A short-scar facelift is a plastic surgery that acts as a good alternative to the classic circular facelift. This is a new lifting technique that allows, as a result of surgical correction, to achieve the patient’s natural appearance. This plastic surgery is suitable for young patients aged 30 to 45 years who have subtle age-related changes in the skin of the face and neck.
What's happened
Short-scar facelift is a type of rejuvenation using surgical intervention, during which the external and internal structures of the face are tightened, and excess skin is removed. The main advantage of this technique is its low-traumatic nature and the presence of small scars that are located in the tragus zone, which makes the suture invisible.
The short-scar method of lifting the middle third of the face is a radical operation in which muscles and skin are tightened through small incisions in the ear area, which become invisible some time after the operation.
Lifting is especially effective before the age of 50, when age-related changes are not very deep and there is no sagging of facial tissues. The result lasts up to 10 years.
Due to the fact that S-lifting affects not only the upper layers of the skin, the procedure allows you to achieve global rejuvenation. In this case, the effect of a stretched mask is absent.
Neck lift
With age, there is a loss of skin tone, firmness and elasticity.
This surgical intervention involves making an incision in the area near the ear and extending it to the temple area.
Thanks to the short-scar lift method, the epidermis of the neck and lower third of the face is corrected and rejuvenated, jowls are removed, ptosis and nasolabial folds disappear.
Due to the fact that deep-lying soft tissues are firmly fixed, the resulting effect lasts for a long time.
Indications
It is recommended to perform S-face lifting for people aged 35-50 years, in whom age-related changes are of low severity, while the contour lines are preserved, and there is no obvious sagging of soft tissues. However, this cosmetic procedure is also suitable for more mature skin, provided that a certain level of elasticity is maintained.
S-lifting is considered a relatively gentle plastic surgery.
But after a lift, complications may arise in the form of thickening and swelling of the tissue. To eliminate them, specially selected rehabilitation procedures are used. Usually this is microcurrent, ultrasound therapy.
Cosmetologist, dermatologist, trichologist
Kalinina Olga Alexandrovna
4 years of experience
Manipulation is suitable for problems such as:
- pronounced folds in the nasolabial area;
- sagging epidermis in the area of the cheekbones and cheeks;
- ptosis ;
- deformation of the contours of the lower jaw;
- excess fatty tissue on the chin;
- drooping corners of the eyes;
- loose skin on the neck .
Lifting around the eyes
Lifting the periorbital area (the area around the eyes) is a type of modern cosmetic procedure that allows you to combat the appearance of the first signs of age-related changes.
If deep, loose folds are noted in the neck and face area, it is recommended to combine the procedure with contour plastic surgery and lipolifting. Almost all patients get a noticeable effect. The only exception is pronounced sagging in the cervical region.
To achieve comprehensive rejuvenation, it is advisable to simultaneously perform circumferential blepharoplasty and forehead lifting.
Contraindications
A short scar lift is prohibited if there are a number of restrictions. All contraindications to surgical rejuvenation are divided into aesthetic and medical.
The first group includes:
- pronounced signs aging in the temple area;
- sagging skin in the neck and face area.
The second group includes such pathological conditions as:
- diseases of the heart and blood vessels;
- benign and malignant tumors ;
- hypertension;
- diagnosed diabetes mellitus ;
- bleeding disorders and other blood diseases;
- pathologies of the autoimmune system.
Cosmetic manipulation will be refused in situations where the doctor understands that during surgery he will not be able to provide the desired result.
If the patient has serious age-related changes, then the most effective for him will be a circular lift, as a result of which work is carried out not only with the problematic epidermis, but also with fatty tissue, muscle and deep tissues.
Question answer
Which is better MACS-Lift or S-Lift?
It's different for all people. Both of these procedures are worthy of attention; a specialist will be able to give accurate advice who, based on the patient’s individual data, will offer the best option for a short-scar facelift.
Why is it recommended not to sunbathe immediately after a short-scar lift?
This is necessary so that no unwanted pigmentation remains at the site of the seams. This type of facelift makes the surgical intervention almost invisible, so much so that a person who is not aware of the operation will not be able to guess that a facelift was performed at all. Therefore, you should not expose postoperative sutures to ultraviolet radiation.
Comments and questions
Preparation
Before undergoing a short scar facelift, the patient needs to prepare. First, you need to visit a plastic surgeon, who during the consultation will conduct a thorough examination of the skin of the problem area, tell you how the operation will take place, what the consequences may be, and what the rehabilitation period is like.
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It may also be necessary to visit related specialists in order to identify possible contraindications, for which a diagnostic examination may be prescribed. It is also important to take a blood test to determine the level of blood clotting, which will help avoid bleeding during surgery.
If there are no restrictions on the lift, then the specialist sets a date for the anti-aging procedure and gives further recommendations for preparing the patient.
If the client is planning to lose weight, this process must be completed before surgery, since sagging folds resulting from rapid weight loss are difficult to remove.
