Ultherapy Skin Tightening in Santa Monica

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Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center  ·  Santa Monica & Beverly Hills, Los Angeles

Ultherapy Los Angeles

Are you trying to decide between a non-surgical facelift with Ultherapy or a facelift surgery? Schedule a consultation with a leading plastic surgeon in Los Angeles who can guide you through the complex decision-making of each option. 

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UCLAeducated Plastic Surgeon
FACSDouble Board-Certified
UltherapyPRIME On-Site
SurgicalFacelift & Neck Lift
RealSelf 100Top Surgeon Designation

The Complete Facial Rejuvenation Program

 

Non-Surgical & Surgical Face and Neck Lifting in Los Angeles: A Surgeon’s Perspective

The quest for a more youthful, lifted face and neck is the most universal aesthetic concern in plastic surgery — and the treatment landscape has never been more complex or more full of options that promise more than they deliver. From Ultherapy and HIFU to radiofrequency microneedling, from thread lifts to mini facelifts, the array of choices available to Los Angeles patients seeking facial rejuvenation is vast, and the marketing claims surrounding these treatments often outpace the clinical evidence supporting them.

At Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center in Santa Monica, Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian offers something genuinely rare in the Los Angeles aesthetics market: a single consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can perform both non-surgical energy-based treatments and surgical facelifts — and who will recommend the actual best option for your anatomy, age, and degree of facial aging, rather than defaulting to the most profitable or most marketable choice. When Ultherapy is the right answer, Dr. Karamanoukian offers Ultherapy with the DeepSEE imaging that makes it meaningfully superior to HIFU alternatives. When surgery is the right answer, he offers the full spectrum from mini facelift through deep plane facelift and neck lift with platysmal plication.

This complete spectrum of care, from non-invasive to the most technically sophisticated surgical procedure available in facial rejuvenation, is what defines the standard of care at Kare Plastic Surgery and distinguishes it from the med spas, laser clinics, and non-surgeon aesthetics practices that populate the Santa Monica and Beverly Hills market.

Face & Neck Rejuvenation Options at Kare

  • Ultherapy PRIME (MFU-V) with DeepSEE imaging — FDA-cleared skin lifting
  • Morpheus8 RF microneedling — subdermal tissue remodeling
  • Sofwave SYNCHRONOUS ULTRASOUND PARALLEL BEAM technology
  • Thermage FLX radiofrequency skin tightening
  • Vbeam pulsed-dye laser for skin quality enhancement
  • Injectable combination with neuromodulators and fillers
  • Mini facelift (short-scar SMAS facelift)
  • Traditional (SMAS) facelift — comprehensive facial rejuvenation
  • Deep plane facelift — for significant midface and jowl correction
  • Neck lift with platysmal plication and submental liposuction
  • Brow lift — endoscopic and temporal techniques

Surgeon Expertise

 

Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian: Surgery or Laser for Skin Tightening?

Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS is a UCLA-trained, double board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and RealSelf 100 designee with over two decades of experience in facial cosmetic surgery. He has performed hundreds of facelifts — including SMAS facelifts, deep plane facelifts, mini facelifts, and neck lifts — and maintains on-site access to the most advanced non-surgical facial tightening technologies available, including Ultherapy PRIME, Morpheus8, Sofwave, and Thermage.

This dual capability is critically important for one fundamental reason: a provider who only offers non-surgical treatments will always recommend non-surgical treatments. A provider who only offers surgery will always recommend surgery. Dr. Karamanoukian offers both — and his only obligation is to recommend what will actually produce the result each patient is seeking. 

Understanding precisely where the SMAS layer sits, how it attaches to the overlying skin, where the facial nerve branches run, and how the retaining ligaments of the face age — knowledge that comes from years of operating in these tissue planes — makes Dr. Karamanoukian a more precise and effective Ultherapy practitioner than any provider without surgical training, because he understands exactly what the ultrasound energy needs to accomplish and whether it is reaching the correct anatomical target.

