructural aging with limited extra skin

Traditional deep planeStructural aging with more skin redundancy

END-of-Aging and traditional deep plane facelifts both lift the deeper support tissues. The access and lift directions shown reflect Dr. Trott’s techniques. Incision placement and scarring vary with anatomy and healing.

What to Expect

After surgery, we will monitor your health before you are released to go home with a friend or family member. Before your facelift, Dr. Trott or a member of her team will schedule your follow-up visits and go over tips to help you heal faster. It's normal to have swelling and puffiness, slight to moderate pain, and soreness, which can be helped by pain medication. You should feel and physically look normal after 2 – 4 weeks. You will see a softer, more youthful appearance. Overall, your face will appear lifted and younger-looking.

The Right Facelift for You

Cosmetic facial surgery can take years off your face and provide you a rejuvenated appearance. Today, there is a wide variety of choices for surgery, depending on your personal concerns and goals. This surgery is meant to make you younger-looking but natural. For more information, we invite you to contact Suzanne A. Trott, M.D., F.A.C.S. in Beverly Hills, CA to schedule your private consultation.

Q&A

Frequently asked

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Facelift in Beverly Hills

Local logistics, where consultations and surgery happen, how long to stay, and what recovery looks like in Beverly Hills.

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