Facial Widening with SMAS Facelift

asked 1 year ago by NHaven in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Latest answer by Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD
Question viewed 358 times
Tags: widen

Four months after SMAS facelift my face is still wide where the SMAS was folded for suturing. Is there a reason why a surgeon elects to fold the SMAS rather than trim (SMASectomy)?

11 answers to Facial Widening with SMAS Facelift

SMAS Techniques

Hi Oklahoma City2013- There are many different ways to handle the SMAS during facelift surgery - fold, excise, reposition, purse string, long flap, short flap, deep plane, etc. The choice of which to choose is determined by the patient's physical attributes and the techniques that work best in the hands of the particular surgeon. Sincerely, Tom Kaniff

Thomas E. Kaniff, MD
Sacramento Facial Plastic Surgeon

Folding SMAS over the Zygoma

The SMAS layer is folded under for two reasons. 1. it gives extra strength to the repair where it is sutured to the cheek bone (zygoma) 2. It gives more fullness and definition to the cheek bone area which is frequently lost over time, or not well developed in the first place. This is a standard practice. The fullness should resolve over the next year. sek

Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Customizing SMAS facelift is key

I routinely perform SMAS facelifts, but customize the actual lift for each individual's anatomy. Some patients have very thin tissue and folding, or plicating the SMAS can be appropriate. Others have thicker tissue. In these patients I remove a strip of the SMAS and then lift the SMAS and suture it back to itself. This prevents the bunching and unwanted volume in that area. You may still see some thinning of the area, but after 4 months the majority of healing has occurred. I would... more

Andrew Campbell, MD
Milwaukee Facial Plastic Surgeon

Facial widening after facelift

The SMAS can be trimmed, cinched or folded depending on the technique and goals for your surgery. Some upper facial widening may occur with repositioning the SMAS and soft tissues upward. This may be desirable and rejuvenating as it helps to transform the " triangle" of aging marked by descent of tissue resulting in widening at the jowls to the "inverted triangle" of youth with more upper fullness... more

David J. Levens, MD
Coral Springs Plastic Surgeon

Wider face after SMAS lift

The SMAS procedure you had may have been done to restore facial volume. However, at only 4 months after surgery, swelling is more likely to account for the facial width. You may discuss it with your plastic surgeon but waiting a few more months may help.

Karol A. Gutowski, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Facial widening with SMAS facelift.

The reason is personal preference of the surgeon and his aesthetic goals. You will have the swelling go down for 1 year and if it is still wide, return to your surgeon or get a second opinion.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Folding the SMAS for volume enhancement

In patients with slender or medium faces, it is common to fold the SMAS in order to add volume to the cheeks and to give a thicker layer to sew and maybe have it heal better. In fatter faces, the extra SMAS is trimmed off so as to not make the cheeks look too full.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Techniques for a SMAS facelift may vary

Performing a SMAS plication versus a SMAS-ectomy depends on the experience of the surgeon. Many studies have shown no difference in the two techniques and the SMAS-ectomy, so it's really surgeon preference.

Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

SMAS facelift techniques

Folding of the SMAS is a way to help augment the cheeks while performing the facelift. The question of when to fold and when to excise is determined on a case by case basis. No one face is the same as another so it is a judgement call. I prefer SMAS flap with trimming of the flap. Some folks just do an excision. Some plicate. In the end, it all seems to do about the same if the surgeon is experienced and routinely gets great results.

Jay Calvert, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

SMAS facelift

Tot rim or to fold the SMAS really depends upon your goals for surgery. If you have enough facial volume and high cheek bones then I would excise it.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

SMAS FACE LIFT

The folding of the SMAS is usualy done over the cheek bone to give a high cheek bone appearance. This is usually discussed with the patient ahead of time. Consult a BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON (AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC SURGERY) FOR POTENTIAL TREATMENT