SMAS Facelift
Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon Serving Newport Beach Patients
Restore a refreshed, more youthful appearance with advanced facelift surgery from Dr. Robert Kessler
As the face ages, sagging skin, jowls, and changes along the jawline and neck can alter your overall facial contours. A SMAS facelift lifts and repositions the underlying tissues as well as the skin, providing more comprehensive facial rejuvenation than skin tightening alone.
Dr. Robert Kessler performs a range of SMAS facelift techniques for patients seeking facial rejuvenation in Newport Beach. With an office in Corona del Mar and a surgical facility in Newport Beach, Dr. Kessler serves patients throughout Orange County, across the United States, and internationally.
What Is a SMAS Facelift?
A SMAS facelift is a type of facelift surgery that lifts and repositions the deeper supporting tissues of the face along with the skin. This layer can be plicated, partially excised, or elevated as a deep plane. These approaches can improve sagging in the cheeks and lower face, soften jowls, and restore definition along the jawline while avoiding an overly tight appearance.
When neck laxity is also a concern, a SMAS facelift may be performed with a neck lift to address the lower face and neck together.
What Can a SMAS Facelift Improve?
A SMAS facelift is designed to address visible changes in the lower face that develop with age. Depending on your anatomy and surgical plan, it may improve:
- ● Sagging cheeks and lower-face skin
- ● Jowls along the jawline
- ● Loss of definition around the jaw and chin
- ● Deeper folds around the nose and mouth
- ● Loose or aging skin along the upper neck
By restoring the position of deeper facial tissues and addressing excess skin, the procedure can create a smoother, more defined transition from the cheeks to the jawline and neck.
The Benefits of the SMAS Approach
A SMAS facelift addresses the deeper support of the face rather than relying on skin tension alone. This allows Dr. Kessler to improve facial contours while limiting tension on the skin.
- ● More Defined Facial Contours: Repositions sagging tissue to improve the cheeks, jawline, and lower face.
- ● Reduced Jowling: Lifts descended tissue along the lower face to reduce jowls and restore jawline definition.
- ● Natural-Looking Results: Supports the underlying tissues while removing excess skin to create smoother, more natural contours.
- ● Incision Placement and Scarring: Incisions are carefully placed around the natural contours of the ears and, when appropriate, within the hairline to keep resulting scars as discreet as possible.
SMAS Facelift vs. Other Facelift Techniques
A SMAS facelift lifts and secures the SMAS layer beneath the skin, allowing the surgeon to reposition deeper facial tissues while also addressing excess skin. In a traditional facelift, the lift relies primarily on tightening and redraping the skin, which does not address the underlying tissue in the same way.
A deep plane facelift, by comparison, releases and repositions deeper facial tissues as a unit beneath the SMAS layer, making it a distinct surgical approach. The appropriate technique depends on the areas being treated, your facial anatomy, and the degree and pattern of facial aging.
The SMAS Facelift Procedure
SMAS facelift surgery is performed under anesthesia, with the surgical plan tailored to the areas of your face and neck that need correction. Dr. Kessler makes carefully placed incisions around the ears and, when needed, within the hairline to access the deeper facial tissues.
The SMAS layer is then lifted and repositioned to restore a youthful contour. Excess skin is removed and redraped over the underlying contours rather than pulled tightly, helping create a smoother transition through the cheeks, jawline, and lower face. If the neck also requires correction, a neck lift may be performed as part of the same surgical plan. Facial fat grafting can also be done to restore lost volume.
Once the desired contours have been achieved, the incisions are closed, and the patient is moved into recovery. The procedure and recovery plan vary according to the extent of correction needed.
Recovery and Results After a SMAS Facelift
Some swelling, bruising, tightness, and temporary numbness are expected after SMAS facelift surgery and gradually improve as you heal. Patients should plan for downtime and avoid strenuous activity until Dr. Kessler confirms it is appropriate to resume. Follow-up visits help monitor healing and guide your return to normal activities.
As swelling subsides, the improved contours of the cheeks, jawline, and neck become more apparent. Results continue to refine as the tissues settle, with the final results developing over the months following surgery.
SMAS Facelift Cost
The cost of a SMAS facelift in Newport Beach varies based on the extent of facial rejuvenation needed and whether additional procedures, such as a neck lift or fat transfer, are performed at the same time. Kessler Plastic Surgery accepts major credit cards and offers financing options.
Surgical Expertise Focused on Facial Rejuvenation
Dr. Robert Kessler brings more than two decades of surgical experience to facial rejuvenation, with advanced training and a practice that places facelift surgery at the forefront of its surgical expertise. His approach focuses on restoring the underlying structure of the face while preserving the features that make each patient recognizable.
For patients considering facelift surgery in Newport Beach and throughout Orange County, Dr. Robert Kessler’s focused facial surgery expertise supports natural-looking results. His practice also welcomes patients traveling from across the United States and internationally for facelift surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions
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01 How long does a SMAS facelift last?
A SMAS facelift provides long-lasting improvement, although it does not stop the natural aging process. How long results remain apparent varies based on factors such as age, skin quality, and lifestyle.
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02 Will I have visible scars after a SMAS facelift?
Scarring is a normal part of facelift surgery, but incisions are placed in discreet locations around the ears and, when appropriate, within the hairline. Scars generally become less noticeable as they mature.
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03 Where is SMAS facelift surgery performed?
Dr. Kessler’s office is located in Corona del Mar, while surgery is performed at a surgical center in Newport Beach. Patients from throughout Orange County can consult with Dr. Kessler about SMAS facelift surgery and their facial rejuvenation goals.
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04 What is the ideal age for an SMAS facelift?
Most candidates are between 45 and 65, though overall health and anatomical tissue descent matter more than age. You are likely a good candidate if you have visible jowls, sagging along the jawline, or deep nasolabial folds that non-surgical dermal fillers can no longer correct.
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05 Can a SMAS facelift be combined with other procedures?
Yes. Depending on your needs, a SMAS facelift may be combined with procedures such as a neck lift or other facial rejuvenation treatments like blepharoplasty or browlift. Dr. Kessler will determine which combination is appropriate for your surgical plan.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
If sagging skin, jowls, or changes along your jawline and neck are affecting your appearance, a consultation with Dr. Robert Kessler can help you understand whether a SMAS facelift is right for you.
Schedule a consultation at Kessler Plastic Surgery in Corona del Mar to discuss your goals, surgical options, and expected results.
Your SMAS Facelift will be performed in Dr. Robert Kessler's surgery center located in Corona Del Mar.
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Patient Testimonial
If I could give 20 stars I would! I can’t say enough wonderful things about Dr. Kessler and the entire staff. From the ease of booking to Dr Kesslers incredible skill and precision, this practice is the best of the best in my book! Don’t even hesitate to book with them today!
By M.K.