About two weeks in advance, you need to stop taking acetylsalicylic acid and other medications that have a negative effect on blood clotting. Smoking and drinking alcohol are prohibited, which increases the risk of complications and increases the recovery period.
How are MACS-Lift and S-Lift made?
Before a future patient undergoes a short-scar facelift, he should attend a consultation with a specialist to find out whether this type of facelift is suitable for him and what results can be achieved with this procedure. If MACS-Lift or S-Lift is effective for the patient, he is sent to undergo the necessary tests and conduct research. After receiving the examination results, the specialist identifies the patient’s contraindications for a short-scar lift. If they are not identified, a date is set for MACS-lifting or S-lifting. The patient is recommended to stop smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol 2 weeks before surgery. Immediately before plastic surgery, a photo of the patient’s face can be taken to compare the results of the facelift. MACS-lifting or mini-lifting is performed under general anesthesia. During this type of facelift, the surgeon makes an incision that starts at the lower edge of the earlobe, then goes in front of the ear and extends slightly into the temporal region along the hairline. Then the doctor performs a gentle, limited detachment of the skin flap. After this, purse-string suspension sutures are applied, which are fixed to the deep temporal fascia. Due to this, the tissues are tightened and the oval of the face improves. After this, the skin flap is tightened and redistributed, and its excess is excised. Finally, cosmetic stitches are applied to the skin. S-Lift is also performed under general anesthesia. In this type of short-scar lift, the surgeon makes an S-shaped incision, starting behind the ear and ending in front of the ears. Next, the procedure is almost similar to MACS lifting. The total duration of MACS-lifting or S-lifting is 1.5-2 hours.
Progress
The duration of the cosmetic procedure takes 2-4 hours. The duration of the procedure depends on the complexity of the surgical intervention and the volume of work performed. The whole process takes place in several sequential steps.
First, the plastic surgeon takes a photo of the face, which is necessary for subsequent marking. Next, he prepares the skin, for which he cleanses its surface of dirt and remnants of decorative cosmetics using an antiseptic solution. After this, general anesthesia is administered using intravenous administration of the drug and local anesthesia.
According to a pre-designated scheme, the specialist makes micro-incisions. If the operation is performed on a woman, the incision will be located in the retrotragus area. In men, tissue dissection occurs in the area of the natural fold of the preauricular part.
Then a fragment of the deep-lying muscle-fat layer and tightened epidermis is fixed to the periosteum of the cheekbones at the highest point. As a result, the tissue of the lower third of the face is raised, the angle of the lower jaw becomes more prominent, the contour is smooth, and jowls are removed.
Forehead and eyebrow lift
Eyebrow and forehead lifting is carried out using plastic surgery, which involves correcting and smoothing the forehead line, raising the eyebrow line, and smoothing out wrinkles in the corners of the eyes.
To smooth out nasolabial folds and tighten the skin in the cervical area, additional sutures are used.
Excess skin is excised. An intradermal cosmetic suture is applied to the wounds using a non-absorbable hypoallergenic thread.
Removal of sutures occurs after complete tissue restoration, usually 8-12 days after surgery.
The first positive changes can be seen 1.5-3 weeks after the S-lifting. Final improvement is observed after 2-5 months.
Rehabilitation
The recovery period takes a lot of time. To consolidate the result, proper skin care is necessary. For quick healing, experts recommend avoiding stressful situations.
Immediately after a short-scar lift, swelling and bruising may appear, which is normal. These side effects disappear on their own after about a week.
To eliminate pain, your doctor may prescribe painkillers. The patient must be patient, since the course of long-term rehabilitation will largely depend on the state of the human body. The full result appears only after six months.
During the recovery period, you must follow all the instructions of the plastic surgeon. For the first two days, the client will be in the hospital under close medical supervision. A compression bandage that secures the zygomatic and chin areas must be worn continuously until the stitches are removed (1-2 weeks). Starting from the second and after the 3rd week, it is worn only at night.
To eliminate swelling more quickly, it is not recommended to get out of bed and move a lot. Do not apply decorative cosmetics to your face. Hair washing is also prohibited.
During rehabilitation, you must adhere to a certain diet. All dishes must be in liquid or pureed form.
Patients who have undergone S-lift surgery are prohibited from visiting the bathhouse, sauna, solarium or sunbathing in direct sunlight. Do not overload the body with excessive physical activity.
To ensure the rehabilitation process goes quickly, manual and physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed.
Rehabilitation period
You need to be prepared that rehabilitation will take a long time, requiring contact with professionals. Good care will be required to ensure the results last. It is recommended not to be nervous or panic after the operation, since the real result will only be visible after a certain time.
Immediately holding the mirror, you can see swelling and bruising, which is considered natural. They go away in 5-7 days. May not appear. The skin will temporarily lose sensitivity. There will be minor pain.
Painkillers may be prescribed. It is necessary to be patient, since the duration of the rehabilitation process depends on the condition of the body. The true result can only be seen after six months.
