A beautifully refreshed face has the power to shift how you move through the world. Many patients in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia reach a moment when they want their reflection to match their confidence, energy, and identity. A facelift designed for skin of color offers that possibility with nuance, artistry, and respect.
Dr. Wilmina Landford brings extensive surgical training as well as personal perspective to the care of patients considering facial rejuvenation. As a Black and Latina plastic surgeon, she understands that patients may come to a facelift consultation with different concerns about their features, skin, scarring, and what they want to preserve.
There is no single way that Black and Brown skin ages. Facial structure, genetics, sun exposure, changes in facial volume, and skin characteristics all influence what each person begins to notice over time. For some patients, the first concern may be a softer jawline or loss of volume. For others, it may be jowling, skin laxity, or changes through the cheeks and neck.
Skin and scar behavior also vary from person to person. A history of hyperpigmentation, raised scars, or keloids can be important when planning facial surgery. Dr. Landford considers these factors alongside your anatomy and the features you want to preserve when determining which facelift approach makes sense for you.
Cultural competence is not a trend in plastic surgery; it is a necessity. A patient may come to a facelift consultation with concerns about scarring or pigmentation, but also with questions about whether surgery will preserve the facial features that are important to their identity.
Dr. Landford understands these conversations on both a professional and personal level. Her own experience as a Black and Latina surgeon informs her perspective, but it does not replace listening to the individual patient. Understanding what you want to change, what you want to preserve, and what a natural result means to you becomes part of planning the surgery.
A facelift with Dr. Landford begins with a thoughtful, collaborative consultation. She evaluates your facial structure, reviews your goals, and explains the techniques that best suit your anatomy. Her communication style is warm, clear, and empowering, which helps patients feel confident in their decisions. On the day of surgery, you can expect a calm, supportive environment and a team dedicated to your safety and comfort. Recovery is guided with detailed instructions tailored to the needs of skin of color, including scar‑care strategies and pigmentation‑safe protocols. Patients often describe the experience as transformative not only physically, but emotionally.
Modern facelift surgery is designed to do more than tighten loose skin. Dr. Landford offers several approaches to facial rejuvenation, including deep plane, mini, mid-facelift, and awake facelift techniques. The right approach depends on your anatomy, the degree of facial aging, and the areas you want to address.
With a deep plane facelift, for example, Dr. Landford works beneath the more superficial layers of the face to reposition tissues that have descended over time. This can improve the cheeks, jowls, and jawline without relying on excessive tension on the skin.
Incision placement is also planned with care. Dr. Landford considers the surgical technique, your hairline and facial anatomy, and your own history of scarring or pigmentation when planning the procedure.
Dr. Wilmina Landford is known throughout Washington, D.C., and Maryland for her deep commitment to patient care, her outstanding technique, and her natural aesthetic. Her background as an educated Black Latina gives her a unique ability to relate to patients who want a surgeon who understands their cultural identity, their features, and their concerns. Her training includes a medical degree with scholarly distinction from Stony Brook University and an elite integrated plastic surgery residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she served as Chief Resident. Patients consistently praise her for her compassion, her honesty, and her ability to make them feel supported from the first consultation to the final follow‑up. Many describe feeling “safe,” “seen,” and “celebrated” in her care. She lets her results speak for themselves.
Patients across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia choose Dr. Landford for her expertise, her artistry, and her ability to create results that feel deeply personal. Your next step is to schedule a consultation where you can explore what is possible with a surgeon who understands both the science and the culture behind facial rejuvenation for skin of color. Your transformation begins the moment you sit down with Dr. Landford.
