What is the difference between a SMART facelift and a traditional facelift and the downtime?

Thank you for your question.  The SMART Facelift™ is a procedure performed by a doctor in Baltimore.  This procedure is not a true facelift, but rather a variation of a thread lift.  A typical thread lift is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure that is designed to elevate the sagging skin of the face.  It utilizes several barb wired threads that are inserted through a small incision close to the temple, passed under the skin towards the jawline and then tightened up to elevate facial skin.  The recovery after this procedure is typically quite short and bruising and swelling are minimal.  The biggest downside to this type of a lift is a very short longevity of the results.  The effects of a thread lift would typically last for about 6-12 month (compare to 10-15 years after a traditional facelift).Hope this helps,Dr. K.

Facelift techniques vary but all share basic components. Various surgeons will “brand” their technique with a name for marketing purposes. Medically there are very few of these that are recognized by surgeons. SMART lift, QUICKLIFT, S lift, MINI lift, Q lift etc. do not convey what they actually are doing. You want the surgery to address your areas of concern and not be a “cookie cutter” approach. Be sure to discuss with your surgeon what exactly will be done and why. Also review pre and post op photos to see if you like what the surgeon has done with others.

The SMART facelift is a minimally invasive procedure using barbed threads to pull the face tighter. I am biased against them. They were the rage in the 90's and were found not to work for very long (past 3-6 months). There has not really been much change to the threads nnor the theory behind using them. I believe it is really just a renewed marketing by inexperienced "surgeons". It is of course very appealing to the public because it is marketed as a 1 hour procedure with little to no down time. I believe that it is just another scam. Buyer beware.

cgross140.   If you are referring to the procedure using barbed threads, it is not a true facelift. These threads are passed under the skin and claim to lift the skin as good as a facelift. This particular procedure has been fraught with many complications including dimpling of the skin and very short longevity. Also, if they need to be removed, a facelift approach with facelift incisions must be done to remove the threads causing the problems. The gold standard for a facial rejuvenation is still a facelift. Consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon in your region. Good luck.

A smart facelift is performed with a smart lipo laser to help elevate the facelift flaps. It really doesn't have any major impact on the result of the facelift, it is strictly a preference of the surgeon. Traditional facelifts are great, so I'd recommend you consider the importance of your surgeon's experience and results over the technology of a laser. It's the surgeon that will give you a great result, not a device.Andrew Campbell, M.D.
Facial Rejuvenation Specialist
Quintessa Aesthetic Centers

Many people ask about the latest techniques in facelift surgery.  However, "buyer beware" as a lot of times it's basically the same thing but with a different name.  Also, beware of offers that are "too good to be true."  Remember, Lifestyle lift sounded great but they went out of business in 2015.  So, here are the benefits of a traditional facelift:
1.  Long lasting (5-10 years usually) - several layers of sutures are placed to hold the tissue in place
2.  Hidden incisions
3.  Minimal scars
4.  Safety
5.  Patient comfort
Patients getting other types of facelifts like the SMART lift have complained to me about the following problems:
1.  It didn't last long (a few months) - only a few sutures are used and they can pull and loosen very easily
2.  Visible scars and the ability to see the "threads"
3.  Discomfort (procedure done in the office under local anesthesia only)
4.  Concerns about sterility (done in an office versus a certified hospital or surgicenter)
Therefore, I educate my patients about the great benefits of a traditional facelift.  There is a reason why those techniques have lasted so many years!  
Thank you for your question!
Dr. Schreiber, Baltimore plastic surgeon

Unfortunately there are no pictures. There are many different types of facelifts. Some people refer to all the different names as the alphabet of facelifts. A facelift typically treats the jowls, improves the jawline and neck. I invented a minimally invasive facelift for this area. Post operative pain, bruising, swelling, pain and recovery are less when compared to traditional techniques. The incisions heal so nicely that I’ve performed this on a number of men and their family and friends can’t find the scars. It’s not uncommon for surgeons to be operating on their own patients seven to ten days after surgery. I also pioneered Endoscopic, ie Mini Scar, Brow and cheek lift surgery. Through tiny incisions the brows and cheeks are lifted. I hope you find this information useful. Please watch the enclosed video.

In our practice, we do not perform mini lifts or thread lifts because they only give mini results, and we've seen complications from thread lifting. In addition, if you're only lifting the skin, this will be a very temporary measure. In our practice, we perform a high-SMAS lower face and neck lift which accomplishes tightening loose facial and neck skin, tightening loose facial and neck muscles, lifting the jowls and SMAS, and removing fatty deposits in the neck along with a platysma plasty. Choose your surgeon very wisely based on  board certifications, ratings, reviews, and their facelift photo gallery which should be extensive.

 Hi, I have performed many facelifts for over 30 years and for over 15 years have performed many minimally, invasive SMAS facelifts.  Non smiling photos of your face from the front and side would help in the evaluation.    The reality is, 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 name by itself, will not reveal what the facelift is designed to do.  Only the facelift surgeon can and should explain the clear and precise aesthetic goals of the facelift procedure and how these will be accomplished by the way he/she plans to perform "your" facelift.
 In my humble opinion however, there are some basic requirements that must be met in order for a facelift to be "effective", yielding "aesthetic pleasing" and "naturally attractive" results.  These include: 
 1. Some type of incision either curved around the front (preferred) or straight in front of the ear.  This is how excess skin is removed which is not possible with an incision behind the ear alone.  If you have so little excess skin on the face that "none" needs to be removed you are not a candidate for a facelift in the first place.
2. The facelift must address correction and softening of the "jowls" using a long lasting and effective technique.  If you have "jowls” 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.
3. Facial shaping must be combined to properly shape the cheeks, chin, jaw line and lips for feminizing or masculinizing the face as the case may be.
 In my experience when evaluating the face, it's key to determine the following:  Are the cheeks, chin and lips the ideal aesthetic shape?  Are "jowls" present and is there excess fat and skin in the face and neck.  Once these factors are determined, the proper aesthetic plan can be determined to make the face balanced, (for women) feminine and more naturally youthful and beautiful (while for men creating a more chiseled, angular and handsome 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.  When the cheeks are flat or concave 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.
 Should the chin be 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.
 "Jowls” 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. To sum up, in my humble opinion it isn't about how long the facelift takes (5-6 hours for traditional and the other more invasive type facelifts), the degree of tissue dissection or the tissue pull.  In the end the facelift is judged by how naturally attractive your face is once the procedure has been performed.  This "takes" the proper aesthetic judgement on how best to make a female or male face more naturally attractive and experience performing facelifts as well as facial shaping techniques (liposuction, dermal fillers and even silastic facial implants as the case may be).  I also believe that it's best to select a facelift surgeon who's capable and experienced to perform the invasive type as well as the minimally invasive SMAS facelift so when you are presented (and discuss the various facelift technique options), your're certain the one selected is the one that's "best" for you.  I will say that when I thoroughly explain the invasive versus minimally, invasive SMAS facelifts to perspective facelift patients (since I offer both versions) outlining the pros and cons of each procedure (anesthesia, recovery time, activity restrictions), the vast majority simply do not have the time to recover from the more invasive type facelifts.Hope this helps.