Facial Plastic Surgery in St. George, UT

What Can Facial Plastic Surgery Improve?

Facial plastic surgery can address structural changes related to aging, genetics, skin laxity, and changes in facial tissue support.

Depending on the procedure, treatment may improve:

• Heavy or hooded upper eyelids
• Under-eye bags and lower eyelid aging
• A low or aging brow
• Forehead and upper facial aging
• Flattening or descent of the cheeks
• Deepening facial folds
• Jowls
• Loss of jawline definition
• Loose or sagging facial skin
• Age-related changes through the lower face and neck
• Imbalance between different areas of the aging face

The objective is not simply to make the face tighter. Dr. Tarbet’s approach focuses on restoring facial structure and balance while maintaining natural expression and avoiding an overcorrected appearance.

Explore Facial Plastic Surgery Procedures at AMARA

Eyelid Surgery

The delicate tissues surrounding the eyes are often among the first areas to show visible signs of aging. Excess upper eyelid skin, heaviness, under-eye bags, puffiness, and changes in the lower eyelids can create a tired or aged appearance even when you feel well-rested.

Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, allows Dr. Tarbet to address these concerns with particular attention to eyelid anatomy, function, and the relationship between the eyes and surrounding facial structures. Her specialized background in oculofacial surgery is especially relevant when operating in this complex area. Depending on your concerns, treatment may involve the upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both.

Upper Blepharoplasty:

Upper blepharoplasty addresses excess or drooping upper eyelid skin that can create a heavy or tired appearance and, for some patients, interfere with vision.

Excess skin and appropriate underlying tissue can be carefully addressed through an incision concealed within the natural upper eyelid crease. The goal is to create a smoother, more refreshed eyelid contour while preserving the natural shape and character of the eyes.

Lower Blepharoplasty:

Lower blepharoplasty addresses concerns such as under-eye bags, puffiness, excess skin, and age-related changes affecting the lower eyelids.

Depending on your anatomy, fat may be removed or repositioned and excess tissue addressed to create a smoother transition between the lower eyelid and surrounding face.

Brow Lift

Aging of the brow and forehead can contribute to heaviness around the eyes and a tired, stern, or older appearance. A brow lift is designed to reposition descended brow tissues and restore a more refreshed relationship between the brow, forehead, and eyes.
This relationship is particularly important when evaluating patients for eyelid surgery. What appears to be excess upper eyelid skin can sometimes be influenced by a lowered brow, while other patients experience changes in both areas.

Dr. Tarbet’s oculofacial expertise allows her to evaluate the eyelids and brows together and determine which structures are actually contributing to the concern. Her facial surgery practice includes both traditional eyebrow/forehead lift and endoscopic brow lift techniques.

Facelift Surgery

Facelift surgery addresses structural aging through areas such as the cheeks, lower face, jowls, jawline, and, depending on the treatment plan, the relationship between the face and neck.

Modern facelift surgery goes beyond simply removing excess skin. The deeper tissues that support the face also change and descend with age, so repositioning these structures can be important to creating durable improvement without relying on excessive tension at the skin’s surface.

Dr. Tarbet’s approach to facelift surgery is individualized. Rather than performing the same operation for every patient, she can select and customize surgical techniques according to facial anatomy, degree of aging, and aesthetic goals.

Understanding Different Facelift Techniques

If you have researched facelift surgery, you may have encountered terms such as deep plane facelift, SMAS facelift, endoscopic facelift, and mini facelift. These terms describe different approaches to facial rejuvenation. They vary in the tissues addressed, areas treated, and extent of surgery required.

Importantly, one facelift technique is not automatically best for every face. Dr. Tarbet evaluates the structures contributing to facial aging and selects an approach appropriate for the individual patient.

Deep Plane Facelift:.

A deep plane facelift addresses facial aging beneath the SMAS, allowing deeper facial tissues to be released and repositioned rather than relying primarily on skin tightening. This approach may be appropriate when aging involves more significant tissue descent through the cheeks, lower face, jowls, and jawline. Repositioning deeper structures allows the overlying skin to redrape over the restored facial contours with less dependence on surface tension

SMAS Facelift:

A SMAS facelift addresses the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, a supportive tissue layer beneath the skin that plays an important role in facial structure. SMAS techniques allow the deeper facial support layer to be lifted, tightened, or repositioned rather than simply pulling the skin tighter. Depending on the patient’s anatomy, this approach can improve jowling, lower facial laxity, and loss of jawline definition while supporting a natural-looking result.

