Why Some Facelifts Look Pulled and How a Deep Plane Facelift Avoids the Windswept Look

6 hours ago

5 min read

Quick answer: A facelift looks pulled or "windswept" when the skin is stretched sideways towards the ears instead of lifting the deeper tissue in the direction it originally fell. Signs include a wide, flat mouth corner, lines running towards the ear, a stretched earlobe and a hairline that has moved. A deep plane facelift reduces this risk because it releases the retaining ligaments and lifts the deeper layer, mostly upward, so the skin stays relaxed.

Key takeaways

The pulled look comes mainly from skin tension and a sideways pull.
Tissue fell downward with age, so it should be lifted mostly upward.
Lifting the deeper layer lets the skin sit without tension.
Hairline and earlobe position must be preserved during planning.
A natural result should look like you, rested, not like a different person.

What makes a facelift look pulled?

Skin carries the lift: when only the skin is tightened, the lift relaxes and the skin looks stretched and shiny.
Horizontal vector: pulling towards the ear flattens the cheek and widens the mouth corners.
Lateral sweep lines: diagonal lines running from the mouth towards the ear.
Lost hairline: the sideburn and temple hairline move upward or backward when the incision is not planned for it.
Pulled earlobe: too much tension at the lobe creates a "pixie ear". Read pixie ear after facelift.

How a deep plane facelift keeps the face natural

Release before lift: the ligaments are freed, so the tissue moves without being forced.
Vertical vector: the cheek and jowl are lifted mostly upward, the direction in which they fell.
Deep fixation: the stitches that hold the lift are in the deep layer, not in the skin.
Skin without tension: only true excess skin is removed, which helps the scars heal finer.
Hairline-sparing incisions: incisions are placed to keep the sideburn and temple hair in place.

Video: Revision facelift after two previous facelifts: before and 2 weeks after. Watch on YouTube

The video above, viewed more than 1.7 million times, shows a patient who had two facelifts elsewhere before, seen before and 2 weeks after a revision facelift by Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas.

Scarless facelift before and after
Neck lift before and after
Facelift before and after

"Gravity pulled the face down, not sideways. If we pull it sideways to fix it, we create a face that never existed." — Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas

Can a pulled facelift be corrected?

Often, yes. A revision facelift can release scar tissue, reposition the deep layer in a more vertical direction, relax the skin around the mouth and repair the earlobe or hairline. The result depends on how much skin is left and how the earlier incisions were placed. See the revision facelift guide.

Video: Facelift before and after: the patient sees her 7-day result in the mirror. Watch on YouTube

The second video, viewed more than 4.1 million times, follows a patient from close-ups of deep lines and loose skin before surgery to the moment she first sees her face in the mirror 7 days after the operation.

How to judge before and after photos

Look at the mouth corners: they should not look wider or flattened.
Look at the earlobe: it should hang naturally, not be pulled down onto the cheek.
Look at the sideburn and temple hairline: they should be in a natural place.
Look at the face in motion: smiling should look like the same person.

Questions to ask at your consultation

In which direction will you lift the cheek and jowl?
Will you release the retaining ligaments?
How will you protect my hairline and earlobes?
Can I see before and after photos from the side and three-quarter view?

Why the vector matters so much

With age, the cheek fat, jowl and neck descend mostly downward and slightly forward. Lifting them back in the same line, upward and slightly backward, restores the original shape. A horizontal pull, by contrast, moves the tissue to a place it never was. This is why the direction of the lift, not just its strength, decides whether a face looks natural.

Hairline and incision planning

Temple: when a lot of skin is lifted, the incision can be placed along the hairline rather than inside it, so the sideburn does not move up.
In front of the ear: the incision follows the natural curves of the ear.
Behind the ear: the incision follows the crease and then the hairline, so the hair does not form a step.

Read facelift scars: where the incisions go and how they heal.

Natural results in men

Men often have a lower sideburn, a beard and thicker skin. A natural male facelift keeps the sideburn and beard line in place and avoids moving bearded skin onto the ear. See male facelift: what is different for men.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do some facelifts look fake?

Mostly because the skin was pulled sideways under tension instead of lifting the deeper tissue upward, which flattens the cheeks and widens the mouth.

Does a deep plane facelift look more natural?

In general, yes, because the deep layer carries the lift and the skin is not stretched.

Can an overdone facelift be fixed?

Often, through a revision facelift that repositions the deep layer and relaxes the skin. Results depend on the remaining tissue.

Will people know I had a facelift?

The goal is that people notice you look rested. Hidden incisions and a natural vector help the result look unoperated.

Does a natural facelift last as long?

In general, yes. A natural look comes from the direction of the lift, not from a weaker lift.

About the Author

This article was written and medically reviewed by Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas, a plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon in Istanbul with over 20 years of experience. He is the author of Rhinoplasty in Practice (CRC Press, 2020), has more than 40 peer-reviewed scientific publications and five patents, and teaches facelift and rhinoplasty techniques to surgeons at international courses. Read more about Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas.

Individual results vary. Before and after photos and videos are shared with patient consent. This article is for general information and does not replace a personal medical consultation.

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You can send your photos for an online assessment or book an appointment at the Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas Clinic, Terrace Fulya, Şişli, Istanbul. Book an online consultation.