Downtown Portland is bathed in sunlight. The Center for Facial Plastic Surgery www.portlandfacial.org has clean, modern offices where the art of aesthetic enhancement takes center stage, rather than a paint-by-numbers exercise. These physicians? Their toolbox would make your grandma green with jealousy, and they swear by perfection with a dash of comedy.

The top honcho, Dr. Williamson, thinks less is more most of the time. “People want to look refreshed—not like they’re trying out for the next installment of Real Housewives,” he’ll mutter, half-laughing, while consulting with a patient. The biggest secret they keep? Always use sunscreen. Avoid cakey makeup and embrace SPF as a skin-friendly companion. Even in the rain, they say to smooth it on before coffee.

We should discuss injectables. Avoid visualizing a bloated inflated critter. Rather, use a nuanced approach. According to Dr. Williamson, “just enough so your mother-in-law’s curious but can’t quite put her finger on why” — a joke he makes. The point isn’t to stop time altogether, but to only slow it down a little. Some regulars at the center plan “lunchtime tweaks”—small changes that no one notices, except for your selfie camera, which seems unusually lenient.

You can also find a lot of praise for face creams here. Which ingredient do they prefer? Vitamin A. Even while it’s not a magic wand, dedicated customers often refer to it as a “second cup of coffee for tired skin.” Acne is completely helpless; even teenagers may attest to that. Something like, “It’s all about consistent tiny habits,” adds another surgeon named Dr. Chung. Nightly moisturizing is more likely to result in faster results than five miraculous treatments per year. For a facelift, turtles are the way to go—slow and steady.

The Center’s method of consultations is so therapeutic that borders on treatment. First, we listen. Listen with all your senses, plus a dash of emotion,” Dr. Chung says with a smile. It may be helpful to remind patients not to say no too often. Authentic, unfiltered beauty is all the rage. A lot of people who come here admit that they wish they could appear younger—not exactly like anyone else, but younger.

Spoiler alert! Oftentimes, the most effective solution is found in the kitchen. “Of course, cover your eyes with cucumbers. Also, eat them as a snack! Dr. Williamson’s argument? The secret to radiant skin lies within. For those that are interested, they will provide smoothie recipes. On Tuesdays, at least, it seems like everyone is a health nut.

At long last? The sound of laughing. Dr. Chung is adamant that a real smile is the best option. When patients depart with their spirits—and cheekbones—a bit higher, we know we’ve achieved success.