Why do some women have a pulled look to their eyes after a Facelift?

Facial plastic surgery should always natural and be unnoticeable except for giving the patient a more radiant, rested and healthy appearance. A pulled look to the eyes is completely unacceptable and will not happen if the facial plastic surgeon is well trained, experienced, and an expert in facial anatomy and aesthetics. Don't let the bad effects of poorly performed surgery dissuade you from getting the procedures you need to feel better about yourself. The women around you who look amazing and yet seem to have had no work done at all could very well be examples of expertly performed facelifts and mini lifts. Please research and find the most skilled facial plastic surgeon to help you.

You really should not have a pulled look to the eyes or an unnatural pull in any part of the face when a  facelift is done with good technique.   Good technique relies much more on tightening the underlying drooping muscles and fat then overtightening the skin.  You should discuss your concerns with your surgeon and review before and after cases to help alleviate your concerns. 

You ask a very perceptive question. Unfortunately, many patients have a pulled look around their eyes or a windswept look in the lower face following facelift surgery. The pulled look around the eyes comes from a midface lift in which the cheeks are pulled up too much, or from lower lid blepharoplasty in which the lower eyelid is tightened too much (or both). A lower facelift, which addresses the neck and jowls, can result in a windswept look or tightness around the mouth if the deeper layers are not adequately released and then pulled with stitches. Since the jowls are more mobile than the area of the nasolabial folds and midface area, the facelift results in uneven tension and a distortion of the natural appearance. 
Alternatively, especially when a patient has had more than one facelift, excessive tension on the skin can produce tightness, primarily around the mouth. Ideally, the deeper layers should be adequately released, resulting in even tension, and the skin should simply be redraped in a snug, but not tight fashion.

Ultimately, the skill of the surgeon is more critical than the technique. Consider experience, before-and-after pictures, patient reviews, and word of mouth reputation when choosing your surgeon. 


In my experience of performing 2,000 facelifts, I’ve found patients can invariably keep the surgery secret from colleagues, friends, and even close family if they choose, once the recovery process has progressed. It generally takes 2 weeks to comfortably return to work.