Does SMASectomy involves lifting the muscle?

All facelifts involve elevating the facial skin a certain distance, depending upon the patient’s needs. Where they vary is what is done with the next layer underneath the skin which is called the SMAS and is a strong fascia layer . Suturing the mobile SMAS upward to the fixed SMAS is a SMAS plication, and does not remove any tissue. In some patients, it is more advantageous to remove a strip of the SMAS prior to suturing the mobile SMAS to the fixed SMAS. Other options are making an incision in the SMAS and elevating that off of the deeper structures prior to repositioning the SMAS higher. Where the SMAS is incised can be high in the cheek, in the mid cheek, below the jawline or in front of the salivary gland. All of these are considered “deep plane” facelifts. All of these approaches can produce excellent results and no approach has proven superior to any other approach. Muscles are not removed in a facelift. Any muscles that would be encountered during a facelift would be some of the animation muscles of your face, which would allow you to smile, etc. Removal of these would cause permanent disability. A skin lift result may last many years in a 40 year-old, assuming that your skin quality is excellent. Best wishes.