A facelift (rhytidectomy) is a versatile procedure tailored to each individual’s unique needs. No two individuals are alike, and no two facelifts should be alike. There are several variations of the facelift, each of which is customized to meet the patient’s individual and unique needs.
The primary goal of all facelifts is to “lift” your skin, making it appear smoother and fuller, with reduced wrinkles, sagging skin tissue, and other signs of facial aging. However, there are different means of achieving these results, such as through surgeries, dermal fillers, threads, etc.
When you consult a reputable facial plastic surgeon, they’ll analyze your skin condition and discuss your cosmetic goals to recommend the ideal facelift variation for your unique needs. However, this article aims to provide a general overview of the most popular types of facelifts.
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Traditional Facelift
A traditional facelift is the most effective means of reversing severe aging signs, such as excessively sagging skin tissue, deep facial wrinkles, nasolabial folds, prominent jowls, and hanging skin tissues beneath the chin.
A traditional facelift usually involves incisions along the hairline and down the ears to pull the skin upward, trim excess skin tissue, and reposition the underlying fatty tissue to provide a contoured and slim facial appearance.
Traditional facelifts also involve considerable downtime, and they’re suitable for people in their 50s or 60s, i.e., individuals with heavy signs of aging.
Mini Facelift
A mini facelift is a modified version of the traditional facelift meant to address early or moderate aging signs, such as fine lines, wrinkles, moderately sagging skin tissue, early jowls, and other signs of aging in the lower face.
A mini facelift usually involves placing small hairline incisions from the top of the ears down to the region behind the earlobes. The procedure may involve repositioning and trimming some of the excess skin to smoothen the signs of aging around the cheeks and jawline.
Mini facelifts produce subtler results, but they also involve a shorter recovery period of 3 to 7 days. They’re suitable for individuals in their 30s, 40s, or early 50s.
SMAS Facelift
SMAS is short for superficial musculoaponeurotic system, a term that refers to the thin and fibrous layer covering the face and neck, supporting the muscles that facilitate facial movements.
The SMAS facelift addresses the muscles and skin tissues on the mid and lower front regions of the face and neck. It addresses the dynamic wrinkles and jowls that appear due to the overuse of facial muscles, such as the nasolabial folds, sagging cheeks, prominent jowls, etc.
Thread Facelift
A thread facelift is a procedure wherein biocompatible and biodegradable sutures are woven into your subcutaneous skin tissue and pulled to create an internal “lift” around the mid-face regions. A thread facelift produces immediate results.
Over time, as the sutures dissolve, they encourage your body to produce collagen, the skin’s structural building blocks. Thus even though a thread lift produces temporary results, it encourages your body to tighten your skin tissue, leading to some remnant results even after the threads dissolve.
Liquid Facelift
A liquid, or non-surgical, facelift is a procedure wherein dermal fillers are injected into the skin to produce a temporary lift.
There are various liquid facelift options, including Juvederm® and Radiesse®, and Sculptra. Some of them add hyaluronic acid into targeted regions to produce an instant lift, while others encourage your body to naturally produce collagen, leading to gradual results.
All non-surgical facelifts are temporary but long-lasting and don’t entail any downtime or recovery period.
Choosing the Right Facelift Variation
Dr. Pontell is a highly reputable facial plastic surgeon in Philadelphia. He has helped thousands of patients reclaim their youth with highly-personalized facelift procedures that address their unique cosmetic goals. If you’re interested in looking more youthful, vibrant and alive but find yourself confused as to which facelift might best suit you, contact Dr. Pontell to discuss your treatment options.