The facelift is a technique which is well known in medical practice and has been for a considerable time.
The vertical face lift is a facelift which raises vertically the centro-facial zone of the cheekbones if they have collapsed, by means of a small imperceptible incision. (See video presentation)
This purpose is to counter the loosening of the skin and muscles around the face (oval of the face, jowls, cheeks, eyebrows and temples), by restoring the facial structures (fat, muscle, skin). As a result the patient can expect to regain his or her previous appearance.
This operation has no effect on either the wrinkles of expression, nor the inner hamstring or circumoral wrinkles.
Additionally, the deep wrinkles are made less prominent by the stress exerted on the skin. But they will never disappear completely.
Similarly, the eyelids are not concerned.
Crucially, the incisions are hidden in the hair on the scalp (temples and neck) and around the ear, which makes the scars virtually invisible.
It is generally patients over the age of forty, which is when the first signs of ageing occur, who ask for this operation.
Facelifts have long been the subject of well-known procedures in the medical world. It is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures for patients wishing to give their faces a more rested, fresher and younger appearance for the long term. Different techniques are available, depending on the indication to be treated and the signs of skin aging to be corrected. Vertical face lift is one of them.
WHAT IS A VERTICAL FACE LIFT?
The vertical face lift is a lift that vertically lifts the central facial area of the cheekbones when they are sagging, through a tiny, imperceptible incision.
The aim is to counteract sagging skin and muscles in the face (oval, jowls, cheeks, eyebrows and temples), by restoring the structures of the face (fat, muscles, skin). The patient can thus hope to regain his or her previous appearance.
This procedure does not affect expression lines, crow’s feet or perioral wrinkles.
Deep wrinkles are made less pronounced by the tension exerted on the skin. But they never disappear completely.
Similarly, the eyelids are not affected. The incisions are mostly hidden in the hair (temples and nape of the neck) and around the ear, making the scars virtually invisible.
This procedure is generally requested after the age of 40, i.e. at the first signs of aging.
The procedure restores a more toned, firmer and younger-looking skin, particularly in the lower third of the face (skin hanging over the jawline or chin).
Other complementary procedures, such as blepharoplasty, hyaluronic acid or botox injections, can be proposed as part of an overall rejuvenation of the face. Similarly, other cosmetic surgery techniques for the face and neck may be considered if all the areas to be treated cannot be corrected by vertical facelift alone.
PROCEDURE FOR VERTICAL FACE LIFT
The first consultation is decisive in choosing the type of facelift best suited to the disorders to be corrected. The surgeon will carefully study the face in motion and at rest to identify the areas to be treated. All parts of the face and neck are examined.
A consultation with an anesthetist is then scheduled up to 48 hours before the operation. This is essential when surgery is performed under general anaesthetic. On this occasion, a blood test is requested to ensure that there are no contraindications to anesthesia.
It is essential to stop taking certain medications (notably anticoagulants and aspirin) for 10 days prior to the operation. You will be reminded of these instructions before the operation.
The operation requires a 6-hour fast (no food or drink). It is performed under general anesthesia and lasts between one and a half and two hours. This surgical procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis. However, it is possible to offer a short overnight hospital stay.
The practitioner may begin with liposuction of the neck to better redefine the oval of the face as the skin is re-draped.
The vertical face lift is then performed. Depending on the surgeon’s preference, the cheekbones are suspended vertically using sutures or an absorbable anchoring system. The incisions are shorter and positioned behind the ears. Skin detachment is reduced, which greatly reduces the risk of the classic post-operative complications of a traditional facelift (haematoma, oedema, skin sensitivity problems, etc.).
At the end of the procedure, a bandage is applied, to be worn for several hours following the facelift.
SCARS AND RECOVERY AFTER A FACELIFT
Post-operative recovery is usually straightforward and painless. Swelling (edema) may appear in the front of the ear and in the neck, but this is natural and should disappear spontaneously after about ten days.
Scars are concealed by hair in the early stages of healing, reducing the need for social exclusion. They will then gradually evolve to become almost invisible, camouflaged behind the ears and in the scalp, even in people with short hair.
Normal social and professional activities can be resumed a few days after the operation, as recommended by your Paris plastic surgeon. Sport can be resumed later, after a period of about 6 weeks.
Follow-up consultations are organized at regular post-operative intervals to assess results and check that the vertical facelift is healing properly.
VERTICAL FACE LIFT RESULTS AND MAINTENANCE
The aesthetic results of a vertical face lift are definitive and begin to be appreciated after a period of approximately 4 to 6 weeks. However, they stabilize after 3 to 4 months.
The result is perfectly natural and harmonious. Patients obtain a visible but discreet “youthful look”. There’s no suspicion of surgery, but those around them find that those who have undergone the procedure look well-rested and healthy.
As the years go by, skin ageing continues naturally, and the face continues to suffer its effects.
Aesthetic medicine techniques such as lasers, filler injections or peels can then be considered to maintain the effects for as long as possible.
PRICE OF VERTICAL FACE LIFT OR CENTRO-FACIAL LIFT
The price of a vertical facelift depends on a number of parameters, such as the indication and the procedures to be performed during the operation, the fees of the various specialists, the hospitalization costs of the care facility, etc.
Prices start from: 10.000€
As this is a purely aesthetic operation, the vertical face lift is not covered by social security.
