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Female Plastic Surgeon

SMAS Facelift Perth

Individuals might choose a SMAS (Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System) facelift to address changes in their facial structure that are part of the natural ageing process. The aim of an SMAS facelift is to achieve these alterations in a manner that aligns with the individual’s personal aesthetic goals.

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Reasons for Surgery
Our Philosophy
Methods and Options
Surgical Process
Aftercare and Recovery
Risks

Why You may Consider this Surgery

Excise excess skin icon 1 - SMAS Facelift page Remove Excess Skin
Change-appearance-of-facial-lines-img Change the Appearance of Facial Lines
Reposition-Facial-Tissue-img Reposition Facial Tissue
Address-Age-Related-Changes-img Address Age-Related Changes

Reasons for SMAS Facelift

A SMAS facelift is a type of cosmetic surgery that focuses on making structural changes at a deeper level than just the skin. This procedure aims to adjust the musculature and connective tissue to achieve a change that respects the individual’s facial anatomy. The goal is to tailor the outcome to match the individual’s aesthetic goals.

Dr Anh Nguyen’s Philosophy on SMAS Facelift Surgery

Dr Anh Nguyen approaches SMAS (Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System) facelift surgery with a focus on personalised care and individually tailored surgical plans. Recognising the deeply personal nature of choosing to undergo this procedure, Dr Nguyen is committed to understanding each patient’s unique facial anatomy and aesthetic goals. The surgical plan is developed to reflect the patient’s preferences while respecting their natural features and proportions.

Clear communication and realistic expectations form the foundation of Dr Nguyen’s approach. Consultations aim to provide detailed information about the potential adjustments an SMAS facelift can achieve, ensuring patients feel informed and supported in their decision-making process.

SMAS Facelift

Before & After Gallery

Disclaimer: The outcomes shown are only relevant for these patients and do not necessarily reflect the results other patients may experience, as results may vary due to many factors including the individual’s genetics, diet and exercise.

Other Options for Facelift Surgery

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Mini Facelift

A mini facelift targets age-related changes primarily in the lower face and jawline, offering a more focused approach for those looking for subtle alterations.

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Lower Facelift

The lower facelift is designed to reduce the appearance of signs of ageing in the jawline and neck.

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Deep Plane Facelift

The deep plane facelift targets the deeper structural layers of the face, offering a comprehensive level of alteration.

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Neck Lift

This procedure is often chosen in conjunction with other facelift techniques or as a standalone option to address alterations in the neck area.

The Surgical Process

The SMAS facelift procedure begins with a thorough evaluation of the patient’s facial structure and a discussion of the specific goals for the surgery. Performed under general anaesthesia, the procedure involves making precise adjustments to the underlying facial musculature and connective tissues. By targeting the deeper layers of the face, the surgery focuses on creating alterations that align with the patient’s anatomical structure and preferences. Dr Nguyen prioritises precision and attention to detail to ensure the surgical adjustments complement the natural contours of the face.

Aftercare and Recovery

Following SMAS facelift surgery, Dr Anh Nguyen provides detailed post-operative instructions tailored to each patient’s needs. These include guidance on managing discomfort with prescribed medications, caring for incision sites to reduce infection risks, and adhering to activity restrictions that support proper healing. Patients are encouraged to attend follow-up appointments for progress monitoring and to address any concerns during recovery. Swelling and bruising may take time to subside, requiring patience and consistent adherence to the care plan. Open communication with Dr Nguyen and her team plays a vital role in supporting recovery and ensuring the healing process aligns with the surgical adjustments.

Risks Associated with the Procedure

As with any surgical procedure, SMAS facelift surgery carries potential risks, including:

  • Reactions to anaesthesia
  • Changes in skin sensation, such as numbness or tingling
  • Infection at incision sites
  • Visible scarring
  • Asymmetry in facial contours
  • Swelling and bruising
  • The potential need for revision surgery

Understanding these risks is an essential part of the consultation process. Dr Nguyen ensures patients are fully informed, providing a comprehensive explanation of the procedure’s potential outcomes, limitations, and associated risks. This transparency supports patients in making well-considered decisions about their surgery.

