Traditional Face Lift, MACS or Short Scar Lift: What's the Difference

Unlike many facial and or plastic surgeons I have performed nearly every type of facelift from subcutaneous to SMAS to "Deep Plane" Composites, MACS, Short Scars and even Lifestyle Lifts .
I am a facelift specialist and have performed as many as 300 in a year and 10 in a week. Recently we introduced the first laser assisted facelift the LaserSmartLift which we now perform as our standard procedure. It is a new approach that combines short recovery times with exceptional results.
The most important thing to discuss is what you want corrected and the ability of the surgeon to effect this with his operation (whichever one is selected). Many problems can not be optimally corrected with short scars and short flaps. A full face lift involves a very long flap and usually side to side neck dissection and in some patients this may be the best option. Most patients will fare well with an intermediate flap and standard minilift incision that extends partly into the back hairline. Excessive neck laxity may require a longer incision. Think correction not operation Jowls, Nasal Labial Folds, Neck Bands, Neck Laxity. Ask your surgeon how the operation he selects will do in the areas you want corrected the most. No one facelift will optimally correct all those factors so if they offer one size to fit all you may want to seek another opinion. Less is not better Better is Better.

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.

Great question. It's easy to feel
confused and overwhelmed by the variety of facelift options available to you,
so I'll attempt to be as concise as possible.

A traditional facelift is typically
what most people think of when they think of facelift surgery. It usually
involves an incision around the ears and behind the hairline and improves the
lower two-thirds of the face.

A MACS facelift is a simplified
version of the traditional facelift and may be more appropriate for patients
without significant aging or those who are concerned about recovery time.

Finally, "short-scar"
facelift is not a technical term. Rather, it's a general term that refers to
any facelift that uses a reduced incision. While this option has the advantage
of less scarring, it is a bit more limited in what it can achieve.

Thank you for your question. I hope
this helps to clarify your options.