Peter Vila, MD

Plastic surgery is not a one-size-fits-all.

Every patient has unique anatomy. Your individual characteristics can make certain goals easier or more challenging to achieve with a specific procedure.

Take the neck, for example. If you were at your lowest weight and in your best shape at age 25 but still had significant fullness in your neck, that may simply be the way you are shaped. Exercise and weight loss may not change it because your natural anatomy most likely just includes low-lying submandibular glands.

On the other hand, if you have a weak chin or small jawline, creating a beautiful neck contour can be more challenging because there isn't enough bony projection to support and shape the soft tissues naturally. In some cases, a chin implant may be part of the solution.

I often describe a facelift as a soft tissue repositioning surgery. How we reposition those tissues and create a natural-looking result comes down to several factors, including how we close the incisions, the direction and technique used during the facelift, and the experience of the surgeon performing it.

Check out our before and after photos on IG and at my gallery at portlandfacedoctor.com to see if you can find someone with similar natural characteristics and how we helped them look like the best version of themselves.

A facelift should make you stand out for the RIGHT reasons.

To me, a natural result means no one can tell you’ve had surgery.

Unfortunately, you’ve probably seen examples in real life or online where someone has taken a facelift too far, leaving them with a result that looks unnatural or simply doesn’t look like themselves anymore.

Here are 3 common ways to spot an "overdone" facelift:

➡️ Corners of the mouth
Pulling the tissues back too tightly can create excessive tension around the mouth, leaving the corners looking stretched or unnatural.

➡️ Windswept cheeks
Pulling the face straight back from the sides can create a tight, pulled, or warped appearance that can remain even after the facelift has fully healed.

➡️ Distorted hairline
Incisions placed too far into the hairline, including behind the ear at the base of the hairline, can create a gap or missing section where the hairline would normally be straight or naturally curved.

Keep in mind, these issues should not result from a well-executed facelift. When they do occur, this is usually a sign of poor technique.

You may or may not notice all of these changes, but as a facelift expert who performs these procedures at a high level, I see them regularly. They’re also a reminder of why I believe a thoughtful, natural approach is so important.

Don't worry, we'll always call you back!

Your neck may be the area that bothers you most, but it may not be the only area that is making you look aged.

Facial aging doesn’t happen in isolation. The neck, jawline, lower face, cheeks, eyes, brows, skin, and facial volume all change together at different rates.

The Portland Premier Lift is a customized, comprehensive approach to facial rejuvenation. This doesn’t mean that every patient needs every procedure. It means evaluating the face as a whole and addressing the areas that should be treated together for a natural, balanced result.

If you’re wondering what you would need for your individual face, follow Peter Vila, MD | Portland Face Doctor and visit portlandfacedoctor.com to schedule a consultation.



"Natural" can mean different things to different people.

When it comes to rhinoplasty, I’m always striving for a natural result. However, “natural” can look different from patient to patient.

For some patients, a more stylized result may be appropriate, such as a slightly perkier nose, lifted tip, or more feminine curve, especially in younger women. For men and older women, the ideal aesthetic can look very different. Anatomy, age, and gender all play a role in creating a result that feels natural and appropriate for you.

My biggest piece of advice during your consultation? Listen to your surgeon. If they tell you that your desired plan isn’t a good fit for your anatomy or recommends a different approach, there’s a reason behind that. Trust their expertise and let them guide you toward a procedure they believe will give you the best and most fitting result.

Overdoing a rhinoplasty, whether that means bringing the dorsum too far down or over-rotating the nose, can make surgery obvious. That’s not what I’m about at my practice. My goal is to create a result that looks natural, ages well with you, and feels like a refreshed, upgraded version of the person who first walked through our doors.

Finding a plan that both you and your surgeon feel confident in is one of the most important parts of the process.

If you’ve been considering rhinoplasty and value natural, undetectable results, visit portlandfacedoctor.com to schedule your consultation.

Maybe tomorrow they'll let me in on the joke.

Just kidding, my team works super hard and they're awesome.