Not every facelift delivers the desired result. Sometimes the rejuvenation is insufficient, sometimes the result looks unnatural, and sometimes aging returns sooner than expected. If you are dissatisfied with a previous facelift, you are certainly not the only one. A revision facelift offers the opportunity to correct the result and still achieve a natural rejuvenation.
A revision facelift is technically more demanding than a primary procedure. Scar tissue from the previous surgery alters the anatomy and requires a surgeon with extensive experience in revision surgery. Dr. Van Genechten specializes in complex revision procedures and applies the Deep Plane technique to achieve a natural and long-lasting result, even in these situations.
During a comprehensive consultation, he analyzes the result of your previous procedure, discusses your wishes and develops a bespoke surgical plan.
The principle of 'less is more' seems appealing, but in reality you naturally do not want a suboptimal result.
What is a revision facelift?
A revision facelift can help patients who are dissatisfied with the result of their previous facelift. This complex procedure requires more experience and expertise from the surgeon than a primary facelift. A thorough consultation prior to the procedure is essential to establish realistic expectations and to discuss risks and complications.
Dr. Van Genechten often combines additional procedures with a facelift for a balanced and natural result. Because the face ages as a whole, it is important to treat all zones in harmony. Addressing only one area, such as the neck or the face alone, can produce an unnatural or less durable outcome. This can give rise to the need for revision surgery.
Combining procedures also offers practical advantages, such as lower anesthesia costs and only one recovery period, since all rejuvenation procedures are performed during the same surgery.
Why a revision facelift?
Facelift surgery is challenging and complex surgery, in which even the most experienced surgeons can encounter complications.
Remarkably, however, dissatisfied patients who consult for a revision facelift sometimes have a number of things in common.
Cheap is expensive. If a patient is looking for the cheapest and most conservative surgery, this can lead to unsatisfactory results. Sometimes an affordable and less extensive facelift ultimately turns out to be more expensive due to the costs of a second, revision procedure. The majority of revision procedures are performed as a consequence of a disharmonious result, due to only partially treating a face that has aged as a whole.
Expertise of the surgeon
It is difficult to be good at something you rarely do, or to be bad at something you do frequently. Focus is important. Surgical expertise and focus on facelift surgery requires targeted experience and dedication. Surgeons without a focus on the face or with limited experience in facelifts or in certain facelift techniques are more likely to risk operating beyond the boundaries of their surgical expertise. The volume of facelifts performed can be an indicator of your surgeon's surgical expertise.
Communication with the surgeon
Despite a successfully performed procedure, a patient may still be dissatisfied. Surgical results are variable. It is crucial to communicate clearly before the procedure about the limitations and risks of surgery in order to set realistic expectations.
Mini facelifts and realistic expectations
Minilifts as a common cause
A large proportion of revision procedures follow a previous minilift. Although a minilift sounds appealing due to the shorter recovery, it often treats only the lower part of the face. Because the face ages as a whole, treating only one zone can lead to a disharmonious result.
In addition, minilift techniques are sometimes insufficient to reposition the deeper structures, causing the result to be less enduring. In these cases, a revision using the Deep Plane technique can provide a solution by rejuvenating the entire face in harmony.
Indications for revision surgery
When the result of a previous facelift is unsatisfactory, or when aging becomes visible again, a revision facelift can offer a solution. The surgeon evaluates the remaining skin, scar tissue and the deeper structures to create a tailored treatment plan.
Recovery
Recovery after a revision facelift may take longer and involve more swelling. It is of the utmost importance that patients follow the surgeon's instructions closely to promote a swift and safe recovery.
Do you have any further questions? Feel free to ask. Contact us
When can I consider a revision facelift?
A revision facelift can be considered when the result of a previous facelift does not meet your expectations, or when aging becomes visible again. It is advisable to wait at least 12 months after the first procedure, so that all tissues are fully healed.
Is a revision facelift more difficult than a first facelift?
Yes, a revision facelift is technically more demanding. Scar tissue from the previous procedure can alter the anatomy and complicate the dissection. That is why it is essential to choose a surgeon with extensive experience in revision procedures.
