What Is a SMAS Facelift?

If you’ve been researching facelift surgery in the hopes of having your own anti-aging facial rejuvenation performed, you’ve likely encountered an unknown acronym by now: SMAS. It seems like a secret code, one that doesn’t make sense even if you look at other facelift methods like the mini-lift or the deep-plane lift. The SMAS facelift is the traditional technique, one that allows for optimal age-defying changes, often reducing a patient’s appearance by up to 10 years! If you’re looking for a reliable, safe, and effective facelift procedure for yourself, learn more about the SMAS method and what it can offer you as a patient.

Decoding the Term SMAS

The abbreviation SMAS stands for Submuscular Aponeurotic System. Simply put, it refers to a special layer of facial tissue that covers the deep structures of the cheeks and mid-face, supporting the skin and fatty deposits that lay above it. The SMAS is also connected to the superficial muscles of the face and neck, called the platysma, which give these areas their contour and definition.

In a traditional facelift surgery, the SMAS is surgically repositioned and tightened in conjunction with the overlying skin for a smoother, more youthful look. This technique can reverse the effects of sagging and inelasticity throughout the face, including facial jowls, double chins, deep wrinkles, facial creases, and more. The results of a SMAS technique can be long-lasting and quite dramatic without appearing pulled, unnatural, or too obvious.

The SMAS Facelift Procedure

The facelift procedure was designed to tighten up the lower facial region and create better contour throughout the jaw, chin, and neck. For the right patients, facelifts can erase years of damage as the skin’s elasticity lessens and the fatty deposits in the face shift downward. After facelift surgery, many patients are happy to look and feel younger thanks to a firmer jaw, smoother skin, and redefined chin and neck.

During the SMAS facelift surgery, your plastic surgeon begins with the placement of incisions along the hairline, extending around the ears, and then down along the lower scalp. This allows him or her the access needed to separate the skin from the SMAS and make the necessary changes. Excess fat will be repositioned or removed from this area before the SMAS and the connected muscles are lifted and tightened. Once the skin has been laid over the SMAS once again, the excess can be trimmed away and the incisions will be sutured closed.

While the original facelift surgeries performed nearly 100 years ago only included the lifting and pulling of the skin into place, the SMAS procedure involves these underlying tissues for improved results. Patients won’t get that “pulled” look of days gone by and their results won’t fade for years to come. Most facelift patients are one-time only visitors, while others may seek a second procedure within eight to 12 years afterwards.

Is an SMAS Facelift Right for Me?

In order to be considered a good candidate for facelift surgery or any cosmetic procedure, you should be a patient in good, overall health without any existing conditions that could delay healing or exposure you to a higher risk of complications. Both men and women at a wide variety of ages can be considered for the facelift procedure as long as they are experiencing signs of aging that they would like to reverse.

Facelift candidates should also be nonsmokers, as nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes can restrict the blood vessels and reduce blood flow throughout the body and to the face. A healthy flow of fresh blood cells is vital to the healing process, so smokers may be at risk of delayed healing or other potential risks. Finally, talk with your plastic surgeon about your motivations for seeking facelift surgery and the results you expect to see. Good candidates have realistic goals about their personal surgery and results, which can increase their satisfaction after the whole process has finished.

Talk to a Facelift Surgeon Today About the SMAS Procedure

To learn more about how an SMAS facelift surgery could benefit you, consult with Dr. Ronald Lohner, an experienced and board certified plastic surgeon based in Philadelphia who offers customized procedures to his patients after a one-on-one consultation. He completed his undergraduate education at Dartmouth College and medical school at UMDNJ-Rutgers. Currently, Dr. Lohner is Chief of Plastic Surgery at Bryn Mawr Hospital and holds a faculty appointment at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. His peers have selected him as a Philadelphia-area Top Doctor for the past eight years. His office is located at [primary_address] in [primary_city], [primary_statefull], on the Main Line. Please call his office at [primary_phone] to schedule a consultation.