Facelift6 min read
Types of facelift: how the main surgical techniques differ and which one suits you
“Facelift” is not one operation but a family of procedures. Each type works on a different part of the face, uses different incisions and has its own recovery. Understanding the main options helps you have a more useful conversation with your surgeon and set realistic expectations. This guide compares the SMAS facelift, the full (circular) facelift, the neck and lower face lift and the endoscopic brow and temple lift, and explains how the choice is made.
The main points in 30 seconds
- The SMAS facelift treats cheeks, jowls and nasolabial folds in the mid and lower face.
- A full (circular) facelift lifts forehead, cheeks, jawline and neck together.
- A neck and lower face lift targets jowls, double chin and loose neck skin.
- An endoscopic brow lift raises the brows through small incisions in the hair.
- The surgeon chooses the type, or a combination, after examining you.
Key facts about the procedure
- Main healing2 months
- Final result3–6 months
- AnaesthesiaGeneral
- Pricefrom $2,400
Facelift types at a glance
All surgical facelifts share the same goal: to reposition tissues that have descended with age and remove excess skin, so the face looks fresher without looking changed. What differs is the area treated and the depth of the work.
Main area
- SMAS facelift
- Mid and lower face
- Full (circular) facelift
- Forehead, temples, mid and lower face, neck
- Neck and lower face lift
- Jawline, chin, neck
- Endoscopic brow and temple lift
- Forehead, brows, temples
What it corrects
- SMAS facelift
- Jowls, sagging cheeks, double chin, deep nasolabial folds
- Full (circular) facelift
- Marked sagging in several areas at once
- Neck and lower face lift
- Double chin, jowls, loose neck skin
- Endoscopic brow and temple lift
- Low brows, forehead and frown lines, heavy look
Typical recovery for office work
- SMAS facelift
- About 2–3 weeks
- Full (circular) facelift
- About 3–4 weeks
- Neck and lower face lift
- About 2 weeks
- Endoscopic brow and temple lift
- About 10–14 days
Recovery times are approximate and depend on the person and on whether several procedures are combined. The deeper structures of the face, especially the SMAS layer, are what give lasting results in all of these operations.
SMAS facelift
The SMAS facelift is the classic operation for the middle and lower face. SMAS stands for the superficial musculoaponeurotic system, a layer of muscle and fascia under the skin and fat. With age this layer loosens, and the cheeks and jowls descend.
During the operation the surgeon lifts the skin, repositions and secures the SMAS, redistributes fat and then removes excess skin. The incisions are hidden along the hairline and around the ears. Because the deep layer carries the tension, the skin lies smoothly without a pulled look. Results often last around seven to ten years.
Full (circular) facelift
A full facelift treats the whole face and neck in one operation: forehead and temples, cheeks, jawline and neck. It is chosen when ageing affects several areas at once and treating a single zone would leave the face looking uneven.
The incision runs from the temples within the hair, around and behind the ears. The surgeon lifts the SMAS across the mid and lower face and neck, raises the brow and temple area and removes excess skin. It gives the most complete rejuvenation, but recovery is a little longer than for a partial lift.
Neck and lower face lift
This lift focuses on the jaw, chin and neck. It suits people whose main concern is a blurred jawline, jowls, a double chin or loose skin on the neck, while the upper and middle face still look relatively fresh.
The surgeon works through small incisions under the chin and behind the ears, tightens the neck muscle when needed, removes excess fat under the chin and redrapes the skin. Scars are small and usually hard to notice. As general information, some clinics call short-scar lifts of this kind a “mini facelift”; the name varies, so it is best to ask exactly which layers will be treated.
Endoscopic brow and temple lift
The endoscopic lift treats the upper third of the face. Through several tiny incisions in the hair, the surgeon uses a thin camera to release the tissues holding the brows down, lifts the brows and temples and secures them. Forehead and frown lines become softer and the eyes look more open.
There is no scar on the forehead itself, and recovery is usually the shortest of the four options. On its own it does not correct the cheeks or jawline, so it is often combined with an SMAS or full facelift.
Combining a facelift with eyelid surgery
As general information, a facelift is sometimes combined with surgery on the upper or lower eyelids when there is excess eyelid skin or puffiness. Eyelid surgery is a separate operation with its own risks and recovery, and a brow lift alone may be enough when the heaviness comes from a low brow. Whether eyelid work is needed is decided at the consultation after examining the eyes. City Medical Centre does not list eyelid surgery among its facelift options.
How the right type is chosen
The best type is not the “strongest” operation but the one that matches your changes. At the consultation the surgeon usually assesses:
- which areas have changed: brows, cheeks, jawline, neck;
- the quality and elasticity of the skin;
- the amount of fat under the chin and in the cheeks;
- your general health and any risk factors, such as smoking or high blood pressure;
- your expectations and how much recovery time you can plan.
Photos from the front and side, and an examination at rest and in motion, help the surgeon suggest one type or a combination. A good plan explains what each step will correct and what it will not.
Facelift options at City Medical Centre
City Medical Centre performs surgical facelifts only, in four main options: the SMAS facelift, the full (circular) facelift, the neck and lower face lift and the endoscopic brow and temple lift. The surgeon helps you choose the option that best suits your age and type of ageing, and explains every stage. City Medical Centre does not offer thread lifts, energy-based skin tightening, fillers or muscle-relaxing injections. You can read about each option on the facelift page.
International patients can start with a free online consultation by sending photos of the face from the front and side. The cost is named after the assessment and fixed in the contract. After surgery you stay in the clinic’s inpatient unit under round-the-clock monitoring, your surgeon follows you up for a year, and a personal coordinator supports you from the first message to the end of recovery, including by Telegram.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What type of facelift is best for me?
It depends on which areas have changed. Sagging cheeks and jowls usually point to an SMAS facelift, changes limited to the jaw and neck to a neck and lower face lift, low brows to an endoscopic brow lift, and changes in several areas to a full facelift. The surgeon decides after an examination.
What is the difference between a mini and full facelift?
As general information, “mini facelift” usually means a shorter-scar lift focused on the lower face and neck, while a full facelift treats the forehead, temples, cheeks, jawline and neck together. The term varies between clinics, so ask which layers will actually be treated.
Which facelift has the shortest recovery?
The endoscopic brow and temple lift usually has the shortest recovery, often around 10 to 14 days before office work. A neck and lower face lift typically takes about two weeks, and a full facelift the longest, around three to four weeks.
Can different lifts be combined?
Yes. An endoscopic brow lift is often combined with an SMAS facelift, and neck work is frequently part of a lower face or full facelift. Combining procedures in one operation gives an even result, although recovery may be somewhat longer. The surgeon plans the combination individually.
Which facelift lasts longest?
Lifts that reposition the deep SMAS layer, such as the SMAS and full facelift, usually give the longest results, often around seven to ten years. The face continues to age naturally, but from a younger starting point.
Have a question about your case? Get a free consultation
Message a coordinator on Telegram: we reply right in the chat, and you can send photos and questions there too.
- The first consultation is free, online consultations are available
- The doctor names the cost after the assessment, and it is fixed in the contract
- A personal coordinator guides you from the first message to recovery
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