“The most important question in facial rejuvenation is not ‘which treatment do you want’ but ‘what does your anatomy need’? Ultherapy is a genuinely effective treatment for the right patient. 

— Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS — Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

The Science of Ultherapy

 

How Ultherapy Works: Non-Surgical Skin Tightening

Ultherapy  (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound with visualization) is the FDA-cleared non-surgical gold standard for skin lifting and tightening of the brow, neck, and under-chin region, with additional indications for improving lines and wrinkles on the décolleté. Its mechanism of action is precise and clinically validated: focused ultrasound energy is delivered in controlled bursts to the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) — the fibromuscular layer approximately 4.5mm beneath the skin surface that plastic surgeons physically tighten during a surgical facelift — creating microscopic zones of thermal coagulation (called focal thermal zones, or FTZs) that stimulate the wound healing cascade and produce new collagen and elastin over the following 2–6 months.

What distinguishes Ultherapy from all other HIFU devices on the market is its real-time DeepSEE imaging capability. The treating physician can visualize the exact tissue planes being targeted — confirming that the energy is reaching the SMAS and not the bone, blood vessel, or nerve branch directly adjacent — before each series of pulses is delivered. This transforms Ultherapy from an educated guessing game into a precision-guided medical procedure, and explains why its clinical evidence base is substantially stronger than the body of evidence supporting generic HIFU devices.

Ultherapy vs. RF Microneedling: Which Is Right for You?

The non-surgical skin tightening market in Los Angeles is crowded with competing technologies, each marketed with compelling claims. Dr. Karamanoukian’s clinical assessment of these technologies is evidence-based and frank:

Technology Mechanism Imaging Ideal Patient Longevity
Ultherapy 
HIFU		 High Intensity Focused Ultrasound to SMAS layer (4.5mm depth) ✓ Real-time DeepSEE Mild–moderate laxity; brow, jowl, neck, décolleté 12–18 months
Morpheus8
RF Microneedling		 Subdermal RF energy at programmable depth (up to 8mm) ✗ No imaging Skin laxity + texture; all skin tones; lower face, neck, body 12–18 months
Sofwave
SYNCHRONOUS Ultrasound		 Parallel ultrasound beams at 1.5mm depth in mid-dermis ✗ No imaging Mild laxity; wrinkle reduction; skin quality improvement 6–12 months
Thermage FLX
Monopolar RF		 Radiofrequency energy heating dermis and subdermis ✗ No imaging Skin tightening; eye area; body laxity 12 months
         
4.5mmDepth at which Ultherapy targets the SMAS — the same layer a surgeon tightens in a facelift
2–6 moTimeline to peak results as new collagen matures
12–18 moTypical duration of Ultherapy results
FDACleared for brow lift, neck, under-chin, and décolleté

Non-Surgical Treatments

 

Non-Surgical Face & Neck Tightening at Kare Plastic Surgery

Dr. Karamanoukian selects the non-surgical modality — or combination — based on the degree of facial laxity, the anatomical areas of concern, the patient’s skin type, and a frank assessment of how much improvement a non-surgical approach can realistically deliver.

01

Ultherapy 

The FDA-cleared gold standard for non-surgical skin lifting. Ultherapy PRIME uses DeepSEE real-time imaging to guide micro-focused ultrasound energy precisely to the SMAS layer — the same tissue plane surgically tightened in a facelift — creating focal thermal zones that stimulate new collagen production over 2–6 months. Treatment areas include the brow (lifting the lateral brow 1–2mm clinically), the jowl line, the neck, the under-chin (submentum), and the décolleté. A single Ultherapy PRIME session typically takes 60–90 minutes. Results last 12–18 months. Dr. Karamanoukian’s surgical knowledge of the facial SMAS anatomy makes him a more precise Ultherapy practitioner than any non-surgeon provider — because he understands exactly what the ultrasound must achieve at each depth to produce the desired lift.

