What is a Vertical Restore Facelift?

Turning Back Time with a Ground-breaking Facelift Technique

We are excited to introduce a revolutionary facelift technique here in the UK, known as Vertical Restoration, or VR. Devised by top plastic surgeons, this novel method is designed to give your face and neck a youthful uplift.

Ageing is an inevitable process that leads to various changes in our face. The deep fascia layer, which is a layer of fibrous tissue beneath the skin, begins to droop down over time. This causes noticeable signs of facial ageing, such as hollow cheeks, drooping eyelids, sagging jowls, and loose skin on the neck.

The traditional methods of facelift primarily focus on treating the loose skin by pulling it sideways, which can result in an unnatural ‘stretched’ look.

In contrast, the VR facelift is about lifting sagging facial and neck tissues vertically, restoring them to their youthful position. The key is, rather than merely pulling the skin, the VR technique works by adjusting the deep fascia layer. This revolutionary approach helps to address signs of ageing across multiple areas of the face including temples, jawline, mid-face, and neck.

What’s remarkable is that the VR facelift not only looks extremely natural but also offers long-lasting results. The fundamental premise of VR is not about stretching, but restoring the position of deeper facial tissues, making the outcomes more durable and authentic.

Here at Centre for Surgery, London, our highly experienced surgeons have dedicated a significant portion of their surgical career to mastering this advanced VR technique. Their expertise and commitment to the craft aim to help our patients achieve the aesthetic goals they desire, by offering this cutting-edge procedure in the most effective and personalised manner possible.

What Is Vertical Restore Facelift?

The vertical restore facelift, also known as the VR facelift, is an innovative surgical process aimed at comprehensively addressing the sagging of facial tissues due to age. It effectively rejuvenates the entire face, including the external brow, midface, jawline, and neck, thus providing a more natural and youthful look.

As we age, the persistent pull of gravity causes our facial tissues to move downwards. This results in several noticeable signs of ageing such as:

• A visible sagging or “jowling” effect, which can cause the jawline to appear more squared.
• Laxity or looseness in the neck area.
• A drooping effect in the mid-face region, which can extend to the corners of the mouth.
• The cheeks losing their volume and falling, giving the face a hollowed appearance.
• Deepened nasolabial folds, commonly known as “smile lines” or “laugh lines”.
• A hooding effect in the corner of the eyes, where the upper eyelid appears droopy or saggy.

What makes the VR facelift stand out is its comprehensive approach. Rather than treating each of these ageing concerns individually, the vertical restoration technique addresses all the impacted areas simultaneously in one procedure. This holistic approach not only makes the process more efficient but also ensures that the rejuvenation is balanced and harmonious across the whole face.

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How Is Vertical Restore Facelift Different From a Traditional Facelift?

The vertical restore facelift (VR facelift) differs from a traditional facelift in its approach to treating facial ageing and the type of results it provides. Here’s how:

The VR facelift offers a gentler and less harsh facial rejuvenation compared to a conventional facelift, but it delivers similarly striking, if not more impressive, results. In contrast to traditional methods that typically involve stretching the skin horizontally, the VR lift restores the neck, jawline, and cheeks vertically, effectively reinstating them to their original position. As a result, the effects are more natural-looking and give a less “worked on” appearance, since the procedure puts less stress on the skin and treats all facial layers together.

A crucial distinction between a traditional facelift and a VR facelift lies in their focus areas. The VR facelift targets the deeper layers of the face – specifically, the fascia. The fascia is the deep facial layer consisting of muscles and connective tissues, a critical area often responsible for the visible signs of ageing.

The VR facelift ‘vertically restores’ the deep facial layer to its former, higher position, addressing the root of your facial aesthetic concerns rather than just camouflaging them. By lifting the deep layer of the face and the overlying skin together, it effectively addresses sagging from the core, resulting in a rejuvenated and youthful appearance.

Vertical Restore vs Deep Plane Facelift

Vertical restore facelift and deep plane facelift are two distinct facelift techniques, both using a vertical approach to uplift the face rather than pulling the skin sideways. They each have their unique method and purpose, depending on the extent of facial ageing and the desired outcome.

The deep plane facelift procedure involves lifting the skin and the underlying muscle layers simultaneously, as a single unit. This means the skin and the deeper fascia (the tissue beneath the skin that includes muscle and connective tissue) are repositioned together. It’s a great choice for younger patients or for those with moderate facial ageing signs. It can be paired with a cheek lift or fat grafting for a more complete facial rejuvenation.

