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Facelift Techniques

According to the Cleveland Clinic, a face lift is a medical operation performed with the purpose of reducing and reversing the visible signs of aging. Patients who choose to have a face lift must understand the procedure options available to make an informed decision. Known as a rhytidectomy in the medical community, a face lift should be performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon.

  1. Thread Lift or Feather Lift

    • Considered the least invasive of all face lift procedures, the thread lift (also known as a feather lift) is a process that suspends the aging tissues of the face and neck as they begin to sag. Designed for individuals who require only minor work, the feather lift targets such key areas as the outer brow, cheeks, jawline and neck. This procedure utilizes special thread that's connected to surgical barbs. These items are strategically implanted into the fatty layer of the skin. The plastic surgeon pulls the threads, and the barbs suspend the skin. This lift requires approximately five days of recovery time.

    Mid-Face Lift

    • Developed over the last decade, the mid-face lift is designed to specifically address and focus on the center of the face. The plastic surgeon works on the deeper tissues and repositions underlying facial fat and muscle to lift the area between the outer edges of the eyes to the mouth. This procedure is completed in approximately one hour, and patients can expect to fully recover within six weeks.

    SMAS Lift

    • According to the American Association of Plastic Surgeons, the SMAS lift is the gold standard for the correction of advanced aging. The deeper tissues of the face and neck are referred to by plastic surgeons as SMAS, or superficial muscular aponeurotic system. During this procedure, the physician makes a cut above the temple, in the hairline, and extends the cut downward. The surgeon lifts the SMAS, removes all extra tissue, and stitches everything in its new position. This procedure requires an overnight stay in the hospital, and full recovery takes approximately eight weeks.

    Subperiosteal Lift

    • In the subperiosteal lift, the plastic surgeon utilizes an endoscope to view the surgical area through incisions in the skin. The surgeon makes a deep cut to the facial bone, separates the muscle and tissues from the bone, and then completes the lift. This procedure is used primarily for patients who are recipients of facial implants. This is a highly specialized operation that has an extended recovery time of eight to 12 weeks.

    Deep Plane Face Lift

    • The deep plane face lift is used for patients who wish to transform the areas on and around their cheek bones, mid-face and neck. This surgery does not address the forehead, brows or eyelids. The surgeon creates a deep incision, repositioning and lifting the tissues in the targeted area, to create a more youthful appearance. This procedure takes approximately four hours, and the recovery time is approximately one week.

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