Best For: Mild to moderate brow sagging, early jowling, early neck laxity, under-chin looseness, décolleté lines; patients not yet ready for surgery
02

Morpheus8 RF Microneedling

Morpheus8 delivers bipolar radiofrequency energy through an array of gold-tipped microneedles at programmable depths up to 8mm — deeper than Ultherapy’s standard cartridges — remodeling the subdermal tissue matrix and producing simultaneous skin tightening and collagen induction. On the lower face and neck, Morpheus8 is particularly effective for improving early jowling, neck laxity, and the pre-platysmal fat layer that contributes to early neck blunting. Its ability to bypass the epidermis makes it safe for all skin tones including Fitzpatrick IV–VI. The combination of Ultherapy PRIME (targeting the deep SMAS) and Morpheus8 (remodeling the mid-dermis and subdermal fat) is Dr. Karamanoukian’s preferred non-surgical combination protocol for patients with mild to moderate facial laxity seeking the maximum non-surgical improvement.

Best For: Lower face laxity, early jowling, neck skin quality, subdermal fat remodeling, skin tone irregularity; combination with Ultherapy for maximum non-surgical lift
03

Sofwave

Sofwave uses SYNCHRONOUS ULTRASOUND PARALLEL BEAM (SUPERB) technology — delivering multiple parallel ultrasound beams simultaneously at a 1.5mm depth in the mid-dermis — to stimulate collagen production with minimal surface disruption and essentially no downtime. It is FDA-cleared for lifting the eyebrow and submental area, and for reducing the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles. Sofwave’s gentler energy profile makes it appropriate for maintenance treatments between Ultherapy sessions, for patients with early-stage skin laxity seeking a comfortable no-downtime option, and as a complement to injectables in a comprehensive non-surgical rejuvenation program. Treatment time is 30–45 minutes with immediate return to all activities.

Best For: Mild laxity, maintenance treatment, patients with minimal downtime availability, early anti-aging intervention, supplement to Ultherapy or Morpheus8 protocols
04

Thermage FLX

Thermage FLX uses monopolar radiofrequency energy to heat the dermis and subdermis uniformly across a treatment area, stimulating collagen contraction and new collagen production without needles or surface disruption. It is particularly effective for the eye area — where its Total Tip 3.0 applicator safely treats the upper and lower eyelid skin — and for larger body areas including the abdomen and thighs. On the face and neck, Thermage provides gentle tightening of the overall skin envelope and is often combined with Ultherapy (for deep SMAS targeting) to address both the superficial and deep components of facial laxity in a single comprehensive treatment session.

Best For: Eyelid and periorbital skin laxity, overall facial skin quality, combination with Ultherapy for comprehensive full-face tightening, body skin laxity
05

HIDEF Non-Surgical Facelift Protocol

The most effective non-surgical facial rejuvenation outcomes are achieved with a multimodal protocol that addresses multiple depths of the facial tissue simultaneously. Dr. Karamanoukian’s comprehensive non-surgical facelift combines Ultherapy PRIME (deep SMAS targeting at 4.5mm), Morpheus8 (mid-dermal and subdermal remodeling at 1–4mm), and Sofwave (superficial dermal collagen at 1.5mm) in a sequenced treatment plan designed to address every depth of facial aging from the foundational SMAS layer to the skin surface. Neuromodulators and structural fillers are incorporated into the plan to address volume loss and dynamic lines that energy devices cannot correct.

Best For: Patients seeking the maximum non-surgical rejuvenation before considering surgery; maintenance of surgical results; patients who are not surgical candidates for medical reasons
06

Injectables: Neuromodulators & Structural Fillers

Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin (neuromodulators) address dynamic facial lines — the wrinkles caused by facial muscle movement — that energy devices cannot treat. Structural fillers (Sculptra, Radiesse, Juvederm Voluma) restore volume loss in the temples, midface, and jaw that is a component of facial aging as important as laxity. Dr. Karamanoukian’s surgical understanding of facial anatomy and the three-dimensional aging process allows him to use injectables with a physician’s precision — restoring facial structure rather than inflating it, and complementing energy-based tightening with volume restoration at the anatomically appropriate sites.