Dr Nguyen is dedicated to offering patient-centred care, emphasising safety, education, and individualised attention. By focusing on each patient’s unique goals and concerns, Dr Nguyen aims to provide a surgical experience that prioritises informed decision-making, clear communication, and comprehensive support throughout the entire process.

SMAS Facelift FAQ

What is a SMAS facelift?

A SMAS facelift is facelift surgery that lifts and tightens the layer beneath the skin rather than the skin alone. SMAS stands for superficial musculoaponeurotic system, a sheet of muscle and connective tissue that runs through the cheek and continues down into the neck.

Because the lifting is done at that deeper layer, the skin can be redraped without being placed under tension. Dr Anh Nguyen performs SMAS facelift surgery in Perth under general anaesthesia, usually with an overnight stay in hospital. The technique has been in use for more than four decades and remains one of the most established approaches to facelift surgery.

How is a SMAS facelift different from a deep plane facelift?

Both techniques work on the SMAS layer, but they reach it differently. A SMAS facelift tightens the layer from above, by folding, stitching or trimming it. A deep plane facelift dissects beneath the layer, releasing the ligaments that hold the face down and moving skin, fat and SMAS together as one unit.

The practical consequence is that deep plane dissection can reposition the midface more directly, while SMAS techniques concentrate their effect on the lower face and jawline. Deep plane surgery also involves working closer to the branches of the facial nerve. Dr Anh offers both, and the deep plane facelift page covers that technique in more detail.

Is one facelift technique better than the other?

The published evidence does not clearly favour one. A 2025 systematic review covering 21 studies and 2,896 patients reported high satisfaction for both techniques, and a prospective study comparing deep plane with SMAS plication found no significant difference in satisfaction, recovery or complication rates.

That review pooled results rather than comparing patients head to head, and the satisfaction ranges for the two techniques overlapped, so it cannot settle the debate on its own. Reviews of the two approaches report comparable safety profiles, with nerve related complications occurring at similar rates and usually proving temporary. What the evidence does suggest is that both are well established and reasonable choices, and that outcomes depend more on surgical judgement and patient selection than on the name of the technique. Dr Anh performs both and will recommend the one that suits your anatomy rather than the one that happens to be fashionable.

How long do SMAS facelift results last?

Most estimates fall somewhere between several years and well over a decade, though this has not been settled by good comparative research. It is worth being clear about what surgery does: a facelift repositions tissue at one point in time, and it does not stop your face ageing afterwards.

A recent systematic review of SMAS techniques concluded that deeper deep plane dissection has not been shown to improve the longevity of results compared with other SMAS approaches, so the specific year ranges often quoted when the two are compared should be treated with some caution. Skin quality, sun exposure, smoking and significant weight change all influence how long your result holds.

Am I a suitable candidate, and is there a right age?

There is no set age. Suitability depends on how much skin laxity and jowling you have, your skin quality, your general health and whether you smoke. Most patients considering a SMAS facelift are somewhere between their late forties and their sixties, though this varies a good deal.

If your changes are still mild, Dr Anh may suggest waiting, or discuss energy based treatments such as Emface or RF microneedling as an interim step rather than moving to surgery. Smoking matters more here than many people expect, because nicotine reduces blood flow to healing skin, and you will be asked to stop well before your surgery date.

Where are the incisions, and will the scars be visible?

Incisions usually begin in the temple or hairline, run in front of the ear, curve around the earlobe and continue behind the ear into the hairline. They are placed in natural creases and hairlines so they sit as discreetly as possible. Scars are permanent, though they generally settle well.

Expect them to look pink and feel firm for the first few months, then soften and fade over the following year. How you wear or part your hair can affect how noticeable the section behind the ear is early on. Dr Anh will map out your planned incisions at consultation, and sun protection is an important part of looking after the scars.

