Facial lifting: which techniques are available?

Facelift: what types of facial lifting procedures are available?

A facelift is a surgical procedure aimed at tightening the skin and removing excess fat to restore a youthful appearance. There are several types that can be applied to different areas of the face. Discover which ones.

Published on September 3, 2025, by Lilia, Scientific Editor — 9 min of reading

What is a facelift?

The facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a cosmetic surgical procedure designed to mitigate the signs of ageing by tightening sagging facial tissues. Over time, skin loses elasticity, muscles slacken and facial volumes shift, leading to the appearance of wrinkles, jowls and a drooping facial contour. The facelift aims to correct these alterations by repositioning the deep structures and removing excess skin to restore a firmer, more rested appearance to the face. There are different types of facelift depending on the area targeted: cervico-facial lift, temporal lift or frontal lift. Each technique is tailored to the patient’s needs and the degree of tissue laxity observed.

For every type of facial lift, the procedure generally follows the same steps, with a few exceptions. It begins with anaesthesia, which can be general or local depending on the extent of the operation. Next, the surgeon makes incisions, often concealed within the natural skin folds or along the hairline. Once the incisions are made, the skin is carefully lifted to access the underlying tissues. At this stage, excess skin and sometimes fat are removed, and the muscles and tissues are repositioned to restore facial volume and tone. The skin is then redraped naturally, and the scars are closed with sutures. Finally, a dressing or bandage is applied to protect the operated area. After the operation, a postoperative follow-up protocol is established. The surgeon informs the patient of the precautions to take and the actions to avoid to promote proper healing. Several follow-up appointments are also scheduled to monitor the healing process and anticipate any complications.

Like any surgical procedure, a facelift carries inherent risks, although these are rare when the procedure is performed by an experienced professional.

Possible complications include the development of bruising, pain or temporary discomfort, delayed wound healing, or infection. These possibilities are systematically discussed during the preoperative consultation so that the patient is fully informed and prepared. This stage of dialogue with the surgeon is therefore essential before any decision is made.

What are the various facial lifting techniques available?

The ageing of the face appears as skin laxity, loss of volume and the onset of wrinkles. These signs result from a reduced production of collagen, sagging of deeper structures and thinning of the skin. A facelift, a major cosmetic procedure, aims to correct these effects by firming the skin and repositioning tissues to restore a more youthful, harmonious appearance to the face.

The cervico-facial facelift: the most common.

The cervico-facial lift is the gold-standard technique for treating moderate to severe laxity of the lower face and neck. It involves elevating the skin and then tightening the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) and the skin itself, before suturing to achieve a lasting lifting effect. This procedure allows the correction of jowls, loss of jawline contour and neck laxity.

A retrospective study of 350 patients demonstrated that a cervico-facial lift provides a significant aesthetic improvement in 85% of cases, with an average duration of effect of seven to ten years. Complications are rare but may include a haematoma or asymmetry.

The temporal facelift, also known as the upper third facelift.

The temporal lift, also known as the upper third facial lift, focuses on the area of the temples, eyebrows and outer eye region. This procedure aims to correct the signs of ageing in this region, notably brow ptosis, excess skin on the upper eyelids and a tired or drooping gaze. Over time, the skin of the upper face loses elasticity and subcutaneous tissues sag, which can lend the face a sad or severe expression. The temporal lift elevates the lateral eyebrow, opens the gaze and softens crow’s feet lines.

The procedure is generally performed under local anaesthesia or mild general sedation. The surgeon makes small incisions concealed within the scalp at the temples. They then access the deep tissue layers to elevate and reposition them upwards, naturally tighten the skin, and remove any excess. It can also be combined with other procedures, such as blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) or a more comprehensive forehead lift, to achieve overall rejuvenation of the upper third of the face. The final result is a more open, rested and expressive appearance, without freezing the facial features.

The malar lift for the cheekbones and tear troughs.

The malar lift, or mid-face lift, targets the area located between the cheekbones and the tear troughs, which is particularly susceptible to ageing. Over time, the skin loses elasticity, tissues sag, and subcutaneous fat shifts or diminishes, accentuating under-eye hollows and volume loss in the cheekbones. This procedure aims to reposition the lax tissues to restore facial fullness and soften a fatigued appearance. Carried out via a discreet incision (often concealed at the hairline or inside the mouth), it allows the surgeon to elevate the malar fat pad (fat and muscle) and retension the deep ligaments, thereby enhancing the cheekbone contours and reducing tear troughs and nasolabial folds.

This technique is more targeted and is sometimes combined with a cervicofacial lift to achieve a harmonious result.

The eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty.

Eyelid lifting, also known as blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure involving the upper eyelids, the lower eyelids, or both at once. This operation primarily aims to correct the visible signs of ageing around the eyes, a particularly sensitive area where the skin is thin and prone to sagging. With age, the eyelid skin can loosen, resulting in excess tissue that gives a drooping, fatigued appearance to the gaze. Furthermore, the formation of bags of fat beneath the eyes, often due to an accumulation or displacement of orbital fat, accentuates this ageing, as do the hollow dark circles or pigmented circles and the wrinkles around the eyes.

Blepharoplasty thus allows the removal of excess skin and, if necessary, the removal or repositioning of fat pads to smooth the contour of the eye. The procedure may also mitigate fine wrinkles around the lower eyelids, thereby restoring a fresher, more rested appearance. The operation is generally performed under local anaesthesia with sedation or light general anaesthesia. The surgeon makes discreet incisions, most often within the natural crease of the upper eyelid and just beneath the lashes of the lower eyelid, in order to minimise visible scarring. The results of blepharoplasty are often highly valued as they achieve a noticeable rejuvenation of the gaze without altering the face’s natural expression. This procedure helps to confer a more dynamic, less fatigued look to the patient, thereby improving their well-being and self-confidence. Recovery time is typically rapid, with temporary swelling and bruising that resolve within a few days.

Cervical lifting: an effective solution for the face and neck.

The cervical lift, also known as neck lift, is a surgical procedure aimed at the cervical region, namely the lower face and neck. With age, this area commonly exhibits pronounced skin laxity, the formation of horizontal folds—often referred to as platysmal bands—and an accumulation of submental fat, frequently resulting in the appearance of a double chin or “turkey neck”.

The aim of a cervical lift is to restore a sharp jawline and a smoother, firmer neck. The procedure involves, as appropriate, performing lipoaspiration (or liposuction) in order to remove localised excess fat, particularly beneath the chin. The surgeon then re-tensions the platysma muscle, a flat, superficial muscle extending from the chin to the base of the neck, to correct the muscular laxity responsible for visible neck bands. Excess skin is subsequently redraped backwards, typically via discreet incisions placed behind the ears and sometimes beneath the chin. This achieves a natural, harmonious outcome without altering facial expression. The cervical lift is often performed alone in patients with sagging confined to the neck, but it can also be combined with a cervico-facial lift when the laxity affects the entire lower face. Results are generally long-lasting and become apparent after a few weeks, once postoperative swelling has subsided. This procedure thus restores a younger, more defined profile, with a firmer neck and a recontoured jawline.