Bilateral facelift vs Bilateral SMASectomy: what is the difference?

A facelift is a generic term just like a automobile is a generic term, there are many types. The SMAS is the layer beneath the skin where a sugeon tries to modifiy in some manner to achieve a lift of the skin lying over it. It is the tough facscia which is strong enough to hold the stitches that can make a facelift long lasting SMASectomy  is a specific type of facelift. That is when there is a removal of a portion of the SMAS to do the lift. Other types of facelifts incorporate just a plication of the SMAS or an entire SMAS  lift is also done  which Elevates the SMAS and advances it to perform the  lift. All variations of a theme of a facelift. Hope this helps.  

A SMASectomy is one way to perform a facelift. Choosing the right lift for you requires an exam in person.  Facelifts are my specialty. I completed a fellowship after plastic surgery training with one of the world's premier facelift experts just over 20 years ago.  Good luck.

Dear janejaney doe,
Thank you for posting your question.  A facelift covers any type of facelift. A SMASectomy refers to a particular technique of facelifting and so is a specific form of facelift.  Facelifts can vary in terms of incisions, how the skin is dealt with, how the SMAS (underlying support layer of the face) is lifted and tightened, the extent of work done and if any additional procedures are done such as fat grafting, fat removal, eyelift or eyebrow lifts etc.  It can be very confusing especially when marketing terms for facelifts are thrown into the mix as well!
All facelifts should combine management of the skin and SMAS layer. It is the SMAS layer tightening and lifting that gives longevity to the lift and that maintains the definition of facial contours eg along the jaw line.  It can be lifted in a flap and hitched higher up, part of it removed and then stitched together in a tighter fashion (SMASectomy), plicated or stitched together in an over and over fashion to tighten it or hitched in a pursestring suture.  The choice of technique depends on the extent of facelift required, the condition of your tissues and your surgeon's preference of techniques and experiences.
Hope this was helpful and good luck with your research!
Best wishes

 Hi, I have performed many SMAS facelifts and neck lifts for over 30 years and have performed many minimally, invasive SMAS facelifts over the past 15 years.  The reality is that there are many different ways to perform a facelift from incision length, incision placement, level of tissue dissection (skin only, SMAS, Deep Plane, Subperiosteal), different degrees of tissue undermining, how to lift and support (imbrication versus plication of the SMAS layer), how much excess skin to trim, is excess fat going to be reduced and finally will the overall shape of the face be made more feminine or masculine (while avoiding the over pulled, windswept appearance).  The names used are far less important than a thorough discussion with an experienced Facelift Surgeon about what will achieve your "aesthetic goals".
 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.
 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. Following my beauty principles, women look the most feminine, youthful and attractive with heart shaped faces.  Heart shaped faces have cheeks that are full and round in the front.  Cheek augmentation with a dermal filler or using cheek implants for a permanent enhancement will create full, round cheeks that will feminize the entire face.
 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 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.
 Along with the minimally, invasive SMAS facelift described above, some of the excess skin below the chin can be removed using a small, curved incision under the chin.  This along with skin removed in front and behind the ear will tend to reduce the skin excess by around 70% or more.
 If anterior platysmal bands are present or the maximal amount of neck skin is to be removed, a "formal" neck lift can be done.  In this procedure, the face and neck tissues are elevated using a curved incision around the front (explained later) of the ear that continues in the crease behind the ear and then 3 inches into the posterior hairline.  The tissue is dissected from that point all the way across the entire neck to the same position on the other side of the head in a dissection that is as long vertically as the entire neck.  The Platysma muscles are tightened using a curved incision under the chin and each side is pulled upward and back again being tightened at a line behind each ear (under the tissues).  Since the skin flap pull is up and back, this will pick up any tissue laxity along the jaw line or "jowls" which must be dissected and flattened out using a lower facelift (incision around the front of the ears).  If this isn't done, pleats of excess skin will appear below each ear.  This is an extensive surgery taking 4 1/2 to 5 hours with large incisions, requires placement of drains, possible hair loss and months of recovery.Hope this helps.