Please Describe the Short Scar Facelift

A short scar facelift is a great option for many people. The recovery & downtime is very minimal. There are usually no drains, most people can go out the same day, you can shower the next day, there're no scars behind the ears and you can wear your hair up anytime and most patients take no pain medicine. The result is usually the same in selected patients as a full scar facelift but it really depends on your exam.
I would recommend that you see a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area that is a member of both ASPS & ASAPS and performs a lot of mini facelifts and neck lifts but also offers all the nonsurgical options such as injectables and laser treatments. Go over your concerns with them and make sure above all, you walk out of there with several options and an idea of the pros and cons to each of them as well as realistic expectations. 
I hope this helps and wish you all the best in your surgery and event. If it does, please take a moment to up vote this answer on the “respond” button on the top right. 

Our Short scar SMAS Facelift involves incisions that are shorter than the traditional facelift and therefore it requires much less surgery. The incision extends from under the sideburn to in front of the ear and is hidden in the natural contours. Short incision techniques avoid using an incision behind the ear and can be used for earlier ageing as appropriate or if specifically requested by my patients. It is important to remember that these techniques are usually only appropriate for people who have earlier ageing in their neck and whose concerns are largely limited to the cheek, mouth and jowl areas

A short scar facelift could be known by any number of different names. In general, these facelifts are somewhat less aggressive and use a shorter incision. The tradeoff is that the ability to tighten the tissues, especially the neck, is often less with a shorter incision. This is due to less ability to access the desired area and less ability to excise excess skin.
Overall, the procedure is usually very similar to a traditional facelift approach, where the SMAS layer under the skin is tightened, in addition to the skin itself. Staples are not left under the skin, but may be used to close skin incisions in certain areas. 
Screws are not typically used during facelift procedures by most surgeons, but may be involved in some brow lift techniques. I do not use any fixation devices during an endoscopic brow lift, but many surgeons do use various different devices to fixate the tissues in position. Most surgeons will consider a brow lift to be an additional procedure and not part of a standard facelift. 
All the best,

A #facelift is a surgical procedure designed to remove the major folds and wrinkles that form on our faces with age. Gravity, sun damage, smoking, living in a dry climate, and a variety of factors contribute to the aging process of our faces. Facelift techniques vary from patient to patient to give each person a procedure tailored to produce the best possible surgical result. A facelift will smooth out major folds and #wrinkles, #tighten the tissues beneath your skin, remove #sagging and excess skin. A facelift can also reduce excess skin around the #neck and #jawline.  There is not just one facelift procedure, but a whole range of facelift procedures. These different techniques have been developed over the years, involving different incisions and lifting the skin to varying degrees. A facelift may also involve the tightening of certain muscles and tissues, or liposuction of areas such as the jowls or chin.It is important to understand that facelifts are meant to remove major folds and wrinkles, not fine wrinkles. A facelift which removes every line and fold would be too aggressive and would result in an unnatural result. Fine lines and wrinkles are better addressed by skin treatments such as chemical peels or microdermabrasion, which we also offer at our office. Incisions vary depending upon whether the patient is male or female, the hairstyles, hairline, age, previous surgery, and other factors. Generally, the #incision starts in the temple, in front or within the hairline. It continues in front of the ear, sometimes partially hidden within the ear. It then goes under the earlobe, behind the ear fold, and ends within the hairline or at the hairline behind the ear. The newer, shorter scar #techniques, which do not include scars in or by the hairline, can be used for most patients. Frequently another small and hidden incision is made under the chin in a natural skin fold. This allows fat removal and tightening of the platysma muscle in the neck if required.During your #consultation, your skin texture and elasticity, as well as your underlying skin structure and your facial bone structure will be evaluated. Based on this evaluation, your board certified plastic surgeons will create a custom surgical plan, detailing specific techniques and recommendations to meet your goals. In doing so, he or she should be sure to have a full understanding of what results you expect. If you are not a #candidate, your surgeon can make other suggestions to address your concerns and objectives.

