Not all facelifts are the same.
The technique must be matched to the patient's unique anatomy and degree of aging.
Dr. Diego Franco is focused on facial rejuvenation through individualized facelift surgery. Patients seeking the “best facelift surgeon in Colombia” deserve more than a marketing claim. They deserve verified credentials, a detailed facial assessment, honest discussion of surgical risks and recovery, and a plan designed around their anatomy and goals.
15+ Years Experience
About Dr. Diego Franco
Dr. Diego Franco is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Colombia registered with ReTHUS, the national registry of health professionals administered by the Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social. With over 15 years of experience in facial aesthetics and reconstructive surgery, his practice focuses exclusively on natural facial rejuvenation using advanced SMAS and deep plane techniques.
Matching the technique to your bone structure
Your face shape changes which lift will last. A technique that looks natural on one face can slide downward sooner on another.
| Your bone structure | Matched technique | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Round or square face | High-SMAS lift with a vertical vector | These faces pull obliquely, so a deep plane lift can recur earlier. |
| Oval or gaunt face | Deep plane lift with composite repositioning | The deep plane restores volume these faces have lost. |
| Heavy neck | Deep cervicoplasty | The neck needs its own release, not just a face lift. |
Source: Colombo G et al, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, 2025;13(6):e6897. Face shape and vector are matched per patient.
Have you had Kybella, Ultherapy, or energy treatments?
These treatments are common for the neck. They can also leave scar tissue behind, and that changes how a facelift must be planned.
In a 2025 study of 180 patients by O'Daniel and Patton (Aesthetic Surgery Journal), 94% of people who had prior Kybella, Ultherapy, or Morpheus8 needed a deep neck release during surgery. The scar tissue forms in thin stacked layers, a pattern surgeons describe as mille-feuille fibrosis.
This matters because liposuction on a fibrotic neck can pull the skin into a cobra deformity. A treated neck usually needs a deeper plan, not a lighter one.
Source: O'Daniel TG & Patton S, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2025. 94% of 180 patients with prior energy or injectable treatments.
Defining the jawline
A sharp jawline is not only about skin. Two structures under the chin can push the neck outward: the submandibular glands and the digastric muscles.
In a 2025 analysis by Chinta and colleagues (Annals of Plastic Surgery), 69.9% of deep neck procedures included submandibular gland reduction and 58.6% included digastric muscle work.
Dr. Franco maps these with ultrasound before surgery, so the plan targets the right layer from the start.
Source: Chinta SR et al, Annals of Plastic Surgery, 2025;94(2):222-228.
The 120 mmHg safety standard
Bleeding under the skin is the main cause of hematoma after a facelift. Three steps lower that risk.
- 1Blood pressure control. A 2024 study by Abi-Rafeh, Bassiri-Tehrani, and Nahai (Aesthetic Surgery Journal) found that keeping intraoperative systolic pressure under 120 mmHg reduced hematoma rates from about 3.76% to 0.5%.
- 2Tranexamic acid. A 2025 review by El Abd and colleagues (Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery) found TXA reduced drain output by about 71% and lowered bruising.
- 3Hemostatic netting. A quilting stitch that holds the lifted skin flat against the tissue beneath it.
Sources: Abi-Rafeh J, Bassiri-Tehrani B, Nahai F, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2024;45(1):11-18. El Abd R et al, Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, 2025;104:369-385. These steps reduce, not eliminate, the chance of bleeding after surgery.
Experiences with one of the best facelift surgeons in Colombia
Facelift Plastic Surgery Practice in Medellín, Colombia
Dr. Diego Franco practices in Medellín and Pereira, Colombia. We have the best surgical team in both cities to provide the best results possible.
Edificio Empresarial El Tesoro, Carrera 25a #1-31, Consultorio 716, Medellín, Antioquia.
A facelift matched to your anatomy
With hundreds of facelift procedures performed, we have an intimate understanding of diverse facial anatomies and healing patterns.
He commonly combines facelift surgery with blepharoplasty, CO2 fractional laser resurfacing, facial fat grafting, or brow lift, allowing patients to address multiple concerns in a single recovery period.
Ready to plan your facelift?
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