At The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic, we understand that deciding to undergo a facelift is a significant step. Seeing is believing, and nothing speaks more to the effectiveness of a facelift than real patient results. Let’s look at some of our patients’ facelift before and after photos to see how you might benefit from this rewarding procedure and discuss what signs of aging a facelift can address.
Facelift Before and After: Envision the Possibilities
Looking at these before and after photos, you’ll notice significant improvements in facial contours, skin tightness, and overall symmetry. The SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) facelift goes beyond just tightening the skin. This technique lifts and repositions facial tissue to create long-lasting, natural-looking results.
What Is a SMAS Facelift?
The SMAS facelift focuses on lifting and repositioning the deeper layers of facial tissue, not just the skin. The SMAS layer, located beneath the skin and fat, is a supportive tissue that contributes to the structure and shape of your face. Our surgeons can achieve more substantial and longer-lasting rejuvenation by tightening this layer.
Are You a Good Candidate for a Facelift?
Ideal candidates often share the following characteristics:
- Visible Signs of Aging: The SMAS facelift is particularly effective for those with noticeable signs of aging in the lower face and neck, such as sagging skin, deep wrinkles, jowls, and loss of facial volume. If these are your primary concerns, a SMAS facelift can provide significant and lasting improvements.
- Good Skin Elasticity: Although a facelift tightens and lifts the skin, you can achieve the best results when your skin still has some degree of elasticity. Patients with good skin quality tend to experience more natural and long-lasting outcomes.
- Overall Health: A successful facelift depends on the patient’s overall health (and the plastic surgeon’s skill!). Ideal candidates should be in good general health, with no underlying medical conditions that could complicate surgery or hinder healing.
- Nonsmokers: Smoking negatively affects your body’s ability to heal, increases the risk of complications, and influences the longevity of your results. For these reasons, we recommend patients quit smoking several weeks before and after surgery.
You might not be ready for a facelift if these criteria apply to you:
- Minimal Signs of Aging: If you have only mild signs of aging, you might benefit more from less invasive treatments, such as dermal fillers, BOTOX Cosmetic®, or laser skin treatments. These options offer subtle improvements without the need for surgery.
- Significant Health Issues: Patients with health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or bleeding disorders may not be ideal candidates.
We’ll work closely with you to determine if you’re a good candidate for a facelift based on your needs and goals. Learn more about whether a facelift may be right for you in our related blog post.
Why Choose the SMAS Facelift?
One of the key advantages of the SMAS facelift is its ability to create natural-looking results that stand the test of time. Because the technique works on the underlying structures of the face, rather than just pulling the skin tight, it avoids the “windblown” or overly stretched look often associated with older facelift techniques. Instead, the SMAS facelift provides a smoother contour that still looks like you—only refreshed and younger.
Signs of Aging a SMAS Facelift Can Improve
As we age, facial changes can make us look older than we feel. These are some signs of aging a SMAS facelift can effectively improve:
1. Sagging Skin
One of the most noticeable signs of aging is the loss of skin elasticity, leading to sagging, especially in the lower face and neck, resulting in a tired or aged appearance. A facelift addresses this issue by tightening and lifting the underlying facial tissues.
2. Deep Nasolabial Folds
Nasolabial folds are the deep lines that run from the sides of your nose to the corners of your mouth. Over time, these folds can become more pronounced, giving the face a more aged appearance.
3. Jowls
The development of jowls, or sagging skin along the jawline, is a common sign of aging. Facelift surgery targets the lower face, reducing the appearance of jowls and creating a more defined jawline.
4. Loose Neck Skin
As the skin and underlying muscles of the neck lose their elasticity, the neck can appear loose or saggy, often referred to as a “turkey neck.” Facelift surgery typically tightens the neck muscles and skin, restoring a smoother, more youthful neck contour.
5. Loss of Facial Volume
The face can lose volume with age, leading to a hollow or sunken appearance, particularly in the cheeks and mid-face. While a facelift primarily focuses on lifting and tightening, it can also be combined with fat grafting or fillers to restore lost volume, creating a fuller, more youthful look.
6. Marionette Lines
These lines extend from the corners of the mouth toward the chin, often becoming more pronounced with age. A facelift softens these lines by lifting and repositioning the underlying tissues, resulting in a smoother lower face.
7. General Facial Laxity
Laxity, or looseness of the skin, is a hallmark of aging. The SMAS facelift is particularly effective at addressing this issue by tightening the underlying muscle layer, which supports the overlying skin, leading to a more toned and youthful appearance.
What About Facelift Scars?
We take great care to minimize scarring, as you can see in our patients’ before and after photos. We place facelift incisions strategically within the hairline and around the natural contours of the ears, making them virtually undetectable once healed. Our patients often remark on how inconspicuous their facelift scars are, allowing them to confidently enjoy their rejuvenated look.
Ready To Transform Your Look?
If you’re ready to speak with a Royal College-certified plastic surgeon about how a facelift could enhance your appearance, we invite you to schedule a consultation. Use the online form to request a consultation or call us at (519) 746-1132.
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