Facelift
in Smithtown, NY

Over time, the skin begins to lose elasticity, and facial tissues lose volume due to various factors like heredity, stress, environmental conditions, and so on. Eventually, these changes weigh the skin down, leaving your face looking duller and older than you are or feel. A facelift (rhytidectomy) is a cosmetic surgical procedure that lifts and firms sagging facial tissues to restore a more pleasing facial appearance.

Facelift surgery in Smithtown, New York, can help you improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, jowls, marionette lines, nasolabial folds, and facial hollows. With the advancements in surgical technology and precise techniques, your results will look more natural than ever. Out are the days of the “wind-blown” facelift, and in are the times of highlighting your natural beauty and subtle contours.

What Are Your
Long Island Facelift Options?

Facelifts are among the most sought-after procedures for combatting the effects of aging, but the different techniques available can make choosing the right one challenging. Each type of facelift—deep plane, SMAS, and limited incision—targets specific concerns and varies in complexity, results, and recovery time.

Understanding the differences in these facelift options helps you make an informed decision based on your goals and the guidance of our experienced plastic surgeon.

Deep Plane Facelift

The deep plane facelift is considered by many plastic surgeons to be the most advanced and comprehensive facial rejuvenation technique. By repositioning the deeper structures of your face, including the facial muscles and connective tissues, this option typically delivers more natural and long-lasting results.

Ideal for individuals with significant sagging or volume loss in the midface, jawline, and neck, the deep plane facelift achieves dramatic rejuvenation. However, it’s essential to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon due to its complexity.

Traditional or SMAS Facelift

The SMAS technique focuses on lifting the superficial muscular layer beneath the skin (SMAS).

This technique strikes a balance between comprehensive rejuvenation and shorter recovery times, making it popular for patients seeking moderate correction without the extensive downtime of a deep plane facelift. It is ideal for patients with moderate to advanced aging around the mid-face and neck.

Limited Incision Facelift

Another option is the limited incision facelift, which is the least invasive technique and targets patients with a mild degree of jowling and sagging skin in the lower face. The limited incision facelift does not target as much laxity as the traditional or deep plane approach and is better suited for patients who seek subtle improvements to their facial contours or who cannot commit to a longer recovery period.

Which Facelift Technique Is Right for You?

Choosing the right facelift option depends on your specific needs and goals.

• Depth of Treatment: The deep plane facelift addresses the deepest layers for the most comprehensive rejuvenation, while the SMAS facelift targets the intermediate layers. The limited incision facelift focuses primarily on surface-level corrections.
• Results: Deep plane facelifts deliver dramatic, long-lasting results. SMAS facelifts provide natural yet less extensive improvement, while limited incision facelifts offer subtle enhancements.
• Recovery: Deep plane facelifts require the most recovery time, while SMAS facelifts and limited incision facelifts involve shorter downtimes.

Scheduling a consultation with Dr. David Pincus in Long Island will help you determine which technique is best suited for you.

How Is Facelift
Surgery Performed?

Your facelift procedure techniques will vary depending on the option you choose, your desired results, and if you choose to add other facial surgeries. These factors will be determined at your consultation.

Your Consultation

During your initial consultation, Dr. Pincus will review your medical history and carefully consider your general health, facial anatomy, and cosmetic goals. He will then determine the best approach to produce a better, more natural outcome that directly addresses your aesthetic concerns.

Deep Plane Facelift

This method involves lifting the skin and underlying SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) layer together as one unit, which prevents the “pulled” appearance common with older facelift techniques.

Incisions can be made behind the ear, at the temple, above the ear, within the folds of the ear, in front of the ear, around the back of the ear, or in the sideburn areas.

The SMAS Facelift

Unlike the deep plane technique, this option involves separating the skin from the underlying tissues, allowing the adjustment of each layer independently. The SMAS, or traditional facelift, involves incisions made in the hairline at your temples, which extend to the front of the ears, behind them, and end at your lower scalp. A small incision can also be made under the chin to work on the neck.

The facial skin is lifted, excess fat around the neck and chin is surgically removed or suctioned away with liposuction, the underlying layer of fibrous tissue (facia) is recontoured, and the skin is repositioned for smoother, more youthful-looking results.

The Limited Incision Facelift

This less invasive approach involves shorter incisions made in areas similar to a traditional facelift. In some cases, another small incision is made within the lower eyelids or beneath the upper lip.

Closing the Incisions

Regardless of the facelift option you choose, Dr. Pincus will use advanced techniques that promote optimal healing and minimize their visibility.

Facelift surgery is performed under general anesthesia and takes between two and three hours to complete, depending on your treatment plan. As an outpatient procedure, you can return home to start your recovery within a few hours.

Should I Combine My Facelift With a Neck Lift?

Neck lift surgery is almost always performed alongside a facelift to treat laxities, such as vertical banding, sagging skin, and a double chin. This combination is often essential to maintain a balance between the face and neck.

Depending on your specific aesthetic concerns, facelift and neck lift surgery may be performed alone or in combination with other procedures such as eyelid surgery, nose reshaping, or ear surgery (otoplasty).