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    SMAS Facelift London


    111 Harley St. are rated an average of 5 out of 5 based on 1376 reviews

    The SMAS Facelift is one kind of Facelift technique Dr Yannis performs to elevate the skin on the face. It creates a new lifted position of the skin’s layers, enhances the vitality of the face, and is usually recommended for patients who have moderate to advanced laxity and ptosis.

    If we were to rank how extensive Facelifts are according to the amount of structural work undergone, a Mini Facelift would rank lowest, and a Deep Plane Facelift – or Dr Yannis’ signature Y Facelift – would sit on the higher end of the scale. A SMAS Lifting Facelift would be in the middle: this gives you an idea of how extensive the surgery would be. A SMAS Facelift in our Harley Street clinic consists of lifting and altering the Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System (SMAS) which is the deep layer of connective fibrous tissue beneath the skin and fat. What this means for you is that while you can expect a tightening of the skin, you will also achieve the lasting elevation of the muscles within the face, for a more extensive rejuvenation effect that is not just two dimensional or skin-deep.

     


    • Content checked and approved for medical accuracy by Dr Yannis Alexandrides MD FACS

    Our Quick Guide to SMAS Facelifts


    • Procedure Time
      Procedure Time: 2.5-3 hours
    • Anaesthesia
      Anaesthesia: General Anaesthetic or Intravenous Sedation
    • Hospital Stay
      Hospital Stay: Day Case or Overnight If Necessary
    • Time Off Work
      Time Off Work: 7-10 Days
    • Recovery Time
      Recovery Time: 4-6 weeks
    • Exercise
      Exercise: 4-6 Weeks
    The American Society For Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS)
    Internation Society For Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ISAPS)
    Top Performing RealSelf Doctor
    General Medical Council UK (GMC)
    American Society Of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)

    Facelift Before and After Photos

    ASK OUR SURGEON

    What is a SMAS technique for a Facelift?

    There are many kinds of Facelift techniques, some are more preferred by a surgeon than others and some techniques will also be more suitable depending on the patients’ needs and goals.

    SMAS Lifting in London is suitable for people showing some of the advanced signs of ageing but are still relatively young as for our older patients we may recommend a Deep Plane Facelift to help give you the best results. The SMAS is present in both sides of the cheeks and connects to the neck’s platysma muscle, the fibrous network of facial fascia and connects the skin to the muscles.

    So, by lifting this layer of skin, repositioning and tightening it, it can produce an amazing lift that can work on both a deeper and superficial level – again depending on the type of look you wish to achieve. This type of lower face lift would be ideal for those who have a lot of skin laxity and are experiencing mild to moderate relaxation of the facial muscles which could be causing jowls, lack of lower facial definition and discontinuity of the chin.

    SMAS Facelift FAQs

    SMAS Facelift surgery is performed under general anaesthetic which means most Facelift surgeries at 111 Harley St. are performed in one of our partnering hospitals which are located on Harley Street as well as Chelsea, and Battersea.

    Once you’re asleep, after the anaesthesia has been administered by our Head Anaesthetist, Hish, you can expect Dr Yannis to then begin making the initial incisions. Typically, a Facelift surgery can be split up into the following categories:

    1. Incision making to reveal the muscles beneath

    2. Repositioning and elevation of the SMAS

    3. Removing of excess skin

    4. Closing the incisions

    Once all the above steps are complete, Dr Yannis will then move to the next side. Typically, this procedure can take around 2-3 hours. You’ll wake up once the surgery is over and rest in a private room – in the care of our expert team. When you feel up to it, you can then return home or, depending on Dr Yannis’ wishes, you may need to stay overnight.

    We always advise our patients to have a loved one or friend come and collect them from to hospital as you may be feeling groggy after the surgery.

    Around a week later, you’ll have your first post-op appointment with our Surgical Nurse or Surgical Theatre Practitioner. In these appointments, our Surgical Team will clean the area and remove any stitches and these post-ops can continue weekly depending on your healing progress.

    Generally, Facelift scars are visible but they do gradually fade in the months after the procedure. Below is an image of what you can expect a typical Facelift recovery to look like.

    The type of scarring can also depend on the technique the surgeon uses and the neatness of the stitching. Often Dr Yannis prefers to use a peri-audial stitch, meaning that the incision created is in the crease between the ear and the cheek, and extends behind the ear. In terms of neatness, many of Dr Yannis patients comment on how neat his stitches are.

