Different techniques for reshaping the oval of the face

1. How to choose the right facelift surgeon?

Choose an oculoplastic surgeon who specialises in the face
For Dr Hayot, it is essential to choose a practitioner with in-depth knowledge of facial anatomy and of rejuvenation techniques. Only a highly specialised practitioner can achieve a natural result without the “ultra-lifted”, “overdrawn” look of American stars in the 1990s.

For this renowned oculoplastic surgeon, “a facelift that looks lifted is a facelift that has failed”. His high degree of specialisation gives him a thorough understanding of the ageing process. “It is all about not pulling the skin too much, and not removing too much tissue, so that the face keeps its personality and its expressions are not altered.”

2. Which mini-lift should you choose?

Choosing the facelift that suits the way you are ageing
To find the facelift best suited to your face, it is essential to arrange a consultation with your oculoplastic surgeon. He or she will make a precise diagnosis, and should be able to give you a precise estimate at this first consultation.

Depending on your age, your skin texture and the degree of skin ptosis, the oculoplastic surgeon will recommend a mini-lift, a brow lift or the use of tensor threads.

3. What is the postoperative course of a mini facelift?

The operation takes approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. The face is slightly oedematous and may show some bruising in the days following the procedure. There is no need to spend a night in the clinic, however, and patients can generally go home a few hours after waking up.

Social downtime does not exceed 7 to 10 days. Allow around a week off work so that you can appear in public without any marks on your face.

During this period, covering make-up can prevent any social downtime.

4. What precautions should I take after my facelift?

Rest and quiet to avoid the risks associated with a mini-lift
A facial mini-lift calls for a few precautions in the days and weeks following the procedure:

• Avoid strenuous sport for at least 1 month, until the wound has healed properly.
• Avoid water and steam environments (steam rooms, for example) to reduce the risk of infection.
• Avoid foods that require heavy chewing in the first few days after a lower facelift, to avoid pain (the same applies to tensor threads until the fibrosis stage, 2 to 3 weeks after the procedure).
• Protect your skin from the sun to avoid the risk of depigmentation or hyperpigmentation of scars and bruises.

5. Where are the scars from a mini facelift?

Mini-lift scars are discreet and fade quickly
Doctor Hayot, an expert in eyelid & oculoplastic surgery in Paris, offers his patients lasting, optimal results. His mini-facelift technique keeps scars to a minimum. Generally placed in front of the ear and carefully concealed, the scar is only a few millimetres long. Gone are the overly visible scars of the classic facelift, which ran around the entire contour of the face and even into the hairline.

Another advantage is that mini-lift stitches are absorbable and eventually fall out on their own.

6. For complete facial rejuvenation, which other aesthetic medicine treatments can be combined with a facelift?

Botox® injections, hyaluronic acid and tensor threads can all be combined with the mini-lift
The mini facelift can be combined with Botox® injections in the eyebrows, to brighten and open up the eyes. Botulinum toxin can erase frown lines (between the eyebrows), crow’s feet and all the wrinkles around the mouth (smoker’s lines).

The mini-lift can also be complemented by hyaluronic acid, used to fill hollow dark circles, temples or cheekbones and to recreate facial volumes that have melted away.

Finally, your oculoplastic surgeon may suggest tensor threads to complete your facial mini-lift. These threads can be used to tighten the oval of the face or to counteract sagging skin on the forehead, eyelids or neck. Placing tensor threads after a facelift is generally more painful, depending on where they are positioned and on the technique used.

For further information on the technique, please contact Dr Hayot