You must adhere to the doctor's instructions. The patient is under inpatient observation for 2 days. A compression bandage secures the area of the cheekbones and chin. It should be permanent until the stitches are removed.
In order for swelling to go away faster, the head should be in a stationary, elevated state. The stitches will be removed as healing progresses, usually between days 7-14. During this period, it is not recommended to use decorative cosmetics and wash your hair.
Doctors recommend using a compression bandage for a certain period of time at night if liposuction of the cheeks and chin has been performed before. Food should be liquid and ground, as coarser food causes pain when chewing. Active facial expressions are not desirable. You should refrain from visiting the bathhouse, excessive physical exertion, and exposure to the sun.
To speed up the rehabilitation process includes physiotherapeutic and manual procedures (healing masks, magnetic therapy, etc.). The risk of complications is minimal. This may occur if the instructions of specialists are not followed.
Complications
Since short-scar facelift is a gentle procedure, the risk of developing consequences is minimal, but they should not be completely excluded. The most common complications include:
- penetration of infection into the wound;
- accumulation of serous contents at the suture site;
- formation of hematomas;
- swelling;
- bleeding;
- nerve damage ;
- improper and long healing .
The appearance of such conditions is often caused by the patient’s failure to comply with recommendations during the rehabilitation period, or the surgeon’s failure to comply with the rules for performing anti-aging manipulations. In addition, a provoking factor may be the moment when the operation was carried out in the presence of contraindications, which the client did not consider necessary to inform the doctor about.
Advantages and disadvantages
The short-scar facelift has distinct advantages over similar cosmetic procedures.
Short scars
All surgeon actions are performed through a small incision, which is made in the ear area. Sometimes the soft tissue of the temporal region in the area of the scalp may be additionally excised. This makes it possible to make scars invisible to others.
Minimum complications
Because the S-lift does not require an incision at the back of the ear, it greatly reduces the chance that the facial nerve will be damaged.
Possibility of vertical rejuvenation
Short-scar facelift allows you to get a natural result without a mask effect, since there is no tension on the face, which usually accompanies the classic method of lifting. In this case, soft tissues are tightened from bottom to top.
High efficiency
In addition to the fact that the rejuvenating procedure eliminates age-related changes on the forehead and temples, the condition of the skin in the lower third of the face and neck improves. The method also makes it possible to get rid of jowls.
Short period to complete the operation
If we compare the S-lift with a circular lift, then the first technique takes significantly less time to implement. Also, the patient recovers from anesthesia in a shorter period of time.
Rising SMAS
During surgery, the plastic surgeon also tightens the subcutaneous soft tissues of the face. It is this rejuvenation tactic that allows you to get a natural look and maximum effect that lasts for several years.
Minimum recovery time
Since the procedure is accompanied by minimal blood loss, recovery occurs much faster.
Among the negative aspects of the technique, one can highlight the fact that in some cases it is not possible to obtain the desired result. This usually happens if there are deep, loose wrinkles on the face. If a patient has such a problem, then to eliminate it, experts recommend combining S-lifting with hardware procedures.
Disadvantages also include the presence of a number of contraindications and the pain that the client experiences after the lift.
A short-scar facelift is a rejuvenating procedure that allows you to combat mild signs of age-related changes. Due to its low-invasiveness, the method is very popular, since complications after surgery occur in rare cases.
To obtain maximum results, you must follow all the specialist’s recommendations both during the preparatory and rehabilitation periods. You need to be careful when choosing a clinic and contact only proven, highly qualified surgeons.
Possibilities of SMAS lifting
The abbreviation SMAS hides the English term Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System, which refers to the superficial muscular-aponeurotic complex of the face. The condition of the skin of the face directly depends on the state of this complex of tissues, and it is here that age-related changes first begin to appear.
SMAS lifting is a deep face lifting that involves not just superficial tightening of the skin, but moving the underlying layers of soft tissue to the correct position.
This operation is significantly different from the so-called “SMAS plication” lift, which involves not moving, but “packing” the soft tissue into a fold using several sutures
Having similar names and locations of surgical approaches, these correction methods nevertheless give fundamentally different results.
S-lifting is often performed in combination with other surgeries. For example:
- with platysmoplasty – neck muscle tightening,
- with chin liposuction – removal of excess fat deposits in the submental area,
- with operations in the upper third of the face or eyelids.
An integrated approach to rejuvenation allows you to achieve a truly impressive result and complete transformation in one step.
In case of severe microgenia - underdevelopment of the chin - to create the correct proportions of the face, chin replacement can be performed using synthetic implants or the patient’s own cartilage tissue.
It should be noted that SMAS lifting is one of the most complex aesthetic operations in terms of technique among all facial operations. This means that you should not trust such a procedure to an insufficiently qualified specialist.
There are several subtypes of the technique, named after the surgeons who proposed them for use:
- smas-lifting according to Owsley,
- smas-lifting according to Baker,
- composite lifting according to Hamra,
as well as many others. The choice of technique in each specific case is based on data from an analysis of the anatomical features of the patient’s face.
