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Different techniques in facelifting

Different techniques for facelifting exist, and a new approaches were developed to deliver more natural, efficient and longer lasting results.

This significant technical evolution is mostly due to better understanding of facial aging and the anatomic changes associated with it.

To better understand what we currently do in facelifting, let´s go over the anatomic structures that are involved and techniques we use for their rejuvenation:

Skin: It is the most superficial layer of the face and neck and the most obvious. Older facelift techniques used to focus on tightening and removing the excess skin. Unfortunately, it is still common practice Today. Due to the elastic properties of the skin, the results after this procedure do not last (few months) and the scars look wide and sometimes deforming due to tension on the skin closure. Nowadays, we focus on lifting the deep facial structures, then remove the excess skin in a tension-free manner. This results in very thin scars, natural results that are very long lasting.
Muscles: Under the skin, exist a thin layer called SMAS in the face and platysma in the neck. In modern facelifts, these are the main structures that are addressed in order to efficiently lift the face. There are different approaches to do so, at IMAGN Institute, we perform an extended deep plane facelift which has high efficacy in lifting the deep facial structures for long lasting and natural results.
Fat: Two major changes occur to fat with aging: Ptosis, which is vertical descent due to gravity, and atrophy, which is basically fat loss. When volume loss occurs, fat from other parts of the body is used to replace what is lost.
Other anatomic structures: Sometimes there is a need to address deeper structures, mostly in the neck to optimize the contour of the jawline and create a sharp neck angle. These structures are the submandibular gland and the muscle called anterior digastric, both of which can be reduced if needed.

Facelift techniques

Regarding the approaches for facelift:

Endoscopic: Using a small camera, through a small incision hidden in the scalp, we can efficiently lift certain anatomic structures.
Pre-auricular: The scars are hidden in the natural folds around the ears, when well done, they become invisible with time
Sub-mental: The incision is placed under chin in a natural fold that most people have. This scar becomes almost invisible with time.