What are the different types of facelift?

When it comes to facial rejuvenation, facelift procedures are the most popular choice. However, not all facelift procedures are the same.

There are a variety of facelift procedures depending on the patient's specific goals. In this article, we explore the different types of facelift to help you better understand the different approaches to surgical and non-surgical rejuvenation of the face.

What is Facelift?

Facelift has been the medical term traditionally used to describe surgical facial rejuvenation. However, since the beginning of the facelift procedure, many variations have emerged as plastic surgery technology has evolved, and the availability of this procedure has become more available both financially and advancements with surgical safety. Facelift has been the medical term traditionally used to describe surgical facial rejuvenation. However, since the beginning of the facelift procedure, many variations have emerged as plastic surgery technology has evolved, and the availability of this procedure has become more available both financially and advancements with surgical safety.

The facelift procedure can span from minor to major depending on the patient’s specific aging and cosmetic goals. Additionally, facelift surgeons have different descriptions of their specific facelift procedures, but most of these descriptions are uniform with similar techniques.

When consulting with your facelift surgeon, be sure to inquire as to the specific facelift procedure recommended and how it aligns with your facial rejuvenation goals. Additionally, be sure to choose a surgeon that is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery as there are physicians out there that advertise for facelift procedures but are not surgeons, much less plastic surgeons. Many of these rogue facelift wannabe surgeons will advertise a non-surgical procedure as a replacement for the surgical procedure. Be sure you understand the difference and ask questions, especially how long you can expect the results to last.

Surgical Facelift Procedures

• Skin-Only Facelift

  This type of facial rejuvenation procedure is just as describes with tightening of the skin and not any of the underlying muscle and fascia layers. This type of procedure has been known to be performed under general anesthesia, IV sedation, or local anesthesia. Surgical incisions should be expected with this procedure and will vary depending on the specific cosmetic goals. Surgical incisions for this procedure are typically in front of the ear and may follow around the ear lobe. This type of facelift Is not usually recommended for the patient that presents with more advanced facial aging as the muscle laxity should probably be addressed with a different facelift procedure to deliver meet patient expectations.



• Mini Facelift

  This type of facial rejuvenation is typically for the patient that presents with facial aging in need of tightening of the skin and underling SMAS layer of muscle (superficial muscular aponeurotic system). The mini facelift usually involves shorter incisions than a regular facelift with surgical incisions placed in front of the ear and following around the earlobe. The typical goals of this facelift are to smoothen skin and tighten muscles to rejuvenate the signs of skin laxity and nasolabial folds.



• Mid Facelift

  This facial rejuvenation procedure usually targets the aging of the cheeks and nasolabial fold areas of the face. This procedure involves lifting the malar pads (cheeks), tightening of the SMAS, followed by tightening skin. The surgical incisions for this type of facelift are similar to the mini facelift.



• Regular Facelift

  This is the most typical of facelift procedures that includes tightening of the skin and SMAS layer of muscle. The regular facelift addresses sagging skin of the face including the jowls, cheeks, and nasolabial folds. The regular facelift addresses rejuvenation of the mid, lower face areas, and sometimes the neck area depending on the surgeon and cosmetic goals. The surgical incisions for a regular facelift usually begin in the hairline above the ear, follow along or in front of the ear, around the earlobe, behind the ear, and into the hairline (scalp) area.



• Full Facelift

  The full facelift is often used to describe a regular facelift but can sometimes refer to the addition of ancillary facial rejuvenation procedures such as neck lift, blepharoplasty, brow lift, and fat grafting to the face.



• Deep Plane Facelift

  This is the most current trending facelift procedure and the most misunderstood. Originally introduced in 1990, this type of facelift is often described as more aggressive than a traditional facelift procedure with the dissection being made below the SMAS of the midface into the deep plane area. The deep plane is the area that separates the superficial soft tissue from deeper structural anatomy. There are many emerging variations of the original “deep plane” facelift according to the surgeon’s techniques, training, and overall marketing verbiage. Some surgeons describe their version of this procedure as surgically tightening the platysma, which are the bands in the front of the neck. This would be a neck lift for most other plastic surgeons. However, the original deep plane facelift is defined by dissection of the plane beneath the SMAS.

Non-Surgical Facelift Procedures

• Thread Lift

  This type of facial rejuvenation procedure is most performed under local anesthesia and can be an ideal option for the patient that presents with emerging facial aging. This procedure involves placement of temporary threads beneath the skin to lift and firm the skin. The threads are made of dissolvable suture material that typically last 1-3 years.



• Laser Facelift

  This type of facial rejuvenation procedure involves the use of medical laser technology to rejuvenate the surface of the skin. The cosmetic market is saturated with a myriad of medical lasers, some lasers are FDA approved as physician-only while others are approved to be operated by other medical and skincare professionals such as nurses and aestheticians. Medical rejuvenation lasers can resurface the skin leading it to appear tighter, while the heat from the light of the lasers can stimulate collagen growth that also rejuvenates the skin.



• Liquid Facelift

  This type of facial rejuvenation procedure usually involves multiple injections of a facial filler into areas of the face such as the nasolabial folds and cheeks to plump areas that have lost volume due to the aging process and fill-in lines and wrinkles. The facial dermal fillers could include temporary fillers made with hyaluronic acid or could be facial fat grafting injections using your own fat.