Temporal facelift

With age, the skin and underlying skin muscles (SMAS or musculoaponeurotic system) lose their tone and elasticity.

As a result, skin tends to slacken and volumes to sag.

This is particularly true for the skin around the temples and eyelids, which is often poorly protected and quite thin.

The appearance of wrinkles in the corner of the eye (crow's feet) and sagging skin go beyond mere aesthetic consequences. The position of the eyebrow is altered, which tends to alter the look of the eyes, making them appear more tired, less toned and more severe.

Dr. Christelle Santini recommends a temporal lift to treat sagging of the lateral eyebrow, to smooth out crow's feet and to restore slight tension to the skin of the outer eyelids.

The aim of this partial facelift is not to change the features or the look, but to return the anatomical structures, in particular the tail of the eyebrow, to the position they were in a few years ago.

It's a procedure that requires real mastery of the technical gesture, so as not to alter the eyes, which are often a real marker of a person's identity, whatever their age.

As this facelift is purely a cosmetic procedure, it is not covered by the French Assurance Maladie.

The first visit with Dr. Santini allows us to carry out a complete assessment, to fully understand your expectations and analyze the causes of aging eyes.

Depending on the case, a temporal facelift may be considered alone, or in conjunction with blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery.

Medical photos are taken to ensure follow-up in the operating room and post-operatively.

Thanks to a medical and artistic analysis, Dr. Santini will precisely analyze the patient's temporal region, to determine the incision zones according to his or her features, the objective being to preserve a natural result in keeping with the rest of the face.

During the 48 hours preceding the operation, a consultation with the anaesthetist will be carried out to determine whether the patient is fit to undergo surgery.

And, as with any surgical operation, it's essential to fast for 6 hours beforehand.

For 10 days prior to the facelift, it is essential not to take any medication containing aspirin, with the agreement of the cardiologist in the case of chronic treatment.

Smoking cessation is strongly recommended at least one month before and 15 days after surgery. Smoking increases the risk of post-operative complications in any surgical procedure.

Finally, to ensure clean, natural skin, antiseptic hair washing the day before the procedure and make-up removal the same day are essential.

A temporal facelift is always a tailor-made surgery, in which Dr. Santini cleaves the cutaneous and muscular planes, tightening them and performing a skin resection of excess tissue. There is therefore no universal technique for this partial facelift, as it must always be adapted to the patient. As a result, each surgeon adopts the most appropriate procedure on a case-by-case basis.

The contours of the incision are marked prior to anesthesia.
To conceal the scars, Dr. Santini usually makes a skin incision of around 4 to 6 cm, entirely hidden in the hair, a few centimetres behind and parallel to the hairline. If scars are still a source of discomfort, it is possible to carry out sessions with the UrgoTouch Laser to reduce them considerably.

From the incision, the anatomical planes are delicately cleaved, ensuring hemostasis. The art of a successful temporal facelift is to appreciate the laxity of the various layers of tissue (skin and muscle) in order to achieve harmonious tissue re-tensioning. The tail of the eyebrow is lifted and the skin is re-draped, while the face retains its expression and the identity of its gaze.

The procedure can take from 40 minutes to an hour for both sides.

The patient may be discharged the same evening, or the day after the operation if other procedures were carried out during the same operating time.

During the first few days, you should rest as much as possible and avoid any violent exertion. During these first few days, the patient should not be surprised or worried:

• A small skin bulge at the top of the temporal scar,
• Edema (swelling), which may be more pronounced on the third day than on the first,
• Bruising in the temporal region,
• A sensation of painful tension in the temples or, on the contrary, insensitivity.

In the case of intra-capillary scars, these are not visible once the hair has been combed. Scalp sutures are removed on the 8th post-operative day. In the case of pre-capillary scars, these are visible but will be faded by the 4th month post-operatively as hair grows back through them.

• A night at the clinic at most
• 10 to 15 days of professional downtime
• Final result at 6 months
• Rejuvenation of eyes and wrinkles, with hidden scars

What to do before a temporal facelift?

1 to 2 consultations with your plastic surgeon, including medical photographs.
A consultation with the anesthetist and, if necessary, a blood test.
Delivery and signature of the estimate, with a 15-day medical-legal waiting period between the first consultation and the facelift.

How does a temporal lift procedure work?

• General anesthesia
• 40 to 60 minutes of intervention
• Incisions often hidden in the scalp

What is the post-operative course of a temporal lift?

• Follow-up visit with your plastic surgeon and removal of sutures 7 to 10 days after the procedure.
• Allow 10 to 15 days off work after a temporal facelift.
• Stopping sport after a temporal facelift for 1? months.
• Return to work 10 days after surgery.
• Final results after 3 to 6 months.

The price of a temporal facelift starts at €5,000 and depends on several factors:

the amount of skin to be removed and therefore the type of scar, the association with other facial cosmetic surgeries, the fees of the anesthesiologist and the clinic, the length of hospitalization and its location...

The price of the temporal facelift will be determined at the first consultation with Dr Christelle Santini.

Don't hesitate to make an appointment with Dr. Santini for more information on temporal lifts in Paris.