The vast majority of women strive to have not only a good figure, but an attractive appearance, which makes it possible to look several years younger. And this desire is quite natural. However, various age-related changes become inevitable. At the same time, they affect not only the skin of the face, but also the connective muscle structures. As a result, bags appear under the eyes, the second chin spoils the appearance, and nasolabial folds become pronounced. What to do in this case?
Today,
SMAS lifting helps women win time
. Reviews of this procedure suggest that it is one of the most popular ways to tighten. With the help of SMAS lifting, the face is simply transformed and looks much younger.
Actual problem
Many women who have reached the age of 45 are worried about the possibility of returning elastic and smooth skin, as well as its clear contours. And today, this question can be answered positively. The latest revolutionary method used by plastic surgeons, SMAS lifting, allows you to tighten virtually all soft tissues.
These specialists have been familiar with the anatomical structure of the skin for a long time. However, only in 1976 the most detailed description of the muscular-aponeurotic subcutaneous surface system (Superficial Musculo-Aponeurotic System) was obtained. It was then that the term itself was proposed, which is an abbreviation of this name - SMAS.
Today, plastic surgeons are actively mastering and improving the method that allows you to restore youth to your face by turning back the clock. And it is so effective that it is becoming more and more popular among patients at cosmetic clinics.
The essence of the method
In order to understand SMAS lifting - what it is, you will need to take a small excursion into the anatomy. SMAS is nothing more than a muscular system connecting the dermis and muscles. It is located directly under the skin in the layers of subcutaneous fat. SMAS on the face is located in three zones. These are areas near the ears, on the neck and on the cheeks. One of the functions of this system is the normal functioning of the facial muscles.
Over time, the weakening of SMAS occurs. This is the reason that the formation of the following occurs:
- fine wrinkles on the surface of the neck;
- second chin;
- prolapse of the upper eyelid;
- bags under the eyes;
- nasolabial folds;
- the so-called bulldog cheeks.
All these changes can be eliminated by SMAS lifting. During the operation, the plastic surgeon, in addition to the skin layer and subcutaneous fat, affects the deeper layers. This allows him to eliminate any age-related changes.
What is the result of SMAS lifting? Reviews of patients claim that after such a surgical intervention, the appearance does not undergo drastic changes. The incision of the eyes and the line of the mouth remain the same. The technique refreshes and tightens the contours of the face, returns to it the previous oval without obtaining the effect of stretched skin. At the same time, all formed folds and wrinkles are eliminated.
Indications
Who is recommended facelift using SMAS-lifting? A similar procedure is performed for those patients who have obvious signs of skin aging. Their list includes:
- peeling and dry skin;
- the appearance of pigmentation;
- thickening of the skin layers, for example, as a result of a regular or chronic inflammatory process in the tissues;
- loss of tone;
- formation of skin creases;
- the appearance of spider veins (telangiectasia).
Before the procedure, it is necessary to obtain the advice of a qualified specialist. Only the opinion of the doctor will help determine the need for such a lifting, as well as identify the method of exposure that will be most effective.
There are several techniques in this area. So, SMAS lifting happens:
- classic;
- endoscopic;
- ultrasonic;
- hardware.
Let's consider them in more detail.
Classic method
A facelift using SMAS lifting in this way is the most traumatic. This is an operational method that is performed using surgical intervention. For all necessary manipulations, careful preparation of the patient is required. The operation itself lasts from two to three hours. In this case, the patient is under general anesthesia. And despite the fact that after a long rehabilitation period is required, many still decide to use this method. After all, the effect of it is the longest - from 10 to 15 years. But even after this period, patients continue to look much younger than their age. The technique is recommended for patients older than forty years.
Classic SMAS lifting - what is it? This is an operation during which the surgeon makes an incision. The scalpel begins its journey in the temple area. Then it passes along the face to the earlobe and ends with the zone located behind the ear. All this is a natural crease line.
Through the resulting incision, the surgeon peels off the upper part of the skin, separates the SMAS layer and tightens it. Excess tissue during the operation must be excised. If necessary, the specialist can carry out lipoxation. Further, the surface layer of the skin, which was given a new position, is subject to fixation. After stitches are applied. The surgeon disguises them along the line of hairline growth.
In addition to the operating technique of detachment, a specialist can perform hemming of the muscular-aponeurotic system in the surface layers of the skin. What is the difference between this SMAS lifting? The reviews of specialists and patients suggest that such an operation not only corrects the oval of the face, but also adds the missing volume in the cheekbones. This effect is most preferred for patients with thin faces. Such an operating technique is less traumatic, which reduces the risk of complications.
Rehabilitation period
After the operation has been performed (SMAS-lifting), the patient should spend at least two days in the hospital. All this time, his health is being monitored by specialists. At least 3-4 days, a supporting dressing is required. Sutures can only be removed after two weeks.
A rather long recovery period is distinguished by classic SMAS lifting. Feedback from experts suggests that this will take about two months. This time is necessary to restore damaged muscles and tissues, as well as resorption of hematomas.
In order for the postoperative period to pass without complications, it is recommended to use chilled compresses and antibiotics. The patient should not lower his head, otherwise swelling may occur. It is forbidden to drink alcohol, smoke, and also to go to a sauna and a bath.
What other recommendations are given to those patients who underwent SMAS lifting? Rehabilitation will take place with minimal risk of side effects if:
- during rest, the patient’s head will be on a raised platform, which will reduce facial swelling;
- a person will not receive intense physical activity.
For faster healing of sutures, the doctor prescribes physiotherapy. A course of injections with the use of special drugs that help reduce skin is also needed.
Contraindications
When is SMAS face lifting not carried out? It is not recommended if you have the following:
- diabetes mellitus;
- pregnancy;
- bleeding disorders;
- oncological diseases;
- heart disease.
