From the Corner Office: July 2026
Every so often a patient shares a story that makes me smile, because it captures the deeper purpose of what I have devoted my professional life to achieving.
Several weeks before undergoing her Direct Neck Lift, a procedure I perform in the office using only oral Xanax and local anesthesia, one of my patients purchased a new iPhone and set up Face ID. Following her surgery and recovery, her iPhone no longer unlocked with facial recognition. Assuming something was wrong with the technology, she tried again before realizing the phone was functioning perfectly. Laughing, she later told me, “Dr. Yellin, I thought my iPhone was broken, but it turns out my neck looks so good that Face ID didn’t recognize me.”
As many of you who follow my newsletter already know, I always strive for a beautiful, natural appearance. The fact that the iPhone failed to recognize the patient’s new look is not inconsistent with my philosophy. If a patient requires a dramatic change to address their area of aesthetic concern, then that is what I do. Don’t confuse a beautiful, natural look with being minimalistic or conservative. Quite the opposite. By restoring the natural contours of her neck and jawline, I ensured that the person she had always recognized in her own mind, and always felt herself to be, could shine through once again. Surgery restored the harmony between her outward appearance and her inner sense of self.
Facial plastic surgery occupies a unique intersection of medicine, science, engineering, and art. Technical expertise is indispensable, but surgical skill alone is never enough. The surgeon must also possess an artistic eye, an appreciation for balance, proportion, symmetry, contour, light, shadow, and the subtle nuances that make every face beautifully individual. Equally important is the judgment to recognize what should remain untouched. The finest surgical result often comes not from doing more, but from knowing when less is more.
Achieving the degree of naturalness I expect for my patients requires far more than technical precision. It demands decades of experience, an intimate understanding of facial anatomy, meticulous attention to detail, thoughtful aesthetic judgment, and the wisdom to exercise restraint. Every procedure must be individualized, every decision guided by safety, balance, and respect for the patient’s unique identity.
Many patients tell me they no longer avoid photographs, hesitate in social situations, or feel uncomfortable seeing their reflection unexpectedly in a mirror or window. Those seemingly small moments often represent meaningful emotional victories. While surgery cannot create happiness, relieving a long-standing source of self-consciousness can allow confidence to flourish naturally. In the case of this particular patient, even prior to her procedure, it was obvious to me that she possessed a warm, lovely personality and great confidence, which will serve to elevate further whatever aesthetic improvements I create.
The highest compliment is never, “Who performed your surgery?” Rather, it is when friends simply say, “You look wonderful.” They notice renewed vitality and freshness, but cannot identify precisely why. The surgery never becomes the story. The patient does.
Perhaps that is the true measure of success. Not that an iPhone no longer recognizes your face, but that when you look into the mirror, you recognize yourself again: confident, authentic, and beautifully refreshed. After all, exceptional facial plastic surgery is less about changing a face than revealing the very best version of the person who has always been there.
If you are interested in addressing any aesthetic issues regarding your nose, face and/or neck, I encourage you to schedule a consultation with me. This is an important first step on your aesthetic journey.
Thank you for trusting us to keep you looking naturally more beautiful.
Seth A. Yellin, MD, FACS
Founder & Director, Marietta Facial Plastic Surgery, Laser & Aesthetics Center
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We are offering the DEJ Biostim Treatment™ in-office as a series of 3 treatments for $750, which includes a post-care skincare kit valued at $350. Treatment sessions should be spaced 2-4 weeks apart for optimal results.
For additional information, please call our office: 770-425-7575