In contrast, a vertical restore (VR) facelift separates the skin from the underlying tissue first. This provides the surgeon with greater flexibility to initially adjust the deeper facial tissues, and then the skin is repositioned afterwards. This separation and individual treatment of layers allow the surgeon to more extensively rejuvenate the face. As a result, a VR facelift can effectively tackle more significant age-related changes in the face without the need for additional procedures.

Benefits of a Vertical Restore facelift

The vertical restore facelift, also known as a VR facelift, offers several significant benefits that set it apart from a traditional facelift. These include:

1. Targeting Deeper Tissue: Unlike a traditional facelift, a VR facelift works on the deeper layers of facial tissue where ageing primarily occurs.
2. Comprehensive Treatment: The VR facelift is designed to address various signs of ageing across the entire face simultaneously, meaning that all the parts of your face are rejuvenated together in one procedure.
3. Enhanced Facial Changes: This technique can make substantial improvements to pronounced jowls, deep marionette lines, hollow cheeks, and substantial facial skin excess.
4. Cheek Enhancement: A VR facelift can also create a more youthful, heart-shaped appearance to the cheeks, emphasising the cheekbones without the need for implants.
5. No ‘Pulled’ Look: Unlike traditional facelifts, which can sometimes result in an unnatural ‘pulled’ look, the VR facelift gives a more natural-looking result.
6. Neck Tightening: The VR facelift includes treatment for the neck, enhancing the contour and reducing sagging, for a more youthful neck and jawline.
7. Harmonious Features: By treating the entire face, the VR facelift ensures that all your facial features remain balanced and harmonious.
8. Durable Results: The results of a VR facelift are long-lasting and can maintain your rejuvenated appearance for 10-15 years.
9. Avoids Additional Procedures: Since it treats the whole face, you won’t require additional procedures like fat transfers, cheek lifts, or neck lifts.

Remember that successful vertical restoration requires not just in-depth knowledge of facial anatomy but also precision and refined surgical skills. Our plastic surgeons at  Centre for Surgery combine this knowledge and experience to provide the most natural-looking results possible with a vertical restore facelift.

Am I suitable for a Vertical Restore Facelift?

A vertical restore facelift (VR facelift) can be a brilliant solution for those who’ve noticed a downward descent in the appearance of their brow, midface, jawline, and neck. Here’s a guideline to help you determine if you might be an ideal candidate for a VR facelift:

1. Changes in Face Shape: If you’ve noticed your face becoming longer and your jaw more squared over time, a VR facelift can help restore the natural contour of your face.
2. Lower Eyelid Drooping: If you have drooping in your lower eyelids, a VR facelift might be a good solution for you.
3. Significant Weight Loss: If you have a lot of facial sagging due to considerable weight loss, a VR facelift can help lift and firm your skin.
4. Advanced Ageing: If you’re experiencing advanced signs of ageing in your face, including your neck, a VR facelift might be suitable for you. This includes deep wrinkles, skin sagging, and other age-related changes.
5. Sun Damage: If your skin has been damaged by the sun, leading to wrinkles and skin sagging, a VR facelift can help rejuvenate your skin and restore a youthful look.

A vertical restore facelift is a powerful facial rejuvenation surgery designed to address all these signs of ageing, and can deliver natural, long-lasting results. However, it’s crucial to have a consultation with a qualified surgeon to determine your individual suitability for the procedure. At Centre for Surgery, our experienced surgeons can provide expert advice based on your specific circumstances and cosmetic goals.

Does a Vertical Restore Facelift produce natural-looking results?

The vertical restore facelift (VR facelift) achieves a more natural look by preserving the original shape of your face and just reinstating your facial skin and tissue to their youthful positions.

Facial skin laxity often arises due to the sagging of a deeper facial layer known as the fascia. The fascia holds many of your facial muscles together and extends from your temples down to your neck. It connects various areas of your face, including your cheeks, the corners of your mouth, and your neck. Over time, as you age, the fascia stretches and elongates, making your face appear longer.

The beauty of the vertical restore technique lies in its ability to counteract this ageing effect. It aims to shorten the face and reposition the skin and facial features to their original locations, back before they became stretched and elongated. Moreover, a VR facelift includes treatment for the neck as well, ensuring a balanced and harmonious look across the entire face and neck.

