Facelift
Julia, 59 years old
Manresa
Patient result
IMAGES PUBLISHED WITH THE PATIENT’S INFORMED CONSENT
Facelift in a smoker: how Julia restored firmness and youthfulness to her face
Julia has been a smoker for many years, consuming more than a pack and a half of cigarettes per day, which had significantly damaged her skin quality. Before the procedure, she presented poor skin with visible laxity and marked sagging in the mid and lower third of the face.
What concerned Julia before surgery?
The effects of tobacco and the passage of time were clearly reflected in Julia’s appearance. Her main concerns were the sagging jaw contour, deep nasolabial folds and the descent of the perioral area, which gave her a more aged and tired look. In addition, the malar region (cheekbones) and the lower eyelid showed clear signs of ageing, hollowing and loss of support.
Smoking compromises both skin quality and tissue recovery capacity. Despite this context, careful planning can still achieve very significant changes.
Initial assessment and finding the right solution
The assessment took the smoking factor very much into account, since smoking so many cigarettes per day compromises both skin quality and the tissues’ ability to recover. Despite this context, it was assessed that Julia could benefit from a facelift focused on the jaw contour, the folds and the periocular area. The goal was not only to tighten, but to redefine the facial contour and soften the most marked signs of laxity and ageing, especially in the maxillary region, nasolabial folds and lower eyelid.
The procedure: facelift, contour improvement and the periocular area
After the facelift, one of the most striking aspects is the change in the maxillary contour: where there was previously sagging, a firm, well-defined jawline can now be seen. The nasolabial folds have been noticeably softened and the mouth appears more elevated, contributing to a less downturned, more youthful expression.
The malar region has also clearly improved, providing support and volume where drooping was previously visible. Furthermore, the lower eyelid border shows a significant improvement, reducing the tired look and giving the eyes a fresher appearance.
Result: visible rejuvenation despite compromised skin quality
Despite starting from a skin quality weakened by years of smoking, the before-and-after improvements in Julia’s facelift are clear. The jaw contour has gone from being drooping to defined, the folds have been attenuated and the perioral expression is more harmonious, with the mouth subtly lifted.
A particularly illustrative case of how, even in smokers with compromised skin, a well-indicated facelift can achieve very significant changes.