When it comes to beauty, French exports have always held a certain mystique. From micellar water and A313 cream to skin-smoothing mesotherapy and the less-is-more aesthetic embraced by French women, the beauty habits born in France often go on to become mainstays in the U.S. Now, the latest French beauty secret making its way stateside isn’t a pharmacy serum or minimalist makeup tip, it’s surgical.
It’s called the “French Lift” and according to the surgeon behind it, Paris-based facial plastic surgeon Philippe Bellity, MD, it’s designed to lift the anterior face (the area that includes the cheeks, under-eyes, corners of the mouth and jawline) vertically, returning it to where it once was, rather than pulling it back.
The Philosophy Behind the “French Lift”
“What makes the ‘French Lift’ unique is its ability to reposition the entire anterior column of the face,” says Dr. Bellity. “Dark circles, cheek flattening, nasolabial folds, marionette lines, jowls—all of these visible signs of aging share a common origin: the downward displacement of the anterior facial column.”
He explains that the “French Lift” is designed to address the root cause, not just the symptoms. “I decided to reach directly and reposition this column back in place, and I could see that all the features of aging were treated and the face could recover its beauty like before.”
According to Dr. Bellity, traditional facelift techniques that pull the face back can create tension and an unnatural appearance. “Rather than altering the face, this method restores it,” he says. “Patients don’t look different. They simply look like a more youthful version of themselves.”
What Makes It Different?
While it may sound similar to other lifting techniques, Dr. Bellity says the “French Lift” is not a variation on deep plane or mini- facelifts. “It is a completely new method based on the anatomical refitting of the front of the face where it has slipped down,” he explains. “As the structures we adjust are superficial, the surgery has no risk to the facial nerves and lasts three times as long.”
He also notes the technique is adaptable. “While more significant drooping often begins in the late 40s or early 50s, the ‘ French Lift’ can be tailored to individual needs,” he says. “From a 40-year-old woman wanting to correct early jowling to an older patient needing neck rejuvenation, the technique adapts.”
Dr. Bellity tells us he has spent more than 12 years refining the procedure and has performed it on approximately 1,500 patients in France. He first outlined the surgical approach in a 2017 paper in Archives of Plastic Surgery, describing the vertical repositioning of nasolabial and jowl fat pads as a way to correct early facial sagging. “I deliberately kept the method private while refining every detail,” he says. “The technique is now fully mature and reproducible.”
The Recovery and Longevity
Postoperative recovery typically takes 10 to 15 days, depending on the extent of the lift. “Pain is minimal and the scars are discreet,” Dr. Bellity says. “What I hear most from patients is that they don’t get asked what they had done. They get told they look rested.”
He also claims the results can last significantly longer than those of a standard facelift. “In my experience, the outcome lasts two to three times longer, because we are correcting the root cause rather than making surface adjustments.”
Can You Get the “French Lift” in the U.S.?
While the “French Lift” isn’t yet widely available in the United States, Dr. Bellity has begun sharing the technique at international meetings and says he is preparing to train other surgeons abroad through dedicated masterclasses. “Training directly with me is essential to master its subtleties,” he notes.
If French women have long been admired for their aging-on-their-own-terms approach, this may be the facelift equivalent—a quiet, artful reset that no one notices but everyone compliments.
