Vertical Vector Facelift

Dr. Compton, Can You Tell Me More About The Vertical Vector Facelift?

A Vertical Vector Facelift is the most advanced type of facelift and is preferred by Dr. Compton due to its ability to reposition the soft tissue of the face and neck in the most predictable and natural looking way. The basis of this technique is the release of the facial retaining ligaments to allow repositioning of the cheek soft tissues in a vertical direction. This moves the volume that is lower in your face to where it used to be, near your cheekbone. Releasing and repositioning these supporting structures is the key difference from other facelifts, and is what allows tension free repositioning and closure. Most facelifts utilize tension to tighten the facial structures and pull against these ligaments. This gives an unnaturally pulled look also known as the windblown look. Tension also causes the most common failures of a traditional facelift including widened scars, pulling the earlobes down, and recurrent sagging.

The Vertical Vector Facelift is a technique that has been developed and popularized by Dr. Andrew Jacono in New York City. Dr. Compton has learned these techniques directly from this leader, who is arguably the best and most famous face lift surgeon in the world. The Vertical Vector Facelift incisions are similar to those of a traditional face and neck lift with partially hidden incisions around the temporal tuft (sideburn area), around the ear, and down the neck hairline. The skin of the face and neck are elevated, until the facial retaining ligaments are encountered. These are gently separated from the cheek fat and skin. The cheek fat is then repositioned in a vertical direction to create the most natural facial contours that can be obtained in any type of facial rejuvenation surgery. Dr. Compton will contour the fat and structures of the neck before securing the neck bands to the deep structures, ensuring a great neck angle. (For more details, check out the neck lift page.) The loose skin is then precisely removed to provide smooth contours without any tension and create ‘barely these’ scars.

Of course, as with any surgery, there are risks. The most common tissues are minor contour irregularities, and recurrent loosening of the skin. These are easily treated in the office. Larger issues include prolonged swelling, fluid or blood collection, and infections. While these are rare, the complications do occur occasionally. Most often these are related to high blood pressure, bleeding disorders, not wearing the pressure dressing, or being too active postoperatively.

Most patients are very concerned about the scariest complication, facial nerve injury. White it is true that the facial nerve is visible in multiple parts of this surgery, the truth is that with the correct technique, injury to this nerve happens very infrequently. Multiple studies in the literature show that with a well-trained surgeon, a facial nerve injury will occur in less than 1% of patients. The key to avoiding this issue, as well as many others, is a thorough understanding of facial anatomy ana gentle handling of tissues. Facial plastic surgeon like myself, work around and on the facial nerve, everyday in the operating room so this type of a surgery is common.

The Vertical Vector Facelift always includes a deep neck lift, and temporal browlift because of the way the tissues are moved. Most patients like to combine this surgery with other enhancements as well, most commonly buccal fat removal, lip lift, facial fat grafting, upper and lower eyelid surgery and skin resurfacing procedures. The Vertical Vector Facelift can be done in the office using local anesthetics with sedation, or in the OR with you completely asleep. Cost and comfort level are the key factors in deciding which is right for you.