5 Facelift Red Flags to Watch For: Dr. Daniel Gould Featured in Business Insider

Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Gould, MD, PhD was featured in Business Insider discussing five red flags patients should watch for when choosing a facelift surgeon, from confusing credentials and marketing terminology to unrealistic promises about results and recovery.

As facelift surgery becomes increasingly popular, Dr. Gould emphasizes that the specific technique is only part of what determines a successful result. Patients may hear terms such as deep plane or SMAS when researching surgery, but the experience, training, judgment, and results of the individual surgeon remain critical. Two surgeons can perform procedures with the same name and achieve very different outcomes.

One of the first areas patients should investigate is board certification. Dr. Gould encourages patients to look beyond claims such as “double-board-certified” or “triple-board-certified” and identify exactly which organizations issued those credentials. He points specifically to certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery as an important distinction when evaluating a surgeon’s formal plastic and reconstructive surgery training.

Patients should also evaluate a surgeon’s results beyond carefully selected before-and-after photographs. Dr. Gould recommends looking for patient videos whenever possible because movement can reveal characteristics that static photographs may not capture. A result may appear strong in a photograph while looking overly tight or unnatural when the face is in motion.

The article also examines marketing terms such as “mini-lift” and “micro-lift.” Dr. Gould cautions patients against assuming these labels automatically represent a fundamentally smaller procedure or an easier path to facelift results. He similarly encourages patients to pay attention to how clearly and thoroughly a surgeon can explain facial aging and their surgical approach during a consultation.

Finally, patients should be cautious of dramatic promises, unusually low pricing, or claims that a facelift will last forever. Facial aging continues after surgery, and responsible treatment planning includes realistic conversations about what surgery can achieve and how results may evolve over time. For Dr. Gould, choosing a facelift surgeon ultimately means looking beyond trends and marketing to evaluate training, expertise, transparency, and a consistent record of natural-looking results.

Read the full article in Business Insider:
https://www.businessinsider.com/facelift-red-flags-from-plastic-surgeon-2025-10