What's the difference btw a ponytail lift, AuraLyft, a deep plane face lift, and an SMS face lift?

I just moderated a face and neck lift panel at a meeting with experts from around the world and the consensus is clear: there are no mystery or magical facelift procedures. Any procedure that involves deep tissue work and removal of excess skin, with fat grafting to restore volume, is a gold standard technique. The attention to detail and artistry of the surgeon as well as individualizing the procedure to each patient is what separates a good from a superb result.

Two of the terms you mention, the SMAS lift and the deep plane lift are descriptions of actual techniques.  The SMAS is the supportive tissue under the skin in the lower face and must be repositioned in all but the most minimally corrective facelifts.  A deep plane lift performs most of the tissue elevation under the SMAS and repositions the SMAS and skin as a composite flap.  Many factors are important in choosing the right lift for a particular patient and an in person consultation is the starting point.  The attached video gives further insight into approaches to facelift.