San Francisco Center for Facial Plastic, Reconstructive and Laser Surgery - San Francisco

From beginning to now 11 months post I had a magnificent experience - Dr. Ransom performed a deep plane neck and lower face lift on me in March 2024. I felt at ease with his skillset almost immediately - he has a keen eye and gentle nature I found calming. Now as I live in my new neck daily I feel like he’s also an incredible artist.

I think my great result is a mix of him - mostly all him- but I prepped as well - anti inflammation diet - lived like a monk for the month prior to surgery. And I added 6 hyperbaric oxygen treatments both right before and just after my surgery. This is supposed to really speed healing as well as limit bruising.

I had almost zero bruising (and I’m a bruiser!) and could see the results right away. I had the unexpected joy of seeing my cheekbones pop in a way they hadn’t before, a lovely bonus! People always talk about how you crash on like day 3-4 after a surgery when the adrenaline wanes. I didn’t have that experience - no nausea either. They have their drug cocktail for anesthesia mixed just right it seems.

The trickiest part for me was about a month in when my nerves started regrowing or turning back on - it was kind of overwhelming and sucked my energy every afternoon if I tried to do too much- I’m a mover so it was hard to still be still a month in. But it didn’t last - a few weeks to a month like that and I was past it.

If you really stay chill, let your body heal - this I felt was an easy recovery. I never had any pain- just tightness and that nerve tingling feeling for a good chunk of the second month. I took Gabapentin for that when it felt like too much.

I felt like I could go to the store at about a week in - and I resumed slow activity after a few weeks. The scars healed beautifully. My neck changed a lot from being smooth and perfect looking a few days later to lumpy and bumpy a few months in - to smooth and perfect 3+months and counting. Trusting the process and the team answering questions was so helpful. Thanks so much to everyone at the office for helping me ongoing through the months of healing!

Dr. Ransom, his nurses and his PA were all just wonderful. Thanks for everything!

I never really thought about age—until about a year ago when I realized, at 56, that I was practically a tech industry fossil compared to my co-workers. Zoom calls became my nemesis, with that unforgiving camera highlighting what I can only describe as my "turkey neck." Confidence? What’s that? I was seriously considering a career change—maybe to wherever dinosaurs went to retire. But then, I met Dr. Ransom, and everything changed.

I went to Dr. Ransom for a neck lift consultation, hoping to find a solution to my Zoom woes. He recommended a face and neck lift, along with upper eyelid surgery (Blepharoplasty), explaining how these procedures would work together to give me a more youthful look. It all sounded great—except for the price tag. But then it hit me: investing in my confidence and appearance was crucial for staying competitive in the tech world.

I didn’t even bother with a second opinion. The moment I walked into Dr. Ransom’s office, I knew he was the one. His staff is fantastic—they genuinely like each other and clearly adore Dr. Ransom. The vibe in the office is infectious, in the best way possible.

Fast forward four months, and wow—just wow. I look incredible. Still me, just a way better version! I’m expecting a job offer from a top tech firm this week, and I’m walking into it with my confidence fully restored, no longer fretting about my age.

And let’s not forget Patricia, Dr. Ransom’s amazing nurse, who went above and beyond to make sure I felt great before and after surgery. She’s the perfect complement to Dr. Ransom’s practice.

In short, I highly recommend Dr. Ransom! If you’re on the fence, just do it—your future (and your Zoom calls) will thank you!

Absolutely amazing! Dr. Ransom is a Scholar and an Artist. I am 2 months post op from a lower face and neck lift, as well as a lower bleph and fat transfer. My results are flawless and incredibly natural. My suture line is as thin as a thread and will be invisible shortly. I could not be more pleased with my results. In addition to his impeccable work, he is a kind and warm person. He has taken amazing care of me; always patiently answering my questions and/ or making time for me to come in if I have a concern. I felt and continue to feel very safe in his hands. I am grateful beyond words to have been lucky enough to find him.

