Thank you for your question. There are many variations in facelifting techniques, and what surgeons recommend. Many surgeons only perform one type, because they are most comfortable with that technique. The short scar techniques have become more popular in recent years because of the smaller scar and the quicker recovery. I often use either a MACS lift or short scar approach if I think the patient will get a good result. A traditional facelift usually implies a longer incision but not necissarily a better result. You should discuss this with your surgeon and look at before and after photos to determine which approach is better for you. Be sure to select a plastic surgeon with extensive experience in facial surgery for the best result. Good luck.
Traditional Face Lift, MACS or Short Scar Lift: What's the Difference? The mini-lifts may be tough to choose from because of all the brand names such as LifeStyle Lift, S-Lift, Quick Lift, LiteLift, MACS and others. They focus on improvement of the lower face and upper neck (jowls, marionette lines, upper neck loose skin). The tradition facelift/necklift is best if you have a large amount of redundant skin and fat or turkey waddle deformity especially the lower neck. A skilled and experienced board certified plastic surgeon will steer you in the right direction
There are many "names" given to the the facelift procedure. Most are done for marketing purposes. The most important issue for patients to understand is the more extensive the aging of their skin, the more extensive the surgery must be to correct those problems. There is no one procedure which will work on every patient. It should be decided, in concert with the surgeon, what corrections are being sought and what procedure has the best chance of delivering that result for any individual patient. This is a summary of what each procedure offers: Traditional Facelift: The incision runs from above the ear, around the ear to the hairline. The skin is widely undermined allowing full access to elevate and tighten the deep tissues of the neck and face and to remove any unwanted fat deposits. Once the deep tissues are sculpted to the proper shape, the skin is draped over, the excess trimmed off and the skin closed. This procedure allows maximal skin removal. MCAS Facelift: The incision runs from above the ear, to the bottom of the ear but does not go behind the ear. Less undermining of the skin is done and several sutures are woven through the deep tissues of the face as purse string sutures to elevate the tissues. Once the deep tissues are repositioned the skin is redraped and excess skin trimmed off. This procedure does not address the fat deposits in the neck or loose muscles along the front of the neck. The sutures woven in the deep tissue may be visible or break requiring replacement. Short scar Facelift: Many procedures are included in this category and marketed as "minimally invasive". These use a short incision, minimal undermining and predictably give a minimal/modest improvement. Excess skin is harder to remove and sculpting the deeper tissues is more difficult. The most important take home message is: don't get fixated on a certain procedure or name. Consult with your surgeon so a procedure can be agreed upon which will deliver the results you want in the safest way.
