A SMAS facelift is a type of facelift that involves lifting the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS). This layer of tissue is located beneath the skin and helps to support the facial structures. A deep plane facelift also involves lifting the SMAS, but in addition, it includes lifted deeper structures of the face, such as the orbicularis oculi muscle.
Dr. Karan Chopra is one of the top plastic surgeons in Miami. Dr. Chopra is an expert in facial and body surgery. He can help you achieve natural results and feel more confident.
So, what’s the difference between a SMAS facelift and a deep plane facelift? Let’s take a closer look. But first, let’s see…
Facelift Overview
A facelift improves your face and limits the signs of aging. There are surgical and non-surgical facelift techniques. Surgical techniques are invasive but have more long-lasting results compared to non-surgical procedures. It is important to note that the aging process continues whether you get a surgical or non-surgical face rejuvenation procedure.
Generally, facelift procedures are customized. What works for your friend may not necessarily work for you, so you have to discuss it with Dr. Karan Chopra to find out what would be the right procedure for you. You may qualify for a facelift if you are healthy and do not have underlying medical conditions. In addition, you should also be eligible if you have realistic expectations and a positive outlook.
What exactly is a facelift though?
Your skin’s youthful appearance may change over time as a result of a number of different factors, including decreased collagen production, gravity, thinning skin, and damage from prolonged exposure to the sun, to name a few. Surgery to tighten the skin on the face is an effective method of reversing these effects.
A facelift, which is also referred to as a rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that can be used as an anti-aging treatment to lift and firm your face, cheeks, and neck in order to restore a more youthful appearance and contour.
A facelift can improve not only your appearance but also the way you feel about yourself. This is accomplished by tightening and lifting the deep facial tissues, smoothing out prominent folds, and removing excess sagging skin.
If you are thinking about getting a facelift, Dr. Chopra can perform a variety of procedures, both surgical and non-surgical, depending on your requirements and objectives, including the following:
1. Deep Plane Facelift:
This procedure tightens and lifts the sagging muscles in your cheeks, as well as those at the base of your chin and in your neck. A deep plane facelift can correct issues such as droopy cheeks, a double chin, sagging skin on the neck, and laxity of the skin
2. SMAS Facelift:
The SMAS facelift repositions sagging or ptotic soft tissue throughout your face in order to improve the appearance of your cheeks, midface, and jawline
3. Mini-Facelift:
A mini facelift is ideal for individuals who only have a few minor signs of facial aging, particularly if these signs are located on the lower part of the face. A mini-facelift does not pull the skin tighter around the neck as a SMAS or deep plane facelift does
4. The Mid-Facelift:
This facelift method concentrates on the area of the face that is located in the middle, such as the cheeks. It eliminates any sagging in the cheeks by lifting or tightening them, and it smoothes out deep creases so that your facial features are more clearly defined
5. Jawline Contouring:
A procedure known as jawline contouring reshapes and contours your jawline by removing excess fat and skin tissues from your neck. This procedure is also known as a neck lift. Liposuction helps to reduce the appearance of a double chin, which is another benefit of this procedure
6. Liquid Facelift:
A liquid facelift is one of the most popular facial alternatives to surgical facelifts. Liquid facelifts are performed without the use of incisions. Injectable fillers are used to bring a youthful appearance to the face. This not only makes the cheekbones look better but also boosts collagen production and makes the skin more elastic
7. Cheek Lift:
A cheek lift, similar to a mid-facelift, can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in the region of the mid-face while also lifting your cheeks and defining your cheekbones
Dr. Karan Chopra has been practicing plastic surgery for many years and has received extensive training. As a result, he is an expert in all of the various facelift techniques. He works hard to make his patients look younger while preserving their original appearance as much as possible.
Because of the excellent results they provide, the deep plane facelift and the SMAS facelift are two of Dr. Chopra’s most frequently requested facelift techniques. Although they are comparable, the benefits and results of each surgical approach are distinctive in their own ways.
What Is a SMAS Facelift?
As we age, the SMAS begins to sag. This can cause the face to lose its youthful shape and appearance.
SMAS facelifts can be performed using different techniques, and the choice of technique will depend on the individual patient’s needs and desired results. One technique, called SMAS plication, involves making tiny incisions in the SMAS layer and then suturing the tissue to lift and tighten it. This can provide significant results, but it may not be ideal for patients who are looking for a more natural appearance.
Another technique, called SMAS flap, involves detaching the SMAS layer from the underlying facial muscles and then repositioning it. This method can provide very natural-looking results, but it is a more invasive procedure.
SMAS facelifts are often combined with other procedures, such as brow lifts, eyelid surgery, and skin resurfacing, to achieve comprehensive rejuvenation of the face.
