Vertical Vector Facelift

The Vertical Vector face lift, first described by Dr. Morganroth almost two decades ago, is an advanced, local anesthesia facial rejuvenation technique offered by Palo Alto Dermatology Institute. It serves as a local anesthesia alternative to patients who prefer to avoid the general anesthesia of the traditional face lift. At Palo Alto Dermatology Institute, our doctors use this procedure with patients who have gravity-induced descent of the face and neck, resulting in loose skin. In these patients, facial and neck liposuction is not enough to produce a dramatic outcome, requiring vertical repositioning of tissues to create the plumpness and fullness of a youthful appearance.

Palo Alto Dermatology Institute’s Dr. Morganroth, a published author and lecturer on facial rejuvenation and techniques to minimize face lift complications, developed this technique to provide a more natural rejuvenation and eliminate the tell-tale signs of face lift surgery.

• Vertical vector tightening of the face and neck support structures to mobilize face and neck tissue upward, to a more youthful position (in contrast to deep plane facelifts and traditional facelifts that have horizontal vectors of face tightening)
• Local anesthesia is used to minimize risk of complications and reduce recovery time
• Suturing techniques using “permanent” sutures are utilized to maximize duration of the lift
• Elimination of the stretched, “wind swept” look typical of traditional face lift techniques using horizontal tightening vectors
• Designed to minimize the length of the traditional facelift incision and eliminate alteration of the hairline, reduce scar appearance, and reduce downward pull of the earlobes typical of standard facelift techniques
• Multi-layered suturing techniques used in facial reconstruction procedures to prevent spreading of the scar
• Performed in a Medicare-approved outpatient surgery center under local anesthesia with and without IV sedation

Dr. Morganroth has performed hundreds of these procedures, published and presented his technique at dozens of national medical meetings, and demonstrated his technique at live surgery courses held at Stanford University Medical Center.

When what we see in our reflection no longer matches the way we see ourselves, we are clearly looking older than we feel. Some people make a great point in this case, and say that you should age gracefully, without any cosmetic procedures at all – just as nature intended. At Palo Alto Dermatology Institute, we believe that this mindset makes a lot of sense. If you have strong genetics and routinely used high-quality products for preventive skin care throughout your life, then face lift surgery or other invasive cosmetic procedures may not be necessary at all.

But aging gracefully is as much about psychological health as it is about physiological appearance. So, if your outward appearance no longer matches the vibrancy and youthfulness you feel inside, this dissonance can create insecurities that may cause you to avoid social situations that are so vital to leading a full and emotionally rich life.

That is why it is so important to speak with a highly qualified skin professional before making decisions about whether a face lift or alternative procedures may be right for you. You may need a face lift, or there may be other, less invasive alternatives. But properly diagnosed issues and thoughtfully-selected corrective procedures can help you look as good on the outside as you feel on the inside, and return to a more youthful and rested appearance.

A facelift is a general term used to describe a variety of surgical tissue-repositioning procedures that target sagging skin around the face, as well as the neck area. At Palo Alto Dermatology Institute, we work with our patients to help them choose appropriate surgery that emphasizes a return to a more youthful and natural appearance.

To do this, we carefully assess your unique situation and aesthetic goals to come up with a course of action that is most likely to yield outcomes closest to your goals. However, it is crucial that the patient develops a realistic attitude about what can be attained with plastic surgery.

Barring any issues with over-tightening of the skin (which creates a “wind swept” or “plastic” look), a facelift can achieve many aesthetic goals. For example, the neck area can be sculpted for a graceful appearance without an over correction. The cheeks and central face area are quite another matter. You do not want tightness; because tightness gives a flat appearance, just like a tightly-made bed. Instead, you want to create a natural fullness.  The vertical vector tightening of Dr. Morganroth’s facelift technique creates a natural rejuvenation by reversing the primary cause of facial drooping:  gravity induced vertical drop of the face and neck.  His technique does not create a windswept appearance because that outcome is related to a horizontal vector of skin tightening.  The other interesting advantage of the vertical vector lift is that it repositions central face connective tissue upwards to restore the lost volume of the upper cheek (just as it used to be prior to the gravitational descent).