Facelift surgery, SMAS lift, Endoscopic lift, Mid-face lift at Plastic Surgery Truth.com

There are several types of facelift

SMAS lift is the classic, most popular face-and-neck lift. It’s success relies primarily on lifting the cheek/neck contour. The ideal age for this procedure is 45-55 years. As well as smoothing the skin, the operation also tightens the face’s subcutaneous layer of muscles, connective and fatty tissue, the so-called SMAS layer (Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System). At the same time, the neck region is corrected, for example in case of so-called turkey-gobbler neck. This platysmaplasty tightens the neck muscle. Contracted regions are fixed with non-dissolving sutures; the skin is smoothed, then sutured or clamped.

facelift

Mini lift is the most basic lifting operation, suitable for women below the age of 40. It is frequently requested by models. The same incisions as for the SMAS lift are used, but only the skin is tightened. This has a rejuvenating effect particularly on the middle and upper regions of the face – the brow and eye areas. The effects of a mini lift are frequently only visible for several months, and it doesn’t change the nasolabial folds.

Mid-face lift lifts sagging cheek tissue below the lower eyelid, which also corrects pronounced nasolabial folds and drooping corners of the mouth.

Mask lift or subperiosteal (deep plane) lift is based on a special technique where the incision to dislodge the cheek is made from the inside of the mouth. Skin, tissue and muscles are detached from the bone to achieve a long-lasting effect. As this technique can entail many complications and the healing period is lengthy, it has become unpopular.

Tissue glue facelift: When suturing, many surgeons use Fibrin sealant, a “glue” for sealing wounds that is made from human blood-contouring proteins. Fibrin sealant eliminates the need for facial bandages and drainage tubes, and decreases the possibility of haematomas. However, it is expensive and can cause infections. It is somewhat misleading to regard this procedure as a facelift in its own right, as it only describes one aspect of the operation.

The incision line is essentially the same for all the types of lifting described above: The surgical cut starts near the temple, continues along the hairline, along the ear and around the ear lobe, and ends in the hair-covered neck area behind the ear. As the suture always borders the hairline, it remains invisible. Hair loss and hairline shifts are avoided.

Endoscopic lift is the technique that produces the fewest scars and has the most natural-looking results, but not all surgeons are able to perform it as it is also very complex. Starting at the hairline, the surgeon makes very small incisions (1-2 centimetres) to feed the endoscope and other miniature instruments beneath the skin. Every movement can then be traced on a video monitor. Sagging tissue is pushed back up and the skin realigns automatically.

Endoscopic brow and eyebrow lift: Brows and eyebrows benefit greatly from a surgical technique that produces no visible scars. Three to six incisions, each approx. one centimeter in length, are made for inserting special surgical instruments under the brow skin. The skin is lifted and some of the brow muscles are removed – which de-emphasises creases. In the same procedure , the eyebrows can be lifted, which improves the field if vision as well as the facial appearance. Excess skin is shifted up behind the hairline, where it is held in position by tiny screws.