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During a SMAS facelift, is the masseter muscle cut to help redrape the skin better?

Hi doctors, During a smas facelift, is the masseter muscle cut to help redrape the skin better? Thank you

Doctor Answers 9

Masseter is left alone

May 15th, 2016
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During a SMAS facelift, the masseter is left alone.  The masseter goes up and down, and cutting it does not help with pull.
Facial nerves travel just over the masseter muscle, so it is an area avoided if possible.
Keith Denkler, MD
May 15th, 2016

Masseter is left alone

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During a SMAS facelift, the masseter is left alone.  The masseter goes up and down, and cutting it does not help with pull.
Facial nerves travel just over the masseter muscle, so it is an area avoided if possible.
Keith Denkler, MD

Masseter Muscle Injury in a Lift

March 7th, 2016
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Hi there- to be quick to the point, there is no reason for the masseter muscle to be violated during any type of standard lower facelift. It would not help redraping of the skin and would only be fraught with potential post-op issues. I'm not sure where you received this info, but I'm sure most of the docs on RS will recommend leaving your masseter alone for a lift. You can get a great result while leaving the masseter alone.
Paul Lanfranchi, DO, FAOCO
March 7th, 2016

Masseter Muscle Injury in a Lift

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Hi there- to be quick to the point, there is no reason for the masseter muscle to be violated during any type of standard lower facelift. It would not help redraping of the skin and would only be fraught with potential post-op issues. I'm not sure where you received this info, but I'm sure most of the docs on RS will recommend leaving your masseter alone for a lift. You can get a great result while leaving the masseter alone.
Paul Lanfranchi, DO, FAOCO

SMAS facelift and the Masseter Muscle

November 17th, 2016
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The masseter is an important masticatory muscle on top of which several facial nerve branches run.  Therefore, during a deep plane or SMAS based facelift, the layer on top of the masseter is always left intact.  Because of its functional necessity, an aesthetic procedure to cut the masseter would be a very bad idea.  In rare circumstances during a facelift, reduction of the parotid gland may be advisable

Web reference: http://drprendiville.com/services/surgical/face/

Stephen Prendiville, MD

Stephen Prendiville, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.8 out of 5 stars 98 reviews

November 17th, 2016

SMAS facelift and the Masseter Muscle

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The masseter is an important masticatory muscle on top of which several facial nerve branches run.  Therefore, during a deep plane or SMAS based facelift, the layer on top of the masseter is always left intact.  Because of its functional necessity, an aesthetic procedure to cut the masseter would be a very bad idea.  In rare circumstances during a facelift, reduction of the parotid gland may be advisable

Learn more: http://drprendiville.com/services/surgical/face/

Stephen Prendiville, MD

Stephen Prendiville, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.8 out of 5 stars 98 reviews

Muscle

August 24th, 2016
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good afternoon, the masseter muscle is left alone. however, sometimes a surgeon will tighten the "covering" over the muscle called the SMAS.

Michael R. Whetstone, MD
August 24th, 2016

Muscle

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good afternoon, the masseter muscle is left alone. however, sometimes a surgeon will tighten the "covering" over the muscle called the SMAS.

Michael R. Whetstone, MD

No, the masseter muscles (or any other muscles) are not cut during a facelift.

April 22nd, 2016
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No, the masseter muscles (or any other muscles) are not cut during a facelift. An SMAS facelift involves lifting and tightening the skin and the underlying SMAS layer to achieve a more contoured and youthful look, but no muscles are cut during the process. There is no need to cut the masseters to drape the skin. Cutting muscle leads to longer and more painful recovery times, and can lead to complications and bad results. If you wish to reduce the size of your masseters, Botox is a safe and effective option that works very well in the right candidate. I hope this helps.
Jonathan Kulbersh, MD
April 22nd, 2016

No, the masseter muscles (or any other muscles) are not cut during a facelift.

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No, the masseter muscles (or any other muscles) are not cut during a facelift. An SMAS facelift involves lifting and tightening the skin and the underlying SMAS layer to achieve a more contoured and youthful look, but no muscles are cut during the process. There is no need to cut the masseters to drape the skin. Cutting muscle leads to longer and more painful recovery times, and can lead to complications and bad results. If you wish to reduce the size of your masseters, Botox is a safe and effective option that works very well in the right candidate. I hope this helps.
Jonathan Kulbersh, MD

During a SMAS facelift, is the masseter muscle cut to help redrape the skin better?

March 14th, 2016
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Thank you for your question. In short, no muscles are typically cut during a SMAS operation. The goal of the procedure is to tighten the superficial muscle layer and skin without damaging the structure of muscles deeper within the face. This creates a natural and refreshing look that helps restore a younger appearance of your face.
P. Craig Hobar, MD
March 14th, 2016

During a SMAS facelift, is the masseter muscle cut to help redrape the skin better?

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Thank you for your question. In short, no muscles are typically cut during a SMAS operation. The goal of the procedure is to tighten the superficial muscle layer and skin without damaging the structure of muscles deeper within the face. This creates a natural and refreshing look that helps restore a younger appearance of your face.
P. Craig Hobar, MD

During a SMAS facelift, is the masseter muscle cut to help redrape the skin bette

March 6th, 2016
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There is no need to do anything to the masseter muscle during  a SMAS face lift. In fact, going to look for it can potentially injure things and you want to avoid that.
Julio Garcia, MD
March 6th, 2016

During a SMAS facelift, is the masseter muscle cut to help redrape the skin bette

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There is no need to do anything to the masseter muscle during  a SMAS face lift. In fact, going to look for it can potentially injure things and you want to avoid that.
Julio Garcia, MD

Is the masseter muscle cut during a SMAS facelift?

March 6th, 2016
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The masseter muscle is not normally cut in a SMAS facelift.  In fact, no muscles are normally cut during the procedure.  The skin layer and the SMAS layer are tightened but the muscles are deeper below and normally not exposed during the surgery.  I also do not believe that cutting the masseter muscle would enhance the redraping of the skin in a facelift.  
Michael I. Echavez, MD

Michael I. Echavez, MD
San Francisco Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.5 out of 5 stars 18 reviews

March 6th, 2016

Is the masseter muscle cut during a SMAS facelift?

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The masseter muscle is not normally cut in a SMAS facelift.  In fact, no muscles are normally cut during the procedure.  The skin layer and the SMAS layer are tightened but the muscles are deeper below and normally not exposed during the surgery.  I also do not believe that cutting the masseter muscle would enhance the redraping of the skin in a facelift.  
Michael I. Echavez, MD

Michael I. Echavez, MD
San Francisco Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.5 out of 5 stars 18 reviews

Masseter Nuscle and SMAS Facelift

March 6th, 2016
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The family of various SMAS facelifts pull on it to get a tightening effect on the face and neck. There is nothing to be achieved by cutting the underlying chewing muscle, the masseter, since the SMAS is the tool of lifting. The only time the masseter is cut is when it is very bulky and creates a square face as may be seen in some Koreans. In such faces the masseter is thinned either with surgery or by repeated injections of Botox/Xeomin. 
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon
4.8 out of 5 stars 114 reviews

March 6th, 2016

Masseter Nuscle and SMAS Facelift

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The family of various SMAS facelifts pull on it to get a tightening effect on the face and neck. There is nothing to be achieved by cutting the underlying chewing muscle, the masseter, since the SMAS is the tool of lifting. The only time the masseter is cut is when it is very bulky and creates a square face as may be seen in some Koreans. In such faces the masseter is thinned either with surgery or by repeated injections of Botox/Xeomin. 

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.