Evolution of the Facelift

To most people, a facelift is just a facelift. In its generic sense, it can be used to describe any cosmetic improvement given to anything from a public building to a person to a political platform. However, to cosmetic surgeons, a facelift can mean any of a number of things, all of which are constantly changing. If you are considering a facelift, it is important to understand the development of the facelift and its current state as a medical treatment to make sure you get the best possible results.

Early Facelifts

The facelift is a relatively recent innovation in surgery. Nose and ear reconstruction were performed in ancient India. Blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) was reported in the late sixteenth century. Cosmetic rhinoplasty and abdominoplasty (without navel repositioning) were invented in the late nineteenth century. Breast lifts and reductions were also pioneered about this time. However, facelifts have only been in use since the early 20th century. The earliest facelifts involved repositioning skin on the face and little else. The procedure (and many others) was described in the book La chirurgie esthétique; son role social, published by Dr. A Noel in 1926.

More than Skin Deep

The skin-only technique of the facelift continued until the mid-1970s, when doctors began lifting the underlying muscle tissue, known as the Superficial Muscloaponeurotic System (SMAS) as well to provide better results. The results doctors achieved by repositioning the SMAS were not only more pleasing, because they allowed doctors to recontour the face as well as tighten the skin, but were also longer lasting because the SMAS has more structural integrity than the skin.

Short Scar

Then, in the 1990s, doctors developed what is known as the short-scar facelift. Short-scar facelifts provided less cosmetic improvement with less invasive surgery. This option came to be known under a number of names–S-Lift, Quicklift, Lifestyle Lift, etc—as brand-conscious doctors sought to package and market their unique procedure. Although the results of the short-scar facelift are neither as dramatic nor as long-lasting as the full facelift, they have become reasonably popular among especially working men and women who cannot afford the downtime of the more dramatic surgery.

A Stitch in Time?

In the first part of the 21st century, one of the most popular innovations has been the introduction of the thread lift, in which the lifting of the skin and muscles is performed by a barbed thread. The advantages promised by this procedure are that it provides the same results as a short-scar or even full facelift without any significant downtime whatsoever. However, the reality seems to be that the thread lift is a historical anomaly as its results are uneven and sometimes quite bad as the thread can show through to the surface of the face. The thread can also often be felt by the patient, usually painfully. It seems unlikely that the thread lift will continue to be used in the future.

Further Developments

Today, doctors continue to work on the technique of the short-scar facelift to find a better compromise between results and surgery. The goal is to provide a facelift that has the same lifespan as the full facelift, but only requires the scars of the short-scar facelift and has little downtime. There is some progress in this area, leading to the creation of new variants of the short-scar facelift in areas where there is high demand for cosmetic surgery, such as San Diego. To make sure you receive the best procedure possible, be sure to inquire with your cosmetic surgeon about the technique he or she uses, what kind of results it achieves, and what level of tradeoffs you are making between surgical invasiveness and results.