What are the risks of a revision facelift?
The risks are comparable to a first facelift, but due to the scar tissue there may be an increased risk of skin necrosis and nerve damage. Dr. Van Genechten discusses all risks thoroughly during the consultation.
Why is the result of my first facelift not satisfactory?
This can have multiple causes. Sometimes a too conservative technique was used, resulting in a limited outcome. In other cases, only part of the face was treated, producing a disharmonious result. Continued aging after the first procedure can also affect the result. During the consultation, Dr. Van Genechten analyzes the cause and discusses the options.
How long is the recovery after a revision facelift?
Recovery after a revision facelift can take longer than after a first facelift, often 3 to 4 weeks for social activities. Swelling may persist somewhat longer due to the scar tissue from the previous procedure. It is of the utmost importance that you closely follow the surgeon's instructions.
Can a mini-lift be converted to a full facelift?
Yes, when a previous mini-lift provides insufficient results or when aging progresses, a full Deep Plane Facelift can be performed. This is considered a revision procedure and requires a thorough evaluation of the previous surgical area.
Can a facelift be combined with other procedures?
Yes, a facelift is regularly combined with a deep necklift, eyelid surgery, brow reset or facial lipofilling. By treating multiple zones at the same time, a harmonious and balanced result is achieved with only one recovery period. During your consultation, Dr. Van Genechten discusses which combination is most suitable for your situation.
How do I choose the best surgeon for a facelift?
Pay attention to the frequency with which the surgeon performs facelifts, the consistency of the before-and-after results and the organization of aftercare. A specialized facial surgeon who performs facelifts on a weekly basis has the experience and anatomical insight needed for a predictable and natural result. Ask about the technique used and why it is suitable for your anatomy.
Are facelift scars visible?
Facelift scars become barely visible when placed with careful technique. They lie in natural creases around the ear and sometimes in the hairline. In a Deep Plane Facelift, the deeper tissue layer carries the lift, so the skin bears little tension and the scars heal more finely. After 6 to 12 months, the scars are typically barely noticeable.
Results
A facial rejuvenation procedure is a choice you make for yourself, not for the outside world. It is a decision that matures quietly, in all serenity and purely for you. In our practice, discretion is an absolute standard. Privacy is not a detail, but a cornerstone. The vast majority of our patients consciously choose to keep their results private.
What you see here is exceptional. Only a small number of patients have granted us permission to share their results. Out of respect for their trust and generosity, we wish to acknowledge this explicitly. They help others make an informed decision. These images are not a showcase, but a discreet compass, honest and invaluable.
Brow symmetry or symmetry in general can never be the goal of surgery. But sometimes it is the result of restoring anatomy. When I look at these photos, I don’t see the jawline first. I see the eyes. I see the eyebrows. I see a face that has let go of its muscle tension. As the deeper tissues are repositioned and facial balance is restored, the constant tension carried by the brow often softens. The eyebrows become more symmetrical, not because they were operated on directly, but because the face is no longer fighting itself. Less tension. More harmony. Nothing else. #deepplanefacelift #revisionfacelift #drvangenechtenView detailsThe most important part of a facelift is also one of the hardest things to measure. Scientific studies are exceptionally good at answering quantitative questions. How long do results last? How often do complications occur? How many years pass before patients seek another rejuvenation procedure? But the qualities patients actually notice are often the hardest to measure. Does the face still feel authentic? Does the result look natural? Or does one corrected feature draw attention to everything that wasn’t treated? These are qualitative outcomes. They are shaped by thousands of micro-decisions made during surgery. Every change in tissue tension. Every difference in elasticity. Every millimetre of tissue requiring a different decision. None of those decisions come from a protocol. They come from anatomy continuously giving feedback. Two surgeons can look at exactly the same face. One simply sees more. Not because they have better eyesight, but because years of experience have trained them to recognise anatomical nuances others don’t even realise exist. Perhaps that’s what expertise really is. It is not only knowing what to do. It is recognising when, where, and how much. That is what makes facial