Aging on Your Terms: A New Year’s Conversation with Dr. Joseph Cruise
Redefining the Modern Facelift — the Art of Looking Like Yourself Again
Dr. Joseph Cruise in his element—bringing precision, passion, and a deep love for giving people their time back
Q: Dr. Cruise, many of us start a new year thinking about how we feel—and how we look. What does it really mean to “age on your terms”?
A: Aging on your terms means making intentional choices that reflect who you are, not who society says you should be. For many people—especially in their 40s, 50s, and 60s—it’s not about looking younger, it’s about looking true. Patients often say, “I still feel vibrant, but I look tired or older than I feel.” My goal isn’t to change who they are—it’s to bring their outer self back into alignment with their inner energy.
A: Aging on your terms means making intentional choices that reflect who you are, not who society says you should be. For many people—especially in their 40s, 50s, and 60s—it’s not about looking younger, it’s about looking true. Patients often say, “I still feel vibrant, but I look tired or older than I feel.” My goal isn’t to change who they are—it’s to bring their outer self back into alignment with their inner energy.
Q: What’s the biggest misconception about facelifts today?
A: That they make you look “done” or unnatural. Modern facelifts—especially the deep plane technique—do the opposite. We’re no longer pulling skin tight. We’re lifting the deeper layers of the face, restoring structure, and letting the skin gently re-drape. The result is subtle, elegant, and deeply rejuvenating. In fact, the best compliment after surgery is when someone says, “You look amazing—did you just get back from vacation?”
A: That they make you look “done” or unnatural. Modern facelifts—especially the deep plane technique—do the opposite. We’re no longer pulling skin tight. We’re lifting the deeper layers of the face, restoring structure, and letting the skin gently re-drape. The result is subtle, elegant, and deeply rejuvenating. In fact, the best compliment after surgery is when someone says, “You look amazing—did you just get back from vacation?”
Q: What about someone who isn’t ready for surgery?
A: Surgery is never the starting point. For many people, especially in their 30s and 40s, facial fat transfer is one of the most powerful tools. It restores youthful volume and improves skin quality by using your own purified fat—rich in stem cells and growth factors. It’s minimally invasive and can dramatically soften the signs of early aging.
A: Surgery is never the starting point. For many people, especially in their 30s and 40s, facial fat transfer is one of the most powerful tools. It restores youthful volume and improves skin quality by using your own purified fat—rich in stem cells and growth factors. It’s minimally invasive and can dramatically soften the signs of early aging.
Q: You’ve mentioned that your own wife (Jola) has gone through this journey with you. Can you share more?
A: Yes—and I think she’d agree it’s been a beautiful, intentional process. Over the years, we used fat transfer to subtly restore volume in her cheeks and under-eyes. But around 48, she felt the structure of her face beginning to shift—her jawline and neck were changing. That’s when we decided to do a deep plane facelift. The results have been profound. She still looks exactly like herself—just refreshed, rested, and radiant.
A: Yes—and I think she’d agree it’s been a beautiful, intentional process. Over the years, we used fat transfer to subtly restore volume in her cheeks and under-eyes. But around 48, she felt the structure of her face beginning to shift—her jawline and neck were changing. That’s when we decided to do a deep plane facelift. The results have been profound. She still looks exactly like herself—just refreshed, rested, and radiant.
Q: How do patients know it’s time to consider surgery?
A: If you find yourself constantly lifting your cheeks in the mirror, avoiding photos, or noticing sagging that fillers no longer correct—that’s your signal. It’s not about fear or panic—it’s about paying attention. The sooner you act after that threshold, the easier and more effective the rejuvenation tends to be.
A: If you find yourself constantly lifting your cheeks in the mirror, avoiding photos, or noticing sagging that fillers no longer correct—that’s your signal. It’s not about fear or panic—it’s about paying attention. The sooner you act after that threshold, the easier and more effective the rejuvenation tends to be.
Q: What about men? Are they jumping on the bandwagon too?
A: Absolutely. We’ve seen a rise in male patients who want to look sharper, less tired—especially in competitive industries. The technique has to be adapted, of course, to preserve masculine features, but the goals are the same: a natural result that enhances confidence without drawing attention to the work itself.
A: Absolutely. We’ve seen a rise in male patients who want to look sharper, less tired—especially in competitive industries. The technique has to be adapted, of course, to preserve masculine features, but the goals are the same: a natural result that enhances confidence without drawing attention to the work itself.
Q: Final thoughts for those thinking about a fresh start this year?
A: Start with education. Talk to a qualified facial rejuvenation expert—not just about what to do, but when and why. The best results come from a comprehensive plan: sometimes surgery, sometimes fat transfer, sometimes laser or skin treatments. And remember—aging optimally isn’t about chasing youth, it’s about choosing alignment. When your outside matches how you feel inside, that’s where the magic happens.
A: Start with education. Talk to a qualified facial rejuvenation expert—not just about what to do, but when and why. The best results come from a comprehensive plan: sometimes surgery, sometimes fat transfer, sometimes laser or skin treatments. And remember—aging optimally isn’t about chasing youth, it’s about choosing alignment. When your outside matches how you feel inside, that’s where the magic happens.
About Dr. Cruise: Dr. Joseph Cruise is a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Newport Beach, California. With over 20 years of experience and a reputation for delivering natural, high-end results, Dr. Cruise specializes in facial plastic surgery and body contouring. He is also the author of Aging on Your Terms. A proud resident of the Summit at Turtle Ridge for over 10 years, he lives there with his wife Jola and their three children.
Outside the operating room, you’ll find him on the basketball court, carving down snowy slopes, mountain biking the local trails, or exploring architectural design and the geometry that fuels his artistic approach to surgery.