SMAS Face Lift Surgery That Lifts Even the Underlying Skin

SMAS Face Lift Surgery That Lifts Even the Underlying Skin

It is known that our body begins to age in earnest starting in our mid-20s. Due to this aging, the production of skin cells decreases, leading to a reduction in important proteins such as collagen and elastin, resulting in the skin losing its elasticity and gradually developing wrinkles and sagging.

As we age, changes in the skin and body are natural, but sagging skin, a drooping jawline, and deep wrinkles often make us look much older than we actually are, causing stress. It's probably because people generally estimate age based on facial appearance and skin condition. So, more and more people are trying to improve their wrinkled and sagging skin through various procedures and surgical methods.

If the sagging skin or wrinkles are not deep, improvements can be made with treatments like Botox, fillers, laser lifting, or thread lifting. However, when the thin skin tissue between the subcutaneous fat and muscles, called SMAS, is stretched due to gravity, it is a reality that these treatments cannot effectively hide sagging wrinkles.

What is SMAS layer?

Generally, our skin layers are composed of skin, subcutaneous fat, and muscles, but in the facial skin, there is an additional thin layer of fibrous fascia called SMAS (Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System) between the subcutaneous fat layer and muscle layer.

This SMAS layer can be referred to as the 'submuscular aponeurotic layer,' and it can also be seen as facial muscles that help us make various expressions.

The SMAS layer acts as a supporting structure for the face and neck and is partly responsible for the shape of our face. The SMAS layer is vulnerable to gravity, causing the skin to sag and form wrinkles over time.

So, recently, SMAS Face Lift, which lifts and fixes not only the surface of the skin but also the underlying cause of sagging and deeply wrinkled faces due to aging, is gaining popularity.

What is SMAS Face Lift ?

SMAS Face Lift  is a well-known lifting surgery, also known as a facelift. When making the incision, the line is created from the hairline to the earlobe and behind the ear, allowing for minimal incision lines and separation of skin tissue and fascia layers, resulting in less scarring and faster recovery. Rather than simply lifting the skin layer, the SMAS Face Lift firmly pulls from the deepest layer of the skin, the SMAS layer, resulting in a much tighter lift and longer-lasting lifting effects.

Such SMAS Face Lift can be an effective method for creating firm skin in cases where simple lifting procedures were not effective, or when one is concerned about sagging cheeks and deep nasolabial folds. Furthermore, even if the skin sagging is not due to aging, if there was a previous facial contouring or orthognathic surgery, and the skin starts to sag due to fat accumulation in the jawline or double chin area, it can be improved with SMAS Face Lift. 

However, there are also precautions to be taken when undergoing such SMAS lifting. Since blood vessels and nerve tissues are densely packed beneath the SMAS layer, it may not be easy to separate the SMAS layer without the skilled hands of experienced medical professionals; pulling too hard without properly understanding the facial skeleton or degree of sagging can lead to awkward results.

Therefore, due to the high level of difficulty in the surgery, it is advisable to establish an appropriate plan after accurate pre-examinations through medical professionals with abundant clinical experience, considering age, skin condition, and the degree of wrinkles, for a safe surgery and satisfying results.