As its name suggests, a short scar facelift involves a limited incision. With limited incisions comes limited access to the underlying tissues of the face and neck. A good candidate for a short scar facelift has good skin tone and elasticity and is seeking improvement to the jawline or neck only. In my opinion, one of the keys to a good facelift is not necessarily the length of incisions — it's placing them as inconspicuously as possible. Discuss your options with a qualified plastic surgeon who specializes in facial plastic surgery. 

There are many terms used to described the facelift procedure and they can be a bit confusing. In general a short scar facelift implies incisions that are made in front of the ear only with a limited extension behind the earlobe. In my practice I refer to this as an anterior facelift. This can be a good option for patients who require less lifting within the neck,typically a younger patient.However, if your surgeon recommends incisions that run behind the ear into the posterior hairline this should not be a reason for concern.If well performed these incisions should not be noticeable at all.

The term 'short scarf facelift' refers to techniques originated with the S-lift and subsequently the MACS lift. It does not make any reference to the exact technique used within the face but refers to the positioning and length of the scar. In a conventional facelift, a U-shaped scar is placed around the ear, both in front and behind. Short scar facelift technique dispenses with the need for the portion behind the ear and is generally used in younger patients and those for whom a neck lift is less of a priority. The exact indication for the technique depends on surgeon's preference and patient wishes and expectations. This should be discussed at length with your surgeon.

In certain circumstances, a short scar facelift is an acceptable form of facial rejuvenation.  A short scar facelift, is also known as a minilift, s-lift. and multiple other monikers. The basic idea is more limited incisions, less surgery overall, and typically less result. When facial aging indications are relatively minor, consideration of a more limited approach is reasonable.  However, the major problem occurs when a short scar facelift is applied to a patient who would benefit more from a traditional facelift or when excessive reliance is placed on skin removal as opposed to SMAS manipulation. In such circumstances, a short scar facelift is more appropriately referred to as a "bad scar facelift".  Frequently, traditional facelift scars look better than those used in minilifts because they allow for adequate skin removal and appropriate skin re-draping. Because of the appeal of a less invasive approach to the patient/ consumer, minilifts tend to be over utilized by some Surgeons. 

There are multiple facelift options
available to treat the various manifestations of facial aging.  It’s important to realize that each of
these techniques offer unique advantages and disadvantages.  The best results occur when the best
option is chosen for any particular deformity.  Some of the options available include the facelift, short
scar facelift and mini facelift.

The facelift has many variations
that are used to reverse the changes associated with facial aging.  These techniques have several features
in common.  They all address nasal
labial folds and loss of definition of the jaw lines and jowls.  In addition changes in the neck are
addressed as well.  The procedure
removes excess fat, corrects muscle abnormalities, and removes excess skin in the neck.  The
procedure is associated with high satisfaction rates.

Mini facelifts and short scar
facelifts utilize many of the same principles as full facelifts, but are far
less aggressive procedures.  Once
again, there are multiple variations of this type of procedure.  These procedures are associated with
fewer complications and shorter recoveries.  With these procedures, the neck is minimally impacted and
the primary focus is the jaw line and nasal labial folds.

Staples and screws in the skull are
commonly used with endoscopic browlift, but aren’t used with facelift
procedures.  It’s important to
realize that each of these techniques has a role in facial rejuvenation surgery.  It’s critical that a proper analysis be
undertaken to determine which option is best for any particular patient.

The short scar facelift refers to a shorter length of the incision behind the ear, which allows more freedom in wearing your hair back or cut short. The correction of the underlying tissues can be done through a short scar approach just as it can with a longer scar. It is important to discuss with your surgeon what his or her technique is. For a brow lift, which some patients refer to as an “upper facelift,” fixation of the tissues can be done utilizing a screw, but there are other techniques as well. Staples are often used for incisions at the hairline, because less hair is caught in the incision, but these are removed within a week of surgery.