How does it feel when you discover the first silver streak peeping out of your hairline? It definitely gives you a feeling which we can well assume is not altogether palatable. The same happens as you discover the first 'crow's feet' under your eyes. These are followed by sagging and lack luster skin, bags under eyes and drooped jaws and many more. These are reasons enough pushing a woman in her mid forties or early fifties on the verge of depression.



But as a twenty first century woman you should have more control on how you look. In fact facelift as a branch of cosmetic surgery can give you the power to decide how long you want to look fresh and youthful.

What is facelift anyway? Facelift is a kind of cosmetic procedure that involves removing excess skin and fat from your face and neck and tightening the remaining tissues and muscles underneath. The result is amazing: a good ten years slashed off from your skin taking you back to the days when you used to be a glamorous lady.

Not only ladies, facelift can benefit the men too by giving them a more youthful skin. In fact, facelift as a procedure is divided into several varieties which are again divided into a number of sub categories. Why these different types and techniques? They have been designed to suit different skin conditions and to meet individual expectations. Some methods are applied only on the upper surface of skin. For more cosmetic enhancement, surgeons often resort to more complicated procedures that involve the tightening of skin or stretching out the fatty tissues.

Here are the brief descriptions of major types of facelift:

Subcutaneous Facelift

This first generation cosmetic procedure involves making of incision around the area of hairline and earlobe. Another incision is made in the chin area to work upon the skin of neck. This is a kind of cosmetic procedure where, the fats deposited under the skin are removed and muscles are tightened. At the end your face receives a slimmer and more toned look.

This type of facelift which happens to be the simplest form of face rejuvenation cosmetic procedure has been popular during the 70's. But this method was soon replaced by a series of more complex procedures, as the effects of this facelift are only short lived bringing back to your skin the same stretched look within a short time.

In attempts to overcome this problem, some cosmetic surgeons started to pull the tissues very tightly. But it only gave the face a flat look where muscles move scarcely to give the expressions. Also in this case, the chances of side effects are also higher.

SACS lift

Here the dissection takes place just below the layers of fat for a deeper penetration. In recent times this technique of facelift seems to be most popular cosmetic method for skin rejuvenation.

SMAS lift

We have a layer of tissue called the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system) underneath our skin. The SMAS lift involves tightening of this layer by folding it over itself. Excess fats are also removed. This procedure gets you firmer cheeks and necks and a more defined jaw line.

This technique is however divided in several sub categories like 'limited SMAS', 'extended SMAS', 'SMAS plication', 'the composite facelift', which are also described as 'second', 'third' and 'forth' generation facelifts.

Subperiosteal Facelift

Subperiosteal or 'mask' lift, involves a procedure where tissues attached to the bones are lifted as units. This technique avoids cuts near the areas of your ear.

Multiplanar facelifts

The modern cosmetic surgery combines all the above mentioned procedures to carry out a facelift. These are called the 'multiplanar facelifts'.

It is the cosmetic surgeon who takes the decision as to what type of facelift suits you most depending on the age, skin type and other medical factors.