SMAS face lift – What you need to know

You don’t feel it when you’re in your twenties but you start feeling it a little in your early thirties. Then comes late thirties and suddenly you realized how much your face has aged. Don’t get me wrong, getting older is a blessing. The trick is to grow up without looking old.

And we have just the solution for those experiencing aging already. Lucky for you, technology has found a way to drastically slow down the effects of aging on your face – SMAS face lift surgery, which is less invasive yet more effective than the traditional facelift. And what is SMAS lifting surgery? Here’s how it can help you eliminate the signs of aging.

What is SMAS face lift surgery?

A SMAS face lift is an invasive face lift procedure that involves lifting deep fascial layers (SMAS layer) under the skin to counter the signs of aging by tightening weaken muscles and tissues, removing fats, and trimming of excess sagging skin. It is used to correct midface sagging, specifically targeted at sagging cheeks, smile lines, marionette lines and saggy jawlines.

Unlike traditional facelifts which only lifts the superficial top skin layer, SMAS facelift goes deep under the skin to the muscles and tissues, which makes it more effective and long-lasting. Its most effective for mid to severe facial sagging and suitable for those who have:

• Facial sagging
• Sagging cheeks (Hollow cheeks)
• Deep smile lines and marionette lines
• Undefined or sagging jowls
• Sagging chins
• Sagging jawline after undergoing jaw reduction surgery

Best for those in their late thirties and forties or those whose skin is in the mid stage of sagging. If your skin is only starting to show early signs of aging, you might want to consider thread face lift, which might be more suitable and less invasive for you. Also, if you have a double chin and/or loose skin at your neck, you might want to consider getting a neck lift together at the same time.

SMAS face lift surgery target areas

Benefits of a SMAS face lift surgery

Benefits of a SMAS face lift are plentiful and some of them includes:

• Improve elasticity of sagging skin and droopiness of mid-face areas
• Gets rid of excess loose facial skin
• Reduces pore size and tightens your skin for a smoother appearance
• Softens smile lines and marionette lines
• Lifts sagging cheeks
• Lifts sagging jawlines and eliminates saggy jowls
• Gives an immediate lifted and rejuvenation look
• Natural-looking lift results
• Less invasive than incisional facelift

SMAS face lift surgery procedure

First, your surgeon will make an incision starting in the hairline at the top of your ear and extending along the ear, behind the ear and into the hairline at the back of your ear. The skin is then separated from the SMAS layer and your surgeon will lift and trim the tissues and muscles at the SMAS layer. And lastly, your remaining loose skin is lifted, trimmed and re-draped over your face.

As much as we wished it did, unfortunately, SMAS face lift does not correct wrinkles and fine lines at the lower eyelid areas and forehead nor eliminate loose skin at your neck. If you are experiencing forehead sagging or saggy neck skin, you might also want to consider getting a forehead lift and neck lift with your SMAS lift.

How long does SMAS face lift surgery take?

SMAS face lift surgery in Korea lasts 3~4 hours, and is performed under sedation anesthesia so you will not feel any pain.

When can I see results?

Results from SMAS face lifts are immediate and permanent, but there will be minor swelling and bruising for 1~2 weeks. The incision areas will also be taped up to prevent infections and aid in recovery. During recovery, you are also recommended not to open your mouth too wide or turn your head too much.

For the first 3 weeks to a month, your skin will feel very tight and might look unnatural. But its effects will start to look more and more natural as time passes. Best effects of SMAS lifting can be seen after 3 months.

And of course, a SMAS lift may remove or reduce the signs of aging but it cannot stop aging. Its not that magical so over time, signs of aging will gradually reappear but well, at least not for the next 5~10years, also depending on how fast you age and how well you take care of your body.

Actual recovery time vary among individuals, and is subjected to one’s health condition & healing response.

How long should I stay in Korea?

SMAS face lift surgery in Korea is a minor surgery so hospitalization is not required. But do stay until your stitches are removed, and go shopping in the meantime!

Stitch removal

Stitches are usually removed 7~10 days after surgery. Sometimes, you might also be required to go twice for stich removal.

Cautions on stitch removal

If you remove the stitches earlier then advised, your wound might reopen. Hence, causing an infection. But if you remove it too late, you risk further scarring and pigmentation. So, keep to all dates diligently.

Sometimes, some patients might want to have their stitches removed at the local hospitals in their home country due to time constraints.

Although that is possible (but not recommended), it very much depends on how well you have been healing, and is also subjected to doctor’s approval.

Alternatives to SMAS face lift surgery

If your skin is only starting to show early signs of aging, you might want to consider thread face lift instead as it would be less invasive. If your skin is showing severe signs of aging and you have forehead wrinkles and fine lines at your lower eyelid area, you might want to consider a full face lift instead.

What other surgery complements SMAS face lift surgery?

1. Facial fat grafting

Facial fat grafting can help to restore lost volume to sunken areas of your face and smooths your skin, making you look more youthful and beautiful.

2. Endotine forehead lift

If you are also experiencing forehead sagging, you might want to consider an endotine forehead lift to take off years from your face overall.

3. Sub-brow lift

A sub-brow lift surgery can help correct drooping eyelid and saggy eyebrows, making you look younger and refreshed.

4. SMAS neck lift

A young face with a saggy neck don’t go well! If you want to get rid of loose neck skin or double chin, a neck lift surgery is probably your best bet.

5. Botox

As we grow old, aging is inevitable but botox sure can help reduce the signs of aging and restore youth on our face.

Conclusion

In all honesty, no matter what anti-aging skincare you use or how many years of laser lifting packages you sign up for, nothing can match the results that facelifts can give. Albeit face lifting procedures are invasive, technology has progressed so much so that scarring is becoming minimal whereas results are getting more and more effective.

And at the end of the day, there is nothing wrong with wanting to look younger than your age. So if it’s what you want, we say go for it! Just make sure to get a board certified surgeon who is highly skilled and specialized in facelifts for the best results.