rejuvenation so fascinating. Looking younger should never come at the expense of identity. In male facial rejuvenation, preserving masculine anatomy is just as important as creating a younger appearance. In the end, surgery isn’t about changing faces. It’s about understanding anatomy well enough to let it guide every decision. #facialrejuvenation #malefacelift #deepplanefacelift #drvangenechten You swiped. Good. Curiosity is how we start seeing what others miss.View detailsBeauty lives in the shadows. Look beneath the jawline. Look at the area under the mandible. Before surgery, one of the underlying structures of the neck, the submandibular gland, was clearly visible. It interrupted the natural transition between jawline and neck and flattened the contours that normally create elegance. Look again. There is now depth beneath the jaw. A cleaner transition into the neck. Because a beautiful neck is not a two-dimensional line. It is a three-dimensional structure. And people experience it in three dimensions. That’s why neck surgery is rarely only about the skin. The real work happens underneath. The structures beneath the jaw. The volume beneath the platysma. The anatomy that creates shadows, depth and definition. An elegant neck is not created by pulling harder. It is created by restoring the architecture beneath the skin. And in this case, there is even more to the story than meets the eye. More on that in the next post. Most people call this a sharper jawline. I call it anatomy. #deepplanefacelift #neckliftsurgery #deepplanenecklift #necklift #drvangenechtenView detailsBeauty trends come and go. Fillers. Threads. Devices. Skin treatments. Anatomy doesn’t. This is a revision case following previous facial rejuvenation procedures performed elsewhere. No matter what has happened to a face over the years, gravity still plays by the same rules. It doesn’t care how much you’ve spent. It doesn’t care what was popular five years ago. It doesn’t care what’s trending today. Every day, it does the same thing. Tissues descend. The jawline softens. The neck becomes heavier. And slowly, the face loses its structure. The fascinating thing? When structure is restored, the face immediately starts making sense again. Not because it looks operated. Not because it looks younger. Because it looks coherent again. Anatomy always wins. In the coming weeks, I’ll break down different views of this result. The most interesting details become visible when you start looking from different angles. #revisionfacelift #facelift #necklift #faceliftbeforeandafter #drvangenechtenView detailsWhat if I told you wrinkles are not the first sign of facial aging? Most people think they are. They’re not. The earliest signs of facial aging are usually structural. The cheeks slowly descend. The jawline becomes less defined. The neck becomes heavier. The tissues that once sat higher on the face gradually move downward. And what does all of this create? A tired look. Wrinkles are often just the consequence. That’s why simply filling lines or adding volume doesn’t always create a younger appearance. For me, this case represents the hallmark of facial rejuvenation. Not changing a face. Not creating a different version of someone. Simply restoring anatomy. Putting tissues back closer to where they once belonged. No exaggerated cheeks. No overfilled appearance. No attempt to erase every line. Just a fresher, lighter and more rested version of the same person. In my opinion, the best results are often the hardest to explain. People won’t necessarily think: “She had surgery.” Instead they’ll think: “She looks rested. She looks healthy. She looks great.” And they won’t quite be able to tell why. That’s when I know we’ve succeeded. Not different. Just younger. #deepplanefacelift #facelift #necklift #drvangenechten #facialrejuvenationView detailsThe irony of facelift surgery? Most people fear the scar… while often noticing the distorted hairline, pulled earlobe or unnatural tension far more. A facelift is ultimately a trade-off in anatomy and vectors. Aging creates excess and laxity. Rejuvenation requires repositioning that tissue somewhere. The question is not whether a trace exists. The question is where you place it, how much tension it carries, and whether natural contours are respected. These scars are approximately 6 weeks after surgery. They will continue to soften and mature over the coming months. But scar quality is rarely just about “healing.” It is heavily influenced by tension, vascularity, smoking status, incision design, and how anatomy is respected during closure. Around the ear, anatomy becomes particularly unforgiving. Small distortions immediately reveal surgery: - loss of the earlobe contour - displacement of the hairline - flattening of natural transitions - visible pull in front of the ear That is why I generally prefer hiding the incision within natural reliefs and contours whenever possible, including partially inside the tragal border, rather than accepting visible distortion