Differences between 3 types of Facelifts. (Photo)

The subject of which type of facelift is ideal for an individual is likely to always generate much debate and, often times, confusion. This is because many surgeons also label their procedures with marketing terms (i.e. lifestyle lift) that do very little to explain what is actually being done. There are only a handful of true discernible surgical techniques in facelifting, and they can be divided into roughly: skin-only, SMAS lifts, and extended SMAS lifts. Skin lifts are, in general, not appropriate for most patients with moderate to severe aging, and, I would argue, not appropriate for anyone given that the facial skin is too elastic to allow for a long-lasting result, i.e. the skin cannot retain the tension required for lifting of facial tissues. The SMAS lifts are your bread & butter lifts, they are very popular and have served surgeons very well and tend to be quicker and provide good results, but they can be inadequate in individuals with moderate to severe aging because they often do not adequately lift the midface (i.e. the cheek). In order to lift the midface, several ligaments have to be released, and such work requires a more cautious dissection over the facial nerve, these techniques are described as extended-SMAS facelifts. The extended SMAS facelifts include the fairly popular Deep Plane Facelift, High SMAS facelift, and variations of those (i.e. the composite facelift, the lamellar High-SMAS facelift, etc). This subject is complex, and it has caused much confusion on the part of patients, a problem exacerbated by marketing done by surgeons, with patients then choosing to simply undergo the quickest and cheapest procedure; however, this can lead to poor results. In order to counteract this trend, I have created a video that explains the different variety of facelifts available currently by describing the technique since it was first performed in 1906. Feel free to watch it at the link provided below. It is up to the patient to be well informed about the procedure before undergoing surgery, but it is the surgeon's obligation to provide a careful review & explanation of why a specific technique is best for a given face. Best of luck!

Personally, I performed the SMAS Facelift because I feel that this technique best delivers a youthful, natural looking result. I would encourage you to think less about the type of facelift, though, and more about the skill of the surgeon. The latter is the important part. Having said that, I've never heard of a facelift taking 10 hours....