How many years does a SMAS last versus a MACS facelift?

I wrote a paper on patient satisfaction and longevity after facelifting which used a validated patient assessment tool and was published in the top journal in plastic surgery. For a SMAS facelift, patients felt that they looked 6-10 years younger and were very satisfied with the decision to have the procedure. After 10-12 years, some patients would like a revision, but even without additional surgery feel they have aged much better and in many cases look younger than they did 10 years earlier. To my knowledge there are no studies that assess the longevity of the MACS lift with a validated outcome tool.

I think many if not most experienced face lift surgeons like some variation of a SMAS procedure, as it works reliably and tends to last.  You'll will almost always look better after the procedure than if it had not been done, though normal aging does continue.  

Dear MixTo Fan,
Thank you for posting your question.  Many factors affect how long a facelift will last - some of these are your skin tone, thickness and quality, the thickness of your SMAS (underlying support layer of the face), any significant changes in weight, if you smoke or not, sun damage, genetics....
However, in general a SMAS facelift will outlive a MACS facelift (and outperform in terms of lifting ability) as the dissection tends to be more extensive and the work to tighten the SMAS layer more involved.  There are of course different techniques within a SMAS facelift too! I tell my patients that on average a SMAS facelift lasts 7 to 10 years while a MACS lift lasts 5 - 7 years. With either, this is a gradual process as ageing continues and of course there are exceptions to every rule. You will still be ahead of where you would be without having a facelift at the end of these time frames.
I hope this was helpful and good luck with your research. You may find that an in-person discussion and assessment with a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area would be the best next step.
Best wishes

It really will vary depending on the patient's age, skin condition, sun damage, weight, etc.  SMAS can be more aggressive in terms of lifting the cheek and regaining jawline definition.    MACS tends to be a more limited dissection so may not last as long.  See a board certified ASPS plastic surgeon to  help determine what will give you your best results, as your anatomy will dictate which procedure addresses your issues and will give you the best result.  Good luck!

 In our practice, we perform a high-SMAS lower face and neck lift. This procedure accomplishes tightening loose facial and neck skin, tightening loose  facial and neck muscles, lifting the SMAS and jowls, and removing fatty deposits in the neck along with a platysma plasty. We do not perform a MACS lift for a variety of reasons. Most face lifting procedures last approximately 10 years, but it depends upon many factors which include environmental factors, genetics, sun exposure, and smoking. Choose your surgeon based upon producing natural results consistently. Study your prospective surgeon's facelift photo gallery, and make sure that it is extensive

There is not specific time that each should last. Many factors go into the quality to the long term result and not necessarily because of the technique used.  

 Hi, the reality is that there are many different ways to perform a facelift from incision length, incision placement, level of tissue dissection (skin only, SMAS, Deep Plane, Subperiosteal), different degrees of tissue undermining, how to lift and support (imbrication versus plication of the SMAS layer), how much excess skin to trim, is excess fat going to be reduced and finally will the overall shape of the face be made more feminine or masculine (while avoiding the over pulled, windswept appearance).  A facelift that addresses the SMAS layer, in the manner described below, will last about a decade.  When facial shaping, as described below, is also performed as part of the facelift this makes the face more youthful and feminine (for women) or more chiseled and handsome (for men).     I have performed many SMAS facelifts for over 30 years and have performed many minimally, invasive SMAS facelifts.  Non smiling photos of your face from the front and side would help in the evaluation.  
 If you have "jowls”, in the lower face, these are sagging facial tissues and the main indication for some form of a SMAS facelift.  The underlying SMAS layer, of the face, must be dissected, lifted, trimmed and re-sutured (not merely folded or suspended with threads or sutures that will not last).  The excess skin is then removed and the facelift incisions closed.
 My most popular SMAS facelift is the minimally invasive, short incision SMAS facelift that has all the benefits of more invasive facelifts (traditional, mid-face, deep plane, cheek lift and subperiosteal facelifts) but with these added benefits:
very small incisions and no incisions extend or are placed within the hair.
minimal tissue dissection = less bruising and swelling = rapid recovery ( several days instead of weeks or months with the more invasive type facelifts mentioned)
can be performed in 90 minutes or less, with or without general anesthesia
no incisions within the hair = no hair loss
excess fat can be removed from the face and neck
excess skin removed from the face and neck
cheeks, chin and jaw line can be augmented with dermal fillers (I prefer Restylane Lyft) or facial implants
most patients fly back home to parts all over the world in as little as 3 days post-op
 I combine facial shaping with every facelift procedure.  When jowls are present, these should be done in concert and not alone or separately in order to create a naturally, more attractive face. Following my beauty principles, women look the most feminine, youthful and attractive with heart shaped faces.  Heart shaped faces have cheeks that are full and round in the front.  With cheeks that are concave or flat in the front, cheek augmentation with a dermal filler or using cheek implants for a permanent enhancement will create full, round cheeks that will feminize the entire face.  Conversely, men look chiseled and handsome with angularity in the cheeks, chin and mandibular angles.
 If the chin is weak, this creates an imbalance making the nose appear larger, the mid face top heavy and the lower face look short that de-emphasizes the lips and allows early formation of a double chin.  Chin augmentation using a chin implant will add projection to the chin creating harmony and balance to the lower face.  I have found placement of a silastic chin implant, through a small curved incision under the chin (also allows excess skin removal) to be very safe, quick and highly effective.
Hope this helps.