Short Scar Facelift

For the past 3 years I have used the short scar facelift (also known as a meloplasty) extensively for facial rejuvenation. Two thirds of my facelift procedures are designed with the short scar approach. The advantages of the surgery are:

  • Versatility to accommodate the aesthetic needs of the patient
  • Shorter scar
  • Shorter surgical time
  • Shorter downtime
  • Shorter healing time, decreased bruising, less swelling

I often combined the short scar lift with an outer (lateral) eyebrow-lift (temporoplasty), an upper lip lift (“buffalo horn” excision), perioral dermabrasion, forehead and jawline “thread lift,” lip augmentation to complete the harmony of facial rejuvenation.

The lateral eyebrow-lift accentuates and stylizes the outside half of the eyebrow [which is often plucked to give the impression of a thin elevated brow]. Not only does the brow-lift elevate the eyebrow but it also smoothes the outside of the upper and lower eyelids and effaces the crow’s feet.

The lip lift helps to rejuvenate the upper lip by re-exposing the upper teeth when smiling – a feature that is often lost with facial aging.

Perioral dermabration helps to smooth out the fine wrinkles around the mouth (“smokers lines”) and modifies the marionette grooves (the puppet wrinkles at the corners of the mouth).

We are now working with a new lip implant (“FulFil”), which is inflatable.  Although our experience is short and limited, we have been very happy with our initial results.

Thread lifting employs the insertion of barbed threads (like thin barbed wire) into the soft tissues of the forehead, cheeks, and neck to lift the tissues and reverse the aging process. I use the threads to reduce specific areas of wrinkling (i.e. crow’s feet), for specific areas of facial rejuvenation (lateral brows, jaw line), and for touch-up surgery.

The star of the show is the short scar facelift [MACS – minimal access cranial suspension], which lifts the lower eyelids, cheeks and neck skin with limited dissection and two layers of sutures placed through short incisions located in front of the ears.  In addition, a suture is passed through the outside border of the neck muscle to tighten it.  The global effect is an upward and backward volume shift of the facial skin that tightens the cheeks and lower eyelids.  There is minimal effect on the folds and the wrinkles around the mouth.  The short scar facelift is often combined with liposuction of the jaw line and neck, chemosurgery (Botox) for central forehead lift, and a short scar temporoplasty to lift the lateral eyebrows.

Most facelifts are performed in our office surgical suite under general anesthesia but we also have the facilities for local “twilight” sedation.

Some patients require a preoperative evaluation by their physician or a well- trained specialist. The reasons for a pre-operative workup include age, high blood pressure, cardiac disease, abnormal EKG, or diabetes.

Here are some typical examples and results of the short scar face-lift.

This busy lady requested a facial rejuvenation procedure that would have a short downtime. A short scar face-lift tightened the jaw line, elevated the outside of the mouth, and smoothed out the nasolabial folds. She was back to work in five days. Note the almost imperceptible scar in front of the ear at 3 months after surgery.

Patient 1.

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After

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After

This lady complained of early, but progressive facial aging, that included jawline laxity and jowl formation, flaccidity of the neck with “turkey wattle” formation and loss of her chin-neck angle. These findings were addressed with a short scar facelift and necklift. The effects of surgery were to tighten the facial and neck skin and elevate the anterior cheeks to redefine the cheek prominences.

Patient 2.

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After

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After

This lady complained of early cheek and neck laxity and elongated upper lip which covered her upper teeth and reduced the effect of her smile. These findings were treated with a short scar face-lift that refined her jaw line and tightened her chin-neck angle and a “buffalo horn” upper lip lift.

Patient 3.

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After

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After

This lady complained of early cheek and anterior neck laxity that was treated with a short scar facelift that redefined her jaw line and tightened her chin-neck angle.

Patient 4.

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After

This lady complained of early cheek flaccidity, early jowls, and an elongated nasal tip. These complaints were addressed with a short scar facelift, a lateral eyebrowlift and a tip rhinoplasty.

Patient 5.

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After

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After

This lady complained of early, but progressive facial aging, that included jaw line laxity and jowl formation, and fine facial wrinkling. These findings were addressed with a short scar facelift and necklift. The effects of surgery were to tighten the facial and neck skin. Note the well-healed face scars placed within the ear creases. The rhinoplasty (nose surgery) has produced a pleasant facial harmony.

Patient 6.

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After

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After

This young woman sought early facial rejuvenation to correct a short, obtuse chin-neck angle and early jowls. She also requested lip enlargement.
These requests were addressed with a short scar facelift, chin implant, and saline-filled lip implants.

Patient 7.

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After

In summary, the short scar facelift provides my patients with an early facial rejuvenation, limited downtime, well-healed scars, and a longer-lasting result than laser and chemical peel surgery.