What's the Difference Between a Lower Facelift and a SMAS Facelift?

The SMAS is a complex structure of the face that is the supporting muscle and tissue of the face. Many facelifts are performed by lifting and tightening the skin that gives it a pulled stretched skin appearance. Lifts that tighten this SMAS result in a more natural and longer lasting result.

Try not to get caught up in the terminology between different facelift techniques and the details of one surgeon's technique compared to another's. Each surgeon's facelift technique is going to vary slightly and may even change from one patient to another. Surgeons also use different names to describe the same procedure or a variation of the same procedure such as a facelift, a cheek/neck lift, a SMAS lift, or any other number of marketing names that have come and gone over the years. 
I always recommend finding a surgeon that you trust and that can show you results that look natural. Once you are comfortable with that surgeon, discuss the details of surgery and what all would be involved to find the right combination of procedures for you.
All the best,

A well performed facelift includes tightening of the SMAS tissue. There are different SMAS tightening techniques for lower face and neck rejuvenation. I have performed well over 2500 facelifts and found that Double C plication technique will create the most natural and long lasting results. For mid face I recommend fat grafting with PRP to enhance the volume.

The difference is that a lower facelift includes a lower face and necklift and is synonymous with a SMAS facelift as I do a multiple layer “Lift & Fill” facelift which is both a SMAS facelift  and lower face/necklift. It is sometimes confusing to the consumer, but a real facelift consumes the superficial and deep facial layers with repositioning and shaping, as well as “Lifting & Filling” to correct aging and to restore your natural facial appearance.

There are many different types of facelifts.  It is sometimes better to focus less on semantics and more on what is anatomically being done.  A lift should focus on the area(s) which require rejuvenation which can include the neck, platysmal bands, jowling, cheek pad, shape of the face, etc.  

You should be confused as it is too much to take in. All the procedures described are technical ways of doing a facelift. A facelift corrects the neck and jowl area, as well as lifting the midface.
Now really what I recommend to you is to choose the doctor not on the procedure that they are telling you they will do but go to him or her because of their results and how comfortable you are with the surgeon. Those two things are what matter most.

You will be better off with the better surgeon instead of the better operation. Unfortunately it will be very hard for you to decide.
Both surgeons being equal I would stay away from the midface fat injections as those can cause prolonged swelling. Necklift with Platysmaplasty and a SMAS lift is a safe and effective option.
Regards

Hi there-
Your question highlights a problem of the internet age...
There is so much information available (and I do believe this is overall a good thing) that it is not difficult for patients to become confused with regard to their options.
Even worse, because information is so readily available, many patients start to erroneously think that they themselves can (and should) make decisions previously made by the surgeon they would have chosen (like how to do a facelift of how to choose a breast implant).
If that's not bad enough, another disturbing trend is for surgeons to use their particular techniques as selling points to patients, as in, "I do the double-whammy (insert any cute nickname you wish) technique only known to myself- so you would be foolish to not let me do your facelift".
The truth is that many facelifting techniques have been described over the years, and to date not a single one of them has been decisively shown to be better than the others.
What cannot be argued, however, is that a well-trained and experienced, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon will be able to reliably achieve a lovely outcome for you with his/her preferred technique.
In other words, you should be looking for the SURGEON that is right for you- NOT the operation you think you want.
How to find a surgeon you can trust? Read this:

Typically, when we are talking about any type of facelifting procedure, the surgeon will generally address the four underlying layers that need to be corrected. First, there is the removal of excess skin that is created when lifting the face or neck. Second, excess fat can be removed typically from the jaw line and neck areas. In addition, in people with some hollowing or loss of fat to their face, fat can be added or transferred from another part of the body and added to give back a more youthful fullness if necessary. Third, there is a fixation or tightening of the platysmal muscles of the neck to create a sling effect which creates a better neck contour. Finally, the smas is the tissue overlying the muscles of the face and jaw line that can be elevated and suspended to higher areas on the face to lift the nasolabial folds or laugh lines as well as the marionette lines or drool grooves. How the surgeon approaches these tissues varies with their specific technqiue. If you check the literature, the results are similar whether a surgeon tightens the smas or cuts below it and elevates it that way.
Sometimes in patient who only need a certain portion of their face elevated like the neck or midface, we can cater the type of lift to address those specific areas and lessen the recovery which might be more extensive in a larger or complete facelift. I hope this information helps.

There are many different types of facelifts. All involve, to some extent, lifting the skin and rearranging the underling tissue. The SMAS is the underlying layer of tissue which holds together the soft tissue of the face. The SMAS layer can be lifted or cut and rearranged. There is not a best answer that applies to all people. Each patient is addressed independently to determine the most appropriate procedure for their specific condition. Good luck.