A facelift, the gold standard in aesthetic surgery for total facial rejuvenation, is a customized procedure.

Far from drawn, artificial results, my approach focuses on attention to detail and elegance.

A good facelift can make you look around ten years younger, it can be seen and yet is « invisible« . The result is perfectly natural and does not take away your charm or ability to move your face.

Depending on your needs, a facelift can involve the whole face and neck or more specific areas.

Understanding facial sagging and aging

With time, the skin grows thinner and loses its elasticity due to a decrease in collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid levels. This phenomenon is also accentuated during the menopause under the effect of hormonal changes that affect the skin. The subcutaneous fat « melts » and tends to migrate downwards. The muscles and bone atrophy.

Consequently, folds (nasolabial folds, bitterness folds) and hollow areas (dark circles, tear troughs, temples, cheeks) begin to appear. The appearance of jowls and overall sagging is often accentuated by external factors such as sun exposure, smoking, pollution, or stress.

We mistakenly look more tired, sadder, and emaciated. The lines of the face are less clearly defined and the face tends to sag.

A facelift can resolve this.

#1 What is a facelift?

Techniques have progressed considerably over time… and facelifts are not new. On the contrary, their popularity grew after the First World War, particularly thanks to Suzanne Noël, the first female surgeon who operated on the famous « broken faces » caused by the fighting. During the 20th century, Hollywood actresses were soon seeking ways to combat facial skin aging.

For many years, the approach was to treat just the skin, by pulling and lifting it, hence the term « lift ».

The techniques evolved and we began to take an interest in the underlying tissues (« SMAS » – Superficial MusculoAponeurotic System) that support the skin and play an essential role in its relaxed appearance.

A modern, natural facelift, which endures well over time, acts on the skin and the fibro-aponeurotic and muscular structure comprised of muscle, tissue, and fat.

A facelift will therefore enable the tissues to be repositioned in a younger position and the skin to be redraped to naturally rejuvenate the whole face.

#2 What are the different types of facelifts?

From a patient’s viewpoint, there are various types of facelift depending on the area to be treated and the extent of the skin sagging:

– A face and neck lift treats sagging of the lower face and neck: face contour, neck, cervicomental angle, jowls.

– A temporal lift concentrates on the upper part of the face and the eyes. The latter are widened and illuminated. Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) may also be necessary.

– A forehead lift lifts the forehead and eyebrows. However, botulinum toxin injections are to a large extent now used for this indication.

It is during the consultation with my patient that we determine the procedures and techniques used, a special moment when they can present their motivations, fears, and goals.

#3 Indications for a facelift: who is the ideal candidate for a facelift?

The ideal candidate is someone who can see or feel that their facial tissues and skin have begun to sag. In this case, hyaluronic acid injections would not lift the tissues but simply create more volume, which is in contrast to a more natural result.

The ideal candidate, after having carefully thought about and mulled over their plans for a facelift, has it done for him/herself to feel better about his/her body and appearance. It is above all a personal decision.

In the case of very minor sagging, aesthetic medicine offers minimally or non-invasive non-surgical solutions to lift the skin: tensor threads, hyaluronic acid injections, or even radiofrequency and ultrasound.

#4 A facelift: at what age?

In terms of skin aging, each face is different. Genetics and lifestyle play an essential role; some people see their skin sag faster than others. On average, women consult at around the age of 45/50 years. Age is not however a criterion, it is the quality of the skin.

See also: to find out more about the procedure, post-op follow-up, and result: visit the page dedicated to face and neck lifts

#5 A facelift with a natural result: is it possible?

Of course! Thanks to technological advances but above all knowledge of anatomy, we can achieve staggeringly natural results, with no rigid, drawn, or artificial appearance. The idea is simply to have a fresher appearance.

#6 A facelift in later years: why not?

Yes, it is possible. However, it is important to understand that the older we get the less elastic and « malleable » the skin is; it is of increasingly poor quality. During a consultation, you will be given advice and the best approach recommended.

#7 Is it possible to have several facelifts in a lifetime?

Yes, it is possible to have several facelifts in a lifetime. A second facelift is possible but precautions must be taken. I always take note of any previous surgery (type of facelift carried out), as well as other medical-aesthetic treatments carried out over the years (injections, tensor threads, laser…).

#8 It is necessary to look after a facelift and how?

A facelift helps you gain a few years but it does not stop the aging process of the skin. It is a sort of reset but the aging process continues. Aesthetic medicine is, therefore, an ideal solution to continue taking care of your skin, stimulate the production of collagen, and combat sagging.

Regular botulinum toxin injections will help promote the action of the muscles and lift the face, the contour, and the eyes while relaxing the muscles that pull the face down. By combating the natural sagging of the face, it is possible to enhance the effect of the facelift over time.

If you have any questions regarding a facelift with or without surgery, you can contact my team for a consultation.