Facelift surgery calcifies in the following categories according to the targeted area of the face or to the used technique:
- Traditional surgical Facelift or the SMAS lift
- Deep plane facelift surgery
- Mid Facelift
- Mini facelift
- Brow lift or forehead lift surgery
- Thread facelift surgery
- One stitch facelift surgery
The main facelift approaches are described below.
Traditional Facelift or The SMAS lift
Traditional facelift is the effective extensive facelift. It can eliminate the moderate to severe sings of aging and give the face younger appearance, so it is the most popular facelift surgery.
Traditional facelift tightens the skin in the face and the neck, brings back youthfulness to cheeks, removes wrinkles, eliminates folds and droopy skin.
How to perform traditional facelift
traditional facelift is performed under general anesthesia, local anesthesia or sedation.
After anesthesia, the surgeon makes an incision that starts from the temple along the hairline in front of the ear, goes around it from below and behind, and extends along the hairline ending behind the neck. Then he/she separates the skin from the SMAS and deep tissues of the cheeks and neck. After that, the surgeon tightens these tissues with surgical sutures.
In some cases, the surgeon removes parts of the deep tissue or excess fatty tissues, then he/she re-tightens the skin, identifies and removes the excess skin, and finally sutures the incision and covers it with the appropriate bandage.
Traditional facelift is an extensive surgery. The surgeon takes about 3 to 4 hours to perform it. Downtime of this surgery lasts from 4 to 6 weeks. The final result appears 6 months after the surgery and lasts more than 10 years.
Traditional facelift might be combined with other surgery at the same time like nose surgery (rhinoplasty) or eyelid lift (blepharoplasty).
Deep plane facelift
Deep plane facelift, also called composite facelift, is a complex extensive surgery. It is an effective procedure, and many surgeons prefer and recommend it because it rejuvenates the face appearance and its result lasts for a long time.
Deep plane facelift is performed under general anesthesia, local anesthesia or sedation.
After anesthesia, the surgeon makes an incision in the same way as traditional facelift, then he/she releases the muscles and fatty tissues under the skin without tightening it.
The main purpose of this surgery is to correct the depth of the nasolabial fold. The surgeon releases the ligaments that connect the deep muscle layer and the facial ligaments that connect the cheek, so that the cheek returns to its original shape and size. Finally, the surgeon closes the incision and covers it with the appropriate bandage.
Deep plan facelift is an extensive surgery. The surgeon takes about 3 to 4 hours to perform it. The final result appears 6 months after the surgery and lasts more than 10 years.
Mid Facelift or cheek lift
Mid facelift helps giving a more youthful appearance to the middle of the face. In this surgery, the sagging cheeks are tightened, the missing structure in the face is filled, the eye bags are eliminated, the fine threads around the edge of the nose are removed, and the face appears livelier and more beautiful.
It is performed through two small incisions on both sides of the head in the hair scalp, so that scars do not appear after the surgery. The surgeon uses an endoscope and a special surgical tool to separate the skin from the deep tissues, repositions it, removes fat, then tightens the skin, get rid of the excess skin, and finally he/she closes the incisions.
To remove bags under the eyes and tighten wrinkles, the surgeon makes an incision in the tip of the eyelid under the eye.
Mini facelift
Mini facelift is a less invasive surgery compared to traditional or deep plane facelift and it does not involve the neck. In general, it is performed under local anesthesia or sedation.
After anesthesia, the surgeon makes multiple small surgical incisions, then he/she lifts the skin through these incisions and removes the excess skin to be able to tighten the skin and remove wrinkles. Finally, he/she sutures the wounds, and puts the appropriate bandage.
Note: Brow lift and mini facelift can be performed at the same time to achieve the best results.
This surgery takes about an hour and a half. The patient needs three or four days to recover. Its results last for several years.
One stitch facelift
It is a simple surgical operation that can be performed under local anesthesia. People who have health conditions that do not allow general anesthesia can undergo it. It neither causes hair loss nor affects its growth. It also does not leave a visible scar because it is done through one stitch in the scalp on both sides of the face.
Thread facelift
Thread facelift, also called barbed suture lift or string facelift, is a new treatment method to get rid of the signs of aging and get a more youthful face.
In thread facelift surgery, a net of threads is put under the skin (barbed thread). When these threads dissolve after about 4 to 6 months, the natural body’s healing response starts and stimulates collagen production process. Collagen fills the gaps in the treated area and tightens the skin.
How to perform thread facelift?
The surgeon applies local anesthesia on the face. When the anesthesia takes effect, he/she makes small holes in suitable areas of the face, then the surgeon uses a special thin needle (cannula) to insert the dissolvable thread with tiny hook connected to tissue underneath the skin, then the surgeon tightens the thread. In this way a net of threads (barbed thread) will be done through the area that the surgeon wants to tighten, such as the cheek or the forehead. Finally, the surgeon closes these holes.
Thread facelift is non-invasive surgery with one-week downtime and two-weeks recovery time. The results last from one to three years. It might be combined with other non-surgical procedures.
The average cost of thread facelift is $2,500 dollar in the USA.
