Question re: Pony Tail lift. What would other names does it go by?

Question

I am very interested in the Pony Tail lift from Dr. Kao. This is exactly the type of lift that would address my problem areas. I would love to do the surgery with Dr. Kao but due to his celebrity status not to sure I could afford it. From what I have read the Pony Tail lift is a name Dr. Kao came up with for his surgery - however what would or how would I search for doctors that do this lift. What is the medical name for it so I can look around for a doctor. Thank you !

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello,The 'pony tail' procedure is merely an endoscopic browlift, which is a common procedure, performed by many, many surgeons. Others don't like the procedure for a variety of reasons, and choose hybrid or temporal hairline procedures instead. Don't be dazzled by celebrity; it is no guarantee of results; it's merely a popularity contest.  Go visit a few ABPS certified/ASAPS member surgeons (or AAFPRS equivalent) who perform facial rejuvenation.

Robert E. Zaworski, MD (retired) · Answer

The 'pony tail' procedure is merely an endoscopic browlift, which is a common procedure, performed by many surgeons.  Contact the Board of Plastic Surgery or the American Society of Plastic Surgeons ( ASPS) for a listing of experienced board certified plastic surgeons in your area.

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

Hi, don't rely on a "marketed" facelift name but rather focus on the aesthetic goals the procedure is designed to accomplish.  I have performed many SMAS facelifts for over 30 years and have performed many minimally, invasive SMAS facelifts.  Non smiling, resting photos of your face from the front and side would help in the evaluation.   The reality is, there are many different names for facelift techniques and even more ways to perform any one of those facelift techniques: 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).  
 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).
 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
proper SMAS Imbrication technique
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.  When the cheeks are either 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 when angularity is created in the cheeks, chin and mandibular angles.
 Should the be weak chin, 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.

Michael Elam, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear Azurelight, The "Pony Tail" Lift is a temporal lift that most patients have found to be very unsatisfactory. This is a lift that has been around for a long time and simply been given a name. Most often these were done under endoscope and some surgeons do them under direct vision. I personally perform and endoscopic browlift with mid face suspension that provides a very natural looking lift and youthful appearance. During the procedure I undermine down below the malar cheek region and lift the skin, tissue and muscle back to its pre-aging position providing a nice lift that looks very natural and has no tell tale signs of surgery as the small endoscopic incisions are hidden in the hairline. Due to the very high level of patient satisfaction most of my office staff has had the procedure performed. The results are remarkable with an easy recovery with minimal downtime. See many examples in the link and video below. Best regards, Michael V. Elam, M.D.

Question re: Pony Tail lift. What would other names does it go by?

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