I had a deep plane facelift, necklift, browlift, upper bleph and CO2 under my eyes and around my mouth on October 31, 2023. Although I am only 7 weeks out, I wanted to leave a review about my experience so far. I am 62 years old, eat healthy - am a vegetarian, exercise daily, and have always felt like I looked great for my age. But for the last few years the wrinkles, jowling, general sagging of eyelid, brow and malar area was really bothering me. I had been researching surgeons for about 5 years - there are a lot of great surgeons in the San Francisco bay area and so I met with 5 total. All of them had different approaches and different treatment plans (which was super confusing) but Dr. Ransom was the only surgeon who did NOT push extra procedures. His plan was straightforward, and made sense for what I wanted to achieve. I also liked that he is a neck and face surgeon ONLY, that he has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, and that he trained and co-authored with Dr. Andrew Jocono in NYC - one of the best surgeons in the field and whose work is impeccable. One of my finalist surgeons was really pushing for a lip lift and when I asked Dr. Ransom about it as an option, he said "I can do it, but you won't look like YOU, and my job is to make you look like you - only younger and more refreshed". That sealed the deal for me :) I also have hereditary malar bags that have always bothered me. They are notoriously difficult to treat and so I was looking for a surgeon who would address them with confidence and Dr. Ransom assured me that with the deep plane technique plus the CO2, I would see fantastic results.

In terms of the actual surgery and post op, this is definitely major surgery and with that, there are always potential complications. I did not have any complications, but please do yourself a favor and DO NOT look at all those before and after photos on Instagram and assume that you'll be looking refreshed and photo-ready at week 2! A deep plane face lift means a longer healing process, and it takes a lot of trust that you'll come out the other side looking amazing but the wait is so worth it! My actual procedure took about 6 hours and I was under general sedation. Dr. Ransom performs his surgeries in a beautiful, high tech private surgical room right next to his office so that was really a bonus - no hospital check in, etc. You are sent home that day, with a huge bandage headwrap and 2 scary looking drains to decrease the swelling, and then have to come back the next morning so Dr. Ransom and his fabulous RN Patricia can check to make sure everything looks good. My swelling was extreme. In fact, I didn't look in the mirror for about 4 days because it was that bad. Mostly I think because of the CO2 on top of everything else but I Dr. Ransom said that I had a lot of work done, and the more work, the more swelling. They prescribed a 5 day taper of steroids to keep swelling to a minimum and I can't imagine what I would have looked like without those! Everyone heals at a different rate, and for me, the first 2 weeks were pretty miserable. You have to clean your stitches a few times a day (gross), and the CO2 needs to be treated every few hours with special vinegar soaks. I had zero pain - didn't take a single Norco that was prescribed - just tylenol. At about day 7 I was questioning whether I had done the right thing, and was so scared that I was never going to look normal again - and because you are basically homebound for 2 weeks with exercise off limits, a bit of depression set in for me and had a few good cries. My husband was thankfully super patient and understanding but I was NOT a happy camper for few days. And I was also just uncomfortable because of the facial numbness and swelling - plus you have to sleep with a head wrap the first 2 weeks and on your back. My drains needed to stay in for an extra day, and then bleph stitches get removed on day 5, and all other stitches on day 9, so my poor husband was driving me to and from appointments almost daily for that first 2 weeks.

Weeks 3 and 4 were a turning point for me - still very swollen around my jawline but the numbness started to lessen and that was when I started to see the results of the beautiful work that Dr. Ransom did. At the 6 week mark, I went back in for a post op and to get my incisions lasered (included in the price). I am blown away by the attention to detail, and precision work that Dr. Ransom did. My eyes are youthful and refreshed, I have cheekbones (OMG - YAY!) and although my jawline and under my chin is still a bit numb and swollen I can see that its going to end up looking even more amazing with each passing week. I had super strong banding at my neck prior to surgery, and there is a tiny hint of a stubborn platysmal band still showing ever so slightly - hardly noticible, but Dr. Ransom is such a perfectionist he botoxed it during my last visit and said it most likely will resolve once the swelling is gone. The CO2 made an incredible difference, no more lines around my mouth, malar bags are gone!!!! Under eyes are still a bit pink and still a tad bit of swelling there (all easily camouflaged with makeup) because Dr. Ransom really went deep with the laser and I suspect that I won't be done healing for a while. I am going back in March to have my neck done as well.

Some additional thoughts: I went back to work week 2. I work remotely and I just told everyone my camera wasn't working. Ideally, if you can, best would be to take a full 2 weeks off and just rest and take it easy, as it was a push going back so soon. I am a long distance swimmer and I haven't gotten back in the pool yet although I was cleared for all forms of exercise at 6 weeks - am scared that my goggles will leave permanent marks on my beautiful new face (haha - so silly) so I am waiting a few more weeks. I will report back!

I am BEYOND THRILLED with the work that Dr. Ransom did - he is truly an incredibly skilled artist with an expert eye. I would trust him with anything that has to do with my face, and the best part is that I really do look like me, just a more beautiful version of a much younger me!

