Sagging skin has a way of showing up before you are ready for it. One day your jawline looks sharp, your neck feels smooth, and your mid-face sits exactly where it should. Then gravity, collagen loss, and time begin to shift things. Patients throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia often reach a moment where they are done with temporary fixes and ready for a thoughtful plan that restores structure and confidence.
At Landford Plastic Surgery, Dr. Wilmina Landford specializes in creating results that look natural, refined, and personally tailored to each patient, including those with skin of color, where aging patterns and tissue behavior require a more nuanced approach. Combining treatments is one of the most powerful ways to address sagging skin, and this is where her expertise shines.
Nonsurgical treatments can do a great deal for skin quality, early laxity, and the gradual changes that come with aging. What they cannot do is reposition facial tissues that have significantly descended over time. When jowling becomes more pronounced, the jawline loses definition, or loose skin through the face and neck becomes the primary concern, a facelift may offer a more appropriate solution.
A facelift works beneath the skin to reposition and support deeper facial tissues. This is different from treatments that stimulate collagen, improve texture, or tighten the skin to a more limited degree. During a consultation, Dr. Landford can help determine whether you are still a good candidate for nonsurgical treatment or whether surgery is more likely to accomplish the change you are looking for.
For patients with moderate to significant sagging, surgical intervention remains the most effective and durable solution. A facelift repositions the deeper structural layers of the face, restoring jawline definition and cheek contour in a way that holds up over years rather than months. A neck lift addresses the skin and muscle beneath the chin, completing the lower facial picture.
Dr. Landford approaches facial surgery with a particular sensitivity to her patients’ diversity. Practicing in Washington, D.C. and Maryland, she understands that patients of color may have different healing patterns, scar tendencies, and aesthetic goals that require a tailored surgical approach. Her results reflect that individualized care.
For patients who want meaningful tightening without general anesthesia, FaceTite offers a minimally invasive alternative. This radiofrequency-assisted treatment contracts the skin and underlying tissue from within, bridging the gap between non-surgical maintenance and surgical correction.
One of the most overlooked contributors to an aging appearance is volume loss. A lifted face sitting on deflated tissue can still look tired, hollow, or off-balance. This is why Dr. Landford often incorporates facial fat grafting into her surgical plans, restoring natural fullness to the temples, cheeks, and under-eye area using the patient’s own fat.
For patients who prefer a non-surgical approach, dermal fillers and Sculptra can achieve similar restoration with no downtime, strategically placing volume to support the tissue above and produce a refreshed result from every angle.
A facelift can reposition tissues that have descended with age, but it does not stop the aging process or address every change happening within the skin. After you have healed from surgery, nonsurgical treatments can become part of a longer-term plan for maintaining skin quality as your face continues to age.
What you do between treatments matters as well. Consistent sun protection and a skincare routine suited to your skin can help protect against additional sun damage and support your skin’s quality over time. Dr. Landford can guide you on when it is appropriate to resume or introduce treatments after your facelift.
Dr. Wilmina Landford is a board-certified plastic surgeon, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), with extensive training in facial rejuvenation and experience caring for patients with a wide range of skin tones, facial features, and aesthetic goals. She brings both cultural awareness and careful attention to individual anatomy when developing a treatment plan.
Her training includes leading medical institutions, and her approach combines surgical expertise with nonsurgical and regenerative treatment options when appropriate. Whether she is performing a facelift, restoring lost volume, or designing a nonsurgical plan, Dr. Landford considers what each patient wants to change as well as what they want to preserve.
If sagging skin has been affecting how you look in photos, how you feel in your daily routine, or how you see yourself in the mirror, this is the moment to explore a plan that actually works. Landford Plastic Surgery welcomes patients from Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia for private consultations. Dr. Landford will evaluate your features, listen to your goals, and design a combination approach tailored to your anatomy and your vision. Call (301) 235-1900 or use our consultation request form to schedule your appointment today.