What other contraindications does SMAS lifting have? The technique does not apply to patients with an acute form of infectious diseases, as well as in the case of a predisposition to the formation of keloid scars.
To determine the possibility of the operation, the surgeon suggests that the person contacting the clinic pass a series of tests and undergo the necessary examination. This allows us to evaluate and identify any risks that may arise after the tightening. In addition, two weeks before the scheduled procedure, the patient should stop consuming vitamins, nutritional supplements and drugs that contribute to blood thinning, as well as smoking.
Side effects
Possible complications after SMAS lifting should be voiced by the surgeon before carrying out the operating procedure. Negative consequences can be swelling of the tissues, as well as the appearance of bruising and hematomas. Sometimes in patients after surgery in the corrected areas there is a loss of sensitivity. Cases of rejection of certain areas of the skin on the face are also possible.
SMAS lifting also carries the risk of some other complications. Among them are:
- infection;
- the formation of fairly noticeable scars;
- long healing of the skin;
- asymmetry of the face and damage to its main nerve;
- hair loss at the incision sites;
- change in common features.
In order to minimize postoperative complications, it is recommended to carefully choose the specialist who will be involved in the tightening procedure. According to patients' reviews, as well as on the basis of their results, it becomes clear that a competent surgeon is able to make a person twenty years younger. In this case, after such an operation, the rehabilitation period will be painless and comfortable.
Cost
How much does it cost to pay for classic SMAS lifting? The price of this procedure is quite high. But at the same time, it depends on the region in which the clinic is located, its pricing policy, and also on the volume of surgical intervention.
For example, in Moscow, patients will need to lay out from 25.5 to 500 thousand rubles for SMAS lifting, and in St. Petersburg - from 60 to 450 thousand rubles.
Photos of patients before and after SMAS lifting are a clear confirmation that this money will not be thrown to the wind. They will be a rather successful investment in their own appearance and will fully justify themselves. It should be borne in mind that the classic operation on SMAS lifting can be performed only once in a person’s life.
Endoscopic method
This method is less traumatic than the classic, as it is minimally invasive. The duration of the operation is up to three and a half hours. It is carried out under general combined anesthesia. For such an operation, the patient will need to pay from one hundred and twenty thousand rubles.
The entire rejuvenation procedure does not require incisions with a scalpel. Surgical intervention is carried out through small punctures that the specialist makes in the temporal region of the scalp. It is in them that the doctor introduces an endoscope equipped with a video camera. At the same time, the picture transmitted by such a device appears on the monitor screen. With the help of an endoscope, the surgeon detaches the skin tissue and isolates the SMAC structure, fixing it already in a new, more taut position. At the end of the operation, the stitches are superimposed and then carefully masked. As for the principle of this method and the recovery period, in everything else it is similar to the classical method described above.
According to experts and patients, the effect after such an operation is less long and ranges from 3 to 5 years. That is why it is indicated for people who have only slight signs of sagging and aging skin. The average age of these patients is 40 years.
After surgery, a compression dressing is applied to the face. The patient will have to spend almost two days in the hospital to be under the supervision of a doctor. Specialists will remove the seams a little later. This will happen on the fifth day. After about two weeks, hematomas and bruises will resolve. Starting from the third day after the operation, the doctor may prescribe a massage course. This will significantly accelerate the rehabilitation process. The maximum effect after such an operation will occur no earlier than a month and a half later.
The positive aspects of such SMAS lifting are the following:
- minimal, easily maskable cuts;
- no risk of tissue numbness, as well as hair loss in the field of puncture production;
- long-term anti-aging effect;
- the absence of significant hematomas and edema;
- minimal risks of damage to the facial nerve;
- the possibility of re-conducting the operation.
The disadvantages of this method include its high price, as well as the fact that it is indicated for patients only with the first or second stage of aging.
Ultrasonic method
This non-surgical lifting allows you to achieve the desired result after one procedure. To maintain the effect obtained, repeated sessions should be carried out. At the same time, it is enough to visit a beauty salon once every two to three years. The duration of this procedure is 30-60 minutes.
The essence of the ultrasonic SMAS procedure is the effect of pulses penetrating the skin layers to a depth of five millimeters. In this case, ultrasound waves heat the tissue. Muscle and collagen fibers contract. The processes of synthesis of important components of skin youth - elastin and collagen - are launched. As a result of exposure to ultrasonic pulses, the tone of the SMAS system is restored, which helps to tighten fatty tissue and skin.
A similar result is characterized by a growing result. It means a gradual solution to the problem, which takes from five to six months in time. However, according to patient reviews, the positive visual effect becomes noticeable after the end of the manipulations.
The main indication for the procedure is the omission of the soft tissue of the face and neck. The optimal age for applying this method is a period of up to 50 years.
The use of the ultrasonic method is not allowed in cases:
- installed pacemaker;
- pregnancy and lactation;
- the presence of metal implants in the area of impact;
- pathology of the nervous system;
- endocrine diseases;
- the presence of ulcers in the treatment area;
- oncology;
- diseases of a systemic nature.
Among the advantages of ultrasonic SMAS lifting, one can distinguish its more sparing effect, as well as the absence of scars and a short rehabilitation period.
Among the shortcomings are its high price (from 40 to 150 thousand rubles), as well as redness of the skin, which disappears after a couple of hours, and swelling that persists for 2 days.
Hardware method
This is another option for non-surgical SMAS lifting. This procedure is performed using the Altera apparatus. Its essence lies in the fact that the device generates thermal waves penetrating into the deeper layers of the skin. The patient receives the necessary result after the first procedure. The effect of hardware exposure lasts for one year. The cost of the session, depending on the clinic and area of impact, is in the range from 30 to 110 thousand rubles.