Our face tells our life story. The story of years full of facial expression and movement. But that same movement, day in and day out, leaves marks. Where muscles work, the surrounding tissue eventually loses its firmness. Gravity then does the rest: sagging volumes slowly slide down.
At first, this manifests itself subtly, a fold here, a crease there. But over time, as these sagging volumes linger, excess skin and wrinkles appear. So facial aging is essentially not an accumulation of wrinkles, but a sagging of volumes.
This influence of gravity on the face is illustrated by the accompanying video, where the face is seemingly aging due to volumes sagging. Aging means the sagging of volumes. For this reason, rejuvenation revolves precisely around lifting these structures and restoring the natural, younger anatomy.
A facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure designed to improve the visible signs of aging in the face and neck in a natural, impactful way. The goal? To restore facial contours and elevator sagging structures, leaving you looking fresher and more youthful, without unnatural results.
Facial aging occurs through three main processes.
Facial ligaments act as anchor points in the face. The combination of these anchor points with gravity creates relief and depth, visible in the nasolabial folds, marionette lines and "jawls" along the jawline.
During a Deep Plane Facelift, these fixed areas are released, the muscle layer repositioned and excess tissue removed.
In certain areas of the face, there appears to be volume loss, but this is largely an illusion caused by sagging volumes. Elsewhere on the face, this volume loss does occur, but to a very limited degree.
This is corrected by moving, transferring or repositioning body fat.
Skin aging due to genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors results in loss of elasticity, in wrinkles and in altered skin texture.
While skin care can support, it does not completely prevent aging.
Which of these three factors is most decisive depends on age and face. Nevertheless, there is broad consensus that from about 35-40 years of age, sagging volumes are the most prominent cause of facial aging.
Dr. Van Genechten specializes in a variety of facelift techniques, from less extensive lifts to Deep Plane Facelifts and Revision Facelifts. Depending on the degree of aging in your face, he will put together a treatment plan that fully meets your personal needs and desires.
Minifacelift means a different technique for each surgeon. Minilift is a description of a collection of techniques that mostly aims to treat early signs of aging in the face. Minilifts typically take less time and have a shorter recovery period because the incision is smaller and the dissection less extensive.
Dr. Van Genechten does not offer a minifacelift as standard. He does offer a less extensive deep-plane alternative instead. Discuss this at your consultation.
With the Deep Plane Facelift, the focus is on relaxed and natural results, with the technique focusing on a natural approach to facial aging. This advanced method is distinguished by the minimal loosening of the skin from the deeper muscle layer as well as the complete loosening of the facial ligaments in the deep plane. This allows the facial structures to be repositioned without tension, ensuring a natural look and optimal recovery with hardly any visible scars.
A revision facelift can be a solution for patients who are dissatisfied with the results of their previous facelift. This complex procedure requires more experience and expertise from the surgeon than an initial facelift. A comprehensive consultation prior to the procedure is necessary to establish realistic expectations and discuss risks and complications.
Many patients experience a barrier to undergoing surgery. They are not ready, are afraid of it, or the procedure is not necessary at the time. Therefore, most patients opt for non-invasive treatments first. These treatments often offer a gentle approach to improving skin texture or filling volume deficiencies, but have their limitations. When these effects no longer suffice, the step to a facelift is often taken.
Dr. Van Genechten does not perform injectables himself, but works with full-time injectors. His expertise lies entirely in aesthetic facial surgery.
A facelift is not a procedure that changes your face. The goal is rejuvenation while maintaining your natural facial identity, this means without changing your face.
This requires a deep understanding of how aging affects the anatomy of the face and what is needed to effectively correct these changes. The goal is to very specifically and precisely reverse aging symptoms in the face, without causing unwanted side effects.
In addition, a facelift does not stop the natural aging process. After recovery, aging continues at the same rate as before, usually in line with the patient's biological age.
A common concern among patients is that a facelift makes the face look unnatural or altered. While this fear is understandable, it is important to know that a facelift is all about subtlety and precision.
First and foremost, a facelift is a rejuvenation procedure. The goal is to rejuvenate a face without altering the face during this procedure. Thus, not lifting structures higher than they have ever stood or placing fat where fat has never been lost due to age.
All kinds of procedures that change the face (foxeyes, cateyes, overfilling of the face, etc.) go in and out of fashion, and have nothing to do with rejuvenation, or with a facelift...
Facelifts are often associated with older patients, but are suitable for anyone with sagging volumes in the face, which can become apparent as early as around 35 to 40 years of age. Although most patients are between the ages of 45 and 55, Dr. Van Genechten recommends a facelift not based on age, but on the presence of sagging volumes and tissue excess in the face.
A facelift provides a solution for several facial aging features, including:
Slack and drooping cheeks, jowls
Double chin
Drooping neck
Crepe-like skin on the neck
Nasolabial folds
Marionette lines
Volume descent of the midface
Excess skin and wrinkles in certain areas
Neck bands and poor jawline definition
Since each patient and recovery process is unique, the experience may vary. However, below is a general overview of what to expect.
