Face Lift

Facelift surgery is a general concept term that refers to lifting up different layers of the face that has become lax, saggy or droopy by the effect of gravity and aging. 

Facelift includes so many different techniques that vary in the steps of the operation, the duration of the procedure, the longevity of the results, and the degree of correction to the problems.

A Facelift surgery in general has to deal with different layers of the face including the skin, subcutaneous fat, and most importantly is the superficial musculo-aponeurotic system layer (the SMAS layer) which is the true deep layer of facelift that actually holds the weight of the face and pulls it upwards. 

The “Mini Facelift” surgeries:

They simply don’t dissect the SMAS layer from its stabilizing ligaments that keep it in place. Dissecting the SMAS layer is an important step to make the SMAS layer completely mobile in order to pull it up to its new position. The Mini facelift surgeries only simply stitch the undissected SMAS layer in an upward position without freeing it from its anchoring ligaments in order to benefit from a shorter surgery duration, less meticulous steps, and allegedly safer procedure, but on the other hand they have the downside of a shorter longevity time to the results and a much lesser degree of improvement. They are usually more suitable for secondary facelift surgeries where the face has already been operated upon by a previous facelift or in some other specific situations.

The High SMAS and The Deep Plane Facelift surgeries: 

In these surgeries the SMAS layer is completely dissected free for a full powerful deep layer lift, offering the best degree of correction and longer lasting duration of results.

Some Facelift surgeries only deal with the face while others manage the face and the neck in the same procedure to accurately define the lost lower jawline border and remove any sagging neck skin (Extended face lift).

Facelift surgery techniques include:

• Facelift surgeries that don’t dissect the SMAS layer (Mini facelifts): 
  1. Platysma-SMAS plication (PSP)
  2. Minimal Access Cranial Suspension (MACS)
  3. SMASectomy
  4. Endoscopic Midface Lift

• Facelift surgeries that completely dissect the SMAS layer of only the Face: (Short Scar Facelift)
  1. High SMAS Facelift
  2. Deep plane Facelift

• Facelift surgeries that completely dissect the SMAS layer of the face and the neck combined:

1. High SMAS Face and Neck Lift
2. Extended Deep Plane Facelift

• Facelift surgery complementary procedures that are required in some but not all the patients:
  1. Upper / lower blepharoplasty (for eye lid sagging)                                                
  2. Face natural fat transfer
  3. Forehead rejuvenation
  4. Brow lifting
  5. Lip Lifting 
  6. Midline Platysmaplasty
  7. Buccal fat removal
  8. Cheeks fat reduction     

Recovery from facelift:

Face lift surgery is not considered to be a painful procedure; regular pain medication should totally alleviate pain.

Sutures are of the absorbable type, but however it is better to have them removed by the 7th – 10th day after surgery.

Drains (plastic tubes to drain fluids) are not used in most facelifts, however if used they are removed 2 – 3 days after surgery.

Return back to work in 10 – 14 days, gymnastics in 21 days, full recovery in 6 – 8 weeks.