What Is a Deep Plane Facelift?
A deep plane facelift is similar to a SMAS facelift, but in addition to lifting the SMAS layer, it also lifts deeper structures of the face, such as the orbicularis oculi muscle. This muscle helps to hold up the eyelids and can become weak with age. By lifting this muscle, a deep plane facelift can help to improve the appearance of the eyelids and achieve a more youthful look.
Deep plane facelifts are usually performed using an endoscopic technique, which involves making small incisions in the hairline and then inserting a small camera to visualize the deeper structures of the face. This technique allows the surgeon to make precise adjustments to lift and reposition the muscles and tissues.
Deep plane facelifts can provide very natural-looking results, and they can be combined with other procedures, such as brow lifts, eyelid surgery, and skin resurfacing, to achieve comprehensive rejuvenation of the face.
SMAS vs Deep Plane – How Is the Procedure Performed?
t is standard practice to administer general anesthesia prior to carrying out either the SMAS or deep plane facelift in order to ensure that the patient remains asleep and at ease throughout the operation.
The most significant distinction between a SMAS facelift and a deep plane lift is that during a SMAS facelift, the SMAS tissue layer and the skin are lifted in two separate stages. In contrast, when a deep plane lift is performed, the skin, muscles, and SMAS are all pulled upwards at the same time.
By adjusting your skin and SMAS in a manner that is independent of one another, Dr. Chopra has a greater degree of control and is able to pull these two layers together in a variety of directions, resulting in a more refined appearance. This is very important in certain circumstances, and Dr. Chopra will select the appropriate form of a facelift for you based on the characteristics of your unique anatomy and the objectives you wish to achieve.
When performing a deep plane facelift, as opposed to a traditional facelift, Dr. Chopra will go beyond your SMAS layer and focus on the deeper muscles. This is another significant distinction between the two types of facelifts. Dr. Chopra is able to reduce the tension on your skin and smooth out any irregularities by either relaxing or tightening the muscles that are responsible for giving your face its impression. Going to greater depths also allows for greater overall lifting to be accomplished.
To put it another way, in comparison to a deep plane facelift, a SMAS facelift is a lift that is both slightly less invasive and more superficial; however, the results of either procedure are equally fantastic.
FAQs about SMAS and Deep Plane Facelift
How Is the Recovery for SMAS and Deep Plane Facelift
Following a SMAS or deep plane facelift, the initial recovery period typically lasts for up to three weeks at the longest. Because the lift is performed in distinct layers, a SMAS facelift typically requires a slightly longer period of time for recovery than a deep plane facelift does.
During the healing process following a facelift, it is not uncommon for patients to experience mild bruising, swelling, facial redness, and even some discomfort. These typical negative effects of facelift treatment will eventually disappear.
After your facelift surgery, you should wait at least six weeks before engaging in physically taxing activities or getting any hair treatments.
SMAS vs Deep Plane – Which Results Last Longer?
Due to the fact that it targets deeper tissues and muscles, a deep facelift has a longer-lasting effect than traditional facelifts such as SMAS facelifts. In spite of the fact that it is a more invasive procedure, the deeper technique of deep plane facelifts enables Dr. Chopra to produce results that are both effective and long-lasting. A deep plane facelift may last anywhere from ten to fifteen years, and in many cases even longer. On the other hand, a SMAS facelift is less invasive and slightly more superficial, but the results can still last for up to ten years or even longer. Because of the natural effects of aging, sun exposure, and gravity, you may require a second facelift after ten years or more. This is true regardless of the type of facelift that was performed on you.
SMAS vs Deep Plane Facelift: Which Is Right for Me?
The skin on your face and neck is pulled tauter, and the contours of these areas are improved, with either type of facelift. In comparison to a deep plane lift, the SMAS facelift is more adaptable to the patient’s individual requirements. Patients who want to correct early signs of aging, such as jowls and sagging in the cheeks, are good candidates for this procedure because it enables a customized approach to target specific issues. Patients who are older and want to improve the appearance of prominent lines, creases, and folds as well as significant skin laxity in the jaw and neck region are better candidates for a deep plane facelift. If you want significant facial rejuvenation and a more dramatic improvement in the way your face looks, then you should definitely consider getting this treatment. If you want to improve the volume of your cheeks and face but don’t want to get fillers or implants, either of these procedures is an excellent alternative. The best way to determine which type of facelift is right for you is to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon. During your consultation, your surgeon will evaluate your specific needs and goals and develop a customized treatment plan to help you achieve the best possible results. If you are interested in learning more about SMAS facelifts or deep plane facelifts, contact us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Chopra.
