Facial Aesthetics

Facial aesthetics at Santa Barbara Face & Body covers the full range of facial treatment, from non-surgical options such as neuromodulators and dermal fillers to surgical procedures such as eyelid surgery. Non-surgical facial rejuvenation is led by Dr. Allison Pontius, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon, and surgical face procedures are performed by Dr. Alain Polynice, a board-certified plastic surgeon, so patients can be matched to the least invasive option that meets their goals rather than pushed toward one approach.

What facial aesthetics covers

The face is treated as a whole, and the plan is matched to the concern.

• Non-surgical rejuvenation. Neuromodulators and dermal fillers soften lines and restore balance with little to no downtime.
• Surgical refinement. Eyelid surgery addresses what injectables cannot, when the change is structural.
• Skin quality. CO2 laser resurfacing, microneedling, peels, and skincare improve tone and texture, covered under skin treatments.

The point of a full range is to use the least that achieves your goal, not the most.

The face services

Each links to its own page.

For CO2 laser resurfacing, microneedling, peels, and skincare, see the skin treatments hub.

Non-surgical or surgical, and how to tell

Both have a place, and the honest answer depends on what is actually causing the concern.

The value is being told when you do not need a procedure, not only when you do. A physician who offers both has no reason to steer you toward one.

Concerns the face services address

Many people arrive with a concern rather than a procedure in mind.

The value is not the list. It is that the concern is matched to the least invasive option that will actually resolve it.

Why Santa Barbara Face & Body

Most practices lead with either the needle or the knife; here you have both, which changes the advice you get. Dr. Pontius brings a restrained, physician-injector’s hand to non-surgical rejuvenation, and Dr. Polynice brings Mayo Clinic-trained surgical judgment to the face. Because both are available, the recommendation can be the honest one, the least that achieves your goal, rather than whatever the practice happens to sell. Natural, matched-to-you facial aesthetics is the standard here.

Where to start

Start non-surgical if you

• Have early lines, lost volume, or want a subtle refresh
• Want little to no downtime
• Are not ready for, or do not need, surgery

Consider surgical if you

• Have heavy, hooded eyelids or under-eye bags
• Want lasting volume restoration with your own tissue
• Have been told injectables will not achieve your goal

What to expect

A consultation starts with your concern, not a menu. The physician examines your face, explains whether a non-surgical or surgical option fits, and is candid when a lighter touch will do. If your goal is best met by the other physician’s expertise, that referral happens in-house. You leave with a plan matched to your face and honest expectations, and clear pricing in writing.

What it costs

Facial treatments are quoted by the plan, not by a shelf price, because the right plan depends on your face and goals, from a single injectable visit to a surgical procedure. You will have clear pricing in writing at your consultation, with no pressure to do more than you need.