How Long Will a SMAS Facelift Last?

My other colleagues make good points. In adding to the discussion, I would offer several points: 1. Any cosmetic procedure will provide longer-lasting results if you reduce the amount of future insult to the tissues. Typically, we discuss this point with laser resurfacing. You can think of it as waxing your car. If you park it in the sun, it won't last as long as if you park it in the garage. Sun-blocking make up and skin care products will help your investment last longer. Surgery is... more

A facelift will last different lengths of time for different people based upon their anatomy, genetics, and general habits.

With a good technical SMAS facelift, the results may last 5-10 years or longer.  This type of facelift not only removes the excess skin of the face, it lifts the internal structures (SMAS) and tightens the skin.  It should smooth out the folds beside the mouth and lift the jowls.  As long as you take care of your skin afterward, you should expect a long-lasting result.  Good luck!

Most patients have only one facelift in a lifetime if it is well-executed.  A SMAS facelift heals in a matter of days and at that point the sutures are irrelevant.  The tissues that have been repositioned are biologically sealed.  Patients will continue to age, obviously, but most don't reach a point where a full secondary facelift is indicated.  I do secondary facelifts, but probably on less than one in 25 patients.

Assuming that you continue to enjoy good health, do not fluctuate excessively in your weight, a SMAS facelift can last 10-15 years.  I have noted that the average age of my facelift patient ranges from the mid 40's to mid 50's, which is approximately a decade younger than my father's patient base.  Facial aging can be classified from outside to inside.  Skin texture, tone and color can suffer with excessive sun damage, resulting in fine... more

The longevity of cosmetic surgery procedures depends upon the happiness of the patient, not the skill of the surgeon. All of these “lifting and tightening” procedures we perform are dependent upon the patient’s satisfaction with themselves, not the strength of the lift. For example, if we perform a great facelift on one of two aging twins then the “lifted” twin will always be the more youthful in appearance as they both continue to age. But the more youthful... more

A SMAS Facelift is a procedure that relies on imbrication or plication of the SMAS (fibrofatty connective tissue lining of the facial musculature).  More mobilization correlates with a greater degree of improvement and longevity.  A well performed SMAS imbrication (elevation and repositioning of SMAS) Facelift will last for 10 years and up.  Quick, less invasive procedures (plication: simple folding of the SMAS on itself) tend to lead to lesser results that last... more

That is a great question. As someone who does approximately 35 SMAS facelifts every month, I feel I have an amazing experience to draw from. I always tell people that a facelift will last forever...if you stop aging. Perhaps a better way to look at it is in how long will your appearance be improved. Typically, people will look anywhere from 7- 20 years younger after my facelift. This, of course , depends on how old they are and how much improvement they needed.. So, I tell them that they will more

This is an excellent question and shows your knowledge of some of the biological concepts. The idea of cheesewiring is more common with the skin and therefore the concept of the SMAS lift evolved. This layer tends to hold stitches more securely. However, ultimately the result depends on rearranging tissues with fixation without undue tension. Excessive tension will eventually produce the cheesewiring effect you describe with failure of long term maintenance of the lifted result.... more

 Unlike a knee or shoulder, there is little tension on the face tissue. The tissue is held with strong sutures. The swelling around the corner of the mouth is due to swelling after a lift and aging before the lift with sagging tissue.

Face lift results should last several years. Sometimes patient will require touch-up or revision aesthetic procedures earlier. Keep in mind your face & skin continues to age, so you will naturally loose some of the cosmetic results. Any sutures that are used during facelift surgery generally do not hold tissues permanently. Sutures can slice through tissue over time. The skin & underlying tissues develops fibrous attachements or scars itself in-place a bit after face lift surgery to... more