Facelift
Heidi, 52 years old

Facial rejuvenation with a “mannequin” facelift in a 52-year-old patient

Heidi is a 52-year-old woman with good skin quality, but she showed pronounced signs of ageing in the face and neck. Her neck was noticeably lax, with clearly visible platysmal bands, along with deep nasolabial folds around the mouth that gave her a “sad mouth” appearance.

What concerned Heidi?

Although her skin texture was good for her age, Heidi was most concerned about the sagging neck and the way the folds around her mouth hardened her expression. That combination of a relaxed neck and marked lines in the mid and lower face accentuated the signs of ageing and made her look more tired than she actually felt.

Initial assessment and treatment plan

The assessment confirmed that the main issue was not skin quality but rather laxity in the neck and descent of the facial tissues, with very visible platysmal bands and deep nasolabial folds. To improve the mid and lower thirds of the face as a whole, a “mannequin”-type cervicofacial lift was planned – a more targeted version of a full cervical lift.

In addition to the facelift, the eyelids were also treated, which makes the eyes appear larger and more open, although in these images they have been pixelated to protect her identity.

The “mannequin” cervicofacial lift

The goal of the facial surgery was to reposition and tighten the tissues of the mid and lower thirds of the face and neck, without changing Heidi’s features or giving her an artificial look. The mannequin lift targets the neck and jawline specifically, but with a slightly smaller scope than a full cervical lift.

Using this technique, the nasolabial folds were noticeably softened, reducing the sad-mouth effect that had concerned Heidi. At the same time, the facial oval was better defined and the neck was refined, correcting the excess laxity and the platysmal bands that were visible before surgery.

Result: softer features and a refined neck

The post-surgery images show how the patient’s signs of ageing have been clearly reduced: the nasolabial folds are far less pronounced and the mouth area no longer conveys that downward, tired expression. The facial contour looks more defined and the neck appears much more refined, with a cleaner transition between the jaw and the cervical region.