When I began training two decades ago, the word facelift often evoked images of windswept cheeks and startled brows—the unmistakable “done” look that betrays the very work it’s meant to conceal. My driving mission ever since has been simple: help my patients look as young as they feel without advertising that a surgeon had anything to do with it.
Over the years, that commitment led me to develop and trademark the Vertical Restore® technique. But before we dive into why that matters, let’s answer the bigger question: what, exactly, makes a facelift look natural?
Treating the Cause, Not Just the Skin
Aging starts beneath the surface of the skin. Here’s what you need to know:
- The facial fascia, also known as the SMAS layer, stretches and descends, similar to how dough lengthens when it hangs; skin laxity is just a visible symptom of this process.
- To achieve a natural and youthful appearance, we must first reposition the underlying support system and then allow the skin to follow without tension.
- If we only pull on the skin, we will achieve tightness rather than a youthful look.
My approach: Vertical Restore releases the retaining ligaments of the face and neck and elevates those deeper structures vertically, in the same direction that gravity pulled them down.
Because we aren’t forcing tissue sideways, cheeks regain youthful fullness, nasolabial folds soften, and the neck contours lack that “pulled‑back” shine.
Lifting in the Right Vector
Traditional facelifts often drag tissue toward the ears, flattening the midface and widening the eye area. The face, however, aged downward, so it must be restored upward.
My approach: By moving everything vertically—from the lateral brow through the midface and jawline to the neck—Vertical Restore recreates the upside‑down‑triangle of youth. The brow opens naturally, cheeks sit back on the cheekbones, and the jawline sharpens.
Rejuvenating the Whole Face, Not a Slice
Imagine repainting just one wall of a weathered house. It looks newer, yes, but it only highlights what you didn't fix. The same is true with partial facelifts that address the jawline alone.
My approach: A natural facelift harmonizes temples, midface, jawline, and neck in one operation. Combining Vertical Restore with fat transfer (to replace lost volume), eye rejuvenation, lip lift, and skin resurfacing provides comprehensive de-aging.
Preserving Your Identity
We all know the celebrity who emerged unrecognizable after surgery. That usually happens when surgeons chase cultural ideals instead of the patient’s anatomy.
Natural results demand we do the opposite—honor what makes you, you—and that philosophy is baked into every step of a Vertical Restore® facelift:
- Micron‑Precise Deep‑Plane Repositioning: Vertical Restore lifts deep ligaments along natural tension lines, allowing cheek fat pads to return to their original positions. This sharpens the jawline without distortion, keeping your authentic expression.
- Ethnicity‑ and Gender‑Sensitive Vectors: The angle and extent of lift vary between women, men, and different ethnic backgrounds. A universal pull ignores those nuances and erases cultural hallmarks; a customized vector preserves them.
My approach: Before I ever lift a scalpel, we study photographs from your 20s and 30s, then use digital morphing and mirror exercises to pinpoint precisely which contours have drifted. The goal isn’t to invent a “better” face; it’s to re‑establish the face you already owned before gravity and time intervened.
Keeping the Skin–SMAS Relationship Intact
Separating skin from the fascia for extended distances (common in outdated lifts) traumatizes the blood supply and prolongs healing, leading to shiny, overly tight surfaces.
When we leave the skin attached to the SMAS in a deep‑plane, vertical lift, the micro‑vascular and lymphatic networks stay intact, so the skin retains its healthy blush instead of the tell‑tale waxy sheen.
The intact connection also prevents shearing forces that can thin the dermis over time, reducing the risk of rippling or visible irregularities down the road. In short, moving the face as one biological unit lets the tissue heal stronger, look softer, and age more gracefully.
My approach: Vertical Restore is a deep‑plane procedure. Bruising is minimal, swelling dissipates quickly, and scars heal fine enough to hide in a ponytail.
The Gold Standard of Facelifts? No One Can Tell You Had One.
I could quote metrics—7,000+ natural outcomes, patients from all 50 states and 100+ countries—but the true measure is how frequently someone tells my patients, “You look amazing,” without ever guessing why. That absence of detection is what makes a facelift look natural.
If you’re ready to reclaim the face that matches your spirit—without trading your identity for tight skin—I invite you to book a consultation today and explore Vertical Restore at our world class facility in San Diego. Together, we’ll craft a plan that lifts more than tissue; it lifts confidence, comfort, and the joy of seeing yourself in the mirror again.