Limitations, expectations and a treatment plan
It is very important to fully understand the procedure, know the limitations, be aware of the risks, and have realistic expectations about the results and recovery time.
Therefore, Dr. Van Genechten provides an initial consultation in order to clearly understand your needs and desires and work with you to create an individualized treatment plan.
Risks and opportunity for questions
In a second appointment, the possible risks can be discussed in detail. Any questions or concerns can also be clarified during this appointment. If these were sufficiently clarified during the first consultation, a second consultation may be omitted.
When everything is clear and you understand everything, you can make an informed decision to have a procedure performed.
4-8 weeks before your procedure
A final appointment will take place a few weeks before the scheduled surgery. Here, practical matters are discussed, such as medication or supplements you should stop or take in advance. Risks and expectations are discussed again, in order to decide on the optimal treatment plan.
Smoking cessation is crucial: you must remain smoke-free for at least 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after the procedure to prevent complications and promote recovery.
On the scheduled day of surgery, you will check in at the appointed time. Our team will guide you through the rest of the process so that you are comfortable and well prepared for the procedure.
Further post-operative follow-up is described on the Deep Plane Facelift page. In fact, this process is completely similar to that of a facelift.
A facial rejuvenation surgery is a choice you make for yourself, not for the outside world.
It is a decision that matures in silence, taken in front of the mirror, not in front of the spotlight.
In our practice, discretion is a given. Privacy is not a detail, but a foundation.
The vast majority of our patients consciously choose not to make their results public. What you see here is exceptional.
Only a small number of patients gave us permission to show their result. Out of respect for their trust and generosity, we want to explicitly name that. They help others make an informed choice.
These images are not a showcase, but a discreet compass, honest and invaluable.
Do you have any further questions? Feel free to ask them!
Patients may feel some discomfort in the first few days after a facelift. Since the Deep Plane Facelift is a tension-free procedure, pain is minimal or often absent.
Due to swelling in the first 48 hours, the face may feel tight and uncomfortable, but pain is rare. If there is pain, it can usually be easily relieved with paracetamol.
When a face shows signs of sagging or sagging volumes, a facelift can be a good solution, even from the age of 35-40. Third revision facelifts can also be performed on patients around age 70, provided they are in good health.
Patients want to see in the mirror a reflection of how they feel inside, regardless of their biological age.
- "The deep necklift is the new mini-lift."
Dr. Van Genechten often performs an isolated deep necklift. This procedure is not suitable for everyone. However, sometimes an isolated necklift is performed at the patient's request without a correct indication. This then demonstrates a lack of understanding of the anatomy and aging process of the face.
Often surgeons agree to the procedure patients want, but this is often not the procedure the patient needs. The face and neck age together and therefore often need to be rejuvenated together to achieve a natural, harmonious result.
Nevertheless, a necklift is a good treatment for a significantly younger patient population.
Dr. Van Genechten is first and foremost a surgeon and will always put your health first. Smokers have a higher risk of poor wound healing, scarring, infection and necrosis of the skin.
It is advised that patients undergoing a face and necklift do not actively smoke or use nicotine replacement in the 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after surgery.
If you cannot do this, therefore, the answer to this question is no.
When a face and necklift is performed, your facial contour is perfectly matched to the hard and soft parts of your face, just as a dress or pants would be to a body. Weight loss or subsequent rapid weight gain means the dress or shirt will no longer fit as well.
Pronounced weight loss alone will likewise create tissue excess. It is best to reach your ideal and long-term target weight and only then undergo a face and neck elevator.
.avif)
The Catershoek Surgical Center offers an exclusive, quiet and discreet environment for aesthetic facial surgery. Located in a serene location, the center combines high-tech facilities with a home-like atmosphere, so that you will feel immediately at ease.
At Catershoek , everything is about you, with personalized support from the same team of specialists from the beginning of your treatment to your recovery.
The Catershoek Surgical Center offers an exclusive, quiet and discreet environment for aesthetic facial surgery. Located in a serene location, the center combines high-tech facilities with a homelike atmosphere, so you will feel immediately at ease.
At Catershoek , everything is about you, with personalized support from the same team of specialists from the beginning of your treatment to your recovery.
Dr. Maarten Van Genechten focuses entirely on aesthetic facial surgery, with the face as his absolute focus. This passion already arose during his medical studies, where he developed his interest in microvascular facial reconstructions.
He expanded his expertise during a fellowship in Brisbane, where he came into contact with different disciplines.
This experience led him to a fellowship in aesthetic facial surgery in Sydney, where his interest in facial rejuvenation surgery arose and has not faded since. Now he specializes in facial rejuvenation surgery, facelift surgery, brow lifts and eyelid surgery, and owns the Catershoek Surgical Center.
Are you ready to discover how a facelift can rejuvenate your face? Contact him today for a personal consultation with Dr. Van Genechten. During this appointment, he will discuss your specific needs, expectations and the possible results of the procedure.
Dr. Van Genechten will take the time to go over all aspects of the procedure with you and answer any questions you may have.
.avif)
