Short Scar Face LIFT
Over the past decade, new technical improvements in facelift and tissue manipulation technology have allowed for substantial facial rejuvenation under less anesthetic, with shorter scars, and faster recovery time.
Originally conceived in Brussels, the MACS (Minimal Access Cranial Suspension) facelift utilizes a series of loop suspension stitches to harness descended facial fat pads and re-suspend them to the underlying sturdy, deep facial tissues. Using less aggressive dissection, the recovery is often more rapid than a formal facelift, but due to the directions of tissue pull, a lower lid blepharoplasty is often required to address excess tissue exaggerated in the lower eyelid region. In addition, patients with descended lateral brow hooding often require a lateral brow-lift.
Although this procedure has received impressive acclaim in the surgical community, it is not appropriate for everyone. Dr. Cowan will assess your degree of facial aging to determine if the MACS lift is right for you. Even if you are not an ideal candidate, Dr. Cowan may incorporate certain portions of the MACS lift to assist in your correction and recovery.
Originally conceived in Brussels, the MACS (Minimal Access Cranial Suspension) facelift utilizes a series of loop suspension stitches to harness descended facial fat pads and re-suspend them to the underlying sturdy, deep facial tissues. Using less aggressive dissection, the recovery is often more rapid than a formal facelift, but due to the directions of tissue pull, a lower lid blepharoplasty is often required to address excess tissue exaggerated in the lower eyelid region. In addition, patients with descended lateral brow hooding often require a lateral brow-lift.
Although this procedure has received impressive acclaim in the surgical community, it is not appropriate for everyone. Dr. Cowan will assess your degree of facial aging to determine if the MACS lift is right for you. Even if you are not an ideal candidate, Dr. Cowan may incorporate certain portions of the MACS lift to assist in your correction and recovery.
Do I Need Face Lift Surgery?
- I am concerned about the sagging in my cheeks.
- The smile lines in my cheeks are deep.
- I am starting to be concerned about developing jowls.
Expected Outcome
- Fullness over the cheek prominences.
- Substantial reduction of the deep folds in the cheeks.
- Improvement in the jowls and sharpening of the jaw line.
- Improvement in the smoothness and shape of the neck.
PROCEDURE & RECOVERY
Procedure
Incisions are made in the hairline and around the ear, hidden in natural skin folds, and elevation of facial flaps are performed. Suspension of the facial fat pads is performed to provide a rejuvenated facial shape. Neck muscle suspension and repositioning rejuvenate the angles of the neck. The facial flaps are then suspended to create a smooth shape to the cheeks and neck, and the extra skin slack is taken up and removed. In cases where less correction is required, mini-lifts (S-lift) can be used, which allow for shorter surgery and faster recovery time. The S-lift is not applicable for patients requiring moderate to more extensive corrections.
- Location: Cambie Surgery Centre
- Anesthesia / Sedation: Deep intravenous sedation or general anesthetic
- Duration: 3.5 -4 hours
- Length of stay: Outpatient (same day discharge); in some cases patients may be requested to stay overnight at the surgery centre for monitoring.
Recovery
- Bruising: Common, fades by 2-3 weeks after the surgery.
- Swelling: Mild to moderate, resolves by 2 weeks.
- Pain: Mild to moderate. Often only 2-3 days of prescription medications required.
- Numbness: Moderate in the cheeks and neck for 5-8 months.
- Dressings: Moderate. Neck and facial wrap. Drains occasionally— removed the following morning. Facial garment must be worn most of the time for the first 3 weeks.
- Return to Work: 3 weeks
- Return to Exercise: 2 weeks