Don't get lost in the trees!

I receive questions like this often from patients trying not to make a mistake. Forget about what technique the doctor says he uses, since you'll be asleep and won't know what he does anyway! My son can show you pictures and diagrams of facelifts or noses---he knows nothing about these, but is very good with a computer.
Instead, find a surgeon you trust, shows you one year photographs or longer of his results, and lets you see real patients who have had a facelift by him or her. That's what really counts.

Many of the deeper facelift techniques elevate or tighten the deep layer, or SMAS.  Depending on which layers exactly are involved, and where exactly the surgeon changes planes, the Composite Facelift, the Deep Plane facelift , Standard SMAS, facelift, SMAS-ectomy facelift, SMAS plication facelift, Extended SMAS Facelift, PSP facelifts, 360 Facelift, are all techniques which can be used.

Certainly every experienced facelift surgeon should be capable of performing each and every one of the above techniques if necessary.  But the above techniques are just a start to comprehensive rejuvenation.

Modern facelifts don't just pull.  They pull in different directions.  They redistribute volume in the face, not just "really really tight" as was the goal in the past.  They keep earlobe architecture natural appearing, not pulled or canted.  They presefrve the hairlines.  They keep the direction of pull on the face minimally detectable.  They use scar minimizing and concealing techniques.

Expert facelifts often involve one of these techniques above plus many, many ancillary procedures such as volume restoration (fat injection, LiveFill or implants), periorbital surgery (fat preservational vs fat removal), midfacial/cheeklift surgery (many types of cheeklifts), browlift surgery (many types of browlifts), lip/periorbital volume restoration, resurfacing of the facial skin with lasers, etc.

The goals and the specific plan of the surgeon should be crystal clear to the patient before the surgery proceeds.  When they wake up in the recovery room, the procedure will be done.  The result they get for the rest of your life will depend on the artistry, style, experience, customization to the patient's specific needs, not on whether the patient chooses a doctor based on wanting to have a "PSP or a SMAS lift" .   

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