Short Scar Facelift – A New Type of Mini Facelift
Natural Results, Hidden Incisions
By Houston, Texas Plastic Surgeon & Cosmetic Surgeon,
Dr. Mark Schusterman and Dr. Patrick Hsu
August 7th, 2012
By Patrick Hsu
Short Scar Facelift
• Minimal scarring
• Procedure time just 1-2 hours
• 10-day recovery period
• Performed under local anesthesia
• More natural looking results
The Short Scar Facelift is a mini facelift procedure (also known as a MACS lift or midface lift) that produces effective results at any age and is particularly effective at treating the mid-face or cheek area, including the jowls. For older patients, the Short Scar Facelift corrects the signs of aging. For younger patients, the Short Scar Facelift is particularly effective in maintaining a youthful look.
The Short Scar Facelift gives your face a naturally youthful appearance without a pinched or pulled look. The incisions are minimal and placed where they are nearly invisible.
Short Scar Facelift vs. Traditional Facelift
A traditional facelift is a complicated procedure in which the skin is separated from the underlying muscle and tissue (the SMAS or superficial musculoaponeurotic system), and pulled or tightened. The SMAS is then repositioned to support the new position of the skin after the face lift. The operation requires an incision around the ear and into the hair line. The results of the traditional facelift are very good, but the operation can take a long time as well as have a long recovery time.
A Short Scar Facelift gives much the same results as a traditional facelift without separating the skin from the SMAS, and is a less extensive and shorter operation. The incision for the short scar facelift is in front of the ear around the structure called the targus—that little tag in front of the ear – and up around the sideburn. Because there is no incision behind the ear, the short scar facelift is very “pony tail friendly.”
During the operation, instead of separating the facial skin from the SMAS, the muscles and tissue under the skin are repositioned to achieve the facelift. Because the skin and muscle are not separated, there is less bruising and healing time is much shorter.
Before Your Procedure
Before your Short Scar facelift, Dr. Schusterman will evaluate your skin, bone structure, and the underlying muscle and tissue to determine the best way to reposition the muscle and tissue to give you a natural-looking lift. Occasionally, Dr. Schusterman may recommend that you follow up your operation with dermal fillers to help fill wrinkles, or he may recommend that your facelift be combined with other procedures, creating a custom and individualized package specifically for you. Procedures that may be included in your custom package are; liposuction for the neck, neck muscle repositioning, deep tissue tightening, eyelid tucks, browlift, or laser resurfacing.
The Short Scar Facelift Procedure
To perform the Short Scar Facelift, you will only need a local anesthetic. A small incision is made in front of the ear, giving Dr. Schusterman access the SMAS. Since the SMAS and skin are intertwined in many areas of the face, as Dr. Schusterman repositions this layer of tissue and muscle, and or tightens it, sagging skin is eliminated, giving you a youthful lift and naturally-looking contour to your face. The operation lasts from 1-2 hours.
After Your Short Scar Facelift Procedure
Because only a local anesthetic is needed to perform the operation, and the Short Scar Facelift is not an extensive operation, most patients are able to go home the same day as their operation. Recovery for the Short Scar Facelift is anywhere between 1-3 weeks. Dr. Schusterman will let you know if there are specific actions needed to reduce swelling and bruising, as well as prescribe any pain medication that my be needed.
The results of a Short Scar Facelift are a very naturally contoured face, giving patients a more youthful appearance. When incision scars heal, they will be hidden and virtually invisible.
The surgeon’s fees for a face lift:
Traditional face lift: starting at $6,500
Short scar face lift: starting at $5,500
If Short Scar Facelift Surgery interests you, and you would like to learn more, contact Dr. Schusterman’s office at 713-794-0368 or email us directly.