Endoscopic Facelift:

An endoscopic facelift uses small, strategically positioned incisions and specialized visualization to access and reposition deeper facial tissues. Dr. Tarbet uses endoscopic facial lifting particularly to address aging through the midface and cheek region. Her approach can improve concerns such as descent of the cheek tissues, flattening of cheek contour, deepening smile lines, lower eyelid hollowing, and early facial heaviness.

For appropriately selected patients, endoscopic techniques can restore deeper support through more limited surgical access while maintaining natural facial expression.

Mini Facelift:

A mini facelift provides more targeted correction for patients experiencing earlier or less extensive aging through the lower face and jawline.
Dr. Tarbet’s mini facelift approach addresses the underlying SMAS rather than simply tightening the skin. It may be appropriate for concerns such as early-to-moderate jowling, lower cheek sagging, loss of jawline definition, and mild skin laxity when a more extensive facelift is not yet necessary.

Although a mini facelift generally involves smaller incisions and a shorter recovery than a full facelift, “mini” does not mean that it is the right choice for everyone. The extent and location of facial aging should determine the procedure.

Which Facelift Technique Is Right for Me?

There is no universally superior facelift technique.

Deep plane, SMAS, endoscopic, and mini facelift approaches address facial aging differently, and elements of different techniques may be appropriate depending on the patient’s anatomy.

Dr. Tarbet considers factors including:

• Facial anatomy and proportions
• Location and degree of tissue descent
• Skin quality and elasticity
• Midface and cheek structure
• Jowling and jawline definition
• Neck aging
• Brow and eyelid position
• Previous facial procedures
• Individual aesthetic goals

The question therefore isn’t simply “Which facelift is best?” but “Which approach best addresses the way my face has aged?” A consultation allows Dr. Tarbet to determine whether a limited procedure is sufficient or whether a more comprehensive surgical approach would create a better-balanced and longer-lasting result.

Natural-Looking Facial Plastic Surgery Results

Looking younger does not require looking different. Successful facial rejuvenation should improve the changes that are bothering you while maintaining the proportions, expressions, and characteristics that make your appearance individual.

Dr. Tarbet’s approach emphasizes natural, refreshed results, a philosophy that is also central to her existing AMARA practice profile. For one patient, that may mean addressing heavy upper eyelids without changing the natural eye shape.

For another, it may involve restoring brow position or improving early jowling. A patient with more extensive facial descent may require a more comprehensive facelift.

The procedure should follow the anatomy—not the other way around.

Why Choose Dr. Kristin Tarbet for Facial Plastic Surgery?

Facial surgery requires more than the ability to perform a particular technique. It requires detailed knowledge of facial anatomy, surgical judgment, and an understanding of how the eyes, brow, cheeks, jawline, and neck work together to create facial balance.

Dr. Kristin J. Tarbet brings more than 30 years of specialized experience in facial aesthetics, cosmetic surgery, and oculoplastic care to AMARA Med Spa. She is triple board-certified in ophthalmology, cosmetic surgery, and facial cosmetic surgery.

Her background includes:

• Specialized expertise in facial and oculofacial anatomy
• Fellowship training in ophthalmic facial plastic and reconstructive surgery
• Extensive experience in eyelid and facial rejuvenation surgery
• Academic and clinical teaching experience
• National education and training of other physicians in advanced aesthetic techniques
• Experience with multiple facelift and endoscopic facial surgery techniques
• Individualized surgical planning
• An emphasis on balanced, natural-looking results

This breadth of experience allows Dr. Tarbet to consider multiple surgical approaches rather than attempting to fit every patient into one procedure.

FAQs About Facial Plastic Surgery

Schedule a Facial Plastic Surgery Consultation in St. George

Choosing facial plastic surgery begins with identifying what is causing the changes you see, rather than trying to select a procedure based on its name. During your consultation, Dr. Kristin Tarbet can evaluate your eyelids, brow, cheeks, facial tissues, jawline, and overall facial proportions; discuss the areas you would like to improve; and recommend an individualized surgical approach.

If you are considering facial plastic surgery in St. George, Southern Utah, or nearby Mesquite, Nevada, contact AMARA Med Spa to schedule a consultation with Dr. Kristin Tarbet.