On the occasion of its fortieth anniversary, theSothys Institute inaugurates an exclusive treatment, the facial massage Liftoplasty, which Luxe Infinity was able to test in preview.
When you first enter the Haussmann-style building of the Sothys Institute, in the heart of Paris's 8th arrondissement, the welcome is particularly attentive and warmer than in other establishments dedicated to body or facial treatments. This is undoubtedly because the family spirit has reigned here for four decades and the client's well-being remains the priority.
The Sothys story began in 1946 with Max Hotz, a medical biologist who developed the first serum packaged in glass ampoules. Twenty years later, Henri Mas arrived and structured the brand's international development. His sons, Jean-Pierre and Bernard, took over. Production was transferred to Corrèze in 1971, the Mas family's homeland, where a research laboratory was also built. This location in the heart of French nature became a symbol of Sothys' commitment to responsible beauty, respectful of the environment, and rooted in authenticity.
Although the brand is now present in 120 countries, it has been based in Paris since its inception. Sothys opened its institute in 1985, 128 rue du Faubourg Saint-HonoréAfter two years of work, the Sothys Institute reopened in 2023, completely transformed and redesigned to offer its clients a holistic and multi-sensory experience.
We had an appointment to test a new treatment in preview, the facial massage Liftoplasty, before it is offered to customers in the month of September. Developed at the Sothys Academy, in Corrèze, this specific massage has of course been the subject of prior training for the teams authorized to practice it.
From the moment you're taken in by the expert beautician, you immediately feel a sense of calm. It must be said that the place is conducive to relaxation. Between the scents diffused in the reception area, the herbal teas and detox drinks available for tasting, the scent bar, and even the soundtrack featuring birdsong recorded in Corrèze, the escape can already begin.
The door opens onto one of the suites renovated during the 2023 renovations. Completely immaculate with a few touches of gold, the decor is warm, extremely refined but not ostentatious. Every detail has been carefully considered to ensure that everyone feels at home in this place. A voile curtain surrounds the treatment table, like a four-poster bed. In a gold-clad and illuminated niche, one of the latest Sothys products sits majestically, like a piece of jewelry in its case. There, all is order and beauty. Luxury, calm and voluptuousness. ", as Baudelaire would have said.
The massage can begin, which is not limited to the face and also includes the bust, then the arms, ending with the fingertips. For an hour and fifteen minutes, time stands still and the sensations come alive. After removing makeup, an essential prerequisite for preparing the skin, the beautician begins the ritual with a series of precise gestures. The face is massaged in a palpate-roll manner, the skin is immediately toned. The first impression is not entirely pleasant because the expert's fingers press vigorously to perform a deep kneading. Then, gradually, the skin softens, relaxes as much as the body and mind.
Already inventor of massage Digi-aesthetics, the Sothys institute has developed this new facial massage called Liftoplasty: it is the association of 30 sculpting gestures, tonic, draining and relaxing, inspired by ancestral Japanese techniques, in the manner of Kobido massage, currently in vogue. The technique consists of wave-like movements such as knuckle rolling, pinching, and massaging with the index finger. This powerful facial massage increases blood flow, oxygenates, and facilitates the circulation of nutrients.
Exclusive to the Sothys Institute, the Liftoplasty facial massage is a natural alternative to cosmetic surgery. Our esthetician explains that by performing it every month, or even every two months, there's no need to consider surgical methods. Liftoplasty stimulates the fascia and exerts pressure on each facial muscle to relieve tension. It stimulates microcirculation by incorporating precise, lifting movements that transform the skin: it becomes luminous, firmer, and toned. While the skin is revitalized, the body is also deeply relaxed.
At the end of the treatment, a mirror is held up to us: the oval of the face is restored, the features are smooth, the fine lines seem to have disappeared. In addition to the visual transfiguration, the sensation of deep stimulation, beyond the epidermis, will not leave us for several hours. As for the look of loved ones, they evoke a rejuvenation, a feeling of fulfillment. We did not ask for so much… But after such an experience for a price of less than 200 euros, the motivation is total to consider regularly treating ourselves to this facial massage, performed exclusively at the Sothys Institute of Faubourg Saint-Honoré. While perhaps waiting to be offered elsewhere one day.
Carine Loeillet