    To improve the appearance of the scars, we also give our patients Dr Yannis’ Dramatic Healing Serum which inspired the creation of his skincare brand, 111SKIN. The Healing Serum can be used on scars morning and night and will help reduce inflammation and leave the skin looking flawless.

    Alongside the Dramatic Healing Serum, we also provide bespoke aftercare programs to enhance your post-op appearance. This includes undergoing LED Light Therapy, which is when you sit under mixed, low-level lights to accelerate the closure of dermal wounds.

    Additionally, to LED treatments, we have an abundance of Non-Surgical Treatments that can further enhance your Facelift results and assist your recovery. Lymphatic massage is one of them. Endermologie is a painless, relaxing treatment that involves our Surgical Nurse Zuzana, massaging the face with a motorized roller specially designed to mobilise fluid in the body to reduce swelling and tone, firm and smooth the face post-op.

    Dr Yannis highly recommends the Deep Plane Facelift for longevity. The Deep Plane Facelift works on a deeper level than a SMAS Facelift and where the SMAS Facelift lasts around 10-15 years, the Deep Plane Facelift can last around 15-20 years.

    Whenever choosing a Harley Street clinic you expect the best. Our clinic is an embodiment of the expertise and aesthetic advancements and technologies you would expect on Harley Street, but with a welcoming environment to match. Our team, who have recently been shortlisted for ‘Best Clinic Team’, are not cold or clinical. In addition to being highly professional and experienced, they are extremely personable and friendly to help put you at ease as we know best that surgery is nothing to be taken lightly!

    Of course! Natural looking Facelifts are Dr Yannis’ speciality. Looking pulled or stretched are words used to describe a badly performed Facelift so it’s key to go to a reputable surgeon to ensure you no adverse effects occur.

    With Dr Yannis’ expertise he will give you results that ensure you still look like yourself, just a younger, refreshed version of you!

    As a Facelift tightens the skin, a Facelift can help acne scars – especially sunken, rolling scars or indented ones – as it may help smooth the skin and overall improve the skin’s texture and pitted-ness.

    Your surgeon will confirm this. However, a Facelift is not the procedure we would typically advise for acne. We have a range of resurfacing laser treatments, or Chemical Peels or Microneedling treatments which can help acne much more effectively than a Facelift would.

    Definitely! Reducing wrinkles, deep nasolabial folds and furrows is one of the biggest benefits of a Facelift.

    After a Facelift, the skin will be firmer and tauter, so expect any wrinkles, fine lines and jowling to be greatly reduced.

    A lot of people want to know if a Facelift lasts forever, and the answer is no. Unfortunately, even after a Facelift your skin is still affected by time and gravity, and while a Facelift will temporarily slow the signs of ageing down, they typically last anywhere between 10-20 years depending on the technique used and the person’s individual lifestyle factors.

    This is because the repositioning of the muscles using sutures gradually gets weakened through muscle movements and facial expressions.

    If you are noticing the effects of your Facelift becoming less pronounced as they once were, a secondary Facelift can restore the originally effects of your first one.

    Why 111 Harley St.?

    • Dr Yannis Alexandrides specialises in Facial Reconstructive Surgery (including Craniofacial Surgery). Therefore, he has a profound understanding of the complexities of the bone structure and soft tissues.
    • Having performed countless facial surgeries over the past 30 years, Dr Yannis Alexandrides only performs Facelift techniques that can deliver guaranteed results.
    • Dr Yannis Alexandrides’ deep understanding of skin’s 3D healing process is what led him to create a successful skincare line that delivers pioneering solutions based on extensive medical observations, practice and research. He also pioneered the Y Facelift – his unique approach to providing the best facelift results for his patients.
    • His training in Miami’s Centre for Aesthetic Surgery means that Dr Yannis has experience from both sides of the Atlantic; training in America but understanding European standards. Through this experience, he discovered innovative facelift methods and developed his own unique pioneering approaches.
    • He regularly attends events as a Keynote Speaker, teaching his surgical techniques to other Plastic Surgeons.
    • Dr Yannis Alexandrides has extensive experience working with leaders in Facial Rejuvenation and Facelift procedures. It’s an operation that requires careful planning according to the patient’s desires, anatomy and state of ageing.
    • At 111 Harley St., we often combine a facelift procedure with a blepharoplasty, brow lift, neck lift, lip lift, or other facial procedure that can rejuvenate the patient’s overall appearance.

     

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