Is a short scar Facelift long lasting? Does it address the underlying muscles and what areas of the face does it address?

Depends.The term short scar facelift like any other "catchy" named for a facelift or minilift are merely marketing terms and mean different things to different surgeons.The best route is to ask exactly the technique being used and what is being done with the SMAS layer.  The best facelifts, in my opinion, tighten the muscle but tighten them by using a deep plane technique.  Additional questions should also focus on the length of the "scar'".  Although short sounds great and less "major" it can often leave skin puckering, distortions and may not be in your best interest.The link below offers more information about facelifts.I hope this helps.

A short scar lift can be as effective as a standard face lift depending on what is done under the skin layer. The short scar is the result of the skin incision which is from the temple area to or slightly behind the earlobes. This operation which is also called an S lift is only possible if the skin excess is mostly under the chin and a vertical lift is necessary to address that skin excess. I would not confuse this with a mini lift because a short scar lift can be as big a surgery as the standard lift with the only difference being the length of the scar. I do this operation in about 20 to 30 percent of my face lifts depending on what the patient needs. Don't go to the surgeon who says he only does a short scar lift because this means he is not individualizing the procedure to the need of the patient.

A short scar facelift ( minilift) means different
things to different surgeons, has many variations and is called by a multitude
of names including: Mini-Lift, MACS lift, Limited Scar Lift, Short Scar Lift
as well as a multitude of marketed branded names and trade name lifts. What the
variations have in common is a shorter length incision than in a standard or
full facelift, which usually avoids a scar behind the ear. The position and
length of the incision depends on the extent of the procedure, the patient’s
individual anatomy and the surgeon’s preference. Beside the length and
placement of the incision, what may vary significantly from surgeon to surgeon
is the extent of the lifting of the skin from the underlying tissue and the
amount and method of correction of the underlying tissue (the SMAS), which may or may not be sutured.

It is a good technique that I and many
plastic surgeons will utilize in the appropriately selected patient with early
aging without extensive skin laxity of the jowls or neck or for patients who
have had a prior facelift and would benefit from a little freshening. It is not
an option for all or even most patients with greater tissue sagging who would
get a better correction with a full facelift. How long it lasts depends on many factors including the extent of the procedure, individual characteristics of aging, and whether there was tightening of the deeper tissue.

What is more important than opting for a
particular technique, is choosing an experienced artistic plastic surgeon. I
would suggest you find a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of
Plastic Surgery and ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic
Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) that you trust and are comfortable with. You should
discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person.

Robert Singer, MD FACS

La Jolla, California