Is 39 too young for an SMAS lift aimed at delaying further wrinkling and sagging? (photos)

Question

after a blepharoplasty and a forehead lift the top half of my face looks a lot younger than the bottom half. Two of the surgeons I have consulted said to wait a few years before having one. One recommended a mid face lift and one recommended an SMAS lift. firstly, I don't want to wait a few years and that I see the results of the SMAS lift as preventative rather than corrective. Secondly, filler and full face Botox for a period of 3-4 years will end up costing more than an SMAS lift .

Bianca Knoll, MD · Answer

Thank you for posting your fotos and question. Your previous surgeries turned out very nice. Although there are patients seeking facelift surgery +/- 40,  a preventative SMAS lift does not exist. A SMAS facelift only makes sense, if a patient presents with some signs of facial aging, ie volume loss, skin redundancy, or muscle laxity. Although there are several non surgical procedures out there, these procedures may also alter your underlying anatomy, in terms of internal scarring, lymph flow, and even blood supply to the dermis. These changes may impact your outcome of a SMAS lift later on. Looking at your pictures, it does not seem to be the right timing at this moment. I hope this helped.Best wishes

Brooke R. Seckel, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

Please do not consider a facelift. You are young and have a lovely full face. A facelift will only give you scars and will not give you improvement. You do not have loose skin.

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

Hi, I have performed many SMAS facelifts for over 30 years and have performed many minimally, invasive SMAS facelifts.  It's interesting that you had a couple of Facelift Surgeons suggest a mid facelift and a SMAS facelift because these photos do not show "any" signs of "jowls" in the lower face.  However, the photos do show that your chin is very weak.  
 A weak chin 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 that 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.
 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.  I have had many patients in their  30's that did have  "jowls" and as such were candidates for the minimally, invasive SMAS facelift described below.  In your case, there are no jowls and because of that fact...no facelift procedure would be recommended at this time.
 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.
Hope this helps.

Cory Torgerson, MD, PhD, FRCSC - Account Suspended · Answer

Hi and thank you for the inquiry. I recommend an in-person evaluation with a certified and experienced facial plastic surgeon to see if you qualify as an ideal candidate for a SMAS face lift as there are many contributing factors that are take into consideration for this procedure. Lasers are a great way to maintain the surface quality of the skin without surgery. In my opinion, you appear to be too young and should wait until you are the optimal age for face lift to receive the maximum benefits from the procedure. When you are exploring the options of facial procedures, make sure that you also explore the right type of cosmetic doctor to perform your procedure. Clear communication with your practitioner is your best tool in getting the appropriate procedure that's suited to the goals you're looking to achieve.
See attached link for more information.

Is 39 too young for an SMAS lift aimed at delaying further wrinkling and sagging? (photos)

Answers (4)

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