Best For: Dynamic wrinkles (Botox/Dysport), facial volume loss (Sculptra, Voluma), jaw definition, temple hollowing; always combined with energy-based tightening for comprehensive rejuvenation

When Surgery Is the Answer

 

Facelift Surgery in Los Angeles: When Non-Surgical Treatment Is Not Enough

For patients with moderate to significant facial aging — meaningful jowling, deep nasolabial folds, prominent marionette lines, excess neck skin, or platysmal banding — surgical facelift produces a transformative result that no energy device or injectable can replicate. Dr. Karamanoukian’s honest consultation process always includes this conversation.

Mini Facelift (Short-Scar Facelift)

The mini facelift is the entry-level surgical facelift — a limited-incision procedure that uses a shorter scar confined to the area around the ear to access and tighten the SMAS and remove a modest amount of excess facial and neck skin. It is ideally suited for patients with early to moderate jowling, mild midface descent, and early neck laxity who are in their early 40s to mid-50s and are not yet candidates for a full facelift.

Dr. Karamanoukian performs mini facelifts under local anesthesia with oral sedation in many cases — eliminating the costs and risks of general anesthesia and allowing a faster, more comfortable recovery. Most mini facelift patients take 7–10 days away from social activities and return to work within 1–2 weeks. Results typically last 5–8 years, representing a significantly greater investment of longevity than any non-surgical alternative for the same degree of anatomical change.

Traditional SMAS Facelift

The traditional (full) SMAS facelift is the comprehensive facial rejuvenation procedure — repositioning and tightening the SMAS layer, elevating the descended midface tissues, removing excess facial and neck skin, and restoring youthful facial contours across all three facial thirds. Incisions run from within the hairline, around the ear, and into the posterior hairline — well-concealed within the natural borders of the ear and hair when placed with surgical precision.

Dr. Karamanoukian’s SMAS facelift technique emphasizes natural, rested results rather than the pulled, windswept appearance associated with older techniques. He addresses facial aging in three dimensions — repositioning volume and tissue rather than simply pulling skin — producing rejuvenation that typically appears 10–15 years younger than the patient’s pre-operative appearance while remaining entirely undetectable as surgical. Recovery is 2–3 weeks from social activities with full results visible at 3–6 months. Results last 10–15 years.

Deep Plane Facelift

The deep plane facelift is the most technically advanced facelift technique available — releasing and repositioning the facial retaining ligaments and deep facial fat compartments in a way that the traditional SMAS facelift does not. By operating in the deep plane between the SMAS and the underlying facial muscles, Dr. Karamanoukian achieves superior correction of the nasolabial folds, more natural midface elevation, and more durable results than skin-only or standard SMAS techniques.

Deep plane facelifts are indicated for patients with significant midface descent, deep nasolabial folds, significant jowling, and pronounced facial aging that a traditional SMAS facelift would not fully address. The procedure requires a higher level of surgical expertise and anatomical knowledge than standard facelift techniques — but produces the most comprehensive and longest-lasting rejuvenation outcomes currently achievable with surgical intervention. Dr. Karamanoukian’s UCLA training and extensive facial surgery experience make him one of the Los Angeles area’s qualified practitioners of this advanced technique.

Neck Lift with Platysmal Plication

Neck aging — characterized by platysmal banding (the vertical neck cords visible when straining), excess submental fat, skin laxity producing the “turkey neck” appearance, and loss of cervicomental angle definition — is one of the most revealing signs of facial aging and one of the most poorly addressed by non-surgical treatments. While Ultherapy and Morpheus8 produce measurable improvement in early neck laxity, significant platysmal banding and excess neck skin require surgical correction.

Dr. Karamanoukian’s neck lift procedure addresses all components of neck aging: submental liposuction to remove excess pre-platysmal fat, platysmal plication (suturing the platysmal edges together at the midline to correct banding and recreate neck contour), SMAS tightening at the jawline, and skin excision through an incision designed with meticulous scar planning to heal with minimal trace. The result is a dramatic improvement in jawline definition and neck contour — the most consistent source of post-operative patient satisfaction in his facial surgery practice. Neck lift is frequently combined with facelift for comprehensive facial rejuvenation.

