Are non incision SMAS Lifts effective? How long do they last? Are they performed anywhere other than South Korea? (Photo)

Question

I was contacting a Clinic in South Korea about my sagging cheek/eye area and they recommend a Non-incision SMAS Lift for my Jaw line(and other procedures,like fat grafting under my eyes etc.)The problem is,I never heard of a Non-incision SMAS Lift.I saw Videos about it, there is just one incision made behind the ears and a looot of threads.And apparently no other Clinics apart from ones in Korea are doing it.Has anyone heard about it?Is that technique effective and better for "younger" patients?

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

I can understand the reluctance to commit to a facelift with SMAS tightening and lifting because it is a major procedure, but it really is the best and longest lasting way to rejuvenate your face and neck. The non-incision lifts that you refer to appear to be a variation of threadlifts. Threadlifts have a long history of being inadequate, both in terms of efficacy and in terms of longevity. All they can do is lift the skin.
We actually stopped doing skin-lift only facelifts decades ago because they cannot create a dramatic or lasting rejuvenation. I would suggest that you begin consulting with facial plastic surgeons in your area so you can get a better idea of how rejuvenating an SMAS facelift can be. While there is a longer recovery period than with threadlifts, the results can last for up to 8 to 10 years or more. Other procedures need to be repeated much more frequently than that. I hope this helps.

Konstantin Vasyukevich, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  When considering options for facial rejuvenation, a  SMAS facelift without incisions looks like a pretty good idea.  This procedure is especially appealing to younger people with minimal facial laxity.  Although a thread lift can produce a noticeable improvement of skin laxity for a short period after the procedure, the long term result of such lift would be practically not discernible.Best wishes,Dr. Konstantin

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD (retired) · Answer

Hi, I have performed many SMAS facelifts for over 30 years and have performed many minimally, invasive SMAS facelifts.  From the photo, this appears to be a glorified "thread lift" where threads or sutures are placed to fold, suspend or hold up tissues of the face.  These are "not" new and all of these suspension procedures have proven to be ineffective and do not last.  A proper SMAS facelift is described below.  In addition, an incision "must" be placed along the front of the ear in order to properly redrape and remove excess skin from the lower face (jowls).  An incision behind the ear will not allow skin removal from the lower face since the ear is in the way.  One must be very careful of heavily marketed, limited types of facelifts making promises that are not anatomically or physiologically impossible.   
  If you have "jowls” these are sagging facial tissues which remain the primary 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 facelift is the minimally invasive, short incision 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.  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.
 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 that 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

Are non incision SMAS Lifts effective? How long do they last? Are they performed anywhere other than South Korea? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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