Essentially, it differs from a regular facelift in the following ways:

1. The incision: the incision is limited to the skin hairline junction above the ear and anterior to the ear with no extension behind the ear.

2. The area of undermining:  unlike a conventional facelift, this is much smaller. It essentially involves just a portion of the cheek. Due to less undermining, the blood supply to the skin is much more robust. This makes the technique safer in smokers. And, therefore, there is much less risk of any skin necrosis.

3. Elevating the underlying tissue: this is done by permanent suspension sutures are used to elevate the underlying tissue.

4. Permanent suspension sutures pass down to the neck, jowls and malar fat pad. Other facelifts do not include significant mid face elevation. In contrast, the MACS lift elevates the malar fat pad reducing the naso labial folds.

5. There is no undermining under the SMAS (superficial musculoaponeurotic system). Therefore, there is less likelihood of damage to the facial nerve.

7. Post operative swelling and oedema is much less than in normal facelifts because the undermining and dissection is more limited. This increases recovery time.

8. Because the malar fat pad is elevated, it combines very well with lower lid blepharoplasty, This  reduces the height of the lower eyelid, resulting in a more youthful, smooth appearance.

9. Liposuction is often performed to the neck area below the angle of the mandible. This removes excess fat in that area. It also to frees up the skin so that it to can be re-draped by the suspension sutures.

It was introduces about 2 decades ago and has proven to be most effective for laser skin resurfacing. However, the older lasers had prolonged patient downtime and risks of delayed permanent complications.

LaserTight’s SelectScan has proven to be valuable and cost-effective for converting a CO2 laser into a fractional system. This reduces the healing time and is currently one of the most popular and reliable ways to achieve real, long-lasting cosmetic changes.

The COs resurfacing procedures required weeks of healing time. This fractionated laser procedure typically reduces recovery time to five days!