11 Feb Modern Facelift Techniques for Natural, Long-Lasting Facial Rejuvenation

Facelift surgery has changed dramatically in the last decade. The goal today is not to “pull” the face tighter — it’s to restore youthful structure and balance while keeping you looking like yourself. At PHI Surgery in Montreal, Dr. Perry Gdalevitch uses modern facelift principles that focus on deeper support layers, refined incision planning, and natural contour restoration.

Aging in the face is multi-layered. Skin laxity is only one piece of the puzzle. As time passes, facial fat compartments descend, retaining ligaments loosen, and the deeper foundation of the face shifts. This is why many patients notice jowling along the jawline, deepening nasolabial folds, and a heavier lower face even when the skin quality remains good. In those cases, treatments like fillers or devices may provide temporary improvement, but they cannot reliably reposition deeper tissues or remove excess skin.

Modern facelift techniques emphasize structural lifting. In many surgical plans, the SMAS layer (the supportive layer beneath the skin) is lifted and repositioned to recreate youthful anatomy. This approach allows the skin to be redraped gently rather than used as the primary “lifting force,” which helps produce results that look natural in motion, not just in photos. Incisions are designed to be discreet and are typically placed around the ear and into the hairline where appropriate, with careful attention to scar quality.

A high-quality facelift plan is also individualized. Some patients benefit most from midface elevation, others from jawline refinement, and many require a coordinated approach with the neck for the best harmony. The best outcomes come from matching technique to anatomy, not choosing a one-size-fits-all method.

Recovery is also more predictable with contemporary methods. Most patients plan for approximately two weeks of social downtime, with swelling and firmness improving gradually over the following weeks and months. Results continue refining as tissues settle, revealing cleaner jawline definition and smoother transitions through the cheeks and lower face.