Non-surgical then surgical: Many patients benefit from beginning with Ultherapy and Morpheus8 treatments in their late 30s and 40s to maintain skin quality and delay the need for surgery, then transitioning to surgical intervention when the degree of anatomical change exceeds what energy devices can address. Dr. Karamanoukian plans this staged, longitudinal approach to facial aging with each patient — designing a non-surgical maintenance program that supplements and extends surgical results rather than competing with them.

Patient Selection

 

Who Is the Right Candidate for Each Treatment? 

✓   Ideal Candidates for Non-Surgical Facelift & Ultherapy at Kare Plastic Surgery

  • Adults in their late 30s to early 50s with mild to moderate skin laxity of the brow, jowl, and neck — the optimal demographic for Ultherapy PRIME, where the SMAS and retaining ligaments retain sufficient integrity to respond to focal thermal zone stimulation with meaningful, visible lift
  • Patients who are not yet ready for surgery for personal, professional, or lifestyle reasons and who want the most effective available non-surgical alternative while maintaining the option for future surgical intervention without compromising that decision
  • Those with early brow descent, lateral brow hooding, or mild forehead heaviness who wish to avoid surgical brow lift — Ultherapy PRIME produces clinically measured brow elevation of 1–2mm in appropriate candidates
  • Patients with early neck laxity and mild submental fullness who are not yet candidates for a surgical neck lift — the combination of Ultherapy PRIME at 4.5mm depth with Morpheus8 subdermal RF remodeling addresses both the deep tissue and the overlying skin quality simultaneously
  • Individuals seeking maintenance of surgical facelift results — annual Ultherapy and Morpheus8 sessions extend the longevity of surgical outcomes and delay the need for revision surgery
  • Patients with darker Fitzpatrick skin types (III–VI) who want non-surgical facial lifting without the post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation risk of surface laser treatments — Morpheus8 bypasses the epidermis entirely and is safe and effective for all skin tones
  • Those in their 30s who want to invest preventatively in maintaining their youthful facial architecture before significant laxity develops — stimulating SMAS-level collagen remodeling before the tissue has been significantly attenuated by aging produces better long-term results than waiting until laxity is advanced
  • Patients who have been recommended by a non-surgeon provider to have Ultherapy or HIFU for a degree of facial aging that Dr. Karamanoukian would consider at the surgical threshold — who want a second opinion from a board-certified plastic surgeon before committing to non-surgical treatment
  • Post-surgical facelift patients (6+ months post-operatively) who want to optimize skin quality and maintain early tightening results with periodic energy-based treatments as part of a long-term facial maintenance program
  • Adults who are good surgical candidates anatomically but who want to exhaust non-surgical options first and receive an honest, unbiased assessment from a surgeon who will tell them clearly when surgery will produce a meaningfully superior outcome

The honest threshold: When jowling creates a visible break in the jawline, when platysmal bands are visible at rest in the neck, when excess skin on the neck rolls and folds, or when nasolabial folds are deep and persistent at rest — these findings typically exceed what any non-surgical treatment can meaningfully correct. Dr. Karamanoukian will tell you this at consultation, provide before-and-after examples of what each approach can realistically achieve for your anatomy, and give you the information needed to make a genuinely informed decision about your care.

Your Treatment Experience

 

What to Expect: Ultherapy & Non-Surgical Facelift at Kare Plastic Surgery

 

Comprehensive Facial Assessment & Aging Analysis

Dr. Karamanoukian performs a thorough three-dimensional assessment of your facial aging — evaluating skin laxity, SMAS integrity, volume loss, retaining ligament ptosis, platysmal activity, and skin quality at every facial region. He measures the degree of brow descent, the extent of jowling, the cervicomental angle, and the quality of neck contour. Photographs are taken for baseline documentation. You receive his honest recommendation: what combination of non-surgical treatments will produce meaningful improvement for your anatomy, and at what point he would recommend surgical evaluation instead of or in addition to non-surgical treatment.

