Understanding the Aging Face: Dr. Gene K. Lee on Individualized Surgical Planning

Facial aging rarely happens in just one place. A softer jawline may appear alongside changes in the neck. Facial volume can shift while the skin develops fine lines or changes in texture. The brows and eyelids may also begin to show the passage of time. For Gene K. Lee, MD, MPH, FACS, understanding how these changes interact is central to planning facelift, neck lift, and comprehensive aging face surgery at LA MÔEM Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills.

Understanding the Face as a Whole

Rather than beginning with a specific procedure, Dr. Lee begins by evaluating the patient. Facial structure, tissue position, facial volume, neck contour, skin quality, prior procedures, and individual goals can all influence what he recommends. Because every face ages differently, two people seeking improvement in the same general area may ultimately receive very different treatment plans.

This approach reflects Dr. Lee's background in both reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. During his general surgery and plastic surgery training at the University of Southern California, he cared for patients with facial trauma, burns, and congenital differences, including cleft lip and palate. His training included chief resident responsibilities at institutions including Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Cedars-Sinai, and Keck Hospital of USC.

"Reconstructive surgery taught me how closely facial form, function, and identity are connected," Dr. Lee says. "That perspective informs every aesthetic decision I make."

That foundation is particularly relevant when evaluating the aging face. A facelift may address changes in tissue position through the lower face and jawline, while a neck lift can address aging changes involving the neck and its contours. However, repositioning tissue does not necessarily address every component of facial aging. Volume and skin quality may require different strategies.

Why Facial Rejuvenation Is Not One Procedure

For some patients, complementary procedures may be considered as part of a broader facial rejuvenation plan. Eyelid surgery can address age-related changes around the upper or lower eyelids. A brow lift may be appropriate when brow position contributes to changes around the upper face. Facial fat grafting can restore volume in carefully selected areas, while skin resurfacing treatments can address aspects of skin texture and quality.

Each option addresses a different component of aging. Surgery that repositions tissue serves a different purpose from a procedure intended to restore volume, just as both differ from treatments focused primarily on the skin's surface. Understanding those distinctions can help patients have more informed conversations about what they want to change and which approaches may be appropriate.

Prior procedures matter as well. Previous facial surgery, injectables, energy-based treatments, or other interventions can affect anatomy and tissue characteristics. For that reason, a detailed history and examination are important parts of developing a surgical plan.

"My goal in facial rejuvenation is to help patients look refreshed while preserving the features and expressions that make them recognizable," Dr. Lee says.

Why Facial Rejuvenation Matters to Dr. Lee

Dr. Lee's passion for facial rejuvenation comes from helping patients bring their outward appearance into greater harmony with how they feel inside. People today can remain active, engaged, and vibrant well into later life, yet the visible signs of facial aging continue even when someone feels healthy and energetic.

One of the most gratifying parts of facelift surgery, he says, is hearing patients express that their appearance finally reflects the vitality they still feel. Their excitement and renewed confidence make the work personally meaningful to him.

His enthusiasm also extends beyond the operation itself. Dr. Lee devotes much of his professional life to refining his surgical craft, continuing his education, caring for patients, and helping people understand the options available to them. The objective is not to erase every sign of time. Instead, he aims to address age related changes while respecting the features, proportions, and expressions that make each patient recognizable.

His attention to proportion has roots outside medicine as well. A Los Angeles native who spent much of his childhood and adolescence in Seoul, Dr. Lee grew up with exposure to both cultures and developed an early interest in fashion and design. He admired the discipline behind a finished garment, particularly the way proportion, craftsmanship, and small details could shape the whole. Those influences remain part of his aesthetic perspective, but today they support a larger clinical framework grounded in anatomy and individualized surgical planning.

Training Behind the Treatment Plan

Dr. Lee is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He completed residencies in General Surgery and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at USC and earned a Master of Public Health from Harvard University.

For patients researching a plastic surgeon with a focus on facial rejuvenation, credentials are only one part of the conversation. It can also be useful to understand how a surgeon evaluates aging, why particular procedures are recommended, what each procedure is designed to address, and what realistic limitations should be expected.

Thoughtful facial rejuvenation planning requires looking beyond the most visible concern. A patient who initially asks about the neck, for example, may benefit from discussing how the neck relates to the jawline and lower face. Likewise, a patient concerned about looking tired may need an evaluation of several factors rather than assuming that one procedure will address everything.

Thoughtful consultation, therefore, involves education as much as recommendation. Patients should understand not only what is being proposed, but why.

Facial Rejuvenation With Individual Goals in Mind

LA MÔEM is designed as a boutique Beverly Hills practice, allowing Dr. Lee to provide personal attention from the initial consultation through surgery and postoperative follow-up. Although the practice is based in Beverly Hills, Dr. Lee cares for many patients who travel from outside the local area, including patients from other states and international destinations.

For patients traveling for care, communication and preparation take on additional importance. The practice provides a personalized experience with planning tailored to the practical considerations of traveling for surgery, including coordination surrounding consultation, treatment, recovery, and postoperative follow up.

Alongside his emphasis on facial rejuvenation, Dr. Lee performs aesthetic breast surgery, including breast augmentation and breast lift, with plans tailored to individual anatomy and goals. Facial surgery, however, remains a central focus of his work and continuing professional interest.

Recognition For Individualized Facial Rejuvenation

Dr. Gene K. Lee's approach to facial rejuvenation has received recognition from Best of Best Review, which named him Best Facelift Surgeon in Beverly Hills of 2026.

Preserving Identity While Addressing Change

There is no universal formula for treating the aging face. Facial structure, tissue position, volume, neck contour, skin quality, surgical history, and personal preferences can all change what is appropriate for an individual patient. For Dr. Lee, those variables are not complications to work around. They are the starting point.

That perspective also shapes how he defines a successful result. The aim is not to give patients a different face. It is to thoughtfully address the changes that have occurred over time while preserving the expressions and characteristics that belong to the person.

For those considering a facelift, neck lift, eyelid surgery, brow lift, facial fat grafting, skin resurfacing, or a combination of approaches, understanding what each treatment is designed to accomplish can make the consultation process more productive. Patients can explore LA MÔEM Plastic Surgery to learn more about Dr. Gene K. Lee's approach to facial rejuvenation, review available procedures, and prepare for an informed conversation about which options may fit their anatomy and goals.

LA MÔEM Plastic Surgery also shares educational information and practice updates through its website and social channels, including Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.