Therefore, after a VR facelift, you won’t come out looking like a different person. Instead, you’ll look like a more youthful, vibrant version of your true self, which is what gives this technique its natural appeal.

What areas of the face can a VR facelift target?

The vertical restore facelift, or VR facelift, is a comprehensive procedure designed to rejuvenate several areas of the face in a single operation, giving your entire face a fresher and younger appearance. Here’s a rundown of the facial regions that a VR facelift addresses:

1. Upper Face: The upper part of your face includes the temple and outer brow area. Over time, these areas can sag, leading to a hooded appearance around the eyes. A VR facelift can lift and tighten these areas, reducing the droopiness and restoring a more alert and youthful look.
2. Midface: This is the region where heavy nasolabial folds (the deep lines that run from the sides of your nose to the corners of your mouth) and sunken cheeks may be present. By lifting and repositioning the tissues in the midface, a VR facelift can smooth out these folds and restore volume to the cheeks.
3. Lower Face: As we age, the skin on the lower part of the face can sag, leading to jowling along the jawline. A VR facelift can tighten this skin, reducing the appearance of jowls and giving a firmer, more defined jawline.
4. Neck: Ageing can also cause the neck to look heavy or bandy and blur the contours of the face. The VR facelift procedure addresses this issue by lifting and tightening the skin on the neck, reducing sagging and creating a more defined and youthful neck contour.

By treating all these areas in a single procedure, a VR facelift can provide a balanced and natural-looking rejuvenation that enhances your entire face.

The Vertical Restore Facelift Procedure

The vertical restore facelift, also known as a VR facelift, is a specialised procedure that requires skilled surgeons to ensure successful and natural-looking results. Here’s a general outline of how a VR facelift is performed at Centre for Surgery:

1. Anaesthesia: You’ll be put under general anaesthesia, meaning you’ll be asleep throughout the procedure.
2. Incisions: The surgeon will create small, discreet incisions starting from the top of your hairline, moving downwards and around your ears, and then backwards to your hairline again. This design ensures that the incisions remain well-hidden, even if you wear your hair pulled back.
3. Separation of Skin and Tissue: The skin is then gently separated from the underlying facial tissue in the temple, cheek, jaw, and neck areas. The skin is set aside without any strain, ensuring no tension is caused.
4. Ligament Separation: Next, the surgeon will separate all the crucial ligaments that anchor the fascia (the deeper layer of facial tissue) to the bone. This step covers areas from the cheeks to the jaw and the neck. This allows the surgeon to lift and reposition your entire face without opposition.
5. Repositioning of Facial Tissue: The facial tissue is then repositioned at approximately a 60-degree angle. This elevates the cheeks, lifts the nasolabial folds, smoothens the jawline, and tightens the neck.
6. Removal of Excess Skin: Your skin is then laid back over your face, and any excess skin is surgically removed.
7. Suturing: Finally, the surgeon will carefully suture the incisions to close them, minimising any damage to your skin. This process helps to restore the natural appearance of your skin and promote faster healing post-procedure.

Our skilled facelift surgeons here at Centre for Surgery in London have an expert understanding of the facial anatomy, enabling them to accurately identify the deep fascia layers and adjust the angle of the lift to suit each patient’s age, facial structure, and degree of sagging.

FAQs about Vertical Restore Facelift

Will there be any visible scars from a vertical facelift?

During a vertical restore facelift, incisions are made high up in your hairline and then extend behind your ear, falling into the deep crease there. As a result, any resultant scars from the procedure are well concealed within your natural hairline and behind your ear. Frequently, hair will regrow along the incision line, further camouflaging any facelift scars. As such, even when you aren’t wearing any makeup or if you choose to wear your hair up in a ponytail, the scars from your facelift shouldn’t be noticeable.

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How long can I expect the results of a vertical facelift to last?

A vertical restore facelift targets the deep fascia layer of the face, which tends to descend with age, leading to visible signs of ageing. Traditional facelifts deal with these signs by stretching the facial skin backwards, whereas a VR facelift lifts the deeper fascia, getting to the heart of your ageing concerns. This results in a more youthful appearance that can typically last between 10 to 15 years.

What exactly is a mini vertical lift?

A mini vertical lift is a less invasive version of the vertical restore facelift that primarily focuses on the lower portion of your face. It’s used to combat moderate sagging of facial skin, particularly in younger patients. The process involves the surgeon making smaller incisions to adjust the deeper fascia layer, effectively addressing milder signs of ageing on the face and neck.