Smartlift™ - The New Laser Face Lift

More and more patients with busy lives are looking for a less invasive treatment with less downtime to improve their profile and tightness of their face and neck. Smartlift™ (laser assisted face and neck lift) is an exciting, effective, and safe option for patients who wish to improve the laxity of their face and neck. For good candidates, liquefying a small amount of fat to smooth the contours and coagulating the underlying tissues to tighten the skin may be the answer they’re looking for.

Smartlipo MPX™, by Cynosure, is the newest generation of laser-assisted lipolysis devices. It uses a combination of two laser wavelengths in a blend that allows the melting of fat and the heating of soft tissue to stimulate collagen formation to tighten the overlying skin. When used on the face, it is called a Smartlift™, or Laser Facelift.

Smartlipo™ laser treatment on the face and neck is great for men or women. A good candidate for this procedure is in good general health, is not smoking, has localized areas of fat in the jowl area and under the chin, and has good skin integrity. Skin tightening alone can be accomplished on underweight patients. Dr. McMenamin will examine your face and neck to determine if you are a good candidate.

Tumescent local anesthetic is used to anesthetize (numb) the areas treated on the face and neck. This can be done using very minimal to no sedation and with minimal discomfort. Once the area is numbed, 3 or 4 small incisions are made, one behind each earlobe, and 1 or 2 under the chin. Small tubes called cannulas are passed through the fatty layer under the skin to make tunnels. Then, a small amount of fat, the amount varies from patient to patient, is suctioned away. Lastly, a tiny, 1mm cannula with a laser probe inside is passed through fat between the skin and the muscles. The laser energy liquefies an additional small amount of fat (lypolysis) and heats the surrounding tissue. This stimulates collagen formation and assists in skin and tissue tightening. The amount of tightening greatly depends on skin type, age, elasticity, general health and other factors.

Typically, only one treatment is required to obtain optimal results. Initial results can be seen within one week, with continued improvement over the next 3 to 4 months as tissues continue to tighten and heal. Some patients may benefit from a limited incision or mini-lift at the same time if they have significant sagging in the jowl area.

After the Laser Facelift, your face will be wrapped in a gauze compression dressing. The next day, you will be fitted into a facial compression garment. Under most circumstances, compression will be required for 3 to 4 days followed by nightly use only. Compression helps to push out swelling, decrease scar tissue formation, and promote smoothness of the treated tissues.

The risks of Smartlift™ are the same as other surgical procedures including scarring, infection, bleeding, and allergic reactions to medications among others. Risks specific to Laser Facelift include: skin contour irregularities, asymmetry, seroma (fluid collection under the skin), hematoma (blood collection under the skin), skin loss, and skin burn. Rarely, anesthesia complications have been reported as well as other very rare events. These risks will be discussed with you by Dr. McMenamin. While these risks sound scary, it is important to remember that they are unusual events.

Laser facial sculpting with Smartlift™ is less invasive and less traumatic to tissues than a traditional facelift. Therefore, there is less downtime for recovery. Most patients are be able to resume work in 3 or 4 days and return to all usual activity, including vigorous exercise, within 2 weeks. Most patients experience mild to moderate discomfort in the initial post operative period with gradual resolution of discomfort in the following days to weeks. Snugness of the skin may be experienced for a matter of months.

We are very excited to offer this new technology to our patients. We feel that it has much to offer that segment of patients who qualify for this technology. Please feel free to call the office for a consultation to see if Smartlift™ - Laser Facelift is right for you. (916)564-8888