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Face Lift – The Three Most Common Face Lift Methods
 

  1. Subcutaneous Face Lift. The skin is undermined to an appropriate level determined during the physical exam. The skin is then advanced laterally and slightly upward to put it back where it was during youth. This effectively tightens the skin and smoothes out the facial contour. Care is taken to put all the skin tension above and behind the ear so that there is minimal tension in front of the ear itself. This avoids an operated look.

    2.  

  2. Subcutaneous Face Lift with Fat Suspension. This is a Subcutaneous Face Lift but in addition the descended fat is elevated back into position with sutures.

    3.  

  3. SAMS Face Lift. SMAS is an acronym for Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System. It is a fibrous/muscular layer under the skin. Above it lies the cheek fat. Below it sit the facial muscles that animate the face. A SMAS face lift will elevate the SMAS and thus, concomitantly, elevate the facial fat and muscles.

 
It has been shown that all three types of face lifts can achieve excellent results. Which is best for you depends on what needs to be corrected and what your plastic surgeon is most comfortable with. Dr. Cruise always incorporates fat suspension into his face lifts.
  • Jaw Line

 

Like the cheek, your plastic surgeon will evaluate your jaw line by pinching the soft tissue on top of it and elevating it to see what is the best treatment. Jowls are a combination of fat and SMAS that have descended with age. During a face lift this tissue is re-suspended back into the cheek area where it belongs.

Before

After
Before and After Facelift. Notice elimination of jowls and jaw line definition.

Typical Face Lift Incisions

Typical face lift incision.
  • Variations above the ear
Hairline Incision. This incision does not cause hair parting complications plus allows for more upward skin pull. The incision is well hidden at the hairline.
  • Variations in Front of the Ear
Retro-Tragal Incision. This incision goes into the ear canal and, therefore, part of it is not visible. Potential downside is tragal distortion.
Tragal Edge Incision. This incision stays on top of the tragus. It is well hidden but does not go into ear canal.
  • Variations Behind Ear
No Posterior Ear Incision. Dr. Cruise utilizes this so that hair can be worn up and no incision can be seen at all behind the ear.
  • Dr. Cruise’s Normal Incision

Dr. Cruise utilizes the above incision. Above the ear, the incision is within the hairline, it then goes retro-tragal. Dr. Cruise is usually able to avoid a posterior ear incision so that hair can be worn up without any visible scar.

 
‹‹ Face Lift Changes Desired
Face Lift Benefits ››

 

Joseph T. Cruise, M.D.
Board Certified Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon
2081 San Joaquin Hills Road
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949-644-4808
info@cruiseplasticsurgery.com

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