If you have severe signs of facial aging, such as midface sagging, hollow cheeks, and lax jowls, a standard facelift or mini facelift might not be enough. Dr. Erickson’s personalized SMAS facelift takes a decade or more off your face to help you look youthful and refreshed.
Full/SMAS Facelift
The Most Extensive Facelift Imaginable
As we age, our skin naturally starts to sag. This can be especially noticeable in the face, as it is constantly exposed to the elements. A facelift can surgically tighten the skin and muscles in the face to give it a more youthful appearance, combatting the effects of aging on your face. But sometimes, a standard facelift isn’t enough, especially if you have severe facial laxity and weak facial muscles. That’s where an SMAS facelift comes into the picture.
What is SMAS Facelift?
The SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system) is a layer of tissue that extends from the deep muscles of the face to the superficial skin. It covers the entire face, including the cheeks, forehead, and mouth. As we age, the SMAS tissues weaken and lose their elasticity, leading to excessive nasolabial folds, marionette lines, jowls, and a double chin. The weakening of the SMAS layer often occurs in the later stages of life, usually after your late 50s or 60s.
A SMAS facelift is a comprehensive and detailed surgery that can reposition and tighten the underlying muscles and connective tissues. The procedure usually involves making incisions along the hairline, in front of and behind the ear, and under the chin, following which excess skin is trimmed, and the underlying muscles are tightened. This results in a much more youthful appearance on the face and a reduction in wrinkles and sagging skin.
Goals of SMAS Facelift:
- Correcting midface sagging
- Reducing excess nasolabial folds and marionette lines
- Trimming away excess skin tissues and fatty deposits
- Improving the contours of the cheeks
- Tightening loose, submental skin tissues and fat deposits
- Improving overall facial contours and structure
- Reducing forehead creases and wrinkles
- Taking a decade or more off the face
Dr. Erickson’s SMAS Facelift Technique
Dr. Erickson performs a highly personalized SMAS facelift after a thorough evaluation. He carefully examines your facial skin, measures the degree of skin laxity and sagging skin, asks about your goals and expectations, and curates a personalized surgical plan. He also creates a treatment map on your face, marking the areas for incisions, fat removal, skin removal, and tightening. After a thorough evaluation, he explains what you can expect from your SMAS facelift procedure.
Your SMAS facelift is performed at our accredited surgical facility under general anesthesia. Dr. Erickson makes an incision at the temple, above the hairline, extends it down to the curve of the ears, behind the earlobe, and takes it down to the chin. He lifts your facial skin, trims excess skin, removes fatty deposits, and tightens underlying facial muscles, after which your skin is re-draped. He closes the incisions with sutures and provides a compression garment to reduce swelling.
The SMAS facelift procedure can take 3 to 5 hours, depending on your condition and goals.
Candidates for SMAS Facelift:
- Have severe facial skin laxity and signs of aging
- Have deep nasolabial folds and marionette lines around the nose and mouth
- Have excess submental skin and fatty tissues around the neck and jawline
- Have deep and prominent jowls and sagging skin
- Want to improve the contours and tightness of the face
- Are in good overall health
- Are in their 60s or beyond
- Are nonsmokers or willing to stop smoking before and after the procedure
- Don’t have underlying medical conditions that preclude surgery
- Have realistic expectations from the SMAS facelift results
Consult Dr. Erickson
Dr. Erickson is a highly-skilled facial plastic surgeon specializing in cutting-edge surgical techniques. He performs the advanced SMAS facelift for patients with severe signs of aging, and only if he’s sure that other facelift techniques wouldn’t provide sufficient results. His personalized approach to facelifts ensures natural-looking results. Please schedule an appointment to explore your facelift options in Houston.
