Is there scientific proof that Deep Plane Facelift has more advantages than a SMAS Lift? Thank you in advance!

There is general agreement that a skin only face lift will not hold up long nor give you your best results, simply because the skin is not a support structure but is a covering. The best overall results come from some form of lifting, tightening and reshaping of the deeper structures of your face, the SMAS, as well as some skin smoothing. There is never been any scientific study that has shown an absolute clear winner in the different ways that people treat the SMAS. However, the Deep Plane facelift can result in prolong swelling which is not seen with simple suture plication of the SMAS.

The best way to compare different facelifts is by examining what specifically the facelift surgery will address. In my experience, both Deep Plane and SMAS facelifts are very effective in addressing the neck and the jowl. The advantage of the Deep Plane facelift is that it can correct the marionette frown and reposition the cheek fat pad so that fillers are not needed. Scientific proof is hard to come by but well controlled before and after photos should be able to demonstrate the difference. The risk of facial nerve injury in any surgery is very much related to the specific surgeons experience with that procedure. You should not hesitate to ask a surgeon how often they have had this complication and how many of the surgeries they have done.