How Long Do PSP or MACS Facelift Results Last?

A facelift is for many like turning back the clock and getting a fresh start. The quality of your skin before your facial rejuvenation procedure will definitely have an effect on the lasting results of a facelift.For example, a person who has previously been a heavy smoker, a serious sun worshipper, or a person who has been morbidly obese may have skin laxity issues that can contribute to results that don't last as long as a person who starts with great skin before suegery.Taking care of your skin following surgery can also help maintain results. It is not uncommon for people to have minor touch ups years after their initial surgery. Sometimes very minimal maintence can keep the face looking fresh and youthful.Be very careful about selecting a plastic surgeon to perform facial rejuvenation surgery. We all have seen people with obvious looking facelifts, ears that are no longer in a natural position, necks that seem unnatural, hollowed eyes. obvious scars etc. These changes can be permanent and full correction can be difficult even with revisional surgery. 

On average the surgical #results last between 4 and 7 years. However, people vary so much from one another, an exact time is difficult to provide. If you wish, you may repeat the procedure at that time. There is always an improvement compared to not having the procedure as the #aging process continues to progress throughout the future. Patients, with very loose skin will occasionally experience sagging earlier and it may be seen as soon as one  year later. Such may require a secondary procedure to tighten the loose skin. 

A MACS facelift is a suture suspension facelift. Recent literature has shown that the quick lift, MACS lift, and other suture lifts don't hold up like expected. We have studied patients over 2 - 5 years and found that a deep plane facelift lasts many years after the surgery.

I agree with other who have stated that the specific approach or technique is only part of the story. Not all facelifts are the same, and the results of the procedure can certainly be enhanced by preoperative skin care, other procedures (such as fat grafting or resurfacing) performed at the time of facelift, and attentive postoperative care. In an ideal patient, we expect the results of a facelift to last about 10 years. There is so much variability, however, that your question should be directed to your particular plastic surgeon. Best of luck!

The longevity of facial rejuvenation procedures depends upon a variety of factors. These include; the patients genetics, environmental exposures and the quality of the surgical craftsmanship. It’s important to remember that these procedures set the clock back, but never stop it from ticking.

The MACS and PSP are two options that are available for the treatment of facial aging. These procedures have been designed to address laxity of the underlying muscles and fascia in a minimally invasive manner. They utilize suspension sutures to improve facial contour.

These procedures result in moderate improvement in facial aging. Unfortunately, they are temporizing maneuvers and most patients eventually need a more aggressive procedure.

For many patients, minimally invasive surgery is an attractive alternative even when the results are not long term. When time is not available for longer recoveries, this type of procedure can be a viable option for many patients.

In most cases, we prefer more aggressive procedures which more thoroughly address facial aging. These procedures have greater longevity and higher long term satisfaction rates.

A minimal facelift will last a minimal amount of time.  A good facelift with neck lift and SMAS elevation and transfer will last all of your life.   You will always look about 10 years younger than others at your age.  That is, at 50 your will look 40 and at 60 you will look 50 and so on.

The variation of the mini lift known as the MACS lift is a good tool. What I have found is that by making certain modifications of the technique (such as adding a SMAS excision and a mid face lift) I can get at solid lift that will last 5-7 years. At the end of the day its nit the particular technique used but the surgeon who is doing it!

There are many different types of facelifts, the MACS being popular of late.  The MACS lift is essentially a suture plication of the face to help lift up the tissues of the face and neck.  It is popular in part because knowledge of facial anatomy is not as important and does not require as much technical talent as other facelifts.

My belief in facial aging is based on anatomy of the face and repositioning it to a more natural position.  (see article attached).  Repositioning of the platysma muscle will allow for a more rejuvenated face, a firmer neck, and a longer lasting result in my hands.  Typically surgeons who perform more sophisticated lifts well, will not use a simple lift.

I do use the suspension point of the MACS lift in suspension.  (This is one of several points the face and neck are suspended to.)  Myself and some of my colleagues studied several suspension anchoring points in the face and found this to be the most sturdy.  

In properly selected patients MACS face lift could produce adequate results.  Unfortunately some surgeons try to fit this procedure to improperly selected candidates, in those patients the results will not only be short lived but even minimal to start with.  Nevertheless this is a fair question and it  is one of the more commonly asked questions in my practice. If the face lift is done properly, namely the surgeon is skilled and experienced and corrects all the deep structures in the face, than the results last forever. Of course this does not mean that the face remains "frozen" or uncharged with years. There is always some aging that's going to occur with time. I tell my patients that a face lift will turn back the lock significantly, but it will not freeze the clock. Typically it will take more than a decade before a patient will look as aged as she looked prior to face lift.

The more important  question is, when should the patient contemplate having another facial rejuvenation procedure. That approach is individualized based on the patient's preference. In my practice I've seen some patients come back 20 years after my original procedure to repeat the face lift, on the other hand some patients prefer to come back every few years for some minor maintenance procedures to keep the young and refreshed look.

Make sure your surgeon carefully explains to you what procedure is being contemplated and what is the expected result. Only then can you avoid disappointment after surgery. You might find it insightful to ready my article on "Fast Tract Facelift" which can be found on my web site under "publications".
 

MACS lifts are shorter incision lifts with less skin elevation and less muscle tightening of the SMAS in the face. For droopier faces with excessive neck skin and more muscle weakening the results of a MACS lift is shorter lived. For a good candidate requiring less muscle and skin tightening this lift can last 10 years.