When you think of a facelift, the first few images that pop up in your mind may be cases gone wrong. Happily, the technology and techniques behind the facelift have come a long way, and the “worked-on look” is now a thing of the past. Sophisticated techniques are now able to offer end results that look much more natural.

The SMAS facelift is one of these new cutting-edge facelift methods. The principle behind the SMAS facelift lies in manipulation and lifting of deeper tissues of the face, as opposed to merely stretching the superficial skin.

What Is the SMAS?

The Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System (SMAS) is a sheet or continuous layer of firm tissue underneath the skin. It runs from the forehead to the collarbone. The SMAS differs from skin tissue because it is a strong fibromuscular web.

Apart from connecting the skin, the SMAS also links various tissues, muscles, and fat pads in the neck and face. After surgically modifying the SMAS, repositioning the skin gives the face a smoother and tighter look, offering a youthful appearance.

Are You a Good Candidate?

The SMAS facelift is ideal for men and women in their 40s and 60s who have sagging jowls, visible lax skin on the neck and face, loss of definition in the area around the chin, and nasolabial folds.

The SMAS Facelift Procedure

The first step in the SMAS facelift is the administration of local anesthesia with IV sedation. No general anesthesia is needed for our facelift.

Next, the separation of skin from the SMAS layer is performed. The SMAS layer is then hoisted away from the underlying facial muscles. A focal point during SMAS facelift is the platysma muscles. After raising the SMAS layer, a part of the muscle is trimmed and reattached at a new elevated position.

Higher placement of the SMAS tissue layer offers a lifted look of the skin and face. When the tissue is fixed in position, other layers of the skin are redraped and trimmed to achieve the perfect fit.

Our SMAS facelift is also coupled with stem cell transfer. The latest popular technique in plastic surgery is using stem cells for facial rejuvenation. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells evenly distributed throughout the body. Stem cells are different from other cells in the body because of their capacity to repair and regenerate into any other cell group.

Injecting stem cells into the skin in combination with fat cells has proved to offer outstanding regenerative properties. These cells are harvested from the patient’s body. A double procedure of stem-cell transfer and a SMAS facelift offers remarkable results.

Recovery from the SMAS Facelift

As with any invasive cosmetic procedure, after your SMAS facelift, a bandage will be placed on the area to address bleeding or swelling. Bandages are removed after 24 hours. It is common for swelling to persist for a few weeks after the procedure. There may be slight bruising, which should disappear within a few days. The stitches used will be removed during follow-up visits.

Find Out More About Our SMAS Facelift

Learn more about our SMAS facelift with stem-cell transfer – contact our office and schedule an informative consultation. Skilled board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Adil Ceydeli will be available to answer questions and discuss your aesthetic goals.