Incision Lift - SM Plastic Surgery

Because the SMAS is lifted over a wide area, it tends to hold longer than non-surgical lifting. How long it holds varies from person to person with the degree of ageing and the state of the skin.

The minimal-incision lift opens only in front of the ear, addressing mainly the midface; the incisional lift opens from the front of the ear to behind it, covering the midface, lower face and neck lines in one operation.

If the retaining ligaments are not properly released, the tissue must be pulled hard, so the effect suffers and the scar remains large. Releasing them safely lets sagging improve naturally, with scarring kept down.

The incision follows the natural crease in front of the ear and the hairline behind it, so the scar is rarely noticeable.

A thread lift places threads under the skin to draw the tissue upward, while an incisional facelift uses an incision running from in front of the ear to behind it, dissecting down to the SMAS layer to lift and fix it. Because the right choice depends on which layer the sagging has progressed in, the decision is made after detailed analysis of aging and skin elasticity.

The incisional facelift places the incision along the natural crease in front of the ear and the hairline behind it, and the retaining ligaments are released sufficiently so that excessive tension is not needed. How a wound heals still varies with individual constitution, so if you scar easily we check your skin condition during consultation before advising.

An incisional facelift takes roughly two to three hours and is performed under sedation anesthesia. Because the dissection area is wide, the duration can change with the degree of sagging and the correction range, so an estimated time is given when the surgical plan is made.

For the incisional facelift we guide patients to expect about 14 days before returning to normal activity. Because the incision runs from in front of the ear to behind it, recovery takes longer than with the mini-incision facelift, and the pace of recovery differs from person to person.

The incisional facelift aims to address the mid-face, lower face and neck lines together in a single operation. Wide dissection from in front of the ear to behind it broadens the range of tissue that can be lifted, and the degree of improvement and how long it lasts vary with aging, skin elasticity and lifestyle.

The incisional facelift is generally indicated for patients in their fifties and above, where sagging has progressed widely enough that the mid-face, lower face and neck need to be treated together. Age is not the deciding factor on its own, however, as the extent of aging and skin elasticity guide the plan, and the incision range is set after detailed assessment.

In an incisional facelift the incision follows the natural crease in front of the ear and the hairline behind it, and the line is closed with precise suturing. How visible it is can still differ depending on how the hair is tied, the shape of the hairline and how the wound heals, so there is individual variation.

After an incisional facelift we generally schedule about two to three visits to check the sutured area and how the swelling subsides. Because the dissection area is wide, recovery is reviewed in stages, and the visit schedule is adjusted according to your condition.

If only the surface of the skin is tightened, the deeper layer causing the sagging remains as it is. The incisional facelift lifts and fixes the SMAS layer as well, the thin fibrous fascia located between the subcutaneous fat and the muscle within the epidermis, dermis, fat, SMAS and muscle structure.

At SM Plastic Surgery, the degree of aging, facial line and proportion, muscle and fat, and skin elasticity are analyzed in detail before an incisional facelift to build the surgical plan. Because the incision and dissection ranges depend on these findings, the plan is tailored to each individual face.

The incisional facelift is performed under sedation anesthesia, with the level of sedation and vital signs monitored throughout. The anesthesia method and pain control during surgery depend on your general health and the extent of the operation, so these are reviewed and explained at the pre-operative consultation.