elsewhere. Because in facial rejuvenation, the goal is not simply removing skin. It is preserving identity while repositioning structure. And when tension is minimized and anatomy respected, scars usually become surprisingly discreet over time. The best facelift often leaves far less signs than the aging it corrected. #deepplanefacelift #facialrejuvenation #facelift #naturalfacelift #drvangenechtenView detailsNobody wakes up one morning thinking: “I need a facelift.” Most patients simply start noticing they look more tired… even when they still feel energetic. That is usually how facial aging begins: not with wrinkles first, but with heaviness, loss of tension and definition around the jawline, neck and eyes. Interestingly, people are choosing facelifts younger than before. Not because they want to look “different.” But because modern facial rejuvenation has become more refined, more natural, less painful and far more discreet than older techniques. And there is another paradox: Treating aging earlier and more harmoniously often keeps people more under the radar than waiting until facial aging becomes severe. This is one of the kindest and most down-to-earth patients to have around. The type of person who makes everyone feel comfortable within five minutes. In this patient, a deep plane facelift, neck lift, temporal restoration, an upper blepharoplasty and a tiny amount of tear-through lipofilling were combined to restore one thing above all else: A rested face. #deepplanefacelift #deepplanenecklift #temporalrestoration #blepharoplasty #drvangenechtenView detailsIf a facelift is obvious, it already failed. Natural has become controversial. The goal of facial rejuvenation is not to make strangers notice surgery. The goal is to make heaviness, descent and tiredness disappear without changing authenticity, without replacing one set of problems with another. Yet social media has conditioned people to expect dramatic cheek volume, pulled corners and “snatched” faces as proof that something was done. That is not proof of quality. Often, it is proof that too much was done in the wrong layer. True rejuvenation is quieter than people think. And precisely for that reason, many underestimate the surgical complexity behind a result like this. Natural should not mean inefficient surgery. Natural should mean invisible surgery. Agree or disagree? #deepplanefaceandnecklift #browlift #blepharoplasty #drvangenechtenView detailsRevision facelifts are a different language. Previous surgery by another surgeon left us more than scars. Previous surgery leaves behind altered tension, altered skin reserve, and tissue that has already been repositioned, and partially removed in directions that are not always ideal for future correction. That means one important thing: when trying to restore a face in a more natural vector, there is often less freedom than people assume. Less movable tissue. Less available skin. More scar resistance. More limitations. A revision facelift is therefore not simply “doing another facelift.” It is careful reconstruction of anatomy that no longer behaves normally. It is restoring balance, softness, and natural rejuvenation within those boundaries. Shown here 7 months after deep plane face and neck lift, temporal brow restoration, and upper/lower blepharoplasty and minor fat transfer. Recovery in revision cases is often longer and demands significantly more patience, but meaningful correction is absolutely possible. I focus my practice on facial rejuvenation surgery, and cases like this are exactly where that focused experience becomes critical. At the patient’s request, these images are shared only in an anonymized way. A more extensive portfolio is reviewed privately during consultation. And by the way, beyond all the surgical discussion, she is simply a wonderful woman. Elegant, warm, and full of class. She now walks into a room radiating a softness and confidence that was exactly the goal. #revisionfacelift #deepplanefacelift #deepplanenecklift #drvangenechtenView details
Dr. Maarten Van Genechten is entirely dedicated to aesthetic facial surgery, with the face as his absolute specialty. This passion emerged during his medical studies, where he developed his interest in microvascular facial reconstructions. He broadened his expertise during a fellowship in Brisbane, where he was exposed to various surgical disciplines.
This experience led him to a fellowship in aesthetic facial surgery in Sydney, where his interest in facial rejuvenation surgery was born and has never faded since. He now specializes in facial rejuvenation surgery, facelift surgery, brow lifts and eyelid surgery. He is also the owner of the Catershoek Surgical Center.
Contact us today for a personal consultation with Dr. Van Genechten. During this appointment, he will discuss your specific wishes, expectations and the potential outcomes of a procedure. Dr. Van Genechten takes the time to walk you through every aspect of the procedure and to answer all your questions.