What is recovery like after a SMAS facelift?

Swelling and bruising usually peak around day three or four and then improve steadily. Most patients feel presentable enough for low key social situations at around two to three weeks. Deeper swelling takes longer to resolve, and the face continues to settle over three to six months.

You will generally stay in hospital overnight. Expect to sleep on your back with your head elevated for roughly the first two weeks, and to have dressings checked and sutures removed across the first one to three weeks. Numbness and altered sensation around the ears and along the incisions is normal early on and improves as the nerves recover.

When can I return to work, driving and exercise?

Most patients take about two to three weeks away from work, and longer if their role is public facing or physically demanding. Driving becomes possible once you have stopped taking sedating pain relief and can turn your head and react comfortably. Vigorous exercise usually waits around six weeks.

The reason exercise is held back is practical rather than overly cautious. Raised blood pressure in the early weeks increases the risk of bleeding under the skin, which is the complication most likely to need prompt attention. Gentle walking is encouraged from the first week or so because it helps circulation. Dr Anh will set your limits based on the surgery you actually have.

Will I look pulled or overdone?

That appearance generally comes from tension being placed on the skin rather than on the deeper layer. A SMAS facelift is designed to do the lifting at the level of the SMAS so that the skin can be redraped without being pulled tight. Results still vary between individuals.

Dr Anh’s approach is to work with your existing facial proportions rather than alter them, and she will talk through what is realistic for your face at consultation. If what you are hoping for and what surgery can reasonably achieve do not line up, she will tell you. Having that conversation beforehand is far more useful than discovering it afterwards.

What are the risks, including facial nerve injury?

Risks include reactions to anaesthesia, bleeding under the skin (haematoma), infection, visible scarring, asymmetry, changes in skin sensation and the possible need for revision surgery. Temporary numbness around the incisions and ears is common. Permanent facial nerve injury is rare.

Published reviews of facelift surgery report that most nerve related problems are temporary and settle as the nerves recover, with lasting weakness being uncommon. Haematoma is the complication most likely to need early attention, which is why exertion is limited in the first few weeks. Dr Anh will discuss your individual risk factors, including smoking and blood pressure, before you decide to proceed.

Can a SMAS facelift be combined with other procedures?

Yes, and it commonly is. A SMAS facelift is often combined with a neck lift, eyelid surgery, a brow lift or fat transfer, because these address areas a facelift on its own does not reach. Combining procedures means one anaesthetic and one recovery instead of several.

A facelift repositions tissue but does not change skin texture, pigmentation or fine lines, so laser and skin treatments are sometimes planned separately once healing is complete. Longer operations do carry additional anaesthetic and healing considerations, so Dr Anh will advise what is sensible to combine and what is better staged.

Does Medicare or private health insurance cover a facelift, and what does it cost?

A facelift performed for cosmetic reasons does not attract a Medicare rebate, and private health funds generally will not contribute. Where surgery is reconstructive, for example after skin cancer removal or for facial nerve problems, different arrangements can apply and eligibility is assessed individually.

Cost depends on the extent of the surgery, whether other procedures are combined, and hospital and anaesthetic fees. You will receive a written quote after your consultation covering the surgeon’s fee, the anaesthetist’s fee, hospital fees and your follow up care. A referral from your GP is required before surgery in any case.

This information is general in nature and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. All surgery carries risks, which Dr Anh Nguyen will discuss with you during your consultation. A referral from your GP, at least two pre-operative consultations and a seven day cooling off period are required before surgery. Individual results vary.

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Dr Anh Nguyen

MBBS (HONS) PGRADDIPSURGANAT FRACS (PLAST)

Dr. Anh Nguyen is a member of several esteemed professional organisations, underscoring her commitment to the highest standards of surgical and patient care. Some of her affiliations and recognitions include:

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Dr Anh Nguyen, Perth Female Plastic Surgeon 5

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(08) 9322 2659

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