Mini Face Lift
Facial ageing occurs progressively over time. The cheeks descend, the nasolabial and marionette lines become heavier, jowls start to obscure the definition of the jawline and the neck becomes loose. Whilst a “face lift” procedure will address these changes, in the early stages of facial ageing a full facelift would be over-treatment for most people.
The modified S-Lift is ideal in these circumstances to improve most of these signs of ageing, without the need for a full facelift. The S-Lift is faster to perform, leaves less scars and has a shorter recovery time than a full facelift.
Sample Procedure
Before | After | Comments | 
|  | Case 2. 53 year old before and after S-lift, forehead lift and blepharoplasty. | | | More Images Back to Top |
The Procedure
The term ‘S-Lift’ is used to describe a group of face lifting procedures/techniques. Strictly speaking, an S-Lift is a specific operation named after the shape of the excess skin that is removed at the start of the procedure. The S-Lift was first described in the 1920’s, but more recent improvements in the technique have triggered a resurgence of interest in the procedure and its further technical development.
The essence of the S-Lift procedure is that through a limited incision shaped like an inverted “L”, permanent, buried sutures are used to grasp the deeper tissues of the face and elevate them without the need for extensive dissection or scarring.
The procedure is usually performed under general anaesthetic as a Day Case (the patient goes home the same day) and can be combined with other facial cosmetic procedures (such as eyelid surgery, facial implants, etc). Sutures are removed from the skin on the fifth post-operative day and a post-operative garment is not necessary.
Indications
The ideal patient for a s lift procedure has mild to moderate signs of facial ageing including check decent, deepening of nasolabial and marionette lines, early jowl formation obscuring the definition of the jaw line and loose neck skin.
Relevant Anatomy
The human body, but particularly the head and neck region, can be thought of as being composed of multiple layers of tissue of varying strengths stacked upon each other. The outer layer (the skin) if lifted and tightened will appear exactly that way, tightened. It will lack the natural looseness and flexibility of the human face. Furthermore, when used to transmit lifting forces the human skin will eventually stretch and lose its position. If however a deeper layer, more resistant to stretching, is used for the "lifting" component of the face lift, the underlying structures can be altered without tension on the skin giving an unnecessarily tight and drawn appearance. This is the anatomical basis of all modern face lifting techniques.
Pre Operative Preparation
Mr Masters will provide you with precise instructions well in advance of your surgery to allow you a smooth and stress-free preparation for the procedure. Take the time to read your consent form thoroughly, along with any other written information Mr Masters has provided for you with regard to your surgery. This will allow you to have all of your questions answered prior to having the procedure, and ensure there are no unexpected surprises during the post-operative period.
If you are the main domestic executive in your home, or you live alone, you should plan ahead with regard to housework and meal preparation. Do your grocery shopping, cleaning, etc the day before your surgery and plan to have meals that require minimal preparation and/or cooking time.
If you are a smoker, stop smoking at least one month pre-operatively (see the “Disclaimer� page). Do not take any aspirin or aspirin-containing products for at least one week prior to the surgery. If you are on any other medications, ensure that Mr Masters is aware of the medications (including homoeopathic remedies) so that any other medications which require cessation during the pre-operative period can be discontinued.
Anaesthesia
This operation is usually performed under general anaesthetic in a full operating room as a day case (the patient will go home the same day).
The Surgery
Following the induction of general anaesthesia and the application of all appropriate safety equipment, Mr Masters infiltrates the operative site with local anaesthetic. This facilitates the operation and also increases the patients comfort during emergence from the anaesthetic. A standard S-lift incision is made from under the side burn hair back to the top of the ear and down to the ear lobe in an inverted “L� shape. The skin is undermined for approximately 5 cm and the deeper layer structures positively identified. At this point a series of permanent sutures are introduced into the deeper structures, thereby elevating them. The skin is then redraped without tension and the excess skin is removed.
Post Operative Period and Recovery
The vast majority of patients go home on the day of their surgery. You will need a responsible adult to be with you for the first 24 hours. The residual effects of the local anaesthetic will still be in effect and as such surgical discomfort is usually easily controlled. As the local anaesthetic wears off, the use of oral pain-relieving medications that Mr Masters will prescribe for you becomes necessary.
Most patients experience a degree of discomfort for approximately three days when the jaw is opened due to the tightness of the underlying structures. Patients have a varying response to this discomfort. Some patients literally take no additional pain relief; others find themselves in considerable discomfort for a number of days, requiring strong oral pain relief. There is no way to predict how a certain individual will respond to the post-operative discomfort. Although, as a rule of thumb, the S-lift is a low post-operative discomfort procedure.
Usually there are areas of altered skin sensation at the operative site. Full return of sensation is the norm, however this may take a number of weeks to months.
Most patients are able to return to gentle cardiovascular exercise at one week. Higher impact exercise (eg aerobics classes, running, etc) should not be resumed until at least 3 weeks after the procedure. Your body needs this time to help reform the fibrous tissue that joins your skin firmly to the deeper layers. Swimming is an excellent post-operative exercise; however, should not be commenced until the wounds have absolutely healed (approximately 14 days).
There are usually no drains or significant post-operative bandages. Mr Masters will ask you to apply anti biotic cream to the suture lines to keep them clean and infection free.
Results
The S-lift procedure will elevate the cheek tissues thereby reducing the weight of the jowls and redefining the jaw line. The platysma muscle, which is partially responsible for the sagging tissues of the neck, is tightened thereby improving the line and drape of the neck. The marionette and nasolabial lines are reduced. All of these results are evident immediately post-operatively however the swelling associated with the operation itself, which takes three to five days to pass, will partially obscure them initially.
Complications (General)
Before deciding to proceed with surgery, every patient needs to thoroughly consider the risks, as well as the benefits, of surgery. During your pre-operative consultation(s), Mr Masters will openly discuss the risks with you so that you can consider them. A full listing of all the potential complications and risks of this procedure is beyond the scope of this website. There are two broad groupings of surgical risks: those that pertain to surgery in general; and those specific to the procedure being performed.
Generalised surgical risks include:
- Bleeding – usually occurs within the first 24-48 hours of the procedure and may require a return to the operating room. A quiet, restful post-operative period will help to avoid this problem.
- Bruising – whenever possible, Mr Masters uses medications and techniques that help to avoid post-operative bruising. The appropriate use of Arnica may help to speed the resolution of bruising.
- Infection – surgical incisions, even though created in ideal circumstances, can become infected.
- When appropriate, antibiotics will be prescribed to lower this risk.
- Unfavourable scarring – every surgical incision results in a scar. It is Mr Masters’ role to maximise the quality of your scars and, whenever possible, to hide them in natural skin creases.
Risks and Complications (Specific to S Lifts)
- Given the limited nature of the dissection as compared to a full traditional face lift. The potential for extensive skin loss from either interrupting the blood supply or infection is vastly diminished. .
- Because the SMAS is not elevated during the procedure the chances of sustaining any form of facial nerve damage is also vastly diminished compared to a traditional face lifting procedure. .
- As the technique relies on suture suspension of the deeper structures it is theoretically possible that the sutures could lose traction with time and the result diminish. This is primarily a theoretical risk and its occurrence has not been borne out with experience with the procedure. .
- Mr Masters will fully discuss the risks and complications with the procedure during your preoperative consultations.
Approximate Costs
The S-lift procedure costs approximately $11,000 (including the operating theatre charges, consumable items used and anaesthetist). Many patients choose to have additional procedures at the same time such as liposuction to the neck, chin implants, eye lid surgery nasal reshaping, etc. The combination of procedures reduces the overall cost compared to having the procedures done at different times.
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