I'm only a few weeks out from a neck and lower face lift, but my results are already amazing! I am so happy. Every person that I have interacted with throughout this process has been incredibly warm, patient, and informative. Dr. Ransom is truly an artist and everyone on his staff is amazing! I am a very happy customer.

I came for a face lift. I never had any plastic surgery in my life and didn't really know what to expect, but my close friend had gone to dr Ransom before and had amazing results. I asked for specific things. Doctor Ransom listened and gave optimal results. My jawline is redefined and I have smoother and more contoured appearance. It looks very natural. People give me complements but they can't figure out what happened and ask me if I wear something different or had a new haircut. It definitely enhances my self confidence.
Throughout the whole process Patricia Miranda answered all my questions and gave me a lot of support. The whole team was ready to help at any time when the need would arise.
Great doctor, real expert at his craft, wonderful team, beautiful office.
I am grateful for the whole experience but mostly for my look.
Luba T.

Dr. Ransom and his staff were great! Dr. Ransom was very warm and receptive during my consultation. From the front desk staff to his assistants, all were gracious and helpful throughout the process. His assistants were caring, positive and supportive during and after the procedure knowing the angst and concerns faced by patients. And of course, Dr. Ransom's surgical skills were stellar. I'm very pleased with my results and grateful to Dr. Ransom and his staff. I highly recommend Dr. Ransom.

Here is my journey to hopefully help others (plus I’m stuck in my house for two weeks and will go crazy if I have to watch one more episode of This Is Us) lol

I went to Dr Ransom for “the works” for my 57th birthday present to myself.

Right now I’m on Day 5 so I still have stitches and swelling. I’ll add pics as I go. The procedure for all three (lower facelift, upper bleph, and lip lift) took about 6-7 hours. I would’ve only needed local anesthesia if I stuck with just the lip lift and bleph. Adding the lower facelift pushed everything to a whole other level.

Day one: I didn’t have very much pain, the doctor prescribed good drugs to combat any anesthesia nauseousness. I had to wear a large bandage “helmet” with two drains attached for 24 hours. To me that was the worst part. (Awkward and I really really wanted to wash my hair)

Day 2:: The “helmet” was removed and I was upgraded to a wrap placed loosely around my head.. Better, but still no hair washing.

I get my stitches out on day 7 so I’ll update with pics then. Right now I’ll post days 1-5. Not a lot has changed, but if I look closely and squint I think I can see glimpses of what could be Debbie 2.0. Fingers crossed!

Updated on 25 Nov 2022:
There’s still a bit of swelling under my chin and above the lip, but I’m sure that will go away. Overall I’m very happy with the natural results and the process - I didn’t even need one pain pill. I think the upper lip might be still a work in progress to even out, but I’ll have to see after the swelling totally goes down. I’m confident that Dr.Ransom can do whatever tweaking is needed then.

Treatments: Face lift, neck lift, lip lift, brow lift, cheek implants, fat grafting, C02 laser.

After a long time of researching doctors, procedures, and figuring out my best options. I researched doctors all over the Bay Area and Beverly Hills. I realized that Dr. Ransom was the best of the best and am very happy with his expertise and skill. After an initial consultation, I decided to move forward and I had my work done end of April. At my 3 month follow up, I asked if a second lip lift would be possible. I had a "lippy smile" and friends would poke fun at me since I showed no teeth. He assured me that it would make my face not look right and I'm glad that he was able to help consult me in the right direction. My intentions are to have a natural look and I feel that some other doctors wold have just done it, while Dr. Ransom doesn't like to go overboard and keeps it looking natural. During my laser procedure, the machine broke down and I wasn't able to have it completed to my satisfaction. He offered to have it redone at no charge, which I'm very thankful for. I'm also going back in a few months for a corner lip lift and I look forward to having him as my doctor again. I'll do another update once completed and healed. Thank you so much Dr. Ransom, Holly, Patricia, and all the staff.

My experience with Dr Ransom and his staff was nothing short of amazing. From the moment I emailed them to book an appointment to my post-op call to check in to see how I was doing, TOP NOTCH.
I had a forehead osteoma removed back in October and the procedure was super quick, recovery was smooth and I am so happy with my results! It looks so natural, scar is so minimal, but most importantly, I feel so much more confident which I can’t even quantify.
I have a few more things to “refresh” and will be making another appointment soon!