 

Treatment Planning & Sequencing

For patients pursuing non-surgical treatment, a personalized protocol is designed — specifying which devices will be used, in which sequence, at which session intervals, and what the realistic expected improvement will be. For combination Ultherapy + Morpheus8 protocols, the scheduling of sessions is explained along with the expected improvement timeline. If injectable adjuncts (neuromodulators, structural fillers) are part of the plan, these are scheduled to complement rather than compete with energy-based treatments.

 

Ultherapy PRIME Treatment Session

A physician-strength topical numbing cream is applied 45–60 minutes before the procedure. The Ultherapy PRIME handpiece is placed against the skin and the DeepSEE imaging is activated — Dr. Karamanoukian confirms the tissue planes are accurately visualized before any energy is delivered. Treatment is systematic across the planned zones: typically brow, temple, upper cheek, jowl, and neck in sequential passes at 4.5mm, 3.0mm, and 1.5mm depths. Patients experience a warm, brief sensation with each pulse. A full face and neck Ultherapy PRIME session takes 60–90 minutes. There is no meaningful downtime; mild redness and swelling resolve within hours.

 

Results Development & Follow-Up

Ultherapy results are not immediate — they develop progressively over 2–6 months as new collagen matures in the treated zones. Patients return for a 3-month assessment to evaluate progress, compare with baseline photographs, and determine whether a second session or addition of Morpheus8 or Sofwave would extend the result. Most patients repeat Ultherapy annually to maintain the collagen remodeling response and sustain the achieved lift over time. Dr. Karamanoukian monitors each patient’s facial aging trajectory at these follow-up appointments and advises when the degree of change warrants consideration of surgical intervention.

 

Long-Term Facial Aging Management

Dr. Karamanoukian approaches each patient’s facial aging as a long-term medical relationship — designing a phased plan that uses non-surgical treatments preventively in the 30s and 40s, transitions to more aggressive energy-based protocols in the 40s and early 50s when laxity progresses, and introduces surgical consultation when the anatomy has advanced beyond what non-surgical treatment can meaningfully address. This longitudinal, surgeon-guided approach to facial aging management is unique to a plastic surgical practice and reflects the difference between treating a current concern and managing a patient’s long-term relationship with their own face.

Common Questions

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Ultherapy & Non-Surgical Facelift in Los Angeles

Is Ultherapy as effective as a facelift in Los Angeles?

Ultherapy delivers genuine, measurable improvement in patients with mild to moderate skin laxity, typically producing 10–30% visible improvement in skin tightening and lift over 2–6 months. A surgical facelift, by contrast, physically repositions the deep facial tissue (SMAS layer), excises excess skin, and can produce 10–15 years of visible rejuvenation in a single procedure. The appropriate comparison is not which is better overall — it is which is appropriate for your specific degree of facial aging. Dr. Karamanoukian will tell you honestly at consultation which approach will produce the result you are seeking.

What is the difference between Ultherapy and HIFU?

Ultherapy is a branded micro-focused ultrasound system (MFU-V) with FDA clearance and real-time DeepSEE imaging that allows the treating physician to visualize the exact tissue plane being targeted — including the SMAS layer at 4.5mm depth. HIFU refers to a broader category of devices that deliver focused ultrasound energy without real-time imaging, making it a “blind” treatment where the operator cannot confirm that energy is reaching the correct anatomical depth. Ultherapy’s imaging capability produces more consistent results and a stronger clinical evidence base than generic HIFU devices. Dr. Karamanoukian’s surgical training makes the SMAS-imaging advantage of Ultherapy particularly meaningful in his hands.

How long do Ultherapy results last?

Ultherapy results typically last 12–18 months, after which the natural aging process continues and the collagen remodeling response established by the treatment has completed its productive cycle. Most patients repeat Ultherapy annually to maintain and build on the collagen remodeling achieved in the initial session. The longevity of results is influenced by age, skin quality, the degree of pre-existing laxity, lifestyle factors including sun protection, and whether the patient pursues Morpheus8 or Sofwave maintenance between Ultherapy sessions.

What is platysmal plication and why does it matter for neck lift?

The platysma is a thin, sheet-like muscle running vertically in the neck. With aging, the medial edges of the platysma separate and become visible as vertical neck bands — the characteristic “turkey neck” cords visible when the neck is tense. Platysmal plication is the surgical technique of suturing these separated muscle edges back together at the midline, recreating the natural muscular floor of the neck and eliminating the banding. This procedure is performed through a small incision beneath the chin and produces the most dramatic and durable improvement in neck contour available — a result that no Ultherapy, HIFU, or radiofrequency device can replicate, because these devices cannot surgically approximate separated muscle edges.

What is a deep plane facelift and how is it different from a regular facelift?

A traditional SMAS facelift tightens the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) layer and removes excess skin, producing excellent results for moderate facial aging. The deep plane facelift goes further — releasing the facial retaining ligaments (the osseocutaneous ligaments that tether the descended facial soft tissue to the underlying bone) and repositioning the deep facial fat compartments in a more anatomically natural, youthful position. This releases the nasolabial fold from below rather than simply pulling the cheek tissue upward and outward, producing more natural-looking correction of the nasolabial fold, more durable midface elevation, and longer-lasting results. Deep plane facelift requires significantly greater surgical expertise and is indicated for patients with more advanced midface descent who would not be fully satisfied by a traditional SMAS facelift.

Can Ultherapy tighten the neck?

Ultherapy PRIME is FDA-cleared for treatment of the neck and under-chin region and produces measurable improvement in patients with early to moderate neck laxity. For patients with mild skin looseness, early submental fullness, and the beginning of platysmal laxity without visible banding, Ultherapy can provide 12–18 months of meaningful improvement. For patients with visible platysmal banding, significant excess neck skin, or a blunted cervicomental angle from fat or muscle laxity, surgical neck lift with platysmal plication and submental liposuction produces a dramatically more comprehensive and durable result. Dr. Karamanoukian assesses each patient’s neck anatomy at consultation and provides an honest comparison of what Ultherapy and surgery can respectively achieve.

Is a facelift at Kare Plastic Surgery performed under general anesthesia?

Most mini facelifts at Kare Plastic Surgery are performed under local anesthesia with oral or intravenous sedation, eliminating the cost, recovery time, and systemic risks associated with general anesthesia. Traditional SMAS facelifts and deep plane facelifts are performed under general anesthesia or deep intravenous sedation in Dr. Karamanoukian’s accredited Santa Monica surgical facility. The choice of anesthesia approach is discussed at consultation based on the scope of the planned procedure and the patient’s medical history. All facelift procedures are outpatient — patients go home the same day.

How much does Ultherapy cost in Los Angeles?

Ultherapy pricing at Kare Plastic Surgery depends on the areas treated and the number of shots planned — a full face and neck protocol requires more shots than a targeted brow or neck treatment. Published industry pricing for Ultherapy in Los Angeles ranges from approximately $800 to $2.400+ for a full face and neck treatment. A personalized cost estimate is provided at consultation once Dr. Karamanoukian has assessed your anatomy and the treatment plan that would produce the best result for your specific presentation. Package pricing and financing options are available. Surgical facelift pricing is provided separately at your surgical consultation.

Begin Your Facial Rejuvenation Consultation in Los Angeles

Whether you are exploring Ultherapy, considering a facelift, or unsure which path is right for your anatomy — Dr. Karamanoukian’s comprehensive consultation at Kare Plastic Surgery in Santa Monica will give you the honest, complete guidance you need. Contact our office today.

(310) 998-5533 Request a Consultation

Kare Plastic Surgery & Skin Health Center  ·  804 7th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90403  ·  (310) 998-5533

Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS — Double Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon  ·  UCLA-Trained  ·  Facelift & Ultherapy